ok ladies, advice please, school closures...

carang

carang

Registered User
as many of you already know, i run a playgroup centre. i decided to follow the gov't and close for the 2 weeks. i'm now facing a HUGE dilemma.....

i want to do the right thing and follow the gov't recommendatioins.... i have the feeling that they will extend the closures when they make their announcement on tuesday.

my problem:

my playgroup is a VERY small business, it is my sole source of personal income. (our other source of income is another "at home" business.) we NEED the income from the playgroup to cover our monthly bills.

IF the gov't decides to extend the closures, what should i do? i can't very well close the schools when there are only 50 cases of the flu and then reopen them when there are hundreds...

should i leave it up to the parents to decide? have them book a class if they want to still come but not be penalised if they don't book/come?

any ideas or suggestions please? i'm not in the business for the money, however, i do need the money to pay my bills.....

argh!!!!!!!!!!!
 
no, not required...we have been closed already for the past week...plan on closing next week, too....

thing is, i don't know how many, if any, would even come if i was open.... i'd prefer to follow the gov't guidelines, but financially, don't know how long i can stay closed for....
 
hi cara
i agree with babymummy.

my mindset after two weeks of school closures is i am gasping for activities for my kids! we are in the middle of moving flats so i can't do much with the kids, and i can't imagine how frustrated working parents are or parents of kids whose helpers are frantic keeping track of playdates, activities, etc.

would it be any use of you to feel out your tried and true clients? give them a call and say, "if i stayed open, would you enrol?" that will give you a taste of the mindset.

good luck.
 
i was thinking of sending out an email to everyone, asking if i opened would they enroll, no pressure. i would have aminimum # of kids per class and if we didn't get the minimum, then i would not have the class....(i couldn't call then all as there are over 80 kids coming per week)

is that reasonable?
 
i have two kids myself, and to be honest, they love being at home. i haven't had a probelm with that at all. i'm not even doing anything special with them while home, just the norm...
 
Hi, firstly, thank you for doing the right thing in my mind by closing even though you don't technically have to do so. I understand it is your source of income and this must be frustrating for you. In my previous thread I was having a gripe about a playgroup that appears to be taking advantage of this situation and advertising for more students to enrol during this time....That I am really not happy about and will not ever go to this playgroup and as I said will be spreading the word to other moms.
In your case, you are not milking the situation. Perhaps you could reduce the number of students who attend each class and have only a couple of classes a week so parents can see you are still concerned about the spread of infection. Make it know to parents you are doing so that you have time to disinfect the premises thoroughly before the next class. But then again could you imagine if one of your students contracted the virus? I think that would be even worse for your business long term than closing for another week to be quite honest as all parents would have to be notified.
 
i think long term, i would do better not reopening, as parents will know i have their child's best interest at heart...

but seriously tough financially.....may even have to resort to trying to get a loan or borrowing from family....argh!!!!!
 
my kids love being at home as well, but as i said, since we are moving flats, they can't really be in the flat as we have contractors in, repairing the damage we have done over the past eight years!

personally, i do think it is reasonable to open. we're still taking our kids to church, class and birthday parties. however, the pp did have a good point, about your long term reputation if a child who did have swine flu passed it on to another at your group. i certainly wouldn't blame YOU. i was the one who signed up the child to group knowing the risks.

an idea: if you do send an email out to parents, let them know the increased precautions you are taking (taking temps as each student arrives each day) and remind them, if the child is sick, they cannot come to your class.

i am sorry you are in this predicament.
 
i like the temp reading as they enter idea...i already ask them not to bring sick kids to class, but some parents jsut don't get it...
 
Kids Gallery got some unwanted press today in SCMP... have had to suspend their classes.
 
And, the temp idea is good in theory and most schools I have been to do this as well as disinfect hands before entering the school, but someone can still have the virus without the temp. Personally, think of your reputation - it takes a long time to build and a short time to destroy.
 
Learning Centre isn't the only playgroup open. Baby Buddies centres are open too as they aren't affected by the education centres forced to close as a result of H1N1.
 
Just send an email out with your precautions and I'd turn sick children away i.e. kids with a cough or runny nose on top of temperature checks. It's a personal choice if they (parents) want their child to attend or not. They are with a carer anyway so they each would take their own precautions e.g. washing hands before and after class, disinfecting hands. It's not like at a kinder where kids are on their own and being looked after by just one or two teachers.
 
What about still charging students but allowing make up classes for up to 6 weeks when school returns - they use them or forfeit them and must book into a different lesson prior so that you can keep numbers under check? I know that it will mean more work (maybe hire a temp?) - just a thought and I am happy to "temp" if you need the help. I will only charge some yummy yum cha in return!

Or, charging half price to "keep the place"?

I also think going forward you should not be not charging in cases such as this or black rain etc. Have either one of the above policies in place.

I know that you are not in it for the money but you are helping to feed a family and run a small business. Kindy and the like keep all your money - so stop bucking the norm!

PS: Sorry if this has already been suggested. Am reading the other responses now
 
ok, so still waiting for the gov't announcement although i would bet money they are going to extend the closure.

what i've decided to do is this:

1) extend one more week
2) offer parents their original spaces plus make-up classes tht need to be used up by sept 1
3) i'm opening extra classes to deal with the make-ups
4) asking parents again to keep children with coughs or runny noses out of school
5) split toys into two so that while kids are playing with one set, the others are being cleaned and sanitised...the next class is given the cleaned toys
6) will ask parents to ensure kids wash their hands when the come into the class

do you think that is reasonable?
 
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