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For
Providers > Communicating with
Parents
- Initial
Visits With Families
For the
initial interview, you’ll want to have all of the information about your
program on hand, including your parent handbook, enrollment forms, brochures,
etc. Plan for at least an hour of uninterrupted time to discuss:
- Philosophy of your program
- Group sizes, ages, and adult-to-child ratios
- Program structure and curriculum
- Education and training of provider and staff
- Yearly schedule and calendar
- Daily activities, materials, and equipment
- Health and safety policies
- Parental involvement
- Contracts, payments, due dates, and late fees
- Subsidy and financial aid information
- Forms to be completed by parents
- Meals and snacks provided
The second
half of the interview is when you can show the parents around the program,
taking them on a tour of each classroom or area, the outside play yard,
toileting facilities, etc. If the child is present, have the child visit the
class that she would be attending, introduce her to the teachers and other
children, and have her try out an activity or two. Make sure that you conduct a
thorough tour of the facility and answer any questions the parents may have
along the way.
At the end of
the visit, communicate the next steps to prospective families. Be clear about
forms that need to be completed, deposits that are due (and whether the deposit
is refundable), and any waiting list information you may have.
Enrollment
Once you have
heard back from a family, and have accepted them into your program, you’ll
want to begin the enrollment process. Be sure to go over all of the policies
with them, and discuss issues, such as withdrawal from the program, illness,
vacation, late payment and pick-up fees, etc. Specify items that must be brought
from home, items that should not be brought in, and any other important
policies.
Have the
parents sign all of the appropriate enrollment forms, and give them any forms
they need to have signed by their pediatrician or others. Give them a copy of
the parent handbook and contract, and collect a deposit check from them at this
time.
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