Question Re Childcare Fees

As said, pretty standard accross the board practice. We do try and provide a makeup day where possible to families falling on these days, however that is only possible if rooms aren't full. My families sign a an agreement on enrolment that covers a pile of things, including agreeing to pay for all booked days including days of absence, public holidays, etc, so I imagine other centres would do the same.

Ours only started charging last year for public holidays, but it is just one of those things..

As a parent it sucks, but from a business perspective

60 chn at $70 a day with three days of one pay week as a ph would be at
~ 12 thousand dollar loss to the centre.
+ they pay staff anywhere between 100 and 175 hours per day (depending on ratios and centre set ups)with likely average rate of $19.
A conservative estimate for that three days of wages is $7500.
As they must roster as per it being a normal working day (the same as any workplace).
Not including cook or management that are also permanent staff.

That is a lot of money to 'waste' in three days.
Thinking of the exorbitant rent, weekly food, nappy, supplies, resources, bills it is a damn lot of money for centres to lose.

Public holidays are factored in to the costs for care.
It is legal because the centre is not choosing to close,
Unlike Christmas holiday periods, for example.

Yes, of course most child care staff are permanent -
it is how we provide continiuty of care & keep fees lower.
Casual staff would likely put a 25% rise on your fees because they are required to be paid 25% more.

Thanks for posting that Dragoncookie - its good to look at it from another perspective

Personally I am a big fan of DSs centre, and I want them to be able to have the funds to replace equipment, toys, resources etc so I am happy to pay them (as work is still paying me for the public holidays anyway luckily)

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I must say, my childcare centre is great on this stuff. We still pay on these days but we get a make up day for any day that we would normally be there but it's closed.

So handy to have these up my sleeve for any one off needs on the days that we are normally at home.

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Samewith our childcare centre I think this is a fair way of going about it. When we want a makeup day, you need to book it to check that there is a space available though (so they dont go over the ratios). we also dont have to pay for the 2 week holidays over christmas.

Thank goodness.