NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: L.J. BELL PRE-K Facility ID: 77000131 Consultant: MICHELL KOCAN Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/15/2024 Number Present: 13 Completed Date: 2/15/2024 Age: From 4 To 5 Total Minutes: 100 Time In: 08:55 AM Time Out: 10:35 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor for compliance with all applicable child care requirements and complete NC Pre-K monitoring. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the office staff. In the classroom I met with Donna Jacobs, Assistant Teacher. This facility operates one (1) NC Pre-K classroom located inside a public school. I conducted a walk-through of the classroom. The facility operates with a 5-star license issued 11/22/19 and had a 97% compliance history prior to this visit. The last ERS assessment was conducted on 4/30/19. The “Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist for Child Care Centers” was used as a monitoring tool during today’s visit. There are currently sixteen (16) children enrolled and thirteen (13) children were present during the visit. The children were observed during indoor free play, large group music activity, and bathroom/handwashing routines. Prior to the visit I received the staff and training worksheet via email from Dana Lampley, Teacher. There are three (3) staff, including the Principal/Administrator. I monitored one (1) staff file for 10% of existing staff. I monitored two (2) children's records for more than 10% of files. I monitored the staff files for the completion of the annual in-service hours and the required health and safety trainings. I monitored the regulatory system to verify current criminal record qualification letters for all staff. All staff have current CPR and First Aid training. The last documented fire drill was conducted on 12/15/23. Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were completed as required. Monthly playground inspections have been completed as required. A superior sanitation inspection was conducted on 1/29/242 with 8 demerits. The facility is in compliance with fire inspections. The following items were posted for easy reference: license, NC Summary of Child Care Law, safe arrival and departure procedures, emergency medical care plan, emergency telephone numbers, daily classroom schedule, activity plan, First Aid poster, menu, applicable staff/child ratio charts, evacuation routes, cot lists, and tobacco free signage. The facility provides transportation using public school buses. I monitored the following items during the visit: supervision, staff/child ratio, staff, health, safety, program records, management and medication. The NC Pre-K monitoring was also completed today. This NC Pre-K site serves sixteen (16) children. The current NC Pre-K staff were the same staff indicated in the NC Pre-K Plan System. The facility uses the OWL Curriculum. On-going developmental assessments/checkpoints are conducted throughout the school year. The tool used assesses the children in social, physical, cognitive language development, literacy, math, arts, social studies and science. Two checkpoints have been completed thus far this school year. The information gathered from the assessments are used to prepare information that is shared with parents during parent/teacher conferences that are held two (2) times per year. One (1) parent/teacher conference has been held thus far for the school year and another parent-teacher conference will be held prior to the end of the school year. During these conferences a developmental and learning report is shared with the parent. The facility is meeting the 1:9 staff/child ratio requirements. The classrooms operate from 7:45am until 2:30pm to meet the required 32.5 hours per week requirement. Newsletters are sent home monthly and include information on upcoming events and the learning focus/theme for the month. Family engagement activities occur monthly. Parents are encouraged to engage in their child's education and asked to complete monthly take home activities with their child. The following activity centers are present in the classrooms: books/literacy, dramatic play, blocks, art, writing, science, music, sand/water, and manipulatives. There was one (1) violation of child care requirements observed during the visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. The last documented fire drill was 12/15/23. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) The violations documented during the visit must be corrected immediately. To verify correction of the violations you shall submit a signed letter to me explaining in detail how you have corrected the violations described above. The letter should include the facility name and facility ID number. List each item using the item number located to the left of the violation description. When submitting an email for corrections, that email must be sent from the email address of the person designated to submit corrections (example: director) and must include this person’s name and title at the end of the email. I must receive the letter by email or at the address below on or before 2/29/24. You are required to maintain compliance with all applicable childcare rules and regulations at all times. NC GS 110-90(4)(d) requires all child care facilities to maintain a compliance history score of at least 75% for the past 18 months or during the length of time the facility has operated, whichever is less. Failure to do so may result in the issuance of a provisional license or other administrative action. Your compliance history was 97% prior to this visit. Violations cited during the visit may negatively affect this score. Failure to maintain compliance with our requirements may result in administrative action against your license, which could include civil penalties. Repeated violations may significantly affect your compliance history. Resources: *The North Carolina Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a great resource for information and free child care publications/posters. The website is healthychildcare.unc.edu. Rated License: Today we discussed that the facility is in Cohort #2. The prep year for the facility is July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025. The reassessment year for the facility is July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. I recommend that you consider completing the following tasks and activities that will help prepare you for your reassessment year. If possible, we will align the reassessment with your annual compliance visit timeframe. • Have all staff update their WORKS accounts to reflect all currently completed coursework (DCDEE-WORKS) • Determine whether you wish to have Environment Rating Scale (ERS) Assessments for [ITERS-R, ECERS-R, SACERS-U, conducted. • Request technical assistance with your child care consultant and local partners • Participate in local CCR&R related training/workshops • Reach out to your local Community College to discuss educational opportunities. • Review NCRLAP website ERS resources (www.NCRLAP.org). • Consider requesting an ERS assessment (free of charge) during the preparation year. Remember the scores can be used in a variety of ways. o ERS assessments can be requested during the preparation year and scores can be used as guidance to enhance program quality. o If desired, assessment scores can be used during the preparation year if the operator wants to move forward with a rated license reassessment. o Assessment scores can be saved to use during the reassessment year. o Facilities can request another ERS assessment (free of charge) in your reassessment year for any ERS assessment scoring less than a 5.0 You may contact me if you have questions or need assistance. I can be reached at 910-610-7525 or email michell.kocan@dhhs.nc.gov. Thank you for your assistance during the visit. Michell Kocan Child Care Consultant Regulatory Services Section/DHHS Division of Child Development and Early Education PO Box 2694 Rockingham, NC 28380 Stay up to date with the Division of Child Development and Early Education by visiting www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. This website enables you to view the entire law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. Please check regularly for important recalls from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. 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