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Daycare situation - WWYD?
I need objective opinions here.
Backstory: We have been going to the same daycare for 2 years. Up until the beginning of July, they were a small in-home mother/daughter daycare. They recently expanded into a new space and became a "center" which I had originally avoided while searching for a daycare due to the staff turnover.
Well, it's been just over a month as a "center" now, and already the two staff they'd hired, the toddler teacher and the preschool teacher, have left.
A few questions for other experienced moms;
1) I have learned of both instances of the staff leaving through the grapevine, from another mom with her kid there who was unhappy with the caregiver from the start and was pretty vocal about it. Is is strange that the provider hasn't updated the parents directly about the staff turnover?
2) They have a planned closure this Friday for an "in-service" day (see email below) for staff training etc.. Seeing as how there is currently no staff besides the mom and daughter who have been running this daycare together for years, it seems pointless to me for them to be closed, and perhaps they could postpone the day off until they have new staff.
Would it be out of line for me to say something? I'd like to gently approach this with them without rocking the boat but thought I'd solicit some neutral advice first.
> Date: Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:47:50
> Subject: August 10th
>
> Hi everyone, In your handbook it says we will be taking an in-service day in August. This year, it will be Friday, August 10th. This is a day when we and the staff will be here to lesson plan, review disaster plans and procedures, have teacher trainings, etc, while the kids are gone. We will also have an in-service day in March. Please note, your tuition for August will be the same as usual. Thanks!
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Re: Daycare situation - WWYD?
1. My DC does not inform of us staff terminations but the existing teachers may mention something to the parents of the room affected. The DC does email the parents including a photo when new staff is hired. Also on each classroom door is a picture of the teacher along w/ a short bio of their experience and education. There is no harm asking about any staff changes that are taking care of your LO.
2. I wouldn't mention the in-staff service day b/c it was outlined in the handbook.
Our DCP doesn't inform parents when teachers leave but the teachers will. One of DD's infant teachers left while DD was in the room and she told me directly. The other infant teacher left while DD was in the toddler room and we found out after the fact from the toddler teacher. I would expect to be informed by the teacher directly if your child is in their class but not if its a different class.
I wouldn't mention the in service day since it's in the handbook.
Our day care does a good job of keeping us informed of staff changes. We get a weekly email newsletter and that is where we would typically hear of this, unless it's a teacher in DD's or DS's class (they would usually tell us before the newsletter in this case). I don't think it's a huge deal, though. I know a lot of centers don't really communicate it, especially to parents whose kids aren't directly affected.
The inservice day seems lame since they have no staff, but it may be a licensing requirement and they already have it on the books. Rescheduling would mean that parents who've made other arrangements would have to rebook, etc. I'd leave it be.
When staff leave on their own we normally get a heads up in a letter form. So and so is leaving since going back to school, or getting a new full time teaching job or is moving etc. If someone is terminated we don't necessarily hear about it but will get a letter about personnel changes in the classrooms.
As for the in service day they may be using it as a day to interview new potential staff since they can get through a bunch of interviews that day with out worring about ratios since the kids are not there.
We were at the same center for over two years, and only one teacher left during that time (and there were a fair amount total). We were informed in a note in our inbox, and they discussed any potential schedule/primary teacher changes. Once two teachers swapped rooms (from infant to toddler and vice versa) and we even got a note about that. So in that center, it was definitely the norm (and much appreciated) to keep us informed.
I wouldn't mention the inservice since it's in the handbook.
I agree with all of the above. The inservice day is legit, and the hirings/firings are really not important unless it directly affects your child's day-to-days.
I think two teachers have left B's daycare since we started 8 months ago, but not in her room. One was terminated and one retired. We were not informed beforehand or after. Our director just left and that we were informed of before it happened. I don't think they are out of line in not discussing their staffing situation with you.
As far as the in-service, it could be a liscensing requirement and even if it isn't, you were pre-informed of it per the handbook.
My main concern in your situation would be do they have enough people to watch all the kids...if the mom/daughter are the director/assistant director, then there aren't any teachers...
BFP #2 4/13/10. Bridget born 12/28/10
BFP #3 Finn born 8/11/15
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meh - I don't think any of this is your business.
If you don't like how your child is being cared for, then address that w/ teh director/owner or leave.
Telling them when they should/shouldn't have an in-service day isn't really any of your concern as long as they are giving you enough notice. Now, if they have another one in September that isn't pre-planned, that's an issue.