Your parent handbook outlines all important information for families enrolled at your childcare center. Creating a parent handbook for your school involves highlighting contact information, outlining policies and procedures, explaining fees and tuition costs, and including any other pertinent information.
Your parent handbook will also act as a contract between you and your families, helping to avoid miscommunication and adding a layer of protection for your center. The more in-depth your parent handbook is, the less confusion you will have. In this blog post, we will outline how to create a parent handbook for your childcare center. Keep reading to get started building your center’s handbook.
Start With the Basics
Contact Information
Highlight basic information about your center at the beginning of your handbook. Include the name, address, and contact information of your school. You may also wish to include the names and contact information of owners or directors that may be contacted with questions or in the case of an emergency.
Hours of Operation
Make sure to include hours of operation for your center including drop-off and pick-up times. Also, be sure to include your check-in/check-out procedure and any late fees your center charges.
Holidays
Make sure parents know which holidays your center observes and closures or hours of operation on those days.
Showcase Your Childcare and Teaching Philosophies
It’s important that families know your center’s philosophies around teaching so they can understand what and how their child will learn. Share more about your center’s philosophies when it comes to teaching, development, and discipline.
Mission, Vision, and Values
In addition to your teaching philosophies, it’s important to explain your center’s mission, vision, and values. This helps parents understand your center’s goals when it comes to educating their children and what you hope to become. Your values highlight what’s important to you as a school and can help families connect to your center.
In addition to building relationships with parents, knowing your mission, vision, and values is extremely important for building your center’s brand. Having a strong brand image can positively affect your marketing efforts and boost enrollment. To learn more about building a brand and improving your center’s marketing strategy, read this blog post.
Outline Policies and Procedures
Your center is going to have different policies for various circumstances. Clearly outlining these policies is crucial for keeping parents informed. Here are a few important policies to include in your handbook:
- Vacation Policies
- Sick Policies
- Drop-in Childcare Procedure
- Enrollment Policies
- Withdrawal Policies
- Waitlist Policies
- Check-in and Check-out Procedures
- Code of Conduct
- Discipline Procedures
- Health and Safety Regulations
- Emergency Procedures
Update Parents on Your Curriculum and Activities
Share your center’s curriculum plan so families understand which concepts and skills their child will learn. Also include any special activities, events, or field trips children partake in throughout the year.
Sample Schedule
Many centers find it beneficial to include an example of a child’s day so parents can get a better understanding of their child’s experience.
Refine Your Supply List
If you require parents to provide food or supplies for their child, specify that here. Some examples could be:
- Breakfast
- Snacks
- Extra Clothing
- Diapers
- Wipes
- Sunscreen
Give Instructions for Mobile Apps and Services
If your center uses a parent engagement software like Kangarootime, include information on the service. This could be a parent guide or information sheet outlining the app, where to download it, how to use it, and more. It’s becoming increasingly popular for parents to be connected to their children throughout the day. Using a childcare management software like Kangarootime is an easy way to connect with parents and increase the value of your center. With Kangarootime parents can:
- Pay their bill
- See photos and videos of their child
- View upcoming events
- Monitor daily activities
- Check their child in and out
Include this information in your handbook so parents can make the most of their mobile platform.
Clearly Explain Tuition and Fees
Make your billing policy clear in your tuition and fees section. Include when parents will be charged, applicable discounts, and payment options. If there are additional fees associated with certain payment options, like credit card processing fees, describe those here.
Provide Required Forms
If you require families to return specific forms like immunization records, a registration form, emergency contacts, etc., provide them in your handbook. This makes it easy for parents to fill out and return these forms to your center quickly.
End with the Acknowledgement and Signature
Finally, include an acknowledgment and required signature at the end of your handbook. This ensures the families have read and understand the handbook and agree to what has been written.
Now, you’re ready to get started creating your parent handbook! For more resources on growing and improving your childcare business, subscribe to our blog.
Kangarootime is the leading all-in-one childcare management software for daycares and preschools. With billing and invoicing capabilities, parent communication and staff management tools, and classroom automation, Kangarootime helps childcare centers grow and scale. To learn more about optimizing your center with Kangarootime, visit kangarootime.com
