Phone Calls are your first steps into interviewing a prospective client. This also gives you the opportunity to
be more selective before setting up a in person interview.
PHONE INTERVIEW
(make copies and keep near phone to fill out when you do phone interviews)
Date: __________ Referred by:________
Name: __________ Phone #:_________
Address:_________
Full Time _ Part Time _ Days needed:
M T
W Th F
Hours needed:_______
Looking to start care by: ____________
Children's ages: __ M or F __ M or F __ M or
F
Have they been daycare before?
Yes or No
If yes, Reason for leaving previous provider:______
Previous provider: _____________
What are your Day Care needs: __________________________
What are your Day Care expectations: __________________________
What duration of care do you need: Long Term Temporary
Does your child(ren) have any special needs, such as medical or dietary: Yes or
No
Please explain: __________________________
POINTS TO COVER
+ Fee (disclose now if the fees are paid in check or cash)
+ Hours of day care are:
+ Days we
are open are:
+We are closed for the following holidays during the year, (and if holidays are included in fee state
so now)
(if you have registration fee, or deposits state so now)
+Provider Vacation, let them know what dates you plan to be off. (if you do not charge for your personal
vacation time off tell them now, or if YOU DO charge let them know now)
+ Lunch and snacks are provided (unless child
has food allergies) (if on a food program, state so now)
+ I am CPR and 1st aid certified
+ Sick Policy:
flu, temp 101 or higher, vomiting, strepe throat, diarrhea, sore/discharging eyes, communicable diseases, undiagnosed/oozing
rash.
(Children cannot attend if ill and contagious, if your contract states that you are still paid regardless if
child is present or absent, state this to parent now there are no deductions)
+ There will be occasional short field trips
(only
if you do these things, if you do not take the kids off premises, state so now)
Promote my day care (anything extra you do for your daycare, example, parents day, pot lucks, holiday get
togethers, parent involvement, parent volunteer time at day care, any awards, recognition's you might have,
if
accredited say so, any education in Early childhood development, how the kids interact with each other,
etc. don't be bashful)
Activities (such as home preschool program if you have one, learning environment, arts and crafts, etc.)
Story time
Indoor
/ Outdoor play areas
Walks
Trips to the park (if you do this, let them know)
Let them know now if this is a structured or non structured environment. and mention other activities:
lessons
are still taught through activities such as circle time, calendar, weather, music time, games and songs, arts and crafts,
numbers, letters, shapes, etc. (example)
Each child gets individual attention:
our enrollment here is a maximum of ______kids
This is a FAMILY childcare, the children are involved in family type things such as helping to prepare lunch, clean up
time, birthday celebrations, etc. These are self help learning activities.
Do I want to meet this family: Yes or
No
Do they want a personal interview: Yes or No
Interview Date:_______
Time: __________
Be sure they have directions to your home.
Some questions they might ask you:
How many children enrolled now?
The age group
of the children enrolled
how many of each age group
Types of outdoor equipment you have,
indoor toys or equipment
How
long in this business,
references to call now before setting up interview,
License number so they can check you out
in advance (have this written down on your interview sheet, a long with references so it's handy when they ask this.
Have you had any citations. (if so simply state them in simple terms not always necessary to go into full detail)
Do you have children of your own there?
What are their ages?
What types of meals do you serve?
Do you have a helper?
Who is this person?>
Can I drop in any time I want during the day (all states have an open door drop in policy, so you have to say yes, but
I always let parents know, that
1. Lunch, and nap times is not always best: Kids will stop eating
lunch if parent shows up, and people coming in and out during nap time can disrupt the group, and wake them up.
2.
If you come and your child becomes upset because it confused him into thinking it was time to go home, would you be willing
to take him?
Something to think about when you drop in because kids don't understand that you
are leaving again, and can become very upset, making his miserable, and emotionally stressed.
(always make
sure you speak of their child and what this does, never what it does to you, they could care less)
Do you keep your doors locked? If yes, Why" I thought we are allowed
to drop in anytime.
It is wise to keep your screen, or security screen locked at all times, or door with a peep hole.
YOU
ARE ALLOWED TO DROP IN, BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU CAN'T STOP AND KNOCK FIRST, OR THAT I CAN'T LOCK MY DOOR. I ANSWER
QUICKLY SO THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM.
FOR THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS, DOORS AND GATES WILL BE KEPT
LOCKED AFTER ARRIVALS. THIS IS TO PREVENT A CHILD FROM WANDERING OUT THE DOOR, OR GATE, IT ALSO
PREVENTS SOME STRANGER
FROM JUST WALKING IN.
I am sure you have heard about the person who walked into a center and
took the whole center hostage a couple of years ago?
WE UNLOCK THEM AGAIN BEFORE PICK UP TIME,
All parents do
knock before entering so I can see who is at my door, plus respecting that it is still my home. Since I will answer my door
in a timely fashion, it is obvious I have nothing to hide or worry about. However, I must keep the safety of the
children first and foremost. I am here alone with these kids, or it's just me and my helper.
WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING FOR MY CHILD?
DO YOU HAVE SOMEPLACE TO KEEP HIS SUPPLIES, i.e., diapers,
wipes, spare clothes, or do I bring them daily?
(Possible Parent questions continue)
EXPLAIN YOUR ILLNESS POLICIES TO ME MORE>
EXPLAIN YOUR FEES TO ME MORE
DO YOU TAKE CHECKS OR CASH?
IF
ONLY CASH, WHY NOT A CHECK.
To avoid delays on checks that can be held up to 10 days for clearance, or avoid receiving
a check that might bounce, we only take cash. You can bring it in a money order or Bank cashier check, you will receive
a receipt.
IF A PARENT ASK FOR ADVISE TO HELP HER IN HER SEARCH FOR CHILD CARE, GIVE HER THE ADVISE, IT OPENS UP MORE COMFORT BETWEEN
YOU AND HER AND COMMUNICATION.
number for licensing
___________
Final note from Pat:
I hope this information helps you with your phone interviews with parents, and parent questions.
Use the girl scout motto.
"always be prepared
and remember the more professional you conduct your daycare, your
interviews, and how you handle the business end of the day care the better the parents will treat you.
To be treated
as the professional you are you must conduct yourself as a professional.
