Most centres begin their childcare re-enrolment process between October and November — and for good reason. Early re-enrolment helps childcare providers plan classrooms, confirm staffing, and ensure a smooth start to the new year. But the benefits go beyond admin. When done well, childcare centre enrolment and re enrolment can also improve family retention, boost occupancy, and even attract new enrolments. Below, we’ll walk through the top 3 reasons to get a head start — plus tips to help you make the most of the process.
What Is the Re-Enrolment Process in Childcare?
The childcare re-enrolment process is the period when families confirm whether their child will continue attending your centre in the upcoming year. This often includes submitting a form, confirming care schedules, and updating contact details or permissions. While each childcare centre enrolment procedure may differ slightly, most involve sending out re-enrolment notices, setting deadlines, reviewing requests for increased days, and following up with families who haven’t responded. Ultimately, the goal is to create an accurate forecast for the new year while maintaining positive family relationships.
To streamline this process and reduce manual work, check out these 6 tips to speed up your enrolment and waitlist management.
1) Gain Valuable Insights to Prepare for the New Year
Early re-enrolment gives you a clear picture of:
- Which families are staying
- Who wants to increase their booked days
- Which waitlisted families may be ready to join
This is also a chance to increase childcare enrolment. You can re-engage older leads, run reminder campaigns, and show prospective families that your centre is in demand.
Want to simplify this process further? Explore how our Childcare CRM helps centres improve enrolment.
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2) Create Time to Update Family Info and Confirm Changes
Your family database may be outdated after a busy year. Early re-enrolment lets you:
- Confirm each family’s details and care preferences
- Update emergency contacts and media consents
- Communicate policy changes and centre updates
This also makes it easier for families to raise new needs or concerns in advance — creating better alignment before Term 1 starts.
Not sure what to ask? Use these best-practice tips to run more effective family surveys and better understand changing needs.
3) Help Educations Plan with Confidence
Educators thrive when they have time to prepare. When re-enrolment data is collected early, your team can:
- Align ratios with actual enrolments
- Tailor lesson plans to group sizes
- Reduce stress from last-minute changes
Planning ahead gives everyone — educators, families, and children — a more predictable, consistent experience.
Curious what data to monitor? These 6 childcare reports will help your team stay informed and proactive.
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Tips to Increase Childcare Enrolment During Re-Enrolment
Re-enrolment is also a prime opportunity to grow your centre’s occupancy. Here are a few best practices to increase childcare enrolment:
- Promote re-enrolment deadlines across channels (email, flyers, SMS)
- Use automation to follow up with leads and families
- Reach out to past enquiries and waitlisted families
- Offer incentives for early rebooking or referrals
And if speed is your challenge, see how fast follow-up can dramatically increase enrolments.
Why Re-Enrolment is Key to Retention and Growth
A well-timed re-enrolment process gives your centre the structure and clarity needed to operate smoothly. It improves family retention by creating a sense of consistency and connection. It also helps your team avoid administrative bottlenecks by cleaning up data and reducing last-minute surprises. With a clean CRM, better forecasting, and clear enrolment numbers, you’re able to build a strong foundation for the new school year.
When families feel supported and informed during re-enrolment, they’re not only more likely to return — they’re also more likely to refer your centre to other families. Yuma Preschool used these strategies to reach full enrolment in just 5 months..
Final Thoughts
By starting your childcare centre enrolment and re-enrolment process earlier, you set the stage for stronger family engagement, improved operations, and higher occupancy.
Want more strategies for childcare enrolment and family engagement?
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