Common to Consolidate classrooms?

[Anonymous]

I was just wondering how common it is for daycare centers to consolidate classes towards the end of the day (between 4:30 and 5) so that they don't need as many teachers? I know that when kids start getting picked-up, the ratios drop and the daycare wants to save money on staff so they start moving kids around to different classrooms, even when the kids aren't the same age. The 3 daycares we've been to all have this policy and it kinda stinks because the kids just get shuffled around into environments that may or may not be suitable, even if it is for a short time.

[Anonymous]

Both childcare centers that I used had this policy for both the before and aftercare hours. I think that in my current center, between 7 and 8 am, the classes are consolidated and again from about 5 to 6:30 pm. Even still, if I pick up my son anytime after about 5:30, there are two teachers just for him. Also, in the pre-K class, there is a headstart class that feeds into it at some point in the afternoon, but I don't recall the time.

Personally, I have never seen a problem with this. The centers tend to keep the younger kids in the space they are used to being in and have the older ones move. Also, in the mornings, all they are doing is feeding the kids breakfast, so it is hard to imagine that it matters where they are since they are all eating the same foods. And, since kids tend to be dropped off and picked up around the same time each day, the kids are always with the same other kids and the programming during the consolidated time is geared toward the kids that are usually there.

The only time I could see that there might be a problem is if you drop off earlier than your normal time or pick up later. But, the problems that might arise will be there whether they consolidate or stay in the same class. Their same friends won't be there because their pick ups won't have changed. The staff might change because shifts are over. And, the programming will be different because it is a different time of the day.

Given that my kids had no ill effects from condolidation of classrooms, I would not want to see my tuition raised so that there were more staff than necessary to care for the number of kids there during non-program hours. Childcare already takes a huge bite out of my monthly budget.

[Anonymous]

I think it only makes sense to consolidate the classrooms. When I drop my kids off, there is always at least one teacher in the infant room, so my daughter is automatically in her room. It is right about the time that kids are moving into the toddler room from the main area. My son is in the two's room, but he eats breakfast with the toddler teacher, and then moves into his own room when that teacher arrives. In the afternoon, sometimes he is still in his own room, but he is often in the main area with all of the kids. Again, if there is more than one infant left, then the infants are separate. But everyone else is together. The preschool teacher is usually sitting down reading a story or leading a song for the kids. They all seem to be having a good time. I actually think it is a good opportunity for the kids to interact with kids of different ages.

[Anonymous]

My old daycare consolidated too. I think my child actually liked moving rooms at the end of the day - a whole new set of toys to play with.