Reliable staffing support for Manatee County child care programs.

Through a partnership with ELC Manatee, local providers can access vetted, state-compliant substitutes, helping programs stay open and in ratio when staffing gaps arise.

Supporting high-quality care across Manatee County.

Staffing disruptions are one of the biggest threats to child care stability. When classrooms go uncovered, programs face ratio risks, closures, and added stress on directors and staff.

ELC Manatee and Tandem are partnering to remove these barriers by covering Tandem’s administrative costs, giving providers access to vetted, compliant substitutes so they can stay focused on quality care.

This is a partnership that is:

Designed specifically for licensed child care programs
Built to support continuity, compliance, and quality
Centered on real provider needs in Manatee County

Dependable coverage for your classrooms.

Tandem is a staffing platform created exclusively for early learning programs. We connect child care providers with a pool of vetted, state-compliant substitute teachers who are ready to step in when coverage is needed.

Through this partnership, Tandem serves as the operational backbone, managing substitute matching, credential verification, and payments. ELC Manatee covers Tandem’s administrative fee, so providers are responsible only for the substitute’s hourly rate.
Ratio
Stay Open and In Ratio
Quickly fill absences, call-outs, and coverage gaps without scrambling. You set the hourly rate for each shift, and you access Tandem’s platform fee free through ELC Manatee.
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Vetted, State-Compliant Substitutes
Every substitute meets Florida child care requirements and is verified through Tandem.
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Save Time on Admin and Paperwork
No recruiting, credential chasing, onboarding, or scheduling coordination required. 
Trust
Flexible, On-Demand Support
Use Tandem whenever staffing needs arise. No contracts or minimums.
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Administrative Costs Covered
You can access Tandem’s platform through ELC Manatee, with administrative costs covered. Providers pay only the substitute’s hourly rate, which you set.
Signing A Document
Ready to get started?
Create your free account below or schedule a call

How it works

STEP ONE

Create an account.

Sign your program up for free. Once your profile is created, you will be able to add additional program and specific center information.
STEP TWO

Post your needs.

Let us know when you need coverage and what type of support you’re looking for.
STEP THREE

Get matched with a substitute.

Tandem matches you with vetted, compliant substitutes who fit your needs and provides you with their profile and compliance documents ahead of their first shift.
STEP FOUR

Stay covered and focus on your program.

Classrooms stay staffed, ratios are met, and your team stays supported.

Interested in becoming a substitute teacher?

If you have experience in early childhood education and are looking for flexible, meaningful work, this is a great opportunity to support child care programs across Manatee County.

This is a good fit for:
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Early childhood educators looking for flexible or part-time work
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Teachers between roles, re-entering the field, or exploring their next long-term fit
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Retired educators or professionals supplementing their income
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Education students or aspiring educators gaining hands-on experience across different child care programs
Get Started as a Substitute

Getting started is easy!

Create an account with Tandem, upload your credentials, and complete the required screening steps. Once approved, you’ll be able to pick up shifts at participating Manatee County programs.

Join the Manatee County Sub Pool by downloding the Tandem app:
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Benefits to working as a Tandem substitute:
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Flexible Scheduling
Choose when and where you work
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Strong Relationships
Build relationships with licensed child care programs in your community
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Daily Pay
Get paid quickly through Tandem

Frequently asked questions

Tandem is designed to make childcare staffing simple and reliable for child care programs in Manatee County. Explore the FAQs below to learn how we work, what we charge, and how we keep teachers compliant.

How should I prepare for a substitute’s first day?
Before the first shift:

1. Download and print the substitute’s full file from the Tandem portal
2. Store it with your other personnel files
3. Add the teacher to your Clearinghouse roster

This ensures full compliance and smooth licensing inspections.
How do centers access a substitute’s compliance documents?

When a Tandem substitute is booked, centers can access all required compliance documents through the Tandem portal and the Florida Clearinghouse.

Before the substitute’s first shift, centers must:

1. Download and print the substitute’s file from the Tandem portal
2. Store it with other personnel files
3. Add the teacher to their Clearinghouse roster

This ensures documentation is readily available during licensing visits.

Do I need to add a Tandem substitute to my Clearinghouse roster?

Yes. Providers must add the substitute to their Employee/Contractor Roster in the Clearinghouse within 10 days of hire. To ensure full compliance, we recommend adding them before their first shift.

Set the start date as their first shift and the end date 10 days later, adjusting the end date if they continue working.

Regulatory Reference: Child Care Facility Handbook, Section 5.1.K. “Employers must add child care personnel to their Employee/Contractor Roster in the Clearinghouse within 10 days of hire and must enter an end date within 10 days of termination.”

Are Tandem substitutes considered personnel at my center?

Yes. Tandem substitutes must be treated like any other personnel member. All licensing rules apply.Tandem ensures core compliance requirements are completed prior to booking.

Providers are responsible for maintaining the personnel file onsite and adding the teacher to their Clearinghouse roster.

What can I expect to be in a Tandem substitute’s file?

Each Tandem substitute file includes documentation required for licensed DCF child care programs, including:

  • Level 2 background screening with Clearinghouse eligibility
  • Employment application
  • CF-FSP Form 5131 with verified 5-year employment history
  • Florida Affidavit of Good Moral Character
  • Florida Child Abuse & Neglect Reporting acknowledgement
  • Education verification (high school diploma, GED, associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, as applicable)
  • DCF training transcript, including:
    • Child Care Facility Rules and Regulations (RNRF) training
    • Completion of the 40-hour introductory training, if the training start date was more than one year ago
  • Safe Sleep / Shaken Baby Syndrome training, if the teacher has worked in a licensed facility for more than 30 days
  • Early Literacy training, if the teacher has worked in a licensed facility for more than one year
  • First Aid/CPR certification, if applicable (and if serving a School Readiness program)
  • School Readiness training and documentation, if serving a School Readiness program
  • VPK credentials, including 40-hour training and Early Literacy completion, if serving a VPK program
Are Tandem substitutes trained in transportation?

Tandem substitutes should not participate in transportation activities unless they have completed the required transportation training, which they are not required to do by Tandem. If transportation-related duties are included in the job description, providers can request a substitute with approved transportation training when posting the job. Only teachers with proper documentation will get booked for the job.

Regulatory Reference: Child Care Facility Handbook, Section 4.2.5. “All personnel participating in transportation must complete approved transportation safety training prior to transporting children, and documentation must be maintained in the personnel file.”

How much does it cost?

Through the ELC partnership, Tandem’s administrative fee is fully covered. Providers only pay the substitute’s hourly rate, which they designate when posting the job.

What if a substitute is not a good fit?

Centers can remove the substitute from their schedule, leave feedback, and block the teacher through the portal. Feedback helps Tandem address performance concerns and manage ongoing eligibility.

Can I use the substitute pool to hire permanent teachers?

Yes. Providers are encouraged to evaluate substitutes before hiring permanently. After a substitute works 120 hours at your center, you may transition them to your payroll at no additional cost.

Get started

Staffing support built for Manatee County.

For Providers

Join the childcare centers that trust Tandem to keep their classrooms fully staffed, every day.

For Substitutes

Pick up shifts based on your schedule and preferences.