We surveyed childcare executives and found that the largest challenge centers and afterschool programs face is staffing. But what’s causing the issue and what can your center do to weather the storm?
Our research shows insights that can help you build a solution based on the talent available in your area. The solution starts with good HR practices and better data through using the right technology.
Learn how iCare Software helps you build a staffing structure that meets your student’s needs and puts your business on a path of financial stability and reliability.
How we can create a sustainable staffing structure
iCare Software isn’t just communication software or a way to speed up your check-in and check-out procedures. It is a full suite of services that impacts every area of your business – including recruiting and retaining the best daycare staff. Here are the largest challenges our research team discovered while talking with leading childcare center owners and how technology can transform these challenges.
1. Slow economic growth
The childcare industry faces a challenge not just with staffing but with building business models in light of slow economic growth. Because the sector is not growing, opportunities for staff are not expanding, meaning they are stuck where they are at. Without growth opportunities, many leave the industry in search of new careers with more upward mobility.
Creating more programs and options for parents can help grow your product offering, making it possible to place your staff in charge of a program, giving them growth opportunities. And, it allows for new fee structures and the chance for parents to get everything they need from your center.
Running additional programs and after-school activities is challenging without the right technology to manage them. Differences in billing between what a child is enrolled in can be a major deterrent from adding to your services. But it doesn’t have to be. iCare Software makes varying rates and automated payments easy using the flexible billing tools that put you in control.
2. Limited Benefits for Daycare Teachers
The challenges facing staffing also stem from the fact that many positions do not offer benefits, such as health insurance and retirement. These benefits are standard for employees in other industries, leading to higher turnover rates for your daycare center as staff look for new opportunities elsewhere.
Offering your staff benefits and educating them on how to make the most of savings can go a long way in retaining teachers. As you look at your budgets, evaluate whether you can offer a more conservative hourly rate to free up funds for benefits to balance what your staff wants and needs to accept the position.
3. Skill Development and Advancement
Going to the same job every day, year after year with no change and no advancement can lead to burnout and might make your staff start looking for new job opportunities.
Consider how you can help your team develop new skills and continuously advance their careers. Pay for them to attend conferences and training seminars where they can network with other professionals, grow from the experience, and see the value of continuing their daycare career.
4. Regulatory Requirements
Childcare centers must maintain staff-to-child ratios, which can mean moving teachers around throughout the day to ensure proper coverage. The constant movement and inconsistency can lead to frustration for your staff.
Safety and quality are essential to maintaining your license and providing a good experience for parents. And yet, it still presents challenges in keeping staff happy and avoiding overwhelm.
Managing staffing within your childcare software can help. You can see enrollment and base daily staffing on that data. That can build consistency with your staff and avoid last-minute classroom moves and consolidation to where teachers are now managing children they aren’t as familiar with or moving into classrooms that are not their own.
Conclusion
Our study concluded that childcare staffing is a challenge centers across the nation are facing. But with the best use of daycare technology, your childcare can mitigate the challenge.
Learn how iCare childcare software offers the tools necessary to attract and retain top talent. Schedule a demo now to learn more.