3270.113(d)/3270.113(e) · A facility person may not use harsh, demeaning or abusive language in the presence of children. A facility person may not restrain a child by using bonds, ties or straps to restrict a child's movement or by enclosing the child in a confined space, closet or locked room. The prohibition against restraining a child does not apply to the use of adaptive equipment prescribed for a child with special needs. The legal entity must develop or update their written supervision policies and procedures to be implemented in the facility. The updated policies must include expectations for appropriation interactions between staff and children, including appropriate redirection of children. Policies should also include procedures for staff to follow if they feel they are becoming stressed in the classroom and include the restriction of restraining a child for behavioral reasons, with the exception of the use of adaptive equipment prescribed for a child with special needs. Both the updated supervision policies and new supervision procedures must be submitted to the Northeast Regional Office for approval prior to implementation. Once approved by the Department, the director will ensure that all current employees and any new hires are trained on the policies and procedures, and it must be documented in their files.

At the time of the inspection, Staff Person #1 acknowledged that on 2/25/25 she raised her voice toward Child #1 by repeatedly telling him, "No," and then restrained Child #1 into a highchair for not listening to her. She admitted that her tone may have been harsh. Other staff have also acknowledged that on 2/25/25, Staff Person #1 did raise her voice toward Child #1 by yelling, "don't do that," and acknowledged that she also raises her voice, often in an aggressive manner, toward the children in the infant room.

Corrected Corrected by Mar 28, 2025

Category: supervision. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.113(d)/3270.113(e) · A facility person may not use harsh, demeaning or abusive language in the presence of children. A facility person may not restrain a child by using bonds, ties or straps to restrict a child's movement or by enclosing the child in a confined space, closet or locked room. The prohibition against restraining a child does not apply to the use of adaptive equipment prescribed for a child with special needs.

At the time of the inspection, Staff Person #1 acknowledged that on 2/25/25 she raised her voice toward Child #1 by repeatedly telling him, "No," and then restrained Child #1 into a highchair for not listening to her. She admitted that her tone may have been harsh. Other staff have also acknowledged that on 2/25/25, Staff Person #1 did raise her voice toward Child #1 by yelling, "don't do that," and acknowledged that she also raises her voice, often in an aggressive manner, toward the children in the infant room.

Corrected Corrected by Feb 26, 2025

Category: recordkeeping. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.32(a)/3270.192(4) · The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). A facility person's record shall include a copy of requests for the criminal history record and child abuse registry clearance information, a copy of the disclosure statement and a copy of the completed clearance information required under the CPSL. Staff Person #5 may not work in a childcare position at the facility until a completed PA State Police clearance is received.

At the time of the inspection, the PA State Police clearance dated 12/26/22 on file for staff person #5 did not have a dissemination date; therefore, this makes this an incomplete clearance.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 5, 2024

Category: background checks. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.102(c) · Outdoor equipment that requires embedded mounting must be mounted over a loose-fill or unitary playground protective surface covering that meets the recommendations of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The equipment must be anchored firmly and be in good repair.

During the inspection, the embedded play equipment had a fall height of 4' and only had 3 1/2 inches of loose-fill rubber mulch under them. At minimum, embedded equipment requires there to be 6 inches of loose fill rubber mulch around the equipment.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 18, 2024

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.102(c) · Outdoor equipment that requires embedded mounting must be mounted over a loose-fill or unitary playground protective surface covering that meets the recommendations of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The equipment must be anchored firmly and be in good repair. The large, embedded climber and small embedded climbing structure in the play yard shall be made inaccessible and will not be used by the children until such time as the loose-fill impact-absorbing material meets the recommendations of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. For this piece of equipment, there needs to be at least six inches of loose-fill impact-absorbing material under the equipment.

During the inspection, the embedded play equipment had a fall height of 4' and only had 3 1/2 inches of loose-fill rubber mulch under them. At minimum, embedded equipment requires there to be 6 inches of loose fill rubber mulch around the equipment.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 5, 2024

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.102(e) · Pea gravel and other materials with a diameter of less than 1 inch may not be used in spaces where infants or toddlers receive care.

At the time of the inspection, small pieces of rubber mulch measuring less than 1 inch in diameter were observed on the toddler playground and were accessible to children.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 6, 2024

Category: physical safety. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.123(a)(5)/3270.124(f) · An agreement shall specify the persons designated by a parent to whom the child may be released. The parent shall update in writing emergency contact information once in a 6-month period or as soon as there is a change in the information.

At the time of the inspection, the agreement on file for child #3 did not include the persons designated by a parent to whom the child may be released as indicated on the emergency contact form. The emergency contact form and agreement for child #1 was not updated every 6 months as required. This is evidenced by a last parent review date of 3/31/24.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 5, 2024

Category: recordkeeping. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.151(a)/3270.151(c)(2) · A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem. An adult health assessment must include tuberculosis screening by the Mantoux method at initial employment. Subsequent tuberculosis screening is not required unless directed by a physician, physician's assistant, CRNP, the Department of Health or a local health department.

At the time of the inspection, the health assessments on file for staff person #4 were dated 9/6/24 and 4/28/23. The TB screening was dated 4/28/23. Neither the TB screening nor the health assessments on file were conducted within 12 months of providing service in the childcare setting. Staff person #5 did not have a completed TB screening within 12 months of providing initial service in the childcare setting. This is evidenced by the TB screening dated 1/25/23 (see LIS code sheet for dates of hire).

Corrected Corrected by Nov 11, 2024

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.

3270.182(3)/3270.182(5) · A child's record shall contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care for the child. Written consent is required prior to admission. A child's record shall contain signed parental consent for administration of minor first-aid procedures by facility staff. Written consent is required prior to admission.

At the time of the inspection, the emergency contact form for child #3 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care for the child and signed parental consent for administration of minor first-aid procedures by facility staff.

Corrected Corrected by Nov 5, 2024

Category: ratio. Marked corrected in the state record.