What happens if I’m late for pickup?

We know that life is unpredictable – traffic jams, delayed meetings, or train troubles can sometimes throw off your schedule. If you realize you are going to be late for pickup, the best thing to do is call us as soon as possible to let us know. Communication is key: if we know you’re running behind but are on your way (or sending an alternate authorized pickup), we can reassure your child and make a plan. For a few minutes’ delay (let’s say 5-10 minutes past closing or past your scheduled pickup time), we are understanding, especially if it’s a rare occurrence. In fact, for the first occasional minor late pickup, we typically do not charge a fee. We understand things happen and we won’t penalize you for a one-time or infrequent slight delay, as long as we’re informed. Our primary concern is that your child is safe and not anxious, and knowing that a parent is en route helps us comfort them (“Mom’s on the way, she’ll be here soon!”).

If lateness becomes more significant (for example, more than 10 minutes late) or frequent, we do have a late pickup policy and fee structure. Each center will outline the specifics, but usually it’s something like: after a 5 or 10 minute grace period, a fee of $X per minute (or per 5-minute block) is charged. This fee isn’t to be punitive, but rather to compensate our staff for the extra time they must stay and to encourage timeliness out of fairness to the teachers who have end-of-day duties or need to get home to their own families. If you are very late and we haven’t heard from you, we will try to reach you and then your emergency contacts as per our policy, because we have an obligation to ensure the child is picked up safely.

We will always discuss any late pickup issues with you. For example, if there were two late pickups in a month without communication, the director might touch base with you to see if there’s something that can be adjusted (maybe your pickup person needs to be someone else on certain days, or you might need to officially extend your scheduled time if possible). We strive to approach this with understanding and problem-solving rather than immediate strictness.

In summary: occasional, communicated lateness of a few minutes – we get it, no big fuss. Chronic or significant lateness – we do have a fee policy and we’ll work with you to find a solution. And please remember, our staff have end-of-day routines and personal obligations too, so picking up on time (or arranging for someone else to do so) is greatly appreciated as a sign of respect for their time. If you ever have concerns about making it by closing due to your schedule, let’s talk – sometimes we can find an arrangement, like maybe enrolling in an extended day schedule if offered. We’re here to support you while also keeping our operations running smoothly.