Late collection - what do you charge?

[sarahcentral]

Would anyone mind sharing their late collecton policy please?

We currently allow 2 late collections per term ( 6 weeks) any after that are charged at £10 and then we start again the next term.

Since November we have had around 15 late collections which bearing in mind we ony have about 22 children is a lot! One parent has been charged £20 so far and others are getting close.

At lunchtime it's causing problems as a member of staff that shoud be helping with the lunch or on their own lunch break is having to sit with the uncollected child and in the afternoon it is causing staff to be late picking their own children up!

We are looking to re-write our policy as our AGM is soon, but just wondered what other setting have in their policy?

thank you

[tutu]

firstly dont use the term allow ever , you do not allow it. allow one and your giving an inch. secondly explain to parents clearly the impact on the staff and the children, distress etc. thirdly use your contract and like a discipline procedure tell parents they have a verbal warning after the first time, unless a true emergency follow it up with a letter confirming the verbal warning ( 2 verbals a written then out) . Ensure they understand you will contact social services if over half an hour late with no contact. use the emergency numbers they have provided this often works well cos people are mortified their MIL is told they are shoddy and then charge them, 10 for every 5 minutes late, explain it is to cover the incurred overtime.

[sarahcentral]

Thanks tutu, when you say 2 verbals a written then out, I am not sure we can do this as we are a funded pre-school and we cannot exclude children. It's so frustrating though!

[tutu]

of course you can exclude! you have a contract with the parents which includes non payment of fees behaviour etcetc and this comes under behaviour. as long as you have a clear procedure which is shared with parents then you can exclude if the contract is broken.

[sarahcentral]

Mmmm not sure we have been told explicitly by the funding department at the council we must not exclude

[Ruthierhyme]

Hiya, have you searched online for other policy examples - late collection The Cupcakesclub one is informative. Exclusion is drastic and as mentioned has implications for the settings reputation & funding arrangements. Keeping your message strong and staying ahead of problems could have you looking at a 'regularly late collection action plan involving a mediation meeting to maybe replace any cut loose statement.

Best wishes with it xx

[Ruthierhyme]

As an add to this has or does anyone work in partnership with social services inviting them to be active members of any mediation process? Have you found this has helped in with late collection/abandonment issues?