Loading
Pulling inspections, violations, and complaints.
Home › NJ › North Bergen › A Step Ahead Preschool
License #09AST0001 · Center · Child Care Center
When they operate
Schedule type not published.
Ages served
Ages not published.
Tap a row to expand inspection details, findings, and the state record.
Post the center's license in a prominent location in each building.
Ensure that the center has an adequate supply of materials to meet the daily activity needs of the children and the program and ensure all materials used by the children are age-appropriate, non-toxic, and safe for use by children.
Post a diagram of all approved areas and ensure that all rooms approved for use by children are labeled.
Leave your email if you want a note when this facility's license or enforcement status changes.
Generated from this facility's specific inspection record
Data synced from New Jersey DCF, Office of Licensing on Jul 9, 2026 · Source records · Report an error
Provide a current life/hazard use registration certificate applicable to the center's licensed capacity and ages served.
Ensure that the center has a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility, and job descriptions.
Ensure that children are adequately tracked at all times and staff are aware of the number of children in their care. Staff in room 4, building 2 indicated that 10 children were present but 11 children were in care.
Ensure that all toxic substances are inaccessible to the children. Bleach wipes and hand sanitizer were relocated during the inspection.
Ensure fire drills are conducted during each session provided at the center, one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable, and all children are evacuated from the building within three minutes during each fire drill.
Conduct and document at least two lockdown drills annually.
Provide documentation that the center has current comprehensive general liability insurance coverage.
Ensure that CARI background checks are completed as required for the sponsor/sponsor representative and all regularly scheduled staff. 5 missing.
Complete and maintain on file, a current Staff Records Checklist designated by OOL.
Remove electric space heaters. The heaters were unplugged. The center sponsor agreed to remove the heaters from the center when the staff are able to do so without breaking the ratio in the classrooms. The violation will be cited and abated due to immediate action of unplugging a relocating the heaters from the outlet source.
Service the fire extinguisher in the kitchen in building 1.
Recite: Provide a current fire certificate as required.
Ensure accident reports are completed as required including all required components.
Ensure the infants are not permitted to sleep in the bouncy seats in room 4, building 2.
Little Tykes highchair and pink basket blocking exit door in room 2 building 1. Removed during the inspection.
Ensure all outdoor hazards are removed from the outdoor play area as required including plywood, paint cans, disinfectant pails, trash and debris.
Provide a barrier extending at least 5 feet above floor level as required. Pertains to the floors 2 and 3.
Maintain an illness log on file at the center that includes: the child's name; symptoms of illness; actions taken by the center; and dates of exclusion and return.
Provide the documentation for the see saws and little tykes slide.. 6.9.2026-removed during the inspection.
Ensure that all staff who have a conditional clearance, receive a full CHRI check clearance letter.
Clean the floor in the entryway.
Provide a current fire certificate as required. Pertains to building 1.
Ensure that the center completes and maintains on file a children's records checklist, including the child's name, address, birth date and date of enrollment.
Ensure that a Universal Health Record is completed upon enrollment and updated annually, including the immunization records and special care plans as required.
Ensure that there are at least five different activity areas and that each area contains at least five different types of supplies and equipment in room 2.
Remove debris and overgrown vegetation from the outdoor play area.
Ensure that all indoor and outdoor equipment is sturdy, safe, free of hazards and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Install hand rails for adults and children on the ramp leading to the outdoor play area.
Retrain all staff on the methods of tracking children.
Ensure that the staff are trained on all topic of orientation annually.
Ensure that the credentialed staff have at least 20 hours of staff development annually.
Remove the overgrown vegetation on the fencing in the outdoor play space.
Provide additional fencing or a gate in the outdoor area where the tree was removed to prevent accidental access to the street.
Ensure that each child's bedding and sleeping equipment are labeled with the child's name in room 2. 9/15/2023-As per the sponsor, the mats are cleaned twice daily, thus the violation is n/a.
Ensure that at least two staff have current first aid and CPR certifications and are present at all times at the center.
Ensure that the center conducts at least two lockdown drills per year during each session provided at the center and maintains records of the drills on file.
Provide a current fire certificate as required.
Provide a current life/hazard use registration certificate applicable to the center's licensed capacity and ages served.
Ensure that the director meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual. 8/31/23-Degree uploaded to NJCCIS. Need resume. 4/23/2024-The director needs the degree and transcripts translated. TA provided.
Ensure that the head teacher meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual. 4/23/2024-degree and transcripts must be translated.
Retrain all staff on supervising, ratios and tracking children.
Ensure that all staff complete 12 hours of staff development annually.
Ensure that all credentialed staff complete 20 hours of staff development annually.
Ensure that all staff submit a CARI background check upon renewal. 11/3/2023-Center must submit SRC to confirm if all CARI checks were submitted. CARI checks current for 11 staff members. 1/9/2024-Center must submit SRC to confirm if all renewal CARI checks were submitted.
Ensure that all staff, the sponsor and/or the sponsor representative complete a CHRI background check as required. Ensure that all staff, the sponsor and/or the sponsor representative complete a CHRI background check as required for the center's license renewal. 7/3/23-Center must submit the SRC to determine the number of CHRI checks missing. 6 CHRI checks current for renewal. 1/9/2024-4 OUTSTANDING 4/23/2024-2 outstanding.
Ensure that adequate staff/child ratios are maintained at all times throughout the center. Room 2 had 9 children 18m-2 with two staff. One of the staff members was also cooking the children's lunch and was in and out of the classroom.
Ensure that the director designee completes the Understanding Licensing training provided by OOL.
Ensure that the center has a current comprehensive general liability insurance policy and maintains the documentation on file.
Ensure that the center complies with the licensed capacity of the classrooms at all times throughout the center. The 2nd floor is licensed for 10 children and 11 children were present.
Cease the use of pacifier straps or other types of attachment devices.
Remove the torn red vinyl sofa from the toddler room.
Ensure that all surfaces are kept clean and in good repair. Secure the toilet paper holder in the restroom on the 2nd floor.
Ensure that the center maintains accurate daily time sheets for staff that are present and ensure that staff who are not present are not signed into the center. One staff member was signed in that has not worked in the center for more than 3 months. While a second staff member who was present and indicated that she has worked was not signed in at all.
Ensure that the center maintains daily time sheets for the children that indicate the children's arrival and departure times.
Remove debris, animal excretions and overgrown vegetation from the outdoor play area.
Remove the broken chairs from the outdoor play area.
Ensure that the center's fire protective systems are operative at all times. Center is being monitored but panel needs to be repaired.
Ensure that all staff complete orientation training within two weeks of hire and annually, including understanding center operations, policies and procedures. 4.23.2024-The training documentation does not list the trainer and is incomplete.
Ensure that the center conducts fire drills at least once per month during each session provided at the center, including one fire drill annually that is conducted during nap time.
Ensure that the center has a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility and communication.
Complete radon testing in every room on the lowest floor used by children and post the results in a prominent location.
Ensure that all staff working with children under 2.5 years of age have training specific to this age group initiated within 90 days of hire and completed within one year.
Ensure that adequate supervision is maintained at all times throughout the center. Three children were out of the line of site in the book area on the 2nd floor.
Remove debris and overgrown vegetation from the outdoor play area.
Ensure that the program supervisor meets the required qualifications as specified in the manual.
Post the center's discipline policy in a prominent location.
Ensure that the children cannot lock themselves in the bathrooms.
Ensure that all sleeping mats in room 2 are stored so that there is no contact with the sleeping surface of another mat or that the mats are disinfected after each use as required. 9/15/2023-As per the sponsor, the mats are cleaned twice daily, thus the violation is n/a.
Ensure that there is at least one staff physically present in the room on the 2nd floor or area where children are napping and they are able to summon additional staff members without leaving the room.
Ensure that the center completes and maintains on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by OOL. 4/23/2024-One staff member present during the inspection is not listed on the SRC.
Ensure that CARI background checks are completed as required for all staff within two weeks of hire. One outstanding.
Complete and submit a DCF Drinking Water Testing Checklist and Statement of Assurance and a copy of the center's water testing completed by a laboratory certified by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Ensure that the use of television, computers, and other video equipment is for educational and instructional use, is age and developmentally appropriate, is not used as a substitute for planned activities, and is not used for passive viewing. The children in room 2 were watching television in lieu of planned activities while waiting for the nap area to be set up.
Ensure that pacifiers are removed when children are walking. One child in the toddler room was walking around with a blue rubber pacifier in his mouth.
Remove the ladder that was in the playground area.
Per the NJ Department of Health COVID-19 Public Health Recommendations pursuant to Executive Order No. 149, ensure that the center uses one of the approved screening methods. The center did not have a physical barrier when screening. Violation not applicable due to Updated COVID-19 Standards – Child Care Centers, issued 5.26.2021.
Cease caring for children under the age of 2.5. There was a child aged 2 at the center.
Submit a copy of the center's current completed Staff Records Checklist, and proof of orientation training.
Ensure that the staff know how many children are in their care at all times. The staff stated there were 11 children, when 10 were present.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's table of organization.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the illness log for the previous 30 day period.
Ensure that the staff know how many children are in their care. The staff had to count the children, when asked.
Cease caring for children under the age of 2.5. There was a child aged 2 at the center.
Ensure that all debris in basement is removed to provide access to a three foot wide aisle that leads to an exit.
Ensure that adequate procedures for tracking children are adhered to at all times throughout the center. The staff had to count the children, when asked.
There are 2 CHRIs missing.
Ensure that there are at least 2 staff at the center at all times that has a current CPR and First Aid certification.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's radon testing results.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the Drinking Water test result and all required documentation.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's discipline policy.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's communicable disease policy.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's expulsion policy.
Submit to the OOL, a copy of the center's Life Hazard Use certificate.
Ensure that adequate procedures for tracking children are adhered to at all times throughout the center. The staff stated there were 12 children, when 11 children were present.