Pre-licensing visit·January 27, 2025

On 1/27/25 at 8:45 am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA), Joseph Pacheco conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a single license conversion due to the facility requesting to add the toddler component. Facility is currently licensed for 45 preschool children (243810098) and 8 infants (243810099). Upon arrival, LPA met with Site Supervisor, Belinda Dillon. Licensee will be Merced County Office of Education. Applicant is requesting to be licensed for 15 preschoolers ages 2-5 in classroom 4; 8 infants ages 0-24 months in classrooms 1 and 8 toddlers ages 18 months \342\200\223 36 months in classroom 2. This facility will operate year round. Hours of operation will be Monday \342\200\223 Friday, 7:30 am \342\200\223 5:30 pm. This facility is located on the premises of Tenaya Middle School. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPA informed Site Supervisor 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, Site Supervisor stated that they will be in a lock box in the child\342\200\231s classroom. A fully equipped first aid kit is located in each classroom. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located in each classroom. All required licensing documents were observed posted in the front lobby. Children will be signed in and out electronically in each classroom. LPA continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. Total indoor activity space for the preschool classroom measured to an approximate 445 square feet which is only enough square footage to accommodate a maximum of 12 preschool children based on Title 22 requirements of 35 square feet per child. The total indoor activity space for the infant classroom measured to an approximate 310 square feet which will accommodate the requested overall capacity of 8 infants. The total indoor activity space for the toddler classroom measured to an approximate 421 square feet which will accommodate the requested overall capacity of 8 toddlers. LPA observed all indoor activity space to be complete with safe, age-appropriate furniture and equipment, including tables, chairs, cubbies, napping 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 a water vendor service. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C Staff will fill water pitchers from the water service and utilize the water pitchers during indoor activities. Facility will provide paper cups from a paper cup dispenser. LPA observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance for 15 preschool children, 8 infant children and 8 toddler children was granted by the City of Merced Fire Department on 12/20/24. In the infant room 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 and the changing table is within arm\342\200\231s reach of a sink. Diapering sink is not used for meal preparation or dishwashing. Cribs meet regulatory requirements. Crib area is located in Classroom 1 and is separated from activity space via a see through partition. This barrier is at least four feet high, made of sound absorbing material and allows for supervision of napping children. Sleep logs are kept in the child\342\200\231s classroom. Needs and Services Plans and Sleep Plans are kept in the child\342\200\231s file. LPA observed a total of 6 sinks and 2 toilets available for children\342\200\231s use in the preschool area. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of 12 preschool children. LPA observed a total of 2 sinks available for children\342\200\231s use in the infant area. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of 8 infant children. LPA observed a total of 8 sinks and 2 toilets available for children\342\200\231s use in the toddler area. These are sufficient to accommodate the requested overall capacity of 8 toddler children. Facility will not be providing potty training services for infants or toddlers but will provide potty training for preschool children at parent's request. There is a separate staff restroom equipped with a toilet and a sink located in the hall next to the Site Supervisor\342\200\231s office. The isolation area for children who are ill will be the Site Supervisor\342\200\231s office and will use the staff bathroom. Facility will provide lunch, AM snack and PM snack. The kitchenette area in each classroom currently includes a refrigerator and freezer. Food is prepared offsite at the Merced County Office of Education centralized kitchen and delivered to the facility daily. 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 being locked. The facility has a fully fenced playground area for each component . Chain link fencing in each outdoor area is at least four feet high. The outdoor activity spaces for the infant and toddler children are at the front of the facility. The outdoor activity space for the preschool children is in the back of the facility. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C The total square footage for the infant outdoor activity space is approximately 1,020 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 8 infants. The total square footage for the toddler outdoor activity space is approximately 1,869 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 8 toddlers. The total square footage for the preschool outdoor activity space is approximately 2,576 square feet which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 12 preschool children. Shade is provided in each outdoor activity space with a shade structure. Mature trees provide additional shade in the infant and toddler outdoor activity areas. There are sufficient outdoor age-appropriate toys and play equipment available on all playgrounds. No high climbing play equipment was observed in any of the outdoor playgrounds. Drinking water is available via water pitchers which staff will bring out during outdoor activities. Children will use paper cups from a cup dispenser to consume water. No hazardous items were observed in any of the outdoor activity areas. Site Supervisor was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing. LPA discussed the safe sleep regulations with Site Supervisor 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 Site Supervisor 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. For child care center licenses issued after July 1, 2022, the licensee shall test their water for lead within 180 days of licensure pursuant to Written Directives section 101700 (PIN 21-21.1- CCP). Site Supervisor 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. CONTINUED ON LIC809-C This facility plans to provide Incidental Medical Services \342\200\223 IMS. For IMS information, see PIN 22-02-CCP . Applicant has an IMS plan on file with the Fresno Regional Office. 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 Site Supervisor 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. Site Supervisor 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. 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. Pending a final file review a recommendation will be made to license the above facility for 12 preschool children, 8 infant children and 8 toddler children. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Site Supervisor, Belinda Dillon. This report shall be made available to the public upon request.