Immersion Montessori School - Wonder Woods daycare inspections in West Lebanon, NH

Programs shall: Maintain a temperature of not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit whenever children are present.

The complainant reported that the program temperature was 53 degrees Fahrenheit inside the facility on January 13, 2026, and stated that a staff member admitted they ran out of propane, resulting in no heat. The complainant reported that when they arrived at the program at 7:30 a.m., it was 53 degrees, and that the program still had no heat by lunch time, at which time the temperature was 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The complainant further stated that the program evacuated the building the day before due to the odor of propane, and the program notified families that they had run out of propane, so the complainant was concerned the program had operated without heat until lunch time and did not close or alert families. Staff A confirmed the complainant’s report, stating they had smelled propane on Monday, January 12, 2026, and found they were out of propane. Staff A reported they had heat on Monday, and had a safety check of the heating system, but stated they discovered the technician who responded on Monday had turned off the heating system and had not turned it back on or reported to the program that it was turned off. Staff B confirmed Staff A’s statement and added that the building had heat on Monday and remained above 65 degrees. Staff A, B, and C confirmed the main building was cold on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, with Staff B reporting they were in contact with the heating company to repair the heating issue. Staff C reported that staff and children were wearing their coats inside the building until they were sent home. On January 13, 2026, at 12:35 p.m., the program submitted photos to the department documenting all thermostats displaying the current temperature in the program, which revealed the temperature in the building ranged from 56 degrees to 61 degrees Fahrenheit in each classroom. A message was sent to families at 1:05 p.m. on January 13, 2026, notifying them of the program's closure due to a lack of heat. The message indicated that the program had been without heat from 7:30 a.m. until at least 1:05 p.m., for a minimum of 5 hours and 35 minutes, while children were present in the program. Staff D reported the heating system was fixed by 2:46 p.m. Corrective action: The program has implemented immediate and ongoing corrective actions to ensure full compliance with licensing requirements related to building heat and safety. Effective immediately, the program has instituted daily monitoring of propane levels, with designated staff responsible for verifying tank levels each week day and documenting readings to ensure fuel supply remains well above critical thresholds. This process removes reliance on automated systems alone and ensures proactive intervention before heating is at risk. In addition, the program has initiated a transition to a new propane service provider to ensure delivery practices and reserve thresholds are appropriate for a licensed child care setting. The new provider has conducted walkthroughs of all properties to assess system capacity, delivery scheduling, and emergency response protocols to prevent future service interruptions. This change is intended to ensure reliable fuel supply throughout the heating season, and is in process of finalization. The program has also established a clear escalation and communication protocol requiring immediate administrative action if indoor temperatures approach licensing minimums, including prompt notification to families and closure of the program if adequate heat cannot be maintained. Staff have been instructed that children may not remain in care if classroom temperatures fall below regulatory standards.

Center-based programs shall staff water activities in accordance with the following: For children ages 24 to 35 months the maximum group size shall be 8 children, with a ratio of one staff to 2 children.

The complainant stated the program took children ages 3 ½ to 5 years old on a walk on the Alana Cole nature trail that includes a steep decline [sic] next to open water, and indicated they observed two to three staff members with up to 22 children. Staff A and B confirmed that the staff and children from the Oak classroom took nature walks on the Alana Cole trail and that there were regularly a group of up to 22 children on the walks. Staff A further reported that the children were ages 4 to 5 years old. A review of staff and child attendance records for the week of September 29, 2025, through October 3, 2025, for the Oak classroom revealed that there were 2 to 3 staff with an average of 22 to 24 children daily whose average age was 48 months. Staff A, B, and C all indicated they were not aware the nature walk was considered a water activity, so they did not change their staff to child ratios and maintained their normal classroom ratios for the walks. He-C 4002.01(bu) defines a water activity as “any activity during which children have access to or use of splashing pools, wading pools, and swimming pools with or without slides, and other similar bodies of water including ponds, rivers, lakes, and the ocean, and excluding water tables and sprinklers.” The department has determined that program staff did not comply with the staff-to-child ratios for a water activity when they regularly took as many as 24 students, ages 48-58 months, with two to three staff members for nature walks on the Alana Cole trail, which is adjacent to the Connecticut River. Corrective action: IMS has implemented strengthened safety, supervision, and oversight procedures following the incident involving nature walks along the Alana Cole trail. Effective immediately after our last site visit, all nature walks on the Alana Cole trail have been discontinued, and staff have been informed that any trail or path near the Connecticut River qualifies as a water activity under state regulations. IMS has instituted a new approval process for all outdoor excursions beyond the playground, requiring administrative review of supervision plans, environmental risks, and ratio requirements before any activity occurs. While this expectation had previously been in place, it was unfortunately misjudged by a prior member of management. Regional Management has increased oversight through daily check-ins, weekly reviews of classroom planning, and monthly audits of outdoor activity practices to verify adherence to safety expectations, provide corrective feedback as needed, and ensure consistent implementation of the updated procedures.

Programs that opt to allow child care staff to take children on routine or unplanned local trips, such as walks in the neighborhood, trips to the local library, or other routine errands, shall obtain a signed and dated general permission slip from each child’s parent or guardian, which specifies all approved destinations and activities.

The complainant stated the program took children ages 3 ½ to 5 years old on a walk on the Alana Cole nature trail that includes a steep decline [sic] next to open water, and that they did not grant permission specifically for this trail and that they didn’t believe that there was any documentation at the program about this trail, what routes the students take, how far they go, where they go, or how often they go. Statements by Staff A, B, and C that the program considered the nature walk as a routine walk and not a water activity. Staff D reported that the registration forms include parental permission for their child to go on walking trips but that they would need to review the form to see if water activities are included in the listed permissions. The review of the registration and enrollment packet revealed the program did not list the Alana Cole nature trail or indicate that one of the nature trails would be a water activity where children have access to the Connecticut River. The licensing coordinator’s observation of the Alana Cole Trail showed that it is near the Connecticut River and at times the trail is within 20 feet of the edge of the path and the water, with a drop of 6-10 feet to the river. The department has determined that the nature walk on the Alana Cole Trail is considered a water activity and requires signed and dated permission slip from each child’s parents or guardians prior to allowing a child to participate in any water activities, which the program did not have for the children at the program. Corrective action: IMS has implemented strengthened safety, supervision, and parental permission procedures following the incident involving nature walks along the Alana Cole trail. Effective immediately after the last site visit, all nature walks on the Alana Cole trail have been discontinued, and staff have been informed that any trail or path near the Connecticut River qualifies as a water activity under state regulations and requires explicit, signed parental permission prior to participation. IMS has revised all enrollment and registration forms to clearly identify water-activity trails, including the Alana Cole trail, and now requires a signed and dated permission slip from each child’s parent or guardian for any water-related activity, if we decide to review this in the future we understand what permission forms need to look like in order for this to happen.

He-C 4002.31(a) · Correction status not published

All swimming pools and wading pools on the premises of the child care program and used as part of the child care operations shall be supervised in accordance with the following: Child care staff shall supervise children at all times when they have access to wading pools that have water in them.

The complainant stated the program took children ages 3 ½ to 5 years old on a walk on the Alana Cole nature trail, which the department determined is a water activity. A review of the records of the four staff who participated in the walks revealed that none had completed a basic water safety course, when the requirement for 24 children is that there be two staff present who have successfully completed a basic water safety course within 1 year prior to the water activity. Corrective action: IMS has implemented strengthened staff training and safety procedures following the incident involving nature walks along the Alana Cole trail, which have been determined to constitute a water activity. Effective immediately, all nature walks on the Alana Cole trail have been discontinued until staff who participate in such activities have completed a basic water safety course, and we decide if we want to reopen the nature trail walks. Before that decision be made/ reconsidered each staff member would be requited to have an up to date water safety training.

He-C 4002.31(k)(1) · Correction status not published

In addition to the confidentiality requirements in (d) above, child care staff shall discuss or share information regarding the admission, progress, behavior, health, or discharge of a child with the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s) in a manner that protects and maintains confidentiality for both the child and the child’s parent(s) or guardian(s).

The complainant reported that the program posted a screenshot of a private parent-teacher message to the class photo feed, that the message was about the child’s behavior and identified their child by name, and that several other parents saw the post before it was deleted. Staff B confirmed the incident, stating they were responsible and had accidentally posted a screen shot of a conversation to the public photo stream. Staff B further reported they removed the photo as soon as it was reported. Staff C and D also confirmed the incident and that the post was removed as soon as it was reported, stating it was accidental, and that the program sent an apology to the parents involved and a separate notice to the parents of the children in the classroom. Corrective action: IMS has implemented strengthened posting and oversight procedures. Effective immediately after the incident, all staff must follow a two-step review process before posting any photos or media, ensuring that another staff member (when available) confirms the content contains no identifying or confidential information. Screenshots are strictly prohibited from being uploaded to the class feed, and staff must follow a “pause and review” rule, taking a moment before finalizing a post to re-check for names, messages, or other private details. In addition, administrative oversight has been increased: the Regional Management will conduct daily, weekly, and monthly audits of the classroom photo feed to verify compliance, provide corrective feedback as needed, and ensure consistent adherence to the updated procedures.

He-C 4002.42(f) · Correction status not published

Loading facility…

Immersion Montessori School - Wonder Woods

Contact

Hours

Care & schedule

How This Facility Compares

Inspection History & Violations

Programs shall: Maintain a temperature of not less than 65 degrees Fahrenheit whenever children are present.

Get status updates

Nearby Providers in West Lebanon

Center-based programs shall staff water activities in accordance with the following: For children ages 24 to 35 months the maximum group size shall be 8 children, with a ratio of one staff to 2 children.

All swimming pools and wading pools on the premises of the child care program and used as part of the child care operations shall be supervised in accordance with the following: Child care staff shall supervise children at all times when they have access to wading pools that have water in them.