Child care staff shall supervise every child in care at all times.

Program staff self-reported an incident involving a three-year-old child being left without direct supervision for approximately three minutes. Staff A and Staff B confirmed that the child did not transition outdoors with the remainder of her class, and was unsupervised for approximately three minutes inside the program. Staff C confirmed that they observed Child A sitting alone in the office of the program, then assisted by bringing Child A outside to rejoin their class. Corrective action: The educators of the involved studio now use a form that requires name-face recognition each time their group of children transition inside or outside. Prior to any doors being closed, educators have children sit, they check off each child is where they should be, and then they continue the transition in or out. The form is split into two groups so the educators have the same children in their group every time they transition, reducing opportunity for confusion or error.

He-C 4002.20(a) · Correction status not published

Any contaminated, expired, or discontinued medication, whether prescription or over-the-counter, and topical substances shall be returned to the child’s parents or, if belonging to the program, disposed of properly by authorized staff.

REPEAT CITATION PREVIOUSLY CITED APRIL 20, 2023. The licensing coordinator observed two expired inhalers in the Preschool classroom and two expired diaper ointments in the bathroom used by the Birch classroom. This constitutes one repeat citation and failure to comply with an approved corrective action plan regarding expired medication. Corrective action: We have corrected the error of having two expired inhalers in the Maple Studio and two expired diaper creams in the Birch Studio. Effective 6/27/2024, new inhalers and diaper creams have been brought in to replace the expired ones. There is now a posted list in clear sight next to the area where the inhalers and creams are kept. Additionally, all medications and creams will need to be run by the director prior to use to ensure parents did not bring in an expired medication or cream.

He-C 4002.21(u) · Correction status not published

Programs shall have available for review by the department and parents a written schedule or plan which details the daily activities offered to children.

The licensing coordinator observed that in the Maple Studio and the Birch classroom there was no posted written schedule or plan detailing the daily activities offered to children. Corrective action: We have corrected the error of not having a daily schedule posted in the Birch and Maple Studios. Effective 6/27/2024, there are daily schedules posted on cabinets in both studios.

He-C 4002.19(b) · Correction status not published

Programs shall comply with approved corrective action plans and corrective action plans issued in accordance with (i) and (j) above.

For children 24 months through 5 years, during naptime, a center-based program may have one less staff person in a classroom than required to meet ratios in accordance with He-C 4002.36 through He-C 4002.38 provided that: (1) The total number of child care staff required to maintain all ratios are on the premises of the program; (2) The ratio of awake children to staff in the classroom shall be no more than half the number of children as stated in He-C 4002.36 through He-C 4002.38; (3) Rooms in which staff is reduced shall be equipped with a two-way communication system to allow for immediate contact with other staff for assistance and response; and (4) There is a safety plan on file for review by the department, child care staff, and parents which includes plans or procedures for: a. Evacuation; b. Supervision; c. Environment; d. Schedule; e. Naptime policy; and f. Staff training and support; (5) The program provides parents with written notice of the reduction of staff; and (6) Documentation of the written notice in (5) above, in the form of a posted document, a policy statement that is signed by each parent, or other method of documentation is kept in the child’s record for review by department staff during visits.

A statement by the complainant that the program reduces by one staff in classrooms during rest time, with children 24 months of age and above, and that the program does not follow the criteria for reducing by one staff during rest times. Staff A stated that in the Preschool classroom, staff cover one another's breaks during rest time. They stated that they have up to 19 children, and only six to seven of those children sleep, while the remaining 12 or 13 children are awake when their co-teacher goes on break. Staff A and Staff C stated that to their knowledge there is no "safety plan" for emergencies during staff reduction. Staff E stated that the Preschool and Toddler classrooms reduce by one staff during rest time, and to their knowledge there is no "safety plan" for emergencies during staff reduction. Corrective action: We have corrected the error of reducing by one staff in the Maple Studio (preschool) during rest time without meeting all criteria required to do so. Effective 10/3/23, staff will NOT reduce during rest time unless more than half the children are asleep and there are enough staff available to cover for the educator on break in case of an emergency. The attendance sheet in the Maple Studio now includes if a child slept or remained awake during rest time, a safety plan has been added to the rest-sleep policy given to families and staff, and the updated policy has been posted in every studio to be reviewed by anyone at any time. Additionally, staff are not permitted to leave the premises on their break unless given permission to do so by the director.