Brightside Academy Early Care Education - Mckeesport PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: At approximately 12:02 p.m. staff #2 who was assigned the responsibility for supervision of 2 younger school-age children and 8 preschoolers in the nap room left the room and was not physically present with the children in her supervisory group. Staff #2 was observed in the infant room assisting staff #3 with one child.

Correction Required: Each staff person shall be assigned the responsibility for supervision of specific children. The staff person shall know the names and whereabouts of the children in his assigned group. The staff person shall be physically present with the children in his group on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the facility premises.

Noncompliance Area: At approximately 12:02 p.m. staff #1 was observed to be the only staff person supervising a group of 13 children of mixed age levels, including 3 younger toddlers, 8 preschool children and 2 younger school-age children in the nap room and the children were not napping at the time so naptime ratios could not be applied. PREVIOUSLY CITED ON 8/4/2020 (SIN-00174511).

Correction Required: **A sign stating that staff must be present in the classroom in order to be counted in staff:child ratio will be submitted to the Department for approval. Upon approval, the sign will be posted in a conspicuous location in all child care spaces at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The following conditions were observed in areas accessible to children and posed a potential threat to their health and safety: A step ladder was folded in a leaning position in the hallway by the entrance to the outdoor place space and a pair of sharp adult scissors were observed in an unlocked storage cabinet in room #9.

Correction Required: Conditions at the facility may not pose a threat to the health or safety of the children.

Noncompliance Area: The record for staff #1 included verification of mandated reporter training completed on 6/24/2020, more than 60 months following the previous training completed on 1/29/2015.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services).A facility person's record shall include verification of child care experience, education and training following the outset of service at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: A director did not complete a minimum of one evaluation every 12 months for staff #1 during the period from 4/25/2019 to 6/11/2020.

Correction Required: A director is responsible for written evaluation of staff persons on a regular basis, a minimum of one evaluation every 12 months.

Noncompliance Area: Protective receptacle covers were not placed in (1) electrical outlet in room #7 on the wall with the metal lock box, (2) electrical outlets on the wall by the smart board in room #8, and by the door in the gym accessible to children 5 years of age or younger.

Correction Required: Protective receptacle covers shall be placed in electrical outlets accessible to children 5 years of age or younger.

Noncompliance Area: The following cleaning materials and other toxic materials labeled keep out of the reach of the children were observed in areas accessible to children: Spray Nine heavy duty cleaner/degreaser was stored in an unlocked supply closet in the hallway by the ramp; All purpose joint compound and Cavalier glass cleaner was stored in an unlocked cabinet under the counter in classroom #8; Spray Nine heavy duty cleaner/degreaser; Lysol spray; and Resolve carpet cleaner was stored in an unlocked white metal lock box on the wall in classroom #7; Lysol spray, Windex window cleaner, ice melt, Goo Gone, and Boost carpet cleaner was stored in an unlocked supply closet on the lower level of the facility by the entrance to the stairwell.

Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children.

Noncompliance Area: Trash had not been removed from room #8 and the 2nd bathroom away from the entrance to the stairwell on the lower level of the facility at least once per day.

Correction Required: Trash shall be removed from the facility at least once per day.

Noncompliance Area: First-aid kits were accessible to children in the following areas: In room #8, a first-aid kit was sitting on a chair; In room #7, a first-aid kit was sitting on the floor by the door to the classroom; and in the hallway by the entrance to the outdoor play space, a first-aid kit appeared to have fallen from a cabinet and the contents were left scattered across the floor.

Correction Required: A first-aid kit must be inaccessible to children.

Noncompliance Area: The first-aid kit in room #9 lacked tweezers.

Correction Required: A first-aid kit must contain the following: soap, an assortment of adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, tweezers, tape, scissors and disposable, nonporous gloves.

Noncompliance Area: Based on information gathered during an investigation, it was found on 07/30/2020 at approximately 12:00 p.m. staff #1 left a group of 4 children (3 younger toddlers and 1 older toddler) alone in the Early Head Start Classroom with no other staff present to supervise them to go across the hallway to the office to buzz a food delivery driver into the building while the director and a staff person were in the office and could have answered the door. The children were left unsupervised for a couple minutes until she returned. Later that same day, at approximately 2:45 p.m. staff #1 left the same group of children alone in the Early Head Start classroom with no other staff present to supervise them to leave the facility and not return. The children were left unsupervised until a staff person from another classroom noticed one of the children standing outside of the open gate in the doorway to the room for an undetermined amount of time.

Correction Required: Children on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the premises shall be supervised by a staff person at all times.

Noncompliance Area: Based on information gathered during an investigation, it was found on 07/30/2020 at approximately 12:00 p.m. staff #1 left a group of 4 children (3 younger toddlers and 1 older toddler) alone in the Early Head Start Classroom with no other staff present to supervise them to go across the hallway to the office to buzz a food delivery driver into the building while the director and a staff person were in the office and could have answered the door. The children were left unsupervised for a couple minutes until she returned. Later that same day, at approximately 2:45 p.m. staff #1 left the same group of children alone in the Early Head Start classroom with no other staff present to supervise them to leave the facility and not return. The children were left unsupervised until a staff person from another classroom noticed one of the children standing outside of the open gate in the doorway to the room for an undetermined amount of time.

Correction Required: When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff:child ratio and maximum group size in accordance with the requirements in 3270.51 (relating to similar age level).

Noncompliance Area: Staff person #1 has been named as perpetrator in an indicated report of child abuse for an incident that occurred at the facility on 9/3/2019.

Correction Required: A facility person who has been named as perpetrator in a founded/an indicated report of child abuse may not be present in the facility.

Noncompliance Area: Based on interviews conducted with staff and review of a picture taken of child's forearm, it was determined that staff #1 used physical punishment with a child in care by forcefully picking the child up by their forearms and continuing to grip their forearms while walking them between classrooms, which left marks on the child's right forearm.

Correction Required: A facility person may not use any form of physical punishment, including spanking a child.

Noncompliance Area: There were (2) plastic sensory tubes observed in the early head start classroom that were cracked, creating a potential pinch point for children in care.

Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts.