Ph&L School-Age Facility #2, Inc.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: PH&L School-Age Facility #2, Inc. Facility ID: 26002619 Consultant: RHONDA BLACKMON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/29/2025 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 5/29/2025 Age: From 8 To 12 Total Minutes: 250 Time In: 09:50 AM Time Out: 02:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to a third temporary time period visit. A rated license assessment was conducted. The previous visit was completed on April 10, 2025, and prior to today’s visit, the eighteen-month compliance history score was 100% as required by North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(c-d). This program currently operates with a Temporary License issued January 8, 2025 to July 8, 2025. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by Camela Hayes and the owner’s corporation status was verified on the Secretary of State’s website as current-active. Current Inspections are as follows: Sanitation Inspection with a classification of Superior, with two (2) demerits completed February 18, 2025. Fire Inspection, approved for daytime care only, dated December 11, 2024. C. Hayes, Assistant Director/Program Coordinator, was present. I explained the purpose of the visit and C. Hayes accompanied me during the walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. In Space #1a, children, aged nine to twelve years old, participated in free play activities. At least four different activities were made available. Three school-age children manipulated “Hope Mills Monopoly.” C. Williams, group leader, interacted with the children and participated in the game. Two school-age children played paddle ball, while additional children used stencils to draw animals and different modes of transportation and manipulate a stem activity with transport sets and magnets. There was no enrollment record for Space #1b. In Space #1c, children, aged eight to nine years old, used their creativity and imagination to paint summer pictures with vibrant colors. Additionally, children played “Uno” and “Life,” and manipulated playdough. After free play, children cleaned up, participated in personal care routines, and transitioned outdoors. In the two outdoor learning environments, children played basketball, climbed on the climber, and swung on the swings. The pea gravel under the two swings on one playground measured ½ to 4 inches deep before reaching the hard ground. Additionally, the pea gravel at various exit points of the climber measured 1 to 3 inches on the second playground. Upon their return indoors, the staff and children washed their hands and transitioned to the tables for lunch. Lunch served was chicken tenders, whole grain flat bread, mashed potatoes, mixed fruit, and milk. Children’s and staff files were monitored on April 10, 2025. In Space #1c, a staff member employed at the Owner’s other licensed facility was present and counted in staff/child ratio. The staff member’s personnel file was monitored and found to meet compliance. Additionally, the required center program records were monitored today. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with C. Hayes. The following violation was observed today: Violation Number Comment Rule 1868 When equipment on the outdoor learning environment met one of the exceptions outlined in .0605(m)(1-4), the protective surfacing did not meet the specifications in rule. The pea gravel did not meet the surfacing depth requirement of 6 inches. During today's visit, it measured between 1/2 to 4 inches, instead of the required 6 inches. .0605(m)(1-4) 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. The violation observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violation observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on June 12, 2025, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to me. The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was corrected. If the letter states that corrections have been made when they have not, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Rhonda Blackmon Lead Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 279 Linden, NC 28356 Rhonda.blackmon@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance/Consultation Specific to today’s visit: Outdoor learning environment: As a reminder, swings shall have protective surfacing that extends two times the length of the pivot point to the surface below. The surfacing shall be to the front and rear of the swing. Protective surfacing shall be either: (1) loose surfacing material, including wood mulch, double shredded bark mulch, uniform wood chips, fine sand, coarse sand, and pea gravel, except that pea gravel shall not be used if the area will be used by children under three years of age. Loose surfacing material shall not be installed over concrete; or (2) other materials that have been certified by the manufacturer to be shock-absorbing protective material in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F 1292, may be used if installed, maintained, and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. Protective surfacing shall cover the area under and around equipment where a child may fall, referred to as the fall zone. The surfacing depth shall be at least 6 inches. Criminal Background Check: C. Johnson, DOB 1/22/1977, criminal background check qualification letter dated July 9, 2020, will expire on July 9, 2025. You must renew your CBC qualification in advance of the expiration. If your CBC qualification expires, you may not work in child care. To begin the requalification, visit https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/Applicant/. Rated License Assessment: An application for assessment for a voluntary 2-5 star rated license was received on April 14, 2025. The SACERS-U was conducted on May 5, 2025, with a score of 4.93. A copy of the facility summary report was given to C. Hayes today. Please note that this report is based on a time-limited observation, providing a snapshot of the environment and practices at that time. We understand this may not fully capture the range of experiences offered to children. It may be helpful to keep in mind that the overall average score, rather than individual item scores, best represents a program’s quality level. All items that scored below a five were discussed with C. Hayes. The items that scored a two or below are documented below and were monitored for compliance during today’s visit. Suggestions/recommendations were provided for each item. Item #14: No safety hazards were observed indoors. Outdoors, this group used two playgrounds and a field area. The pea gravel under the two swings on one playground measured less than 1 inch deep before reaching a hard surface, rather than at least 6 inches. Additionally, the support structure of the swings was positioned 2 feet 10 inches from the containment border rather than at least 6 feet as required. The pea gravel measured .5 to 1 inch in depth at the exit points of the green slide and the arched ladder. The other playground had a large complex climber. The pea gravel at various exit points of the climber measured less than 1 inch. You may refer to the document, NCRLAP's Requirements for Gross Motor Space and Equipment, for more information. During today’s visit, this item was monitored and found not to meet compliance. The pea gravel measured ½ to 4 inches around the swings and climber in the outdoor learning environments. C. Hayes stated that additional pea gravel will be ordered to meet the 6-inch depth requirement. Additionally, we discussed other options of approved surfacing such as poured rubber or artificial turf to consider for purchase to meet requirements outlined in child care rule 09.0605. Item #25: To earn credit for this indicator, at least one example of using a science or nature book to add information for children should be observed. This can occur when the teacher uses the book or because the teacher has set up a book or equivalent print with appropriate materials for children's use in the center. The required use of science or nature books did not occur. During today’s visit, I observed science and nature materials present and accessible to meet this indicator and to earn credit. Item #36: The required fine motor or language activity was not observed or reported to occur daily. Instead, it was reported that a planned art or fine motor activity occurs once a week, and language games are offered once every two weeks. Therefore, the types of activities considered in this indicator occur once or twice a week, rather than daily. During today’s visit, C. Hayes stated that fine motor and language activities occur daily. C. Hayes stated that she would discuss and review the SACERS-U report with the group leaders to determine if miscommunication occurred during the interview questions and to ensure staff understand child care requirements and best practice. If you choose to file a grievance letter, please remember that this letter will be due to me within 30 days of my visit (due by 6/29/25). Please refer to the letter left with you today for instructions on how to file a grievance. The facility achieved the following points in each component: Education Standards: Administrator – The Administrator is qualified as a Level III S/A administrator, over 20 years admin experience, and BSAC. The administrator earned seven (7) points. Program Coordinator – Position is not listed on status letter. C.H. must go into her WORKS account and check the box for the position of Program Coordinator so the evaluation can be completed, and qualification determined. Group Leader – Position is not listed on status letter for C.J. C.J. must go into her WORKS account, check the box group leader, and upload a copy of her BSAC certificate to be evaluated and qualified as a group leader. C.G. must upload a copy of her high school diploma and BSAC certificate and check the box group leader to be evaluated and qualified as a group leader. Program Standards: Six (6) points The facility meets requirements in Rule .2806, enhanced ratios, and enhanced space. The facility has earned 6 points in program standards. Quality Point: One (1) point The facility meets the following quality point educational option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division. Once points have been determined for education standards, the total points will be awarded to determine the overall points. At the end of the temporary time period, the rated license assessment packet will be completed and submitted to Raleigh for the issuance of a star rated license. The facility file will be transferred to the child care consultant in the assigned territory once the new license has been issued. At this time, the consultant for this facility will be: Sandra Johnson Post Office Box 64401 Fayetteville, NC 28306 Office: 910-408-8985 Sandra.johnson@dhhs.nc.gov You may visit our website: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ for updated information regarding the child care law and rules, forms, and other pertinent information. If you have questions, please contact me at (910) 709-4168. 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