10A NCAC 09.1403 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE TOWN LEARNING CENTER ANNEX Facility ID: 71000248 Consultant: TAMMY ROSS Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0824-105L Visit Date: 8/13/2024 Number Present: 19 Completed Date: 8/13/2024 Age: From 7 To 12 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 11:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit is to investigate a report alleging violations of child care requirements. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. This visit was completed in conjunction with a routine unannounced visit. Group Leaders, Harley Gillespie and Keira Jones were present and available for consultation. There were nineteen school age children, ages 7-12, present with two caregivers. The children were observed participating in free choice activities, indoors. Free choice activities included blocks, art, dramatic play, Legos, and playing games. Children also participated in outdoor play time. Staff/child ratios were maintained in all classrooms. All children were adequately supervised, and caregivers and children interacted in a positive and appropriate manner. The allegations of this report were discussed Administrator, Angela Beacham and Group Leader, Harley Gillespie. Group Leader, Amanda Kinder, was not present at this visit. You each were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegations and to share any pertinent information. On August 1, 2024, the school age children went on a field trip to Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC. Ms. Gillespie stated there were twenty (20) school age children with three adults/group leaders. The written permission slips for this field trip were obtained and reviewed today. The written permission slip did not include permission for children to be on paddle boat in the water and a certified lifeguard was not present on this field trip. Allegation #1 There is a concern that appropriate supervision was not provided during water activities. Some pictures were submitted with this complaint report, and in the pictures – Ms. Kinder is on the paddle boat with at least 2 different groups of children; all children were wearing life jackets. Ms. Gillespie stated Ms. Kinder and herself were providing the paddle boat rides with the children. They would take two groups of three children each on the paddle boat while an additional caregiver/group leader would remain in the park with the remaining children. When that group completed the paddle boat ride, Ms. Gillespie and Ms. Kinder would walk the children back to the park and get another group of children and take them to ride the paddle boats. Ms. Gillespie and Ms. Kinder were responsible for certain groups of children at a time on the paddle boat. Additional caregiver/group Leader, Tashiona Holmes, would remain in the park with the remaining children. There were no children left unsupervised at any time. Based on my investigation, observations, and information received, this allegation is unsubstantiated. For school age children, the operator shall be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize his or her ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance. Supervising children is a critical component of ensuring the safety and well-being of all children. Staff must be actively engaged at all times for this to occur. Parents have a contract with the facility and its staff to supervise their children. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .1801 requires that children are adequately supervised at all times. Adequate supervision means: (1) Staff must be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize their ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance; (2) Staff must interact with the children while moving about the indoor or outdoor area; (3) Staff must know where each child is located and be aware of children’s activities at all times; (4) Staff must provide supervision appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child; Allegation #2 There is a concern that children were cared for in an unsafe environment in reference to alligators being in the lake. According to my research, Greenfield Lake located at Greenfield Park is home to almost a dozen alligators ranging in age and size. Adults must take precautionary measures to protect children and animals when near the water. Among the pictures submitted with the complaint report, it included a picture of an alligator in the water. However, according to the group leaders, the alligator was not near the children and did not pose a threat to the children or group leaders who were participating on paddle boat rides. The children experienced watching the alligator in their natural habitat. Based on my investigation, my observations, and information received, this allegation is unsubstantiated. As adults and caregivers, you have a legal and moral obligation to protect children from harm. Ensuring a safe and healthy environment includes identifying and evaluating the potential hazards and risks such as environmental factors that could harm a child’s health or safety. A safe environment minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries that can lead to fatalities or long-term health issues. Creating and maintaining a safe environment for children is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adaptation to their changing needs and abilities as they progress and develop. There were two violations documented today. All violations must be corrected immediately. Continued compliance with applicable child care requirements is required. Violation Number Comment Rule 305 The required lifeguard was not present for aquatic activity. .1403(c) 1916 Written permission was not given by parent for child to participate in aquatic activity. School age children were allowed to ride paddle boats at Greenfield Lake with parent's knowledge or written permission slips. .1403(i) In order for your facility to remain in compliance with NC Child Care Requirements, violations must be corrected immediately. A signed and dated letter of compliance must be received by August 27, 2024, describing how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. A time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This timeframe is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (910)824-1143 or you can email me at Tammy.Ross@dhhs.nc.gov. You may email me your verification or mail it to me at: Tammy Ross, Child Care Licensing Consultant, P.O. Box 278, Jacksonville, NC 28541 Comments regarding violations cited. You must have written permission from parents for child to participate in aquatic activity. Aquatic activities are defined as activities that take place in, on, or around a body of water such as swimming, swimming instruction, wading, visits to water parks, and boating. North Carolina Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09.1403 mandates that for every 25 children in care participating in aquatic activities, there shall be at least one person who has a current life guard training certificate issued by the Red Cross or other training determined by the Division of Child Development to be equivalent to the Red Cross training, appropriate for both the type of body of water and type of aquatic activities. These certified life guards are not counted in the required staff child ratios provided by center staff. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all of the licensing requirements that apply to your type of program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all of the applicable laws and rules at all times whether or not they have been monitored or specifically discussed with you in the past. The best way for you to make sure that you are meeting all requirements is to periodically review the child care law and rules. Documentation was completed on site. Remember it is your responsibility to comply with all child care rules and requirements at all times. Contact me at Tammy.Ross@dhhs.nc.gov at (910)824-1143 with any questions or concerns. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE TOWN LEARNING CENTER ANNEX Facility ID: 71000248 Consultant: TAMMY ROSS Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0824-105L Visit Date: 8/13/2024 Number Present: 19 Completed Date: 8/13/2024 Age: From 7 To 12 Total Minutes: 120 Time In: 11:00 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit is to investigate a report alleging violations of child care requirements. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. This visit was completed in conjunction with a routine unannounced visit. Group Leaders, Harley Gillespie and Keira Jones were present and available for consultation. There were nineteen school age children, ages 7-12, present with two caregivers. The children were observed participating in free choice activities, indoors. Free choice activities included blocks, art, dramatic play, Legos, and playing games. Children also participated in outdoor play time. Staff/child ratios were maintained in all classrooms. All children were adequately supervised, and caregivers and children interacted in a positive and appropriate manner. The allegations of this report were discussed Administrator, Angela Beacham and Group Leader, Harley Gillespie. Group Leader, Amanda Kinder, was not present at this visit. You each were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegations and to share any pertinent information. On August 1, 2024, the school age children went on a field trip to Greenfield Park in Wilmington, NC. Ms. Gillespie stated there were twenty (20) school age children with three adults/group leaders. The written permission slips for this field trip were obtained and reviewed today. The written permission slip did not include permission for children to be on paddle boat in the water and a certified lifeguard was not present on this field trip. Allegation #1 There is a concern that appropriate supervision was not provided during water activities. Some pictures were submitted with this complaint report, and in the pictures – Ms. Kinder is on the paddle boat with at least 2 different groups of children; all children were wearing life jackets. Ms. Gillespie stated Ms. Kinder and herself were providing the paddle boat rides with the children. They would take two groups of three children each on the paddle boat while an additional caregiver/group leader would remain in the park with the remaining children. When that group completed the paddle boat ride, Ms. Gillespie and Ms. Kinder would walk the children back to the park and get another group of children and take them to ride the paddle boats. Ms. Gillespie and Ms. Kinder were responsible for certain groups of children at a time on the paddle boat. Additional caregiver/group Leader, Tashiona Holmes, would remain in the park with the remaining children. There were no children left unsupervised at any time. Based on my investigation, observations, and information received, this allegation is unsubstantiated. For school age children, the operator shall be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize his or her ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance. Supervising children is a critical component of ensuring the safety and well-being of all children. Staff must be actively engaged at all times for this to occur. Parents have a contract with the facility and its staff to supervise their children. Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .1801 requires that children are adequately supervised at all times. Adequate supervision means: (1) Staff must be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize their ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance; (2) Staff must interact with the children while moving about the indoor or outdoor area; (3) Staff must know where each child is located and be aware of children’s activities at all times; (4) Staff must provide supervision appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child; Allegation #2 There is a concern that children were cared for in an unsafe environment in reference to alligators being in the lake. According to my research, Greenfield Lake located at Greenfield Park is home to almost a dozen alligators ranging in age and size. Adults must take precautionary measures to protect children and animals when near the water. Among the pictures submitted with the complaint report, it included a picture of an alligator in the water. However, according to the group leaders, the alligator was not near the children and did not pose a threat to the children or group leaders who were participating on paddle boat rides. The children experienced watching the alligator in their natural habitat. Based on my investigation, my observations, and information received, this allegation is unsubstantiated. As adults and caregivers, you have a legal and moral obligation to protect children from harm. Ensuring a safe and healthy environment includes identifying and evaluating the potential hazards and risks such as environmental factors that could harm a child’s health or safety. A safe environment minimizes the risk of accidents and injuries that can lead to fatalities or long-term health issues. Creating and maintaining a safe environment for children is an ongoing process that requires constant monitoring and adaptation to their changing needs and abilities as they progress and develop. There were two violations documented today. All violations must be corrected immediately. Continued compliance with applicable child care requirements is required. Violation Number Comment Rule 305 The required lifeguard was not present for aquatic activity. .1403(c) 1916 Written permission was not given by parent for child to participate in aquatic activity. School age children were allowed to ride paddle boats at Greenfield Lake with parent's knowledge or written permission slips. .1403(i) In order for your facility to remain in compliance with NC Child Care Requirements, violations must be corrected immediately. A signed and dated letter of compliance must be received by August 27, 2024, describing how each violation was corrected and how compliance will be maintained in the future. A time frame is established to allow you time for submitting your compliance letter. This timeframe is not intended to be used as a guide for correcting violations, as they should be corrected immediately. If I can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at (910)824-1143 or you can email me at Tammy.Ross@dhhs.nc.gov. You may email me your verification or mail it to me at: Tammy Ross, Child Care Licensing Consultant, P.O. Box 278, Jacksonville, NC 28541 Comments regarding violations cited. You must have written permission from parents for child to participate in aquatic activity. Aquatic activities are defined as activities that take place in, on, or around a body of water such as swimming, swimming instruction, wading, visits to water parks, and boating. North Carolina Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09.1403 mandates that for every 25 children in care participating in aquatic activities, there shall be at least one person who has a current life guard training certificate issued by the Red Cross or other training determined by the Division of Child Development to be equivalent to the Red Cross training, appropriate for both the type of body of water and type of aquatic activities. These certified life guards are not counted in the required staff child ratios provided by center staff. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all of the licensing requirements that apply to your type of program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all of the applicable laws and rules at all times whether or not they have been monitored or specifically discussed with you in the past. The best way for you to make sure that you are meeting all requirements is to periodically review the child care law and rules. Documentation was completed on site. Remember it is your responsibility to comply with all child care rules and requirements at all times. Contact me at Tammy.Ross@dhhs.nc.gov at (910)824-1143 with any questions or concerns. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.