7.1.3 · The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

A review of each staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account and confirmation from the program that two (2) staff had not completed the Vermont Orientation as required. The two (2) staff have worked longer than one (1) year for the program. This rule was cited previously on 4/7/2021.

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5.10.3.3 · Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

The wooden climbing structure on the Treehouse Playground had a slide with a platform that was over five (5) feet tall, and it did not have any cushioning material around the sides or bottom of the slide. This rule was cited previously on 7/15/2022 for the same climbing structure.

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2.3.9.3 · The licensee shall ensure that all staff have met ongoing background check requirements by submitting at least once every five (5) years a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and as required shall submit to fingerprinting.

A staff member did not submit a new record check authorization form or submit to fingerprinting prior to the expiration date of 2/15/2024. An annual assurance letter was issued to the program on 11/12/2023 reminding the program of this staff member's fingerprints expiration date.

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5.10.3.2.1 · All outdoor play equipment shall be sturdy, safe, clean and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters, and exposed bolts. To prevent entrapment, no openings in equipment shall be between 3.5 and nine (9) inches. Chains on swings shall have protective coverings and swing seats shall be made of soft materials with no sharp edges.

The large purple slide on the preschool/camp playground was broken at the bottom, leaving sharp edges where children may place their hands. The teacher stated children have been playing on this slide.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

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5.10.3.3 · Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

The cushioning material was insufficient around the two slides, the metal dome climbing structure and the swings on the preschool/camp playground. The slides were approximately five (5) feet off the ground, and one of the slides had no cushioning material at all under and around the slide. The swings had a lot of grass growing under and around them looking as if no cushioning material had been placed before children were using them. The dome structure allowed children to climb over 30 inches from the ground and there was a lack of cushioning material in the areas where children would fall.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

3.4.6.1 · The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years. When the CBCCPP counts lock-down drills as allowed in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations, the licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each lock-down drill, the number of CBCCPP children and staff who participated, and note that the drill performed was a lock-down drill.

After a review of the documented evacuation drill log beginning of year 2020, no evacuation drill was recorded as practiced in Jan or June. In Feb a secure the building was recorded as practiced instead of an evacuation drill. The director acknowledged that evacuationd drills had not occurred in the three months noted. This is a repeat violation first cited on 6/21/2018.

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3.4.7.3 · Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

After a review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and confirming findings with the director, seven staff employed longer than six (6) months were missing verification of qualifications which have not been sent to Northern Lights.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

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7.1.2.2 · Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

After a review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts prior to the visit and staff documents presented by the director, three staff are not certified in pediatric first aid and/or infant and child CPR. Per staff start dates, all three staff have been working at the program longer than three months.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

7.1.3 · The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

After a review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accts and staff documents presented by the director, five staff have not completed a Division approved orientation training. All staff are in positions to be left alone with children and/or counted in staff to child ratio.

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3.3.5 · The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

A review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts and staff documents provided by the director, three staff have not completed the Protecting Vermont's Children mandated reporter training. All staff are in positions to be left alone with children.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

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6.2.6 · Supervision of Children Staff shall ensure visual supervision of children, except as allowed in rules 6.2.6.1-6.2.6.4 of these regulations.

At approximately 11:45am on 07/01/2019 a group of 9 two year old children with two staff members named Anisha Otero and Joanna Spotts exited their playground to return to enter their classroom from its exterior door. A 2 year old boy was left behind, alone, and unsupervised for up to 1.5 minutes when found outside of his classroom door by another classroom staff member named Katelyn Bourneuf who noticed the boy and returned him to his classroom. This is the third consecutive summer that a one or two year old child has been discovered outside, alone, and unsupervised. The previous dates of this occurrence are 8/24/2017 and 7/20/2018.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

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3.4.6.1 · The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years.

Evacuation drills were not recorded for the months of January, February and April of 2018 and July, August, September, October and November of 2017. Andrea Sambrook said they have fire drills monthly but they were not all documented.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.