Remember, the more qualified your staff, the better your program will be in meeting the needs of the parents and the children. When deciding on the number of staff needed, also account for the hours they will work at the center. Most centers are open 10 to 12 hours daily. However, the kind of service you plan to provide will determine how long your center will need to be open. Know that working with children is emotionally and physically demanding.
Staff tend to be less effective after six hours.
If you cannot afford eight hour shifts, staff should be given breaks. If you require eight hour shifts, then staff are entitled, by law, to lunch breaks and coffee breaks, usually once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Developing a staff schedule depends on how many children are present during different times of the day. Children do not all come or leave at the same time. So the number of staff will depend on the number of children present at any one time.