High staff turnover at daycare/preschool

[Anonymous]

Our DS has been at this daycare/preschool since September. He originally had 3 teachers in his classroom, 2 are gone (left their jobs) and only 1 original staff member is left. I've noticed it's not only the trend in my DS's class but in other classrooms as well. Is that normal? We're new parents, so not sure if it's okay to have such a high staff turnover. We've had positive interactions with all teachers, but they just seem to be leaving and I'm not sure if it has a good impact on my DS and his social development.

[Anonymous]

High turnover is "normal" in the sense that many daycares have high turnover. But higher quality daycares typically have lower turnover. If it was just two staff members in a row, I'd be willing to write it off as a fluke. But you say it's the same in other classrooms too.

I don't think it's anything to get alarmed about in the short-term, definitely not something to abruptly pull your kid over. But personally I would at least start browsing other options.

[Anonymous]

Little children require stability. I would be alarmed. Simply ask why they left. If they avoid answering, consider that a red flag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our DS has been at this daycare/preschool since September. He originally had 3 teachers in his classroom, 2 are gone (left their jobs) and only 1 original staff member is left. I've noticed it's not only the trend in my DS's class but in other classrooms as well. Is that normal? We're new parents, so not sure if it's okay to have such a high staff turnover. We've had positive interactions with all teachers, but they just seem to be leaving and I'm not sure if it has a good impact on my DS and his social development.

This is what to expect from preschool and if anyone tells you differently here they are lying . Retention rate for preschool or daycare can be found online and it has it at 42% turnover rate per year. So if your preschool had 30 teachers, you can expect 12 to leave in a year. If your preschool has 10 you can expect 4. Also when teachers leave they never want to take responsibility for their own lack of commitment to the class and the school but blame the admin or parents because it is easier on them. Children are stronger and able to deal with such turnover better than we think. If the school has a great program overall and is secure and open to your input for the sake of your child stay. Base to decision on how you feel about the school not what someone tells you. Again my advice.

[Anonymous]

One major reason for high turnover is the pay is so low so staff can easily go somewhere else willing to pay them a buck or two more an hour.

Also, caring for small children is draining and the pits. Little kids are obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

Google tells me that the 42% figure PP cited is from a 2005 book, and for "North America." This is a tricky thing to estimate, but there are also many lower numbers out there.

Even if the 42% is average or median, that means that many are higher and many are lower. And your center seems to have a 66% turnover rate only halfway into the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High turnover is "normal" in the sense that many daycares have high turnover. But higher quality daycares typically have lower turnover. If it was just two staff members in a row, I'd be willing to write it off as a fluke. But you say it's the same in other classrooms too.

I don't think it's anything to get alarmed about in the short-term, definitely not something to abruptly pull your kid over. But personally I would at least start browsing other options.

+1
Our daycare has had turnover but it's been one teacher in DD's (infant) classroom and one in the preschool room. Out of about 15 staff members. Everyone else has been there at least since we started in September and most of them since last year. The teachers that left did so to pursue further education or other careers outside of child care.

Agree that you shouldn't freak out, but the best daycares can retain staff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Little children require stability. I would be alarmed. Simply ask why they left. If they avoid answering, consider that a red flag.

Due to confidentiality, employers cannot tell you why a staff member has decided to leave. If the person leaving wants to tell you, that's their business. But I wouldn't consider them "avoiding" answering to be a red flag, they just simply can't tell you. (This excludes any abuse that may have gone on..that is something parents need to know about).

And kids bounce back much quicker than the parents. High turnover is a shitty part of childcare.

[Anonymous]

Half day part time preschools often have very low turnover.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm def browsing other options, but our kid seems to be happy there and that's why I'm hesitating. I just worry that something is wrong with the administrative oversight. I should add that in October their director left abruptly so there is also an interim director since then. High turnover worries me, but it also worries me that they don't communicate it well. I come one day and see new faces, so I ask questions and find out that X person doesn't work there anymore. I want to give them a credit that it might be due to a lack of stable leadership but also how difficult it's to draft an email to all parents and inform them about staffing changes...Are other daycares/preschools better about communicating?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Half day part time preschools often have very low turnover.

The ones with the lowest turnover are often the church-affiliated ones because they are drawing from their committed/established church community, in many cases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm def browsing other options, but our kid seems to be happy there and that's why I'm hesitating. I just worry that something is wrong with the administrative oversight. I should add that in October their director left abruptly so there is also an interim director since then. High turnover worries me, but it also worries me that they don't communicate it well. I come one day and see new faces, so I ask questions and find out that X person doesn't work there anymore. I want to give them a credit that it might be due to a lack of stable leadership but also how difficult it's to draft an email to all parents and inform them about staffing changes...Are other daycares/preschools better about communicating?

When a teacher leaves they let us know in advance through the app (typically to let us know they are having a party for the teacher, dress your child up in the teacher's favorite color, etc). If there is someone new, they introduce us personally to the new person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm def browsing other options, but our kid seems to be happy there and that's why I'm hesitating. I just worry that something is wrong with the administrative oversight. I should add that in October their director left abruptly so there is also an interim director since then. High turnover worries me, but it also worries me that they don't communicate it well. I come one day and see new faces, so I ask questions and find out that X person doesn't work there anymore. I want to give them a credit that it might be due to a lack of stable leadership but also how difficult it's to draft an email to all parents and inform them about staffing changes...Are other daycares/preschools better about communicating?

When a teacher leaves they let us know in advance through the app (typically to let us know they are having a party for the teacher, dress your child up in the teacher's favorite color, etc). If there is someone new, they introduce us personally to the new person.

This exactly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Little children require stability. I would be alarmed. Simply ask why they left. If they avoid answering, consider that a red flag.

Due to confidentiality, employers cannot tell you why a staff member has decided to leave. If the person leaving wants to tell you, that's their business. But I wouldn't consider them "avoiding" answering to be a red flag, they just simply can't tell you. (This excludes any abuse that may have gone on..that is something parents need to know about).

And kids bounce back much quicker than the parents. High turnover is a shitty part of childcare.

You know you’re making up excuses. Just admit it.

[Anonymous]

Your kid may not really notice especially if he is moving up to another class anyway.

There are lots of reasons for turnover - could be everything from mgmt, to salary, to an employee moving away, retiring, and the list goes on.