Inspection · 2021-05-11

Based on staff interviews, and a review of photos, it was determined that the center did not ensure the care, protection, and guidance of children in care. Evidence: The center failed to adhere to the health and safety guidelines established due to the COVID-19 pandemic regarding face coverings, social distancing, and maintaining the same groups of children day-to-day (not combining classrooms), to help reduce potential exposure to COVID-19. Interviews and photos revealed that:
1) The infant A/infant B, toddlers/twos and threes/fours classes are combined daily each morning from approximately 5:30 am ? 7:00 am, when staff take children to their assigned classrooms; classes have been combined for more than six months;
2) Staff and children are moved to different classrooms daily, to maintain ratios;
3) Three teachers were not wearing face coverings, as required, in the classroom; the masks they were wearing were hanging on their chin, below their nose and mouth;
4) Groups of children gathered together at tables and on the floor, without being socially distanced or wearing face coverings; staff stated that they do not all enforce social distancing/face coverings/limits to the number of children at tables or in centers; staff stated that there is not enough room to space children 3-6 feet apart;
5) Approximately 20 two-year olds were sitting on a carpet during circle time, directly next to each other, with less than a foot of space between them and without face coverings; a staff member was sitting on a book shelf directly above the children, reading a book. The staff member was not wearing a face covering as required; the staff?s mask was hanging on their chin, below their nose and mouth; staff stated they take their mask off to read or sing with the children.
6) Staff acknowledged being aware of the guidance to wear face coverings, maintain social distancing and keep consistent groups of children/staff together.

Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain the ratio of one staff for every four children, ages birth through 16 months. Evidence: staff interviews revealed that:
1) 2-3 times per week, the infant A room is over ratio for approximately 5-10 minutes;
2) During the week of May 3-7, one staff member was alone with 6-8 infants for approximately 10-15 minutes;
3) On 5/7/2021, at approximately 1:30 pm, two staff were left alone with 12 infants for approximately 15-20 minutes when a third staff member left to go home; staff confirmed the youngest infant was not yet 16 months of age.

Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain the ratio of one staff for every five children, ages 16 months through two years. Evidence: staff interviews revealed that:
1) On 5/7/2021 at approximately 7:45 am there were 7 toddlers with one staff member and at approximately 8:15 am there were 9 toddlers with one staff member; on the morning of 5/14/2021 there were 7 toddlers with one staff and a short time later there were 11 toddlers with two staff members; staff stated they were out of ratio for approximately 10-15 minutes; staff confirmed the youngest child was not yet two years of age;
2) Staff stated the toddler room is over ratio 2-3 times per week between 6:30-9:00 am;
3) From approximately 2:30-3:30 pm daily, after naptime, there are approximately 12-15 toddlers with two staff supervising; staff confirmed that the majority of the toddlers (age 16 months - 2 years of age) are awake by 2:30 pm; ratios have not been met for approximately one month when the third teacher leaves to take a lunch break.

Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain the ratio of one staff for every eight two-year-old children. Evidence: staff interviews revealed that:
1) Almost daily between April 19-30, 2021, from 8-10am, there were more than 16 two-year olds with two staff for approximately 5-10 minutes; On one occasion, the two teachers were out of ratio for approximately 20 minutes;
2) On 4/30/21 between 9-10am there were 28-30 two-year olds with two staff on the playground;
3) Staff stated that as of 5/13/2021 the two?s class is still over ratio 3-4 times per week until approximately 10am when the third staff member arrives.

Based on staff interviews, the facility failed to maintain the ratio of one staff for every ten children age three years to the age of eligibility to attend public school, five years by Sept. 30. Evidence: staff interviews revealed that:
1) On 4/26, 4/27, and 4/28/21 the threes class was out of ratio between 7:15-8:00am for approximately 15-20 minutes. On 4/26 and 4/27 there were approximately 14-15 three-year old children with one staff; on 4/28 there were approximately 17 three-year old children with one staff supervising;
2) On 4/23/21 there were 16 four-year old children with one staff supervising; another day there were approximately 23 four-year old children with two staff for about 3-5 minutes; and on 4/27/21, at approximately 8:45 am, there were approximately 31 four- year old children with two staff supervising.

Based on staff interviews, it was determined that the facility is casually and repeatedly reassigning children from their regular group disrupting the children's schedule and attachment to their staff members and group. Evidence: staff interviews revealed that approximately 2-5 children per class (infants, toddlers, two's, three's and four's) are moved daily both in the morning and in the afternoons, to maintain ratios when staff are arriving and/or departing to go home. Staff stated that moving children has been occurring for more than six months.