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View Full Version : Who's given parents their holiday dates for 2016 yet??



AliceK
06-01-2016, 02:06 PM
How much notice do you give parents of your time off. When do you give them your dates for the year??

xx

lollipop kid
06-01-2016, 02:08 PM
How much notice do you give parents of your time off. When do you give them your dates for the year??

xx

I worked mine out before Christmas. However, following a massive clear up - they are nowhere to be found, so I'll have to rework them to give to parents by the end of this week, and hope that version 2 is as good as version 1.

I always try to get them out before Christmas - it gives me something to look forward to. Failed miserably this year, though!

All the best,

LK

loocyloo
06-01-2016, 02:09 PM
I'm giving parents my newsletter this week and this has my holiday dates on it for this year. I've said I may take the whole of the Christmas holidays off but will confirm over the summer!
I may also need to take May half term off, but I don't know yet, so will just tell parents when I know!

tess1981
06-01-2016, 02:29 PM
I have been giving them out thus week. Still a few parents I won't see until Friday though. I always give them put after Christmas holidays as it feels like I have something to look forward to lol

mama2three
06-01-2016, 02:56 PM
we tend to book our holidays quite early , so parents have had 2016 holidays since october 2015.

hectors house
06-01-2016, 05:19 PM
I haven't had anytime off since July, I did mean to take time off in October but then had 2 babies booked for settling in and it seemed mean to tell their parents that after returning to work after maternity leave that I would be taking time off, so I told myself that I would take time off in January for a week abroad for winter sun, but then in Oct i had one parent get made redundant and another moved away so I ended up taking on another baby just started full time this week - so January holiday wasn't going to be convenient either. The new mum works in a private school so they have slightly longer school hols so have just been looking up dates for feb half term, but as I normally give at least 4 months notice (although my contract says I only have to give 4 weeks), I think I will look for Easter instead - but then I have 2 weeks off at end of May/June so don't want to be unreliable!

Pixie dust
06-01-2016, 06:10 PM
I have given my holiday dates out this week for the year. We aren't planning on actually going away this year but still need to have that time out from work. When I look back at last year I only had 13 days off for the whole year so I have made sure and booked more this year.

bunyip
06-01-2016, 06:49 PM
What's a holiday? :rolleyes:

samb
06-01-2016, 07:40 PM
I haven't had anytime off since July, I did mean to take time off in October but then had 2 babies booked for settling in and it seemed mean to tell their parents that after returning to work after maternity leave that I would be taking time off, so I told myself that I would take time off in January for a week abroad for winter sun, but then in Oct i had one parent get made redundant and another moved away so I ended up taking on another baby just started full time this week - so January holiday wasn't going to be convenient either. The new mum works in a private school so they have slightly longer school hols so have just been looking up dates for feb half term, but as I normally give at least 4 months notice (although my contract says I only have to give 4 weeks), I think I will look for Easter instead - but then I have 2 weeks off at end of May/June so don't want to be unreliable!

Oh my goodness! I really hope you find some time that you can take off. New parents would understand about having holiday booked- generally if you start a new job and have annual leave booked with an employer they will transfer if they can so it wouldn't be unusual to say that?

I say I give out dates by Feb half term but this year I was very organised and released before Xmas. That's because I booked an actual proper abroad holiday! I'm quite scared but it's not til end of August so plenty of time to get over it (or worry myself silly!)

tess1981
06-01-2016, 09:36 PM
Oh my goodness! I really hope you find some time that you can take off. New parents would understand about having holiday booked- generally if you start a new job and have annual leave booked with an employer they will transfer if they can so it wouldn't be unusual to say that?

I say I give out dates by Feb half term but this year I was very organised and released before Xmas. That's because I booked an actual proper abroad holiday! I'm quite scared but it's not til end of August so plenty of time to get over it (or worry myself silly!)

I booked my holiday for august too that's why I wanted dates handed out asap as my dates are different this year than my usual although suits more parents this way which is a bonus

tess1981
06-01-2016, 09:38 PM
I have given my holiday dates out this week for the year. We aren't planning on actually going away this year but still need to have that time out from work. When I look back at last year I only had 13 days off for the whole year so I have made sure and booked more this year.

Only 13 days???? I had 9 days then weekends on top of that for Christmas lol
I book 26 days of a year but this year I'm taking 28 and to soften the blow I included on the list that I will not be increasing fees this year... although he not increased any fees in lot 3 years

Bumble Beez
07-01-2016, 09:17 AM
How much notice do you give parents of your time off. When do you give them your dates for the year??

xx

I handed mine out before Christmas with the majority of holiday dates, training days etc...
But if I need an extra day here or there I give at least 6 weeks notice (where possible)
Luckily all my families are wonderful at the moment so if something crops up we work round it :thumbsup: xx

Simona
07-01-2016, 09:24 AM
How much notice do you give parents of your time off. When do you give them your dates for the year??

xx

Do you not have that stipulated in your contract so that both you and parents give each other adequate notice for holidays?
Usually 4 weeks is enough but it is up to you.
Also you may want to take the 'odd' day off for emergencies with maybe less notice
Again that must be in your contract.

Some cms take time off at the same time each year...I used to...so there was never a need to inform parents but I still gave them 4 weeks notice...'just in case'

Good luck!

mumofone
07-01-2016, 10:01 AM
I handed mine out before Christmas with the majority of holiday dates, training days etc... But if I need an extra day here or there I give at least 6 weeks notice (where possible) Luckily all my families are wonderful at the moment so if something crops up we work round it :thumbsup: xx

Do you charge parents for the days you're on training?

Bumble Beez
07-01-2016, 05:24 PM
Do you charge parents for the days you're on training?

No hun...never have.
I've always looked at it that if I don't do the training I can't work, so I take the day unpaid.
Majority are weekends anyway xx

BallyH
07-01-2016, 06:41 PM
I try to do most of my training online now that is offered by my LA. What a lovely way to spend my evenings.

rickysmiths
08-01-2016, 07:46 PM
I have 5 weeks a year holiday plus Bank Holidays. Holidays 1/2 Fee BH full fee if they fall on a Contracted day.

I will be giving dates out next week and have already given dates up to and including Feb half Term until the end of the year except for 3 to 4 days which I keep for emergencies and for which I undertake to give as much notice as I can,

I take 4 paid Training Days a year as well as recommended by Pacey years ago.

Blemblem
09-01-2016, 03:50 PM
I have done a newsletter and put my main two weeks summer holiday dates on it and emailed it out Wednesday. ;)

bunyip
10-01-2016, 10:32 AM
:mad: Deep breath, count to ten, try to stay calm.

My contracts say 4 weeks' notice of holiday either way, but I've always given clients lots of notice of my holiday dates, whilst accepting them giving me less than the 4 weeks on numerous occasions. My dates are largely dictated by the ones Mrs bunyip gets off from her "proper" job (;)) : she usually has those confirmed by Christmas, although she'll still waiting this year, owing to a management snafu at her branch.

In any case, I've never booked more than 10 days of my owning choosing in any year, though I'm sometimes lucky enough to get a bit more if the clients' choice of their holiday dates coincide IYSWIM. To minimise inconvenience to TTO clients, I also try to keep most or all of my closure dates within the school holidays, although I make it clear this won't always be the case. I also won't sign a contract with anyone who doesn't have a 'plan B' fall-back arrangement in case I get sick or need a day off when they still need to go to work, so nobody should ever be without childcare, even if it means they occasionally have to fall back on granny or similar. Parents don't pay for my holidays, nor their own (reasonable Ts&Cs apply). In short it's a far better deal for parents than any other childcare setting in my area.

You'd think that would be acceptable. Read on.....................

Lovely news: one set of parents announce their forthcoming wedding, and invite us to the reception. :clapping: Time and distance will necessitate us closing for one day in order to attend. So I started notifying parents late last week: 5+ months notice for a 1-day closure.

I'm furious. I told one mum and her response was, "Oh, that's in term-time. It's not very convenient: do you really have to go?" No? Oh, well I'll throw a wedding invitation back in someone's face just for your convenience shall I love? Or maybe see if they can't rearrange the entire wedding? :angry:

What's doubly irritating is that in 2 years, I've never previously had to inconvenience this mum with my holiday dates. On top of that, she's already asked me about the possibilty of swapping her regular days after Easter, as her own work schedule may need to change - so there's a good chance the wedding trip won't affect her in the slightest.

Sorry for the rant. I just don't believe how selfish people can be. :(

natlou82
10-01-2016, 10:46 AM
How annoying! I do think that sometimes the more we try and make like as easy as possible for our clients (you know really thinking about their needs) the more they think they can push it! Very selfish behaviour.

bunyip
10-01-2016, 10:55 AM
How annoying! I do think that sometimes the more we try and make like as easy as possible for our clients (you know really thinking about their needs) the more they think they can push it! Very selfish behaviour.

Agreed.

Every time this sort of thing happens it crosses my mind to be a lot less generous all round. On reflection, it's usually just the odd client who takes advantage, and I can't bring myself to re-write the rules for everyone just because one person is being mean.

BallyH
10-01-2016, 04:01 PM
Oh dear. Me, me, me, me and only me springs to mind. 'What you have other parents you would like to keep happy' plus 'where is my invite' and 'oh by the way can I change my days after Easter? Pretty please' eyelids fluttering. Noooooooo.

smurfette
11-01-2016, 05:24 PM
:mad: Deep breath, count to ten, try to stay calm. My contracts say 4 weeks' notice of holiday either way, but I've always given clients lots of notice of my holiday dates, whilst accepting them giving me less than the 4 weeks on numerous occasions. My dates are largely dictated by the ones Mrs bunyip gets off from her "proper" job (;)) : she usually has those confirmed by Christmas, although she'll still waiting this year, owing to a management snafu at her branch. In any case, I've never booked more than 10 days of my owning choosing in any year, though I'm sometimes lucky enough to get a bit more if the clients' choice of their holiday dates coincide IYSWIM. To minimise inconvenience to TTO clients, I also try to keep most or all of my closure dates within the school holidays, although I make it clear this won't always be the case. I also won't sign a contract with anyone who doesn't have a 'plan B' fall-back arrangement in case I get sick or need a day off when they still need to go to work, so nobody should ever be without childcare, even if it means they occasionally have to fall back on granny or similar. Parents don't pay for my holidays, nor their own (reasonable Ts&Cs apply). In short it's a far better deal for parents than any other childcare setting in my area. You'd think that would be acceptable. Read on..................... Lovely news: one set of parents announce their forthcoming wedding, and invite us to the reception. :clapping: Time and distance will necessitate us closing for one day in order to attend. So I started notifying parents late last week: 5+ months notice for a 1-day closure. I'm furious. I told one mum and her response was, "Oh, that's in term-time. It's not very convenient: do you really have to go?" No? Oh, well I'll throw a wedding invitation back in someone's face just for your convenience shall I love? Or maybe see if they can't rearrange the entire wedding? :angry: What's doubly irritating is that in 2 years, I've never previously had to inconvenience this mum with my holiday dates. On top of that, she's already asked me about the possibilty of swapping her regular days after Easter, as her own work schedule may need to change - so there's a good chance the wedding trip won't affect her in the slightest. Sorry for the rant. I just don't believe how selfish people can be. :(

Prob been too accommodating in past and she has got used to her cushy number. That sucks :(

bunyip
11-01-2016, 07:06 PM
Prob been too accommodating in past and she has got used to her cushy number. That sucks :(

Not sure it's even that. I find she generally has trouble seeing beyond her own needs. I once had to ask her to collect her lo who had puked. Instead of her making the 20 minute drive from her workplace, she passed the message on to dad who had to leave a job half-finished and drive 60+ miles to get here. :(

smurfette
11-01-2016, 07:13 PM
Not sure it's even that. I find she generally has trouble seeing beyond her own needs. I once had to ask her to collect her lo who had puked. Instead of her making the 20 minute drive from her workplace, she passed the message on to dad who had to leave a job half-finished and drive 60+ miles to get here. :(

Wow!! 😱😱😱😱

natlou82
12-01-2016, 09:24 AM
Umm.. I'm sure we all have clients that struggle to see past the end of their own nose!

mumofone
12-01-2016, 09:53 AM
Umm.. I'm sure we all have clients that struggle to see past the end of their own nose!

Errr....yup! :-)

Simona
12-01-2016, 10:10 AM
Interesting thread as usual when it comes to parents looking closely at their contract....unfortunately many do not bother to read them and many believe it is just a piece of paper regardless of the fact they sign on the dotted line.
Hence that important 1st visit when they drop by to look at our setting...we interview them so we make sure they understand 'our rules'

before becoming a cm I ran a preschool...same contract more or less as it has evolved through the years...same rules about holidays...never a problem

So why I never had a problem with preschool parents but often had a few with c/minding ones?...I say a few because my contract is really very clear on holidays

Can parents really argue against notice for leave?...anyone employed or employing other people know for a fact we need to give each other notice as per contract!!

kellib
31-01-2016, 09:21 PM
So I've just told parents that I'm away for a few days in April (only missing 2 days for each family)

One family perfectly fine with it, another one comes back with 'it's not ideal for me'

I've given them 12 weeks notice! In my contracts it said I only need to give 4.

It baffles me why parents don't have back up plans in place, I could phone them one morning sick etc.

Dragonfly
01-02-2016, 07:46 AM
I find it theses that you help the most that make a fuss the most when we change something.

AliceK
01-02-2016, 09:40 AM
I find it theses that you help the most that make a fuss the most when we change something.

It most certainly is isn't it. I have bent over backwards for certain families in the not too distant past but eventually realised that these parents were all take take take and never give back. Needless to say they are no longer families of mine and I now only do things IF they suit me. Remember most families wouldn't give a jot about letting us down, it's only us who care too much :(

xx

hectors house
01-02-2016, 09:44 AM
[QUOTE=bunyip;1415569]:mad: Deep breath, count to ten, try to stay calm.

.

You'd think that would be acceptable. Read on.....................

Lovely news: one set of parents announce their forthcoming wedding, and invite us to the reception. :clapping: Time and distance will necessitate us closing for one day in order to attend. So I started notifying parents late last week: 5+ months notice for a 1-day closure.

you just reminded me we have a week day wedding to attend in July - I had better let all parents know today

Jessymax
01-02-2016, 03:15 PM
I have given half of mine plan to give other half this months invoice or next at latest ( don't know why as I can give as little as 4 weeks notice but rather get then out there ) we are planning to go to Sydney over chritsmas and new year all being well x

Roseolivia
01-02-2016, 06:01 PM
I take 6 weeks a year plus Bank Hols all unpaid. I have a mixture of term time and all year contracts so cannot cater to everyone so I therefore take my holidays when I want to. I always take 2 at Christmas and usually 1 in January as we go skiing which we've just had. This year i'm taking 2wks in August for a summer hol but am also going away with my cousin from Canada to hopefully Barcelona. This is going to be in school time though as its cheaper and I don't want lots of kids around (leaving my kids home with hubby for the first time). Haven't gave summer or other dates yet until I know for definite but try to give as much notice as possible.