Late drop off question.

singingirl96

my kids just started at a new daycare. So far so great! However when I dropped off my kids this morning I told them that I'd be keeping my daughter for a couple of hours for a dr appt and that I'd drop her off around 11:30/12.
They said that 9:30 is the latest allowed drop off. What?!
I figure that if I'm paying them for a full day it shouldn't matter when I drop them off!
This is their first time at a center. They've been in in home daycares and this has never been an issue.
Please tell me is this a norm or is this place just being difficult?!

I should add that my daughter is an infant, so missing part of the day's curriculum doesn't really apply

chloebeth930

Maybe they meant that 9:30 was the latest drop off that would still get breakfast?  I know at my center if you aren't there before 9:00 you don't get breakfast.

singingirl96

Nope. No drop off after 9:30

minirella

Nope, never heard that. I'd agree that if you are paying them you should be able to drop off anytime as long as they are open. It might be for staffing reasons but if you are paying for a fulltime spot, then they should account for her being there and can adjust if plans change. Because it is a doctor appointment, I'm surprised they won't work with you.

2chatter

Our center had a drop off by 9:00 policy.  The exceptions are prior notice for legit things like Dr. appts.  Their policy also says if you miss lunch you must feed your child prior to dropping them off.  They have worked with me on that - for instance, 10 AM appt that runs late, I have called and asked if I drop right after lunch ends can they feed DS and they have.

MaggieF516

I take my son to a large center and he's been dropped off late a few times without issues.  They did complain when I needed to drop him off 15 minutes early ONE TIME so I could make a meeting.  They are also not flexible on days at all.  For example, he goes M-W full-time.  His father and I both needed to travel for work on a Monday and they would not allow him to go on a different day that week. We paid for Monday and he didn't go. It just seems there is very little flexibility with large centers, but some benefits though too.

 

I'd make sure they understand this is a one-time thing.  I wonder if maybe they misinterpreted your request and thought you wanted a drop off of 11:30-12 every day?  If they won't accomodate, I'd be very annoyed and send a complaint to the director.

jenn43

That is weird. My LO goes to a large center, and on Tuesdays I drop off around 10. Some Wednesdays he goes to DC, and some weeks he's at my in-laws on Wednesday. They've never had a problem with it, because as you said, we pay for full time. Was that in the paperwork they gave you when you started?

WLJ2

That's not the norm for my area. DS is in a large center and they do not have a drop off time set. He goes 4 days a week but I can bring thin the fifth day if needed and if he misses one day we can make it up. They are really good about working with parents.

singingirl96

Thanks ladies.  I thought this was incredibly ridiculous.    When I returned to drop off my daughter after the doctors appointment, they said that if I need to drop off later for doctors appointments, that's ok, but as long as I let them know in advance.   I'm guessing it is because of staffing... My kids are enrolled full time, so they should staff as if they were there even if they aren't .   So I'll work with them in letting them know ahead of time, but I must admit, I was a bit ticked off. 
I'm very happy with this center and I hated feeling like they have ridiculous policies.

TNChick

My center wants to know in advance for staffing/feeding purposes, but as long as they know, they are fine. I pack my kids' lunch, so I don't know what they do about lunch if they are late. We are late all the time

SLGILL1978

I have heard of this before actually but my babysitter doesn't have a drop off time limit.