Daycare Question.

The teacher/child ratio can legally go down(less teachers to same amount of children) at the three year old mark, so I think it is great that it stays the same. You are getting more for less, in my opinion.

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well i guess i can kind of understand your frustration, but when it comes down to it, they have to follow the law - if they don't have room, they don't have room. since you're considering him being in another class with another teacher, have you thought about changing to a different preschool? just a thought. i don't understand the teacher/child ratio bothering you. is it because you feel like younger kids need more attention? less? i think it's just because the preschoolers are actually in a more classroom environment, with actual lessons. it seems simpler to keep the kids who are potty trained together, and those who aren't, together. plus, i am getting ready to move my child from an in-home daycare, to a preschool, and i didn't realize, they have "school years" just like the big kids. in fact it was considered odd to some that i put him in at the end of the "school year", even though our circumstances kind of deemed it necessary. so maybe they're waiting on the current class to "graduate" some kids? (yes, my son's preschool teacher actually used the term "graduation".) it's possible that some are leaving the class at the end of the school year.

i guess my answer was pretty convoluded. as you can tell i was a bit confused by your request. i would talk to the director if you're really unhappy or unsure about what's going on. but these places (unless it's not licensed or something) have to follow rules not set by themselves. good luck! ps, my son is 3 1/2 and just now going, so don't sweat it too much. he has plenty of time.

In Oklahoma the regulations are:
4 babies to 1 teacher
6 toddlers to 1 teacher
8-2 year olds to 1 teacher
12-3 yr olds to 1 teacher
15-4 yr olds to 1 teacher
20 school age kids to 1 teacher

(The reason costs are more is because you have fewer children paying, due to the ratio requirements, if I have 4 babies I have to pay the baby teacher the same wages I pay the school age teacher who has 20 kids paying in towards her salary)

For blended groups the number goes by the youngest child, if I had a mixed group with a baby I could only have 4-6 children, depending on the age of the other children, for example if I have 5 school agers and 1 baby, school age kids require little care, I could have 6 kids. If I had 1-4 year old in the school age group I could only have 15, etc....

If I have a class of 3 year old children and had the full number of 12 children I can't move the 3 yr olds up to the 4 year old class becasue it then the 4 year old class becomes a 3 year old classroom and the ratio goes down by 3 children. If 1 child is the wrong age it makes the class the younger childs age group.

So, if the Director moves your child up she will have different toy requirements, different curriculum requirements, she might even have to hire another teacher, all kinds of things are effected. She has to answer to her licensing agency and they say the kids have to be the age of the classroom to move up. I would also tell her that on his birthday I would like him to be moved up. If she is really having a problem with the kids in the 3 year old classroom not being old enough to move yet then you are going to have to wait. Pin her down as to when he will be moving up. It would be nice if she could just add an additional teacher and have another class of 3 year olds.

It is extremely hard to find part time child care anywhere so I would also be expecting to have to pay for a full week whether he goes or not if you change.

In Oklahoma the DHS pay rate for kids in a 2 STAR center ages 25 - 48 months is:
$24.75 daily
for kids 49-72 months it is:
$20.25

A 3 STAR center pay rate for ages 25 - 48 months is:
$27.75
for kids 49 - 72 months it is:
$22.50.

Hi L., my daughter has been in preschool since nearly 2 years old. She is now 4.5. At times I am anxious for her to move up, but they are there and I am not, so I just have to tell myself to cool it. My reasoning is because I think my little girl is so smart and surely she deserves to be with the smarter kids. Again, I am not there. While she is smart in the areas I get to see, like adding, counting really high, sounding letters, putting two letters together (?), etc., the part I never get to see is how she reacts to other children all day. She is an only child. Remember, kids act differently when with parents. Besides, it is easy for me to say to my daughter, don't act like that, but really is she mature enough to move up in class?

In her school, I have found that they move them in groups. Sometimes 1 or 2 stay behind, but most often the group goes together.

If your reason is for money, it is understandably so. However, it won't be long before he moves to the next level. If it is a good school, they will be good at placing him properly.

you will have to wait until a spot opens up. he may totally be ready for the next class up but if there is no room for him, or some other child in similar situation, they won't do it, unless someone from the preschool class moves up to pre-k. one of my twins was moved up to pre-k before my other twin did. there was just no room for both.
so your feelings are justified but not much you can do unless you want to put yourself on the radar for the administration, which i wouldn't do considering my child goes there.
you express your wish clearly to the director and hope a spot opens up soon.
good luck

I think it would be wrong to talk to the director. The school probually has more than one reason for the price difference. Some of those reasons could be: level of care, materials and equipment for care. It sounds like he will move up soon as there is a space for him, but if you see that it might be a long term wait for it and or you are unhappy with the place your son is, than I'd look for another daycare.
The care of children is expensive (as you know) but so is the quality of the care important. Daycare centers are not pron to giving discounts and sales like stores because you want to pay the people looking after your child a decent wage for the care they give and I know from past experience it's a low wage.

The extra cost is for the extra care that 2/3 year olds need. Not only are some not potty trained, but don't necessarily know how to wipe for bowel movements (teacher has to do it) and noses, etc. I think it is perfectly reasonable to pay a bit more when a child needs a little more attention than the 3/4 class kids need. Even some of the 3/4 kids still need help with wiping, but our school just gave the kids a diaper, wet wipe and the kid did the best they could.

So, a little more cost for wiping is reasonable. But, the suggestion to talk to admin. about your child being toilet trained is a good one. The worst they could say is no. The school year is almost over and if you want less expensive child care, look into the co-op schools or home daycares.

I can understand the frustration of wanting him to move up, but if there is not room in the next class it would be unreasonable for them to move him, further overcrowding the class, because you want them too. I am in a similar situation, only my son can not stay in his current class (too old), and is 5 days shy from being able to attend Kindergarten even though his teacher said she would write a letter saying he was ready. My only choice is to pay $437 (up from $132 I pay now) for the 5 day a week pre-K program or find another school.

I tend to agree with Veronica. I have twin boys in daycare two days a week. I knew there was a slight discount for when they became potty trained. When I felt that one of my boys was potty trained with no accidents for about a two month and the second for about a month, I questioned why I was not getting a cheaper rate. The administration totally understood. In fact, I was told by one that the boys would be on a 2 weeks watch to make sure of no accidents and then my price would go down. Disappointed to hear that because they had been doing good for so long already, but I went with it. I guess I should have asked sooner. But then when I picked up the boys that evening the main admin gal came to me and told me that there wasn't going to be a 2 week trial and I price was going down 10%. So I felt is was worth asking and I don't feel that they hold it against me at all. As for moving your child up. I too was in your spot about 9 months ago. My boys had to be potty trained to move up to the next class. They were ready by age and smarts, but the potty training was holding them back. I spoke with the admin and told them that I didn't feel that was fair that they were holding them back with 2yr olds when my boys where 3, just because of potty training. You can't force potty training. And especially with boys, it tends to take a little longer. They next available spots where open to my boys to move up. Now they want to move them to the next class again but my boys don't do very well with change, well when I do take them to the class. If they take them, then its no big deal. All the teacher tell me how smart they are and that they need to move up. Summer and fall when school starts are the usually when the classes change due to enrollment, so we will be moving them then. So long sotry short. haha Sorry for the length. I feel that its ok to have an adult conversation with the admin and express your concerns. Maybe they can meet in the middle somewhere. If you don't feel comfortable talking with them then maybe its just the wrong school. Yes, its a business, but it should also feel like a comfortable home for your child. Good luck!!

Hello!

I would assume that it's more of a "courtesy" to allow them to advance to the next classroom prior to turning 3. If they don't have room yet then they don't have room yet. It's hard when it's your child playing the waiting game but it's important to be understanding of the situation. It's not that they don't want to it's that they can't. In my experience directors are very understanding and very willing to discuss all matters with you. If you feel you have an issue or a grievance you should call a meeting with her/him and discuss your concerns. Only they can fully answer your questions and concerns. Regarding the ratios, they are mandated by law so they are probably just following those guidelines.

Best of luck to you! It's frustrating I'm sure!

T.

When my daughter was in daycare the classrooms went like this there was a 2 year old class then when they moved up it was to a 3-5 year old class. So that ment that my innocent newly 3 year old was in class all day with 5 year olds. She learned all kinds of new (and not all good) things from the older kids. I would have kept my little one in with the younger ones a little longer if I could have.
Good luck

Gather more information. Observe the class that your son may attend, talk to the teacher, and talk to the director.

If it's mainly money that is the issue------ it might be worth a try to ask them to give you the price for the other room, WHile he is waiting to be moved, since by their RULES he should be in the other room, so essentially IF they can't move him in but he really should be there and it's not that he isn't ready or old enough or not potty trained, but the hold up is essentially THeir fault, then he should be given the older kid price NOW
of course you would word it sweetly and praise them to high heavens and also be prepared to be told to stuff it, but might be worth a shot.