Childcare and Early Education Service Agreement

Yes, you can charge full tuition during closures as long as this policy is explicitly detailed in your signed service agreement. Most professional programs charge flat monthly or weekly rates to ensure stable revenue for staff salaries regardless of calendar anomalies or unexpected weather events. Make sure parents initial this specific clause during enrollment to prevent future payment disputes.

The standard practice in early childhood education is to require a written notice of four weeks prior to withdrawal. This gives your program adequate time to fill the empty spot from your waiting list and stabilizes your monthly enrollment budget. If a parent withdraws their child immediately without notice, your contract should state they are still financially responsible for that final notice period.

Your agreement must contain an explicit emergency medical consent clause authorizing your staff to seek immediate medical attention or call emergency services if a child is severely injured. This section should require parents to list preferred hospitals, pediatricians, and insurance details directly on the form. It also needs to state that the parents bear all financial responsibility for any medical transport or treatment incurred.

Your primary service agreement should include a clause stating that parents agree to abide by all policies in the parent handbook, which may be updated with 30 days' written notice. When you make updates, distribute a formal policy amendment sheet that parents must sign and return. This signed addendum attaches directly to the original contract, keeping your legal documentation current without requiring a full re-signature process.