Any of You Changed to Short Hours Care? (8:30 to 3:30pm)

[LovetheSun]

Yes!

Is done! I told the interested parents about the change of hours (to replace the kids leaving soon) and the parents currently attending and all went SUPER WELL!

Just 1 interested parents back up but that's ok

Plus, there will be after hours care but with extra paid. To avoid having too much parents asking for after care I put higher rates/charges and it would be easy to have a kid or two here, it will give us time to play/read etc...

So we will be done by 3/3.30 (unless there is an extra kid staying).

Can't believe it so happy!

[LovetheSun]

PS: I called all the Preschools in my area and asked their weekly rate and about the extra fees (some added up to so much). I also asked about their closed days. Even the play based ones were high in cost. So I cut it the middle on the weekly tuition, not as high as some schools but not as low too.

I was so shocked of the prices near by plus lots didn't offer meals or were closed so often. Both are something to share with parents enrolled here (so they know they have it good!).

[CityGarden]

That is great LovestheSun!! What did you set as your start and end times? What age children are you taking now?

Do you mind my asking what time you are offering after care until?

Did you offer two different time options i.e. 8AM-12PM and 8AM - 3PM or just one.... with after care options.

[LovetheSun]

That is great LovestheSun!! What did you set as your start and end times? What age children are you taking now?

Do you mind my asking what time you are offering after care until?

Did you offer two different time options i.e. 8AM-12PM and 8AM - 3PM or just one.... with after care options.

We were open from 8am to 5.30pm, the new hours are 8 to 3pm and after care until 5.30pm. Children are between 2 and 5 years old. (By the time the parents leave and we clean up is about 6.30 but now we will be able to do that at 3.30pm leaving very little clean up for the next day if there is aftercare).

I just did 1 option since it would be easier for us to have everyone under the same hours and just deal with 1 drop off/pick up a day (beside after care).

For the after care I am charging as much as a babysitter in the area would meaning $10/hour and parents must notify me ahead of time if they need after care so my assistant will do the after care (to make a little extra money) or me sometimes.

And the best part is that I am barely lowering the prices so the income will be about the same. I am expecting to have lower monthly cost since I can do the deep cleaning myself now (I have someone helping twice a month now) and my assistant doesn't mind working less as well. happy face

I can't believe I didn't realized that I am now one of the most affordable preschool in the area with the longest hours (I wasn't when I started).

[CityGarden]

So glad to hear it worked out. I am thinking of doing something similar. So this just motivated me!!! Best of luck and keep us posted.happyface

[CityGarden]

Question for those of you who have opted to do a tiered rate why did you decide to do that instead of just limiting the hours i.e. 7:30AM - 4:00PM or 8AM - 3PM, etc.?

[Unregistered]

Because when it's presented as "you have more control over your cost" parents choose shorter hours and think it's all their idea.

[WAHMderful_Life]

Cost?

I like the idea of being open 8-3/3:30. What are your going rates for these hrs? Im from canada so canadian run daycare prices would help most. if not, what are Daycare costs like in the US what is a full day price vs the 8-3? thanks?

[Unregistered]

Where we are the prices varies from $35/day to $85/day but for a preschool is can be $40 to $60 just for 3hours (9 to 12)

[Blackcat31]

Question for those of you who have opted to do a tiered rate why did you decide to do that instead of just limiting the hours i.e. 7:30AM - 4:00PM or 8AM - 3PM, etc.?

I offer tiered rates according to pick up time.

I don't count actual hours in care because I don't care.

I only offer 3 pick up times. 3:00, 4:00 and 5:00.

I don't care what time a family arrives (they still have to schedule it so I know) but I open at 7:00. It doesn't matter to me if I have 1 or all 12 kids here at 7:00. I am working at 7:00 so makes no difference either way.

I ONLY care what time a child is going to be picked up.....so that I know what time I will be getting off work.

I set my old weekly rate (that used to be for any kid there from open to close) as my earliest pick up time (3:00) and added fees from there. The ONLY families that got a rate increase were those that couldnt pick up by 3:00 (it's amazing how many "couldn't do that prior to the rate change but suddenly could when I implemented the rate scale )

If families need a 4:00 pick up M, T, W and Th but need a 5:00 pick up for Friday, they still pay the weekly rate for 5:00 pick up. If they are off work at 4:00 M-Th then they have an hour each day they can do whatever they want. I charge weekly so breaking it down daily was way too much accounting.

I add or subtract to the rate depending on whether or not they are 3, 4 or 5 days a week. My "old" flat weekly rate is now what I earn for a 3 day a week child that attends only 3 days a week. I now work less hours and make more money AND I know exactly what time I am "off" work each day allowing me to schedule whatever appointments I need to outside of work.

I also operate on contracted hours so if a family schedules a 3:00 pick up and they don't pick up at 3:00, I charge late fees...even if I have other kids present still.

Make sense?

ETA: Oh and like a previous poster said... I "sold" it to parents as a way for them to save money and every one of them loved the idea!

I can send you the letter I used if you are interested.

[Unregistered]

This would be a dream come true! This would never work in my area. It's hard enough to fill. I'm open 7:00-5:30 and it's a challenge to fill with those hours even.

I'm in a very rural area that has plenty of child care options and all day every day free 4k and five half days of 3k in the school system. Area child care is struggling. So it's a no go with these kinds of hours. I'd so love this though!