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Opportunities to foster independence and self help skills
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Pulling inspections, violations, and complaints.
Home › MA › Westford › Acorn Child Care Center
License #P-170282 · Center · Center-Based Care
Not published by the state. Owners can add hours via profile claim.
When they operate
Schedule type not published.
Ages served
Ages not published.
Complaint outcomes are not published by Massachusetts EEC.
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Opportunities to foster independence and self help skills
Medication
The Toddler 2 and 3 classrooms did not have an art area.
A child's eczema cream was expired.
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Data synced from Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care on Jul 10, 2026 · Source records · Report an error
Rest materials clean/good repair/individually marked, stored appropriately
Sufficient materials & equipment visible, available, and accessible
Equipment is clean, safe, secured, and poses no hazard.
Indoor Space
Fall zones adequate depth of impact absorbing material
Staff monitor environment for hazards-Hazardous items not accessible to children
The nap mats for Toddler 1 and Pre-K were torn.
The Toddler classrooms lacked materials in the areas of dramatic play, art, science, and sensory.
Through an interview with a toddler educator, it was learned shaving cream is used for activities.
The following was observed in the Toddler 3 and Pre-K classrooms, causing tripping hazards: 1. The circular rug was curled 2. The alphabet and car rugs had curled up corners.
Staff BRC - R Sep 2025
Fall zones adequate depth of impact absorbing material
Sink Spaces
A review of BRCs showed one educator did not have a completed BRC.
The pea gravel around the climbing structure on the Preschool Playground did not have the required nine-inch depth.
An infant's bottle was observed being warmed in the handwashing sink near the diaper changing table.
This investigation inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
This investigation inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
Attendance Recording and Group Sizes/Ratios
The program uses two forms for taking attendance- an app and a paper. A review of Toddler 1's paper attendance stated 8 children were present. A review of the app's attendance showed 6 children signed in. There were 7 children in attendance.
Emergency Evacuation - R Apr 2025
Attendance Recording and Group Sizes/Ratios
* The toddler 2 classroom was observed to have 10 children with 2 educators, exceeding the group size and ratio. * The attendance was incorrect in the Toddler 1 and Toddler 3 classrooms.
Books were observed being stored out of reach of children and there were an inadequate number of materials available to the children. This was noted as technical assistance at the last licensing visit.
The toddler classrooms were kept very dark during rest time, making it difficult to move around the classroom and impeding proper supervision.
Infants were observed being fed their lunch without the trays being washed and sanitized prior. The staff and infants did not wash their hands prior to serving or eating their lunches.
This investigation inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
This investigation inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
This enhanced monitoring visit inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
This renewal - monitoring visit inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
This investigation inspection recorded no violations or advisories.
Attendance-Method of Knowing
[REDACTED] in the "nap room" which is located between the two licensed classrooms was not being supervised by staff, as there was no staff in the nap room when the Licensing Specialist entered the classroom. The program was cited for this same non-compliance on 12/9/19, and in 2017.
At the time of the visit, the program was not being soundly administered as [REDACTED] in the "nap room" which is located between the two licensed classrooms was not being supervised by staff. The program identified in a past corrective action plan in 2017, for this same non-compliance that cribs will either moved into the classroom or staffing will be positioned in the nap room maintaining a 1:3 child/staff ratio at all times.
The infant classroom attendance record indicated that 7 children signed into the classroom and there were only 6 children present.
Administration
Supervision
Building Inspection and Fire Inspection - R Apr 2025
During the visit the Licensing Specialist observed the following that did not meet the infection control/ hand washing regulatory requirements: 1) An Educator in the [REDACTED] classroom was observed helping a child blow [REDACTED] nose. Although the Educator washed [REDACTED] hands after helping this child, the Educator did not wash the child’s hands, after [REDACTED] had his nose was wiped. 2) The preschool children did not wash their hand after circle time which was the activity right before lunch time. Children moved directly from the circle rug to eating their lunch at the classroom tables.
Infection Control/Hand Washing - R Apr 2025
An Educator in the [REDACTED] classroom was observed repeatedly making a child return to circle time, either grabbing the child by the wrist or bicep areas of her arms making her sit down on the rug, every time [REDACTED] got up to remove [REDACTED] from the group.
Although the building inspection was current, the current fire inspection had three violations denoted on it, therefore could not be considered a current inspection.
The fall zone around the climber on the preschool playground was not an adequate depth.
Hardware cloth fencing was observed stored within reach of children. Upon inspection, it was noted to have very sharp points and edges.
Chipped paint was observed on the shelves in the Toddler 3 classroom.
A review of the evacuation log showed a fire drill was not completed in November.
An infant's hands were not washed after having their diaper changed.
A group of toddlers were observed using shaving cream for a sensory activity. A review of the label showed it to be toxic to children.
A [REDACTED] was being stored in the director's office rather than in the classroom with the child.
A student's rescue [REDACTED] was observed stored in the director's office rather than in the classroom with the child.
The following was observed during lunch in the infant classroom: * Infants were observed being fed lunch without the highchair trays being washed and sanitized before use. *Children and staff did not wash hands prior to serving and eating their lunches.
A review of IHCP's showed one required [REDACTED] however only an [REDACTED] was provided.
Equipment and materials visible, available, accessible
Sleep, rest, quiet activity
Food prepared/served in safe/sanitary manner
Physical Space Paint
Diapering and Toileting for children under 2.9
Toxic Substances
Emergency medications readily available
Medication
Infection Control/Hand Washing - R Apr 2025
Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) - R Apr 2025
Staff Records - R Apr 2025
Children's Records - R Apr 2025
Safe Sleep
Supervision of Children
Child Guidance & Interactions
Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) - R Apr 2025
Through a review of three staff files the following was noted: 1) Two files did not have evidence of current Professional Qualifications 2) Two files did not have evidence of current staff [REDACTED] 3) Two files did not have evidence of the staff being immune to [REDACTED]
Through a review of [REDACTED] children's records, one of the files did not have evidence of a current health physical.
At the time of the visit, a [REDACTED] child was observed sleeping in a swing. The Educator in the classroom reported that the [REDACTED] had been napping for approximately 20 minutes in the swing.The Licensing Specialist asked the Educator to move the child to the child's identified crib in the classroom which she did.
When the Licensing Specialist arrived, [REDACTED] under the age of [REDACTED] were sleeping in the [REDACTED] napping room which is between the two licensed [REDACTED] classrooms. There was no Educator supervising these [REDACTED]. The Program was cited for this same observation in 2017.
Through a random review of an child's Individual Health Care Plan(IHCP), the following was noted: 1) The plan did not have an executed parent signature/date 2) The plan did not have information about whom the doctor authorized to train staff at the program about this child's health needs/treatment 3) The plan did not have information about whom at the program was trained in this child's chronic health needs/treatment.