Is it ok to ask parents when children will be attending over christmas?

[Tippy Toes]

Was thinking of sending out a letter asking parents when children will be attending over christmas, has anyone ever done this?

Last year I had some parents who said they were bring their children and not turning up or letting me know.

What do you think?

Thanks

[Twinkles]

Yes absolutely !

Print off a calender page and give it to the parents. Ask them to highlight the days their children will be attending so you can plan outings and activities.

[AliceK]

Yes of course it's ok. Tell parents you are doing planning and need to know what days they are sending their children.

xxxx

[loopyloopy]

I asked early November

[snufflepuff]

Yes I do this. I just ask them to let me know so that I know where I am with my planning and so that I can organise my time off. If they had needed me I'd have worked and so would OH- they don't need me so OH is taking the time off work so we can have a break together.

[cupcake22]

I just tell them when i am off over Christamas & New Year. Usually tell them around Sept so they have plenty of time to plan.

Cupcake22

[mufftie]

I have it off , so I've been asking them when will they Finnish for Christmas , reminding them that I'm not available
Last yr I had a parent wanting me to do a few hours on the 28th I said no way , she only wanted to go sale shopping !

[nikki thomson]

Definately but if you wanted any specific days of I would off probably asked them a while back as it may be difficult if they need you a certain day and you don't want to do it.
I've booked of two weeks and I planned it months ago. X

[dolly daycare]

I have asked all my parents to let me know, what days they will be sending their lo's. Although, so far, I have had only one parent reply!

[tinkerbelle]

i asked all parents what days they would need me as i was working and all have said im not needed so i get 1 weeks holiday full pay

[pinky33]

Yes it's good to ask rather than sit in and wait!
Hopefully they won't need you ours all don't yay

[onceinabluemoon]

Yes, get them to write it down and point out that once they've written it down you will plan for those dates so they are not changeable.

or do what I do and book time off.

[Chimps Childminding]

We asked the parents in our Newsletter in October to let us know what they needed us over Christmas - needless to say no one did! So we sent a form out last month showing when we are open/closed and asked parents to complete and return what they needed!!! Still waiting on some and the one who said they would need us between Christmas and New Year (prompting us to offer for others) has now decided they don't

[VeggieSausage]

yes asked parents in a newletter in early november too then asked on the doorstep had they seen the newsletter about christmas holidays, and said I wanted to plan lots of fun christmas stuff in and needed to know when their children would be here or not.....

[kindredspirits]

last year I sent out a calander page of december with the days that I was closed marked in red and asked all parents to tick or cross which days their child would be attending - i put on the top of the page that unless prior arrangements were agreed by both parties that any booked time off could not be changed. it worked fairly well and i at least knew who was coming on what days so i could plan activities that were age appropriate.

[kats]

I just tell them the date i close and the day i open and i do it in October so they have plenty of time to arrange things

[Tippy Toes]

Thanks to everyones for the replies, you have been very helpful.

Think I will send out a calender for the xmas period and ask parents to confirm days child will be attending.