Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
I am a huge stickler about my policies and have since learned (from when I first started) to be extremely detailed in my contract and policies. Here are some ideas for you to maybe think about adding to your contract and/or policiy handbook.
In my Contract:
Two-week Deposit
a. Before child care will commence the client is required to give a non-refundable two (2) week deposit equivalent to that of two (2) weeks tuition payment. This deposit will be used to pay for the final two weeks of child care upon termination willing that a proper notice of termination is given. Please review your handbook for the details of what defines a proper notice of termination. This will take care of anyone expecting a deposit back if they decide not to start with you (as another provider had an issue with)
Payment
b. Fees are charged for the week and are based solely on enrollment, not on attendance. There are no deductions in fees regardless of whether a child is present or not. Fees are paid 52 weeks in a year. This will take care of a client trying to give you written notice in the middle of the week. If they give you a termination notice on a Wednesday then they must still pay you for that week, the following week AND the 3rd week because you charge weekly, not daily.
Termination Policy
b. After the initial two (2) week trial period the client is required to give a two (2) week written notice of termination to end this contract.
i. Payment is required for the final two (2) weeks’ termination period whether the child attends the daycare program or not.
ii. The two week deposit that the client pays upon enrollment will be used toward payment for the final two weeks of childcare willing that a proper notice of termination notice is given.
c. Notices of termination are only accepted on Fridays and cannot be given on days that the daycare is closed. This will keep the confusion down about what days/weeks a client must pay for.
d. Emails and texts are not an accepted form of notices of termination. This is to make sure that they actually give you a paper term notice.
e. The final two weeks of child care cannot overlap onto days that the daycare is already scheduled to close such as the childcare provider’s vacation.
Do you have a sample termination letter I could use?? when the provider wants to terminate care?