R 400.8167 · R 400.8167 Indoor space. (1) The required square footage of indoor space per child must be at least the following: (a) Fifty square feet for infants and toddlers.

On May 3, 2023, I spoke to Complainant. Complainant stated that daily, each classroom has more children than the approved room capacities. On May 9, 2023, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection. I individually interviewed Program Director and Licensee Kimberly Neyhart, Child Care Staff Member 1, Child Care Staff Member 2, Child Care Staff Member 3, Child Care Staff Member 4. Child Care Staff Member 5, Child Care Staff Member 6, and Child Care Staff Member 7. I called Child Care Staff Member 8, as she was not present today. Child Care Staff Member 1 stated that she primarily works at the preschool building located next door and did not know if the number of children in the classrooms exceeded the approved room capacities. She also stated that she was not informed of each classrooms approved capacities. Child Care Staff Member 2, Child Care Staff Member 3, Child Care 6, and Child Care 7 stated that they did not know if the number of the children in the classrooms exceeded the approved room capacities, as they were not informed of each classrooms approved capacity. Child Care Staff Member 4 and Child Care Staff Member 5 stated that daily, each classroom has more children than the approved room capacities. On May 9, 2023, I called Child Care Staff Member 8. She stated that she did not know if the number of children in the classrooms exceeded the approved room capacities, as she was not informed of each classrooms approved capacity. I observed 12 children ages 2 3 years old napping in Room #2, and 8 children 1/2- ages 1-2 years old napping in Room #5. I also reviewed the Addendum to the Original Licensing Study Report dated 11/14/2019. Room #2 has a total square footage of 381.24 square feet and was approved for 8 children birth to 5 years old. Room #5 has a total square footage of 156 square feet and was approved for 3 children birth to 5 years old. The total capacity of Room #2 and Room #5 was determined by the age of the youngest child, which allows for 50 sq. ft. per child. Ms. Neyhart stated that daily the number of children in the classrooms exceeds the approved room capacities. She stated that she did not understand the room capacity requirements and was confusing it with ratio. I showed her the Addendum to the Original Licensing Study Report and explained that the number of children in each room could not exceed the approved rooms capacity. The Licensing Study Report also stated that the center's capacity is 25 children, and the 25 children could be spread out in the various approved rooms as long as there are never 25 children at one time and the approved capacity of each room is never exceeded. Ms. Neyhart agreed to immediately correct this. 3

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

On May 3, 2023, I spoke to Complainant. Complainant stated Child Care Staff Member 8 slapped Child A with an open hand on her hand in front of the other children. Child Care Staff Member 8 does not hit the other children. On May 9,2023, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection. Child Care Staff Member 8 was not present today. I individually interviewed Program Director and Licensee Designee Kimberly Neyhart, Child Care Staff Member 1, Child Care Staff Member 2, Child Care Staff Member 3, Child Care Staff Member 4, Child Care Staff Member 5, Child Care Staff Member 6, and Child Care Staff Member 7. Child Care Staff Member 1, Child Care Staff Member 2, Child Care Staff Member 3, Child Care Staff Member 5 all denied observing Child Care Staff Member 8 hit Child A or any other child. They all stated the discipline technique utilized is five step conflict resolution, which consist of verbal communication and acknowledging a child's feelings and helping them to identify the problem, as well as identifying solutions. Child Care Staff Member 4, Child Care Staff Member 6, and Child Care Staff Member 7 all stated they observed Child Care Staff Member 8 slap Child A with an open hand on Child A's hand in the presence of other children at the child care center. They all denied observing Child Care Staff Member 8 hit other children. All child care staff members stated the discipline technique utilized is five step conflict resolution. On May 9, 2023, I called Child Care Staff Member 8. She stated that on one occasion in the presence of other children with her open hand she slapped Child A's 4 hand, after Child Ahit her. Child Care Staff Member 8 stated that Ms. Neyhart told her that this was inappropriate discipline, and it could not be utilized. Child Care Staff Member 8 stated that she apologized, and it has not occurred again. Child Care Staff Member 8 denied hitting other children at the child care center. Ms. Neyhart stated that she was told by another Child Care Staff Member that Child Care Staff Member 8 hit Child Awhile at the child care center. Ms. Neyhart denied observing Child Care Staff Member 8 hit Child A or any other child. Ms. Neyhart stated she talked to Child Care Staff Member 8 and explained to her that based upon what she heard, hitting Child A or any other child at the child care center was a prohibited form of discipline. She reminded Child Care Staff Member 8 of the five- step conflict resolution discipline policy that should be utilized by child care staff members. She also told Child Care Staff Member 8 that her employment would be terminated if it occurred again.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8113 · R 400.8113 Program director qualifications; responsibilities. .............. (2) A program director shall be present in the center in the following manner: (b) At least 50% of the time children are in care but not less than a total of 6 hours per day for programs operating 6 or continuous hours.

On May 3, 2023, I spoke to Complainant. Complainant stated that Kimberly Neyhart is the owner and program director of the child care center. Complainant stated that Ms. Neyhart is not present at the child care center six hours daily, as she drops supplies off at the child care center in the mornings and immediately leaves for the day. On May 9,2023, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection. When I arrived at the child care at 1:00 p.m. Ms. Neyhart was not present. Child Care Staff Member 1 called Ms. Neyhart and informed her that I was at the child care center. Child Care Staff Member 1 stated that Ms. Neyhart was unable to come to the center, as she was taking care of business. I individually interviewed Ms. Neyhart when she arrived at the child care center at approximately 3:30 p.m. Ms. Neyhart stated that she comes to the child care center daily but is not present six hours daily. She stated that she spends the majority of her day at her child care center located next door, as she has an office at that building. I provided technical assistance and consultation 5 and explained the requirement of Ms. Neyhart being present at the child care center for at least six hours daily. Ms. Neyhart agreed to immediately correct this.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: physical safety. Open / not marked corrected.

R 400.8125 · .................................................... R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times.

On June 9, 2022, I received a complaint regaarrddiinn g Child A beino bitten freauentiv. On July 9. 2022. I emailed complaint, stated she went to see Child A and Child A's Mother on June 8, 2022. Child i not present with any visible injuries. Child A's Mother was concerned as she had been alerted numerous times that Child A was bitten. Child A's Mother indicated she could not continue to allow Child A to be there and M removed from the indicated that she would not be available until the following week to mceeentt aetr .tWhe cen er. On June 21 2022, worker and I met at the child care center. and I met with the program director Kimberly Neyhart and made her aware of the allegations in the complaint. Ms. Neyhart stated that it is true that they have had some biting issues with the older and younger toddlers. Child A was bitten several times and each incident was documented and sent to Child A's Mother. I asked if Child A was bitten by the same child each time was bitten. Ms. Neyhart said Child A was not always bitten by the same child. s. eyhart went on to say that the child care staff members watch the biters to try to keep them from biting other children and the parent of one of the children who frequently bites was given notice that if they continued to bite the child would disenrolled from the center. Ms. Neyhart stated she has moved some of the child care children's groups around in an effort to create better fitting groups to reduce the biting in the center, this has been helpful, and biting has decreased among the children. and I asked Ms. Neyhart how often Child A was bitten. Ms. Neyhart stated was bitten weekly. Ms. Neyhart also explained that Child A was not a biter but was aggressive and would hit children and some of the children would respond to -hitting by biting ■. Ms. Neyhart stated all the incidents were recorded and sent to the parents digitally on Bright Wheel. Bright Wheel is an application used to by the center to communicate with the parents regarding each child's day. I asked Ms. Neyhart the group size and of the toddler group and how many child care staff members worked 3 with the children. Ms. Neyhart stated there are 12 children in that group with three or four child care staff members. During the onsite inspection on June 21. 2022, and I interviewed child care staff member . We went over the "aegations in the complaint with stated she has worked at the center for a year and a half and is the in the classroom Child A was in when. attended the center. stated it is true that Child A was frequently bitten. She went on to state that it was not by the same child and all biting incidents are reported in Bright Wheel to the parents of both the child who was bitten and the child who bit another child. said Child A was bitten often because Child A has some boundary issueRan Rwoud go up to some of the children who bit and do things to frustrate them. She gave an example of Child A going up to another child rin "bubbles and dancing time" and pushing the child, who in return bit Child A. stated that the children with biting issues were the smaller children in the iclassroom and would typically bite older children, some of them were teething and others would bite when an older child would take something from them or hit them. To try and prevent the biting they separated they rearranged the groups so the older and younger toddlers wouldn't be in the same room. During the onsite inspection on June 21 2022 and I interviewed child care staff member stated she has worked at the child care center for three months. works in the toddler classroom a coupMle of =days a week. was made aware of the allegations in the complaint. stated, " Child Al was a good kid, but would sometimes through tantrums in the classroom would also get into the personal space of the other children and sometimes they would bite ." went on to say whenever a child was bitten, the child care staff immediately separated the children, checked where the chil

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.