Typically sign-in and sign-out times are some of the most hectic at your preschool, so it can be difficult to ensure everything is recorded quickly, properly and stored for later reference.
Educator Tips For Tracking Attendance
If you’re looking for ways to improve your child care attendance tracking and streamline the overall process, consider implementing the following tips:
1. Improve your Sign-In Sheet Template
Messy sign-in sheets can be problematic when it comes time to actually use the information for billing or reporting purposes. Make sure you are using a sign-in sheet that is well-organized and offers space for parent initials and the time a child was dropped off and picked up. You can download our free daycare attendance sheet templates to get started with a cleaner, more organized sign-in sheet.
2. Be Prepared
Ensure you have plenty of copies of your child care attendance tracking sheets printed out and ready to use in a binder. Have a new child arriving? Make sure their name is added to your attendance sheet ahead of time so there’s no last-minute scramble when they arrive. The key is to get everything prepared in advance so your morning sign-in goes off without a hitch.
3. Aim for Accuracy
Keep a digital clock near your sign-in/sign-out station so that the times recorded are always accurate. You’ll avoid incorrect entries that could cause you headaches later on. If you want to further prevent errors (such as parents mistakenly signing in the wrong child), you may wish to consider creating a dedicated sign-in sheet for each individual child.
4. Review Regularly
Make it a habit to double-check all entries on your attendance tracking sheet at the end of the day. This way, you’ll catch any errors soon after they happen and can correct them immediately. Waiting until weeks or months later to review your records and finding that a parent forgot to sign-out a child or wrote in the wrong time can cause major problems.
5. Use Daycare Attendance Software
If you’re looking to completely overhaul the attendance process at your preschool, consider using a child care software to make drop-off and pick-up times easier. It’s simple for your team to check in children as they arrive, and the digital attendance record is always stored safely in the cloud for reference later if needed.
Messy paper sign-in sheets can be problematic when it comes time to actually use the information for billing or reporting purposes. Better to go digital!
HiMama is a great option for centers looking for a way to streamline their child care attendance tracking process. Our app simply records absences, check-in and check-out times so you can see the information you need at a glance. To discover more about HiMama’s digital child care attendance tracking and other innovative features, schedule your demo here.
