Pre-licensing visit·June 27, 2024

On 6/27/24 at 9:30 am Licensing Program Analysts (LPAs), Joseph Pacheco, Martha DeHaro and Brandon Tate conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a new license. Upon arrival, LPA met with Program Director, Michelle Joseph. Also present was the Dean of Instruction, Jessica Moran. Applicant is requesting to be licensed for 24 preschoolers 2-6 in the Sol Classroom and 20 infants ages 0-2 in the Luna Classroom. Hours of operation will be Monday \342\200\223 Thursday, 7:30 am \342\200\223 5:00 pm and Friday 7:30 am \342\200\223 2:00 pm. This facility will operate on a traditional school year schedule. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPA informed Director that staff are required to maintain direct visual supervision of the children at all times during indoor and outdoor activities. When medications are on site, Director stated that they will be in stored in a locked cabinet in the kitchenette adjacent to each classroom. A fully equipped first aid kit is located in a marked cupboard in the kitchenette area of each classroom. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in each classroom. All required licensing documents were observed posted on the parent board in each classroom. Children will be signed in and out in the child\342\200\231s respective classroom. LPA continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. Total indoor activity space measured for the Sol Classroom measured to an approximate 889 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of 24 preschool children. Total indoor activity space measured for the Luna Classroom measured to an approximate 608 square feet, which is sufficient to accommodate up to 17 infant children. Director stated during today\342\200\231s inspection that facility is now requesting to be licensed for 16 infant children ages 0-2. LPA observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping cots/mats, cribs, bookshelves, and other activity supplies for the children. Infant toys are safe with no sharp edges, splinters, or points, nor made of small parts that can present a choking hazard. Drinking water is available in the classrooms via water filling stations in each classroom. Facility will provide drinking cups for children to drink from. LPA observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance for 24 preschool children ages 2-6 and 20 infant children ages 0-2 was granted on 5/21/24 by the Merced County Fire Department. In the infant room(s) high chairs and feeding tables have broad-based legs, plastic seats are in good repair and trays lock onto chairs. High chairs are made of washable, moisture-resistant material. Changing tables have at least 1\342\200\235 padding covered with moisture-resistant, washable material. Sides of the changing table are at least 3\342\200\235 high. LPA's did not observe the infant changing tables to be within arms reach of a sink. Cribs meet regulatory requirements. Crib area is separated from activity space via a clear partition. This barrier is at least four feet high, made of sound absorbing material and allows for supervision of napping children. Sleep logs and Infant Needs and Services Plans are kept in the crib area. LPA observed a total of 2 sinks and 2 toilets available for children\342\200\231s use in the Sol (preschool) classroom which is enough to accommodate the requested capacity of 24 preschool children and 2 sinks and 2 toilets in the Luna (infant) classroom which is enough to accommodate the newly requested capacity of 16 infant children. Facility will not be providing potty training services for either infant or preschool children. There are two separate staff restrooms equipped with a toilet and a sink. The isolation area for children who are ill will be in a staff office adjacent to each classroom and they will use the staff bathroom adjacent to each classroom. Facility will provide breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack. Food will be prepared at the Merced College Child Development Center kitchen and delivered daily. The kitchenette areas in each classroom currently includes a refrigerator and freezer. The kitchen area and food storage areas were observed to be free of rodents and/or vermin. Food was observed to be properly stored separate from cleaning materials. Hazardous items in kitchen are inaccessible to children via a locked door. The facility currently has a fully fenced playground area for each component . Chain link fencing is at least four feet high. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the preschool is 8,359 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 24 preschool children. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the infants is 8,800 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on the playground(s). There are no high climbing structures on the playground for preschool children or infant children. LPA\342\200\231s observed grass areas, sand areas and concrete in each outdoor space. Drinking water is available via water pitchers and drinking fountains during outdoor activities. LPA observed all hazardous items on the playground(s) to be inaccessible to children. Director was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing. This facility was built after January 1, 2010 and is currently exempt from lead testing requirements for water outlets that provide water for drinking and cooking. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C Director was reminded that all adults 18 and over responsible for administration or direct supervision of staff, persons who provides care and supervision to children, and staff who have contact with children, including employees and volunteers, except as specified in Health and Safety Code section 1596.871, must obtain a criminal record clearance or exemption, or transfer their existing clearance or exemption, prior to initial presence in a Child Care Center. A civil penalty of $100.00 minimum/day for a maximum of 5-days or, if the penalty is for a repeat violation, for a maximum of 30-days per person will be assessed if this regulation is violated. This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services \342\200\223 IMS. For IMS information, see PIN 22-02-CCP . A Plan of Operation that includes IMS has been submitted to Community Care Licensing. The following information regarding ADA was provided: US Department of Justice (USDOJ) toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 (voice) or (800) 514-0383 (TTY) and link to publication: Commonly Asked Questions about Child Care Centers and the ADA, available at: http://www.ada.gov/childqanda.htm LPA reviewed with Director the LIC 311A, Records to Be Maintained at The Facility, for child\342\200\231s records, personnel records, administrative records, and documents to be posted. LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with Director and discussed the Child Care Licensing Safe Sleep webpage at: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/child-care-licensing/public-information-and-resources/safe-sleep , as an additional resource. LPA also informed Director of the importance of checking for recalled infant devices on the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website at: https://www.cpsc.gov/ , and recommended they register all infant devices with the CPSC to be notified of any recalls on their purchased equipment. Director was informed of the MyChildCarePlan.org site, a consumer education website that helps families obtain child care by connecting them to child care providers and Resource and Referral Agencies (R&Rs) throughout California. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C Community Care Licensing Division (CCLD) regularly sends information to licensed facilities, providers, and stakeholders by way of Provider Information Notices (PIN), Program Quarterly Update Newsletters and other important information communication platforms. To receive important licensed related information to licensed facilities, visit the CCLD Important Information website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/community-care-licensing/subscribe and select the Child Care option to receive email communication. The following items must be completed prior to the issuance of the license: Inside Daycare: 1) Obtain and install a sink that is within arms length of the infant changing tables. Director understands that all proof of corrections must be provided to the Department within 30 days, or the application may be denied. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Program Director, Michelle Joseph. A copy of this report is to remain in the facility for public review. This report shall be made available to the public upon request.