• Violation

  R 400.8182 · R 400.8182 Ratio and group size requirements. ...........................................................: (3) In each room or well-defined space , the maximum group size and ratio of child care staff members to children, including children related to a staff member or the licensee, must be as shown in Table 4: .................................................. Table 4 Child Care Staff Member to Child Ratios Child Care Staff Maximum Age Member to Child Group Ratio Size Infants and toddlers, (a) birth until 30 months 1 to 4 12 of age Preschoolers, 30 (b) months of age until 1 to 8 16 3 years of age 4 Preschoolers, 3 years (c) of age until 4 years 1 to 10 30 of age Preschoolers, 4 years (d) of age until school- 1 to 12 36 age (e) School-agers 1 to 18 36

  On 07/08/2022 I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection to Parchment Early Learning Center. There were two classrooms open, school-age and Discovery Kids (3-year-old). I observed fifteen children and two child care staff in the school-age room. The children were having free play time but getting ready to go outside. I observed seven children and one child care staff in Discovery Kids. The children were engaged in small group activities. I obtained child information cards and attendance for child care children and child care staff. I interviewed the program director, Sara Tausch, and child care staff members Tammy Solomon, Erin Johnson, and Yessinia Lopez. Ms. Tausch denied that the center is out of ratio and that she is always very careful about making sure that staff are scheduled accordingly. She also makes sure to find child care staff to cover if someone needs to be gone. Ms. Tausch asked me if it was an employee who called in the complaint as they had just walked out of the building and quit approximately ten minutes before my arrival after going around the center and telling people that "licensing was coming." I told her I could not say where the complaint came from. Ms. Tausch reported this employee complained to her last week about being out of ratio in their classroom but there was adequate staff at the center and they did not communicate right away to other staff that one child needed to be sent over to the other classroom where they had less children/more staff. I asked Ms. Tausch if there was any truth to the allegation in the complaint that there were 50 children and two staff one day last week and she said it was not true. She indicated that there were staff on vacation and one person sick with Covid unexpectedly but that she found staff to come in and cover where needed. Ms. Tausch typically staffs at least one extra person during the day for instances where someone needs to step out of a room or be off for the day. She also steps into a classroom if needed. Ms. Solomon, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Lopez all denied that the center is out of ratio and said that they work hard to maintain ratio in the classrooms at all times. All three staff mentioned that they will move children between the two rooms if needed to make sure that ratios are maintained, or they will move staff as well. Ms. Solomon, Ms. Johnson, and Ms. Lopez all were able to tell me about the rules for ratio and group size for each age group. I asked them if there was any truth to there being fifty children and two staff at any time last week and they said it was not true. Each child care staff mentioned that there were a couple people absent last week due to vacation and illness Thursday and Friday, so they had to have substitute staff in the classrooms to cover. I did review several weeks of attendance records for children and staff. There was adequate child care staff in attendance to cover the children present in classrooms each day I reviewed. On 07/12/2022 I spoke with Child A and Child B's Mother. Child A and Child B's Mother does pick up and drop off each day, so she is regularly inside the center. I went over the ratio and group size rules with Child A and Child B's Mother. She did 3 not have concerns with the center being out of ratio and reported that both classrooms are always in ratio. She did note that the school age room can be loud and chaotic at times and could use extra staff if that were a possibility but that as far as rules go, the center is compliant and the staff seem to really care about the children and running a great center. On 08/18/2022 I spoke with Child C, Child D, and Child E's Mothers. I explained the ratio and group size rules to each parent when I talked with them. Child C's Mother did not have concern with the center in regard to ratio and group size in classrooms but did indicate that she has observed Child C's room to be quite a mess and children running around everywhere. She thought this was maybe because it was a

Disposition: No violation found

Classrooms are constantly out of ratio for periods of time each day. Last week many staff were off leaving only two child care staff with 50 children. 2

Disposition: Substantiated

Child A was not taken to bathroom or changed after she wet herself. Child care staff member, Ms. "Becky" was present in the room by herself with the children.

Disposition: Substantiated