Would you say something?

s-a-r-a-h

DD's daycare wants to move her up to the next room. Apparently they have a lot of babies that need to move up and most of the kids in the 18-24 month room are also ready to move up. She would be moving with several kids from her current class so it's not like she'd be surrounded by a bunch of much older kids. We're okay with the move but I'm not exactly comfortable with her only having one teacher. The student to teacher ratio for 12-17 months is 5:1 and the ratio for 18-23 months is 9:1. DD is only 15 months and I know for a fact that several of the other kids that would be moving over aren't 18 months. I'm probably going to say something to the school director, but I wanted to see what y'all think, too.

Also, I can't remember if tuition decreases when she moves to the next classroom, but would you expect to pay based upon your child's age or classroom?

PrincessBrideSarah

My LO doesn't go to daycare, but I'm pretty sure the daycare has to follow the state-mandated minimum age ratios even if they move her up early

I found this: https://daycare.com/texas/

Until she is 18 months old, the minimum ratio is 5:1. If she moves up 3 months early, I think (but am not sure) that the daycare is in violation if they don't staff your DD at the 5:1 ratio.

As to the tuition, I would expect to pay less once my child is legally able to be staffed at the higher ratio and is being staffed at that ratio. If she stayed longer in the younger room (which also has a smaller ratio of children to adults), I would expect to pay the higher price.

 

Taytee

How do they define "ready to move up"? Are they really that developmentally advanced they need the extra space or different toys the next room up has to offer? Or is it more motivated by the availability of space to move kids up so they can get more infants/newborns in?

I would expect to pay less when my kid is getting less individual attention, ie - a higher ratio. It has nothing to do with what room or class they are in. If they would keep a 2 year old at a 5:1, I'd expect to pay the same as for a NB, KWIM?

Our kids are about the same age and Emily is pretty advanced (at least compared to Abby at this age). She feeds herself, has been walking since 8 months and communicates many of her needs, including "poo poo" diapers recently. And even I wouldn't be comfortable with her being in such a high ratio even with other "high functioning" 15 month olds.

smb29

I would have expected to pay less when ds moved, but our daycare only charges less when they reach the right age.  His bday is in the middle of the month, so I had to pay one month at the higher rate, even though he was already moved. 

If it bugs you, I would ask the director how they planned on addressing the ratio issue.  I know our daycare will sometimes create a class that is odd (last year they had enough kids to create a 10-15 month class, instead of the usual 0-12 months, 12-18 months), but they kept the staffing ratio appropriate for the youngest kids.

bobcatsteph

I would think they would have to maintain ratios based on age, not on the physical room the kids are in. I would ask about that.

DD was moved to the 12-18 month room at 10.5 months because she was several months older than the other babies and was using them to pull up on. She was then moved to the 18-24 month room at 14 months because she was the only child left in that room.

Unfortunately, tuition didn't drop for us until she actually reached 18 months (the age at her center where it first goes down). It doesn't hurt to ask about it though.

Abrooks

They absolutely should maintain ratios. 9:1 is way too large for her age.  I would ask them about it.  I also wouldn't feel any pressure if you're not comfortable with the move. Most centers will move kids to get more in.  If she's not ready, keep her where she is.  

atlantic

I would definitely talk to them.  It may not be too big a deal to add a teacher to the class since there will be so many younger than 18 months - you won't know unless you ask!  And I would TOTALLY expect to pay based on the ratios, not the child's age - i think that's ludicrous that at some centers you pay for age if they're in a lower (?) ratio class.  Violet moved up a class and my tuition rate changed when her ratio did - which i would totally expect it to.

 

On another note - i think it's CRAZY that the ratio jumps from 5:1 to 9:1 at 18 months!  That is a HUGE jump!  V is in a class with a lot of 18mos+now but I'm so thankful that her ratio is still 5:1 - I would NOT want to be that one teacher in a room full of  nine18 months olds!

mcurban

yep. and you could just say it like it was obvious, like "So, you'll be moving another teacher in as to keep the correct ratio since so many of the kids are under 18mos?"