All center directors, agency administrators, site coordinators, or site directors, and all other child care staff who are responsible for the supervision of children, or who are necessary for the staff to child ratios, shall keep on file documentation of completion of a minimum of 6 hours of professional development, which shall be completed in accordance with the following: (1)  Within 90 days of the first date of employment; (2) Within 2 weeks for programs operating 3 months of the year or less; or (3) By providing documentation of previous completion.

The licensing coordinator's review of five staff files revealed two staff did not complete the required 18 hours of professional development. Staff A and Staff B both completed five hours of professional development in 2023. Corrective action: Going forward, all staff professional development will be tracked using a tracking sheet, kept in their files. These sheets will be updated as soon as the certificate is printed and the tracking sheets will be checked quarterly to ensure each staff member is up to date with professional development. An email with a deadline was already sent out making sure all staff meets the requirements for the 2024 calendar year.

He-C 4002.33(a) · Correction status not published

(a) The play area shall: (1) Be accessible to children with disabilities; (2) Be appropriate for each age group served, including use of toys and equipment that is age and developmentally appropriate to the needs of the children enrolled; (3) Provide for both direct sunlight and shade; and (4) Be free from hazards, including but not limited to: a. Water hazards such as unprotected pools, wells, or bodies of water; b. Animal feces; c. Poisonous plants; d. Broken toys, broken glass or other sharp items; e. Chipping, peeling, or flaking paint; f. Dangerous machinery or tools; g. Small objects that could present a choking hazard to young children; and h. Other dangerous items or substances.

The complainant stated there was a large nail protruding from a wooden beam on the playground. The licensing coordinator observed a large nail approximately ten inches in length protruding out of a wooden beam on the playground. Corrective action: The correction plan for the large nail in the beam is to remove the beams from the playground altogether. They are not needed in between the play area and sandbox and can be removed completely. In the future we will do weekly playground checks on all playground equipment and surfaces. Any findings will be reported to our maintenance repair man and the owners to be fixed as soon as possible.

He-C 4002.24(a) · Correction status not published

Child care staff and household members shall not use rough handling on children.

A statement by the complainant that Staff B has roughly handled children, and has yelled at children in a manner that is shaming or humiliating. Staff A stated that Staff B is "getting better," and does not yell at the children "as much as [they] used to," but confirmed that Staff B uses aggressive words and phrases, includin but not limited to telling crying children to "shut up." Staff A confirmed that they observed one occasion when Staff B moved two infants around the classroom while holding each child by only one arm. Staff A has also observed Staff B become angry with the children for removing their shoes or throwing toys, which are developmentally appropriate behaviors. Staff C acknowledged that Staff B can be loud and aggressive and that they have heard Staff B yelling in the classroom. Staff C also acknowledged being made aware of a situation in which Staff B roughly handled children by holding and moving them by one arm around the classroom. It is the determination of the department that Staff B did not establish a learning environment that provided for the emotional and physical well-being of each child based upon confirmed instances of rough handling, yelling in frustration or anger, and shaming or humiliating children in their care. Corrective action: Any staff that uses any types of rough handling with the children shall be written up immediately and or terminated. We are currently in the process of putting up cameras in all classrooms including the office space to ensure the safety of our staff, children and families. It is important to remember that the children come first, and it is our job to make sure that they feel loved.

He-C 4002.18(e)(2) · Correction status not published

Prior to employment or residency, as applicable, and every 5 years thereafter, all child care staff, substitutes, other employees, and volunteers who may be alone with children or are included in staff to child ratios, and household members age 10 years or older, shall submit for a background record check using NH Connections.

Programs shall staff infant and toddler programs in accordance with the following: (1) For children ages 6 weeks to 12 months, the maximum group size shall be 12 with the following minimum staffing levels: a. One associate teacher with up to 4 children; b. One associate teacher and one assistant teacher with 5 to 8 children; and c. One lead teacher and 2 assistant teachers with 9 to 12 children; (2) For children ages 13 to 24 months, the maximum group size shall be 15 with the following minimum staffing levels: a. One associate teacher with up to 5 children; b. One associate teacher and one assistant teacher with 6 to 10 children; and c. One lead teacher and 2 assistant teachers with 11 to 15 children; (3) For children ages 25 to 35 months, the maximum group size shall be 18 with the following minimum staffing levels; a. One associate teacher with up to 6 children; b. One associate teacher and one assistant teacher with 7 to 12 children; and c. One lead teacher and 2 assistant teachers with 13 to 18 children.

The complainant stated one associate teacher and one assistant teacher were left alone with 16 toddlers. The licensing coordinator’s review of the daily staff and daily child attendance records for the infant classroom from October 2 through October 27, 2023, revealed there were 3 occasions over 3 days when the program didn’t meet the minimum staff-to-child ratios for times ranging from a minimum of 40 minutes to as long as 7 hours 50 minutes. Those occasions included 3 times when there was 1 staff with 5 children, when 2 staff were required. The licensing coordinator’s review of the daily staff and daily child attendance records for the toddler 1 classroom from October 2 through October 27, 2023, revealed there were 10 occasions over 9 days when the program didn’t meet the minimum staff-to-child ratios for times ranging from a minimum of 18 minutes to as long as 7 hours 25 minutes. Those occasions included 3 times when there was 1 staff with 7 children, when 2 staff were required, 5 times when there was 1 staff with 6 children, when 2 staff were required, 2 times when there were 5 children with 1 staff, when 2 were required, The licensing coordinator’s review of the daily staff and daily child attendance records for the toddler 2 classroom from October 2 through October 27, 2023, revealed there were 19 occasions over 9 days when the program didn’t meet the minimum staff-to-child ratios for times ranging from a minimum of 10 minutes to as long as 6 hours 50 minutes. Those occasions included 1 time when there was 1 staff with 14 children, when 3 staff were required, 5 times when there were 2 staff with 13 children, when 3 staff were required, 6 times there was 1 staff with 13 children, when 3 staff were required, 2 times there was 1 staff with 12 children, when 2 staff were required, 2 times there was 1 staff with 11 children, when 2 staff were required, 1 time there was 1 staff with 10 children, when 2 staff were required, and 3 times there was 1 staff with 9 children, when 3 staff were required. The licensing coordinator’s review of the daily staff and daily child attendance records for the combined early morning classrooms from October 2 through October 27, 2023, revealed there were 5 occasions over 5 days when the program didn’t meet the minimum staff-to-child ratios for times ranging from a minimum of 20 minutes to as long as 30 minutes. Those occasions included 2 times when there was 1 staff with 7 children, when 2 staff were required, 1 time when there was 1 staff with 8 children, when 2 staff were required, 1 time when there was 1 staff with 9 children, when 2 staff were required, and 1 time when there was 1 staff with 10 children, when 2 staff were required. The licensing coordinator’s review of the daily child and staff attendance records from October 2 through 27, 2023, revealed on October 3, 4, 11, 23, 26, and 27, 2023, from as early as 6:30 a.m. until 7:00 a.m., there was only 1 staff present in the building with more than 5 children, when 2 staff were required. Corrective action: All classrooms meet staff to child ratios moving forward. At this point we have: Infants 2 teachers and 6 enrolled. In the Toddler one classroom we have 3 teachers and 7 children enrolled. In the Toddler two classroom we have 3 teachers and 13 children enrolled. In the Preschool classroom we have 2 teachers and 14 children enrolled. In pre-k we have two teachers and 9 children enrolled. Infant: 1 Associate 1 Assistant Toddler one: 3 Associates Toddler Two: 1 Lead 1 Associate 1 Assistant Preschool: 1 Lead 1 Assistant Pre-k: 1 Lead 1 Assistant In the morning we have 1 Associate and 1 Assistant that open in the morning with 1 Lead in the building at 7:00. This makes 3 teachers in the morning. In the afternoon a handful of teens come in with about 2-3 Assocaite teachers and 2 Assistants closing. Since the visit, all staff schedules have been moved around to accommodate child to staff ratios. More teachers in the morning and evening hours. All classrooms have more or exact teacher to child ratio.