Easy Tips on How To Manoeuver Waitlists When Looking for A Child Care Centre

Posted on: 25 June 2020

The demand for child care has seen the concept of waitlist become commonplace in many centres. Being put on the waitlist can be especially frustrating if you had your sights set on a particular child care centre, or if you need the care services immediately.

To avoid these frustrations, here are some of the tips to keep in mind to help you maneuver waitlists.

Start Your Search Early

If you plan on sending your kid to a child care centre in a couple of months, now is as good a time as any to start looking. As you do so, you can inform the centre about when you need your child to enrol.

With an early search and placement on the waitlist, you will also get an idea of what enrolling in that particular centre will cost you. Once you are on the list, you can actively start saving up for your child care.

Choose Where Your Other Kids Go

Most centres look favourably upon and give priority to siblings. If this is the policy at the child care centre where you have other kids attending, then your chances of getting off the waitlist will be much better.

Be Willing to Pay, If Need Be

Some centres charge a fee for placement on the waitlist. This amount is usually non-refundable, and that is probably why some parents may not be too keen on paying the sum. This definitely helps in ensuring that the list isn't too long.

If you so desire and are committed to having your child join a specific child care centre, then you should be willing to pay the required fee. There is no telling how many other parents would be as willing as you, and it should come as a pleasant surprise to find out that there aren't as many names on that list and you rank high up in the waitlist.

Ask the Right Questions

It would help with keeping your expectations realistic if you knew how long the waitlist for a particular child care centre is. Most centres have no problem disclosing this information to parents. You can also go ahead and ask about the probability of your child getting off the list in the time frame that you want them to. Your chances will depend mostly on the capacity of the child care centre.

Want to gauge and improve your chances of getting off the waitlist at a child care centre? Try the outlined tips and tricks, among others. For more information, reach out to a child care centre in your area. 

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