Partial Week Question

[CityGarden]

Hi All -

I have yet another policy question.... thanks for helping me tighten them!

QUESTION 1:
For those that allow 2 or 3 days a week is it best to let dcp pick the days (in advance per the contract so a three day could be M,T, TH or M,W,F etc.) or to do set days (i.e. M/W/F or T/TH).

QUESTION 2:
For those who say set days would it be best to do:

M,W, F (3-day) T,TH (2-day)
or
M-W (3-day), TH,F (2-day)

Right now I am getting most families emailing with interest for three days a week, very few for 2 days per week....

[Blackcat31]

Originally Posted by CityGarden

Hi All -

I have yet another policy question.... thanks for helping me tighten them!

QUESTION 1:
For those that allow 2 or 3 days a week is it best to let dcp pick the days (in advance per the contract so a three day could be M,T, TH or M,W,F etc.) or to do set days (i.e. M/W/F or T/TH).

QUESTION 2:
For those who say set days would it be best to do:

M,W, F (3-day) T,TH (2-day)
or
M-W (3-day), TH,F (2-day)

Right now I am getting most families emailing with interest for three days a week, very few for 2 days per week....

When I have parents that want less than 5 days of care, I allow them to choose the days BUT the days they choose must stay the same. If they choose, Monday, Tuesday and Friday they pay for those 3 days NO MATTER what and are free to ADD an additional day for an additional fee but if they want/need access to a different 3 days every week then they pay a full week rate for that availability.

I have 12 spaces. I allow 2 of them to be filled/used by part timers. I then enjoy the days I have less kids.
All the other spaces are filled with full time kids.

[e.j.]

During the interview or initial call, parents let me know what days/hours they need. I base their tuition rate on that information and they pay that rate whether the child attends or not. If they need to switch a day now and then and there's no change in the number of hours I'd have the child in care, I don't usually charge extra.

[Ariana]

I have all part time kids. Basically it depends. For the most part the parents choose their days. My last family that signed with me had no choice but to do Monday and Tuesday due to infant ratios. I have one family who rotates their days and they signed with me first (dad is a fire fighter so works shifts). I keep one infant Thursday Friday, one infant Monday Tuesday and then the other family rotates their days. They are all sibling sets but the infants are the only ones that really matter as I can only have two at a time. Those become their set days and they are charged whether they attend or not. The rotating family has given me a schedule up until Christmas so they only pay when they miss their scheduled days.

When people are choosing their days I let them know that most holidays fall on a Monday so I encourage them to choose something other than that day if they can. If people don't have a choice I will usually (but cannot guarantee) another day in lieu of the holiday Monday for them. I also encourage consecutive days if they can do it. It works better for the children.

[CityGarden]

Thanks all!

I decided to keep M/W/F or T/TH once I am more established I hope to be more flexible and let parents select the days they need but for now this seems the easiest way to try and fill the 2 days a week spots - which I can tell is going to be more challenging than the 3 days spots.

[hwichlaz]

I try to only allow it if it matches with another part timer's schedule, that way I'm still filling one full time spot. Unless I can puzzle them together like that I only take one part time client at a time.

But yes, pick the days and stick to them. If there are days that work better for you, offer them.

[childcaremom]

When I do offer PT, I have found that MWF and T.TH options are easiest to fill.

If things are slow, I will let the parents pick their days, but I always ask if they have flexibility. I also have it in my policy that full time trumps part time so may term if I have a full timer coming in.

[AmyKidsCo]

I did the same as Blackcat - let them pick but they can't change the days. They can add days for an additional charge if I have room.

But I think the MWF, TTh thing makes sense too, especially if you've got MWF preschools in your area.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I have mostly part-timers but I am only open 4 days a week. I am structured as M/W or T/Th. They do not get to pick beyond the class they would like.

When I was 5 days a week I was structured as M/W/F and T/Th. The pricing was different and they had to choose which one they wanted.