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The Initial Visit
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For the initial interview, you’ll want to
have all of the information about your program on hand, including your parent
handbook, enrollment forms, brochures, etc. Plan for at least an hour of
uninterrupted time to discuss:
- Philosophy of your program
- Group sizes, ages, and adult-to-child
ratios
- Program structure and curriculum
- Education and training of provider and
staff
- Yearly schedule and calendar
- Daily activities, materials, and equipment
- Health and safety policies
- Parental involvement
- Contracts, payments, due dates, and late
fees
- Subsidy and financial aid information
- Forms to be completed by parents
- Meals and snacks provided
The second half of the interview is when you
can show the parents around the program, taking them on a tour of each classroom
or area, the outside play yard, toileting facilities, etc. If the child is
present, have the child visit the class that she would be attending, introduce
her to the teachers and other children, and have her try out an activity or two.
Make sure that you conduct a thorough tour of the facility and answer any
questions the parents may have along the way.
At the end of the visit, communicate the next
steps to prospective families. Be clear about forms that need to be completed,
deposits that are due (and whether the deposit is refundable), and any waiting
list information you may have.
Enrollment
Once you have heard back from a family, and
have accepted them into your program, you’ll want to begin the enrollment
process. Be sure to go over all of the policies with them, and discuss issues,
such as withdrawal from the program, illness, vacation, late payment and pick-up
fees, etc. Specify items that must be brought from home, items that should not
be brought in, and any other important policies.
Have the parents sign all of the appropriate
enrollment forms, and give them any forms they need to have signed by their
pediatrician or others. Give them a copy of the parent handbook and contract,
and collect a deposit check from them at this time.

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