Do you frequently have children that arrive later than the other children? Are late arrivals interrupting your routine? Does your staff complain about children arriving in the middle of nap time circle time or lunch?
I have always opted to have a cut-off time in my program. In fact, I believe that children need a schedule and if you do not have a cut-off time on arrivals; it could be difficult to schedule staff or to keep the children on a regular routine.
Also if you have a daily circle time, this is a great time to get all the children to together to discuss daily activities, go over class rules and review vital educational skills.
Furthermore, if all of your children are not in attendance by your Circle time, they will be missing out on a vital part of their day.
Are you afraid to enforce rules? If so, you can simply tell the parents that your class time begins at 9:00am and you don’t want their children to miss out on morning class time.
Parents want their children to be in an educational program and if you place an emphasis on the fact that the cut-off time benefits their children, you will have a higher level of compliance.
Three ways to encourage parents to bring their children by your cut-off time:
- Reward the children with stickers for coming to school on time
- Tell the parents, thank you for making sure that (say the child’s name) made it on time for class or circle time.
- Post a notice that indicates your arrival cut-off time, where parents can see it.
Should there be an exception?
Yes! Require that parents report late arrivals before the cut-off time and consider only allowing late arrivals in the event of an emergency, part-time enrollment, the parent called to report the late arrival or in the event of a Doctor appointments.
My cut-off time has always been 9:00am and 98% of the children arrive on time daily. We tend to have at least 1 or 2 parents that arrive shortly after 9:00am. I don’t make a big deal if they are late, I just remind the parents of the cut-off time.
Cut-off times bring a sense of order in your program and it helps the children to have consistency in their day. How do you feel about a cut-off time? Do you have a cut-off time in your program?
For more information on policies or program management, be sure to grab a copy of my Parent Handbook template.
Shiketa
Check out my Membership Clubs
Family Home Child Care Empowerment
The Child Care Business Owner Institute 
Comments on: "Enforcing The Cut-Off Time For Arrivals" (6)
WOW THIS IS SUCH A ISSUE WITH ONE PARENT, NEVER ON TIME SOMETIMES A HOUR OR TWO LATE, MY CUT OFF WAS(9:30 AM) I HAVE TOLD HER OVER AND OVER. FEEL SO DISRESPECTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN WARNING.. AND THERE IS ALWAYS WOKE UP LATE..
LikeLike
Sharon….sounds like its time to enforce your cut off time.
LikeLike
Great information. I agree with you 100%, what you expect is what you get. I just instituted a drop off deadline and parents are complying! I wish I would have done this earlier. 😉
LikeLike
🙂 Glad you love the post. Youre right…You get what you expect!
LikeLike
Good evening, At Blessing Sent Child Care Center in Richmond Va. we have a cut off time of 9:00am. For the staff and the other children that do arrive on time its works very good. I feel it prepares the children for school and allows them to be on a schedule, once they start school this is something that they will be use to. I do give a grace period of 5min, if a parent is going to be late bringing their child(ten) they must call 15 to 30min before the cut off time. We have had a cut off time for about 7yrs now.
LikeLike
Great! I appreciate your feedback!
LikeLike