How to Set Policies for a Home Daycare
Home daycares offer the best of both worlds to many working parents by allowing them to leave their child in an intimate, cozy childcare environment. When you open a home daycare, it's important to set policies so both you and the parents know what to expect. Providing a printed copy of the policies to parents when they enroll their child helps promote the professionalism of your home daycare.
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Instructions
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Begin by introducing yourself and your business, your education and your experience in childcare. Include any special credentials, such as CPR certification and state licensing information if applicable. Share your child care philosophies and goals.
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Be very clear and specific about fees and payment schedules. State the day payment is due, what methods of payment you accept, when the account is considered past due and how much the late payment fee is. Include any consequences for non-payment, including termination after a certain period of time.
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Think about the hours you want to set for your home daycare and how a late pick-up will affect your time with your family in the evenings. State your business's hours and the extra fee you'll charge for the inevitable late pick-up.
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Provide your holiday and vacation closing information, and outline a procedure for unexpected closings, if you are sick for example. Offer the families of the children in your care the option to take vacation days or weeks with advance notice. Tell the parents what the fee is, if any, on days your home daycare is closed or the child is out on vacation.
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Consult your county or state licensing regulations regarding your sick child policy--some jurisdictions have specific information that you are required to include. At the minimum, describe what symptoms would necessitate a child staying home or being sent home during the day.
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List everything you will provide in terms of food, bibs, toys, arts and crafts supplies, baby equipment and intangibles like a loving environment. Inform the parents what they must provide, such as diapers and wipes, spare clothing, food, formula or expressed breast milk, bottles or cups, and whatever other supplies you determine. Make sure they clearly label any personal items.
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Notify the parents about the termination procedure you have in place--the grounds for termination, how much notice you'll give them if you need to terminate, and how much notice you expect if the parents choose to initiate a termination.
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Tips & Warnings
Ask the parents to sign a copy of your daycare's policies as part of their enrollment paperwork, and keep in their child's file, so you have proof that they are aware of the policies.
