Are waiting lists a thing of the past in childcare?
Tania Gray2023-04-26T00:41:11+00:00In this day and age, every childcare centre needs a website to engage and build trust with their families and prospective families.
In this day and age, every childcare centre needs a website to engage and build trust with their families and prospective families.
We've analysed our form submissions across our various products and it shouldn’t surprise you to find that consistently, parents are choosing mobile as their preferred device for communication.
The annual re-allocation process is too often a complicated game of mix and match to meet the ever changing needs of families.
The gap between actual occupancy and potential occupancy (based on waitlist applications) represents on avg. $80,000 per centre year in missed revenue opportunities.
Customer acquisition in the early childhood sector is challenging. Not only is it a competitive market to try and engage new families and encourage them to consider your centre, but these numbers show us that it is just the start of a long journey to convert leads to customers.
Understanding the pattern of churn at your centre and understanding how it compares to the industry average can provide interesting insights into the health of your centre. It also helps focus on the importance of a strong waitlist and ensuring you have good processes in place to manage those on the waitlist.
EnrolNow is a software solution built in the cloud. But what does that mean? Is it OK for personal data to be stored in that mystical cloud?
Are you drowning in a sea of paper work? Are Post-It notes extending beyond your desk and on to your computer screen?
A recent report by Colliers International states that in the childcare industry, occupancy rates average between 50%-70% (regional) and 80% (metro). Most centres need to be operating at 70% to be profitable.
It is normal for families to have a requirement for care for a set number of days (eg. 3 days every week), but many have flexibility around choosing what days of care they require.
Family submits Council application form and service preferences. Once the Council has allocated the child to your service, the child will become visible in your EnrolNow system. You are not yet able to engage directly with the Family.
Family submits Waitlist Application Form via link on Service’s website
Add NEW child to system – use the “Add New Child” button. Adding a new child
Register an existing child for a NEW program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change an Application
CHANGE a child’s program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change and Application
Allocate children to your service using the Allocation Engine:
Email family the Program Preference Form email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
Submit Program Preferences on behalf of the family – use the “TY – Submit Program Preference” or “NY – Submit Program Preference” buttons:
Allocate children to programs using the Allocation Engine:
Changing a child’s allocated program:
Email family the Enrolment Form email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
Council sends annual allocation list to service.
Forward allocation list to support@enrolnow.com.au for upload (allow 7 days)
Council sends late / mid year allocation child to service.
Add NEW child to system – use the “Add New Child” button. Adding a new child
Register an existing child for a NEW program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change an Application
CHANGE a child’s program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change and Application
Email family the Offer Acceptance Form email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
In the scenario where the Service is wanting to push through a late enrolment quickly, this step can be skipped (from a system process perspective).
Council emails the family the offer and asks them to submit the Offer Acceptance Form. Upon accepting the offer, the child’s status will update to Offer Accepted and you will then be able to start engaging with the family directly.
Family submits Council application form with service and program preferences. Child becomes visible in your EnrolNow system. You are not yet able to engage directly with the Family.
Allocate a child to their days by updating the “Current Allocated Days” field or the “Upcoming Allocated Days” field located on the child’s profile.
Email family the Offer and Allocate Form email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
Submit Form on behalf of the family – use the “TY – Allocate Program” or “NY – Allocate Program” quick action buttons on a child record.
Email family the “Welcome to Kindergarten Offer and Program Allocation” email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
In the scenario where the Service is wanting to push through a late enrolment quickly, the service can use the Quick Action option on a child record to Allocate Program
Allocate program for families – use the “TY – Allocate Program” or “NY – Allocate Program” quick action buttons on a child record.
Council sends annual allocation list to service.
Forward allocation list to support@enrolnow.com.au for upload (allow 7 days)
Council sends late / mid year allocation child to service.
Add NEW child to system – use the “Add New Child” button. Adding a new child
Register an existing child for a NEW program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change an Application
CHANGE a child’s program type or care period – use the “TY – Add or Change Application” or the “NY – Add or Change Application” button. Add or Change and Application
Email family the “Additional Unfunded Days” email template:
Sending an email to one child at a time
Sending a bulk / mass email to less than 100 email addresses
Sending a bulk / mass email to more than 100 email addresses
In the scenario where the group is wanting to progress an application internally, the service can use the Quick Action option on a child record to submit additional days form and update status of child to “Program Accepted”
Once a child has submitted their additional days preferences, on the child record they must be manually allocated their days under the “Current/Upcoming Allocated Days (Unfunded)” field.
Allocate a child to their days by updating the “Current Allocated Days” field or the “Upcoming Allocated Days” field located on the child’s profile.
Allocate a child to their room by updating the “Current Allocated Room” field or the “Upcoming Allocated Room” field located on the child’s profile.