6.2.1.3 · The program director shall ensure that the number of staff present meets requirements described in the chart below for ages of children, maximum group size, and staff/child ratios at any time of day.

On 05/11/2022, a staff member that was assigned to the infant/toddler group, left their group to bring two (2) preschool aged children inside the program to the bathroom. By leaving the infant/toddler group, who were outside at the time, with one (1) staff and eight (8) children, it left the infant and toddler group out of the required adult to child ratio. This is a serious violation.

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6.2.1.3 · The program director shall ensure that the number of staff present meets requirements described in the chart below for ages of children, maximum group size, and staff/child ratios at any time of day.

On 04/08/2022, a staff member grabbed a child by the arm and directed them to sit in time out. The child then cried and said their arm was hurt. Staff did not utilize positive methods of guidance or behavior management, and this is a violation.

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5.10.1.8 · Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The licensee shall comply with the requirements of 18 V.S.A. Chapter 38 Vermont Lead Law and shall ensure that Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) is performed. This includes but is not limited to protecting children from peeling or chipping paint, and dust build up from the friction of moving doors or windows.

It was determined that the program had not completed the annual required Essential Maintenance Practices Compliance statement with the Vermont Department of Health. Due to the age of the building, this is an annual requirement.

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5.1.2 · General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

After an audit of child files, it was determined that five (5) of the children's files, that were enrolled for more than forty five (45) days, were missing the required general health exams.

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5.10.4.5.2 · All interior and exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, floors, doors, ceilings, windows, skylights, stairways, ramps, and porches shall be maintained in good repair.

It was observed that the upstairs school age classroom had a large hole in the wall, measuring over three (3) feet in length, and an additional hole in the wall in the kitchen, measuring over one (1) foot in length, exposing drywall.

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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 BFIS and onsite files, it was determined that eleven (11) staff, employed for longer than six (6) months did not have an up to date BFIS account that reflected required trainings, qualifications and/or annual professional development as required. Staff statements suggest there is no system in place for staff to send documents to Northern Lights or to track items that need or have been sent to Northern Lights. Some staff qualifications were unable to be determined due to lack of items in BFIS and staff files onsite.

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5.10.4.2 · Exits: Stairways, hallways, windows, and doors from rooms used by children shall be clear and unobstructed from stored items, non-movable barriers, toys, and other items at all times.

It was observed that the exit from the infant nap room to the outdoor space was blocked by items including a sled, rake, chair, large plastic piece of equipment, and a box of supplies. These items would impact a safe and successful evacuation if necessary.

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5.10.1.1.1 · The licensee shall ensure that children are protected from electrical outlets, such as by using protective covers, tamper-proof outlets, or other devices manufactured for this purpose.

In the 4-year-old classroom, 2 outlets at children's level had no outlet covers and one power strip at children's level was missing 3 protective covers. The 3-year-old classroom had one outlet missing a protective cover.

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5.10.1.5.7 · The licensee shall ensure that air conditioners, electric fans and heaters, including all floor or window fans are inaccessible to children when they pose a health or safety hazard. If they are mounted indoors or outdoors they shall be securely attached.

The four-year-old classroom had a running portable heater in the dramatic area of the classroom, accessible to children, creating a safety hazard. The electrical cord was loose on the floor creating a tripping hazard.

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5.10.4.5.1 · The program director shall ensure that the CBCCPP, its furnishings, and toys are kept in a clean and orderly condition.

The two (2) preschool classrooms, cubby room and bathrooms were observed to be dirty, unorganized and not kept in an orderly condition at 9:00AM in the morning when the Licensor arrived. The four-year-old classroom had doll clothes under a couch and next to a running portable heater. The two wall vents were partially detached from the wall creating an opening for children to get their fingers pinched. The three-year old classroom had broken crayons and legos scattered all over the floor. There were piles of puzzle, dinosaurs, books and other toys piled on the bookcases and tables causing a falling hazard. The cubby room had children's outerwear, boots, backpack in a pile in a corner as well as crumbled paper, shoes, legos, bottles of tempera paint and various clothing strewn on the floor. There was a basket of cards, scissors and paper on the floor where children walk. The two (2) preschool classrooms, cubby room and bathroom had layers of dirt present on the windowsills and baseboards.

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5.10.4.5.4 · Carpeted floors in areas where care and education is provided shall be vacuumed daily and cleaned by hot water extraction at least twice per year.

The 4-year-old classroom carpet had glitter, shredded papers, dirt and paint chips. The 3-year-old classroom had broken crayons, Legos, shredded pieces of papers and books on the floor, an area rug had dirt and stained. Staff stated that the rooms are not vacuumed daily and could not say when the last time the carpet had been washed by hot water.

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5.10.4.5.2 · All interior and exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, floors, doors, ceilings, windows, skylights, stairways, ramps and porches shall be maintained in good repair.

Throughout the upstairs classrooms there are surfaces accessible to children that are partially unsealed and/or in poor repair which allows dirt and germs to permeate the interior and prevents a smooth and easily cleanable surface. Surfaces identified and baseboards; in the 4 year old classroom: wall near the laundry basket, wall to the left of the how to calm down poster and window, the wall between the blocks and bulletin board, below the wall calendar, next to the vent by the today's weather poster. In the 3-year-old classroom: baseboard and windowsills, the wall by the door leading to the third floor, the wall next to the bookcase containing I spy game, doll and blanket and the two foot rip in the carpet under the car rug. In the cubby room, on the windowsills, baseboard and on the wall between the window and baseboard.

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5.10.1.5.1 · Any room in the CBCCPP used by the children shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 65*F and a maximum of 85*F at one (1) foot above floor level. Areas used by infants shall be kept at least 68*F at floor level.

The classrooms located on the second floor were noticeably colder than the classrooms in the first floor. In the four-year-old classroom, a thermometer placed one foot above the floor level (using a measuring tape), five feet away from the portable heater running to supplement the main heat source, indicated the temperature to be 64.2 degree. In the three-year-old classroom, the thermometer placed one foot above floor level, using a measuring tape, indicated the temperature to be 63.9 degree. There were no portable heater running in the three-year-old classroom.

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5.10.4.5.2 · All interior and exterior walls, roofs, chimneys, floors, doors, ceilings, windows, skylights, stairways, ramps and porches shall be maintained in good repair.

It was observed that the exterior of the building has multiple places where paint is chipping or peeling. Licensee stated that the building has been certified as lead free but was not able to show documentation of this. The building was constructed prior to 1978 and maintenance of of exterior of the building is required by the rules but also to reduce any possible exposure to lead.

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5.10.3.1.4 · If fencing is used, it shall be sturdy, safe and reinforced to give support, constructed to discourage climbing, and shall not prevent visual supervision of children by staff.

There is a gap in the fence on the far left corner of the fencing. It is approximately 6-8 inches in length and a child could get through or become entrapped in this gap. On the gate that opens to the toddler playground from the preschool playground, the plastic latticework fencing is broken in several places, leaving sharp edges exposed.

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5.10.3.2.3 · The licensee shall ensure that large outdoor play equipment is anchored firmly in accordance with manufacturers' specifications, is not located on concrete or asphalt surfaces and is placed so as to accommodate manufacturers' specifications for use zones.

It was observed that the smaller piece of outdoor equipment on the preschool side of the classroom is not installed properly. Observed one child swinging on the equipment, and the left side of the quipment came off of the ground approximately 1/2 an inch.It is required for these types of materials to be anchored down.

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