Pre-licensing visit·June 23, 2025

On 06/23/25 at 9:05am, Licensing Program Analysts (LPA) Samantha Clenista, Selina Siao and Hannah Lucas conducted an announced Pre-Licensing inspection for a new license. Upon arrival, LPAs met with Facility Representatives; Julie Lowen (President/CEO), Lona Seitz (COO), Diane Prospero (Director of Child Development), Heide Fields (Center Director) and Nicole Steele (Chief Academic Officer). Applicant is requesting to be licensed for a total of 222 children; 19 infants (0-24 months) in rooms 8 & 9, 34 toddlers (18-36 months) in Rooms 7, 10, & 11, 145 preschoolers (ages 2-5) in Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 and 24 school-age children (Kinder to 12-years-old) in Room 5. Hours of operation will be Sunday thru Saturday, 6am \342\200\223 12am. All indoor and outdoor activity space utilized for the children was inspected today. LPAs informed Facility Representatives 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, Facility Representatives stated that they will be in the classroom and/or in the emergency red backpacks. A fully equipped first aid kit is in the front office. There is an operational carbon monoxide detector on site located outside the director\342\200\231s office. All required licensing documents were observed posted in the front lobby. Children will be signed in and out via electronic (Care Connect/M Sign). LPAs continued to tour the facility and measured all indoor and outdoor activity space. Total indoor activity space for infants measured at 640.17 sq. ft., which is only sufficient to accommodate 18 infants at one time. Total indoor activity space for toddlers measured 1,196.09 sq. ft., which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity of 34 toddlers. Total indoor activity space for preschool measured 4,174.51 sq. ft., which is only sufficient to accommodate 119 children at one time. Total indoor activity space for school-age measured 838.77 sq. ft., which is only sufficient to accommodate 23 children at one time. LPAs 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 fountain. LPAs observed all hazardous items to be inaccessible to children. There are no bodies of water or weapons on the property. Fire clearance was granted on 06/04/2025. 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. LPAs observed a total of 4 cribs in the crib area. Crib area is separated from activity space via wood with plexiglass. This barrier is at least four feet high, made of sound absorbing material and allows for supervision of napping children, however, does not full enclose the crib area. There is about a 1ft. gap from the wall that needs to be extended. Sleep logs are going kept in the assigned classrooms on a clipboard. Needs and Services Plans and Sleep Plans are kept in assigned classrooms on a clipboard. LPAs observed a total of 2 sinks available for infants; 11 sinks and 3 toilets available for toddlers; 14 sinks and 9 toilets available for preschool; and 4 sinks and 2 toilets available for school-age. School age restrooms afford privacy for the children. There is a separate staff restroom equipped with a toilet and a sink. The isolation area for children who are ill will be the EFS office and one of the staff restrooms (see facility sketch). Facility will provide breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack (and dinner for after hours care). The kitchen area currently includes 2 refrigerators, stove, oven, sink, and dishwasher. 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. The facility currently has a separate playground area for each component (infant, toddler, preschool and school-aged). Fencing around the playground area was observed to be wrought iron and at least four feet high. The front area of the playground is still missing fencing; however, Facility Representatives stated it will be completed by 06/27/25. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the infant is 1,670 sq. ft., which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the toddlers is 2,216 sq. ft., which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the preschoolers is 8,738 sq. ft., which can only accommodate 116 children at a time, making it insufficient for the number of children being requested (119 children). A playground waiver to share the playground at different times in the AM and PM due to limited square footage shall be submitted and approved prior to licensure. The total square footage for all the outdoor activity space for the school-age is 2,370 sq. ft., which is sufficient to accommodate the requested capacity. Shade is provided via umbrella shade structure. There are sufficient outdoor toys and play equipment available on the playgrounds. There is a climbing structure on the toddler #1 playground that states it is age appropriate for 2-5 years old. Facility shall submit a plan stating how the facility will ensure toddlers less than 2-years-old will not be on the playground structure located on the toddler playground #1. There is a climbing structure on the preschool #1 playground that states it is age appropriate for 5-12 years old. Facility stated they will provide proof of age verification of the playground structure. Facility shall submit a plan stating how the facility will ensure how preschoolers (ages 2-5) will not be on the areas of the structure that are not age appropriate for them. Play structures appeared to be properly anchored. There is adequate cushioning in fall zones of climber provided by pour and play (rubber cushion). Drinking water is available via drinking fountains. LPA observed all hazardous items on the playgrounds to be inaccessible to children. Facility Representative\342\200\231s was reminded that any changes to the facility must be reported to and approved by Community Care Licensing. Facility Representatives were 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 must be submitted to the Department. 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 LPAs reviewed with Facility Representatives 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. LPAs discussed the safe sleep regulations with Facility Representatives 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 Facility Representatives 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. Facility Representatives were 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. Exit interview waa conducted and report was reviewed with the Julie Lowen (President/CEO), Lona Seitz (COO), Diane Prospero (Director of Child Development), Heide Fields (Center Director) and Nicole Steele (Chief Academic Office). The following corrections are needed prior to the issuance of the license: To fully enclose the crib area in Room 9 to meet the barrier requirements. Submit a shared playground waiver for the preschool children to share due to limited square footage. Complete installation of all fencing surrounding the outdoor playground. Submit proof of age verification of the playground structure located on the preschool playground #1 (identify which areas are for which age groups). Submit a plan on how the facility will ensure preschoolers (ages 2-5) will not be on the areas of the structure that are not age appropriate for them. Submit a plan on how the facility will ensure toddlers less than 2-years-old will not be on the playground structure located on the toddler playground #1. Facility Representatives stated they understand that all proof of corrections must be provided to the Department within 30 days, or the application may be denied. A follow-up inspection is scheduled for July 7, 2025 at 9am to inspect the remaining playground fencing and mention above corrections.