KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER 3023 - Reading PA Child Care Center

Noncompliance Area: A small blue couch in the Pre-K classroom was observed to have a tear in the arm of the couch, exposing the inner foam of the couch.

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.

Noncompliance Area: Loose fill on the preschool/school-age playground was measured to contain 7" of loose fill material around sliding boards and stairs of the climber, which requires a minimum of 9" of loose fill according to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission standards for playgrounds.

Correction Required: Outdoor equipment that requires embedded mounting must be mounted over a loose-fill or unitary playground protective surface covering that meets the recommendations of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. The equipment must be anchored firmly and be in good repair.

Noncompliance Area: The written plan of daily activities was not posted in the Preschool classroom during the on-site portion of the blended inspection on 10/20/2020.

Correction Required: The written plan of daily activities shall be posted in the group space.

Noncompliance Area: Prescription Nystatin was observed in the Toddler classroom at the facility, but instructions for administration from either the individual who prescribed it or from a prescription label were not available at the facility during the on-site portion of the blended inspection on 10/20/2020.

Correction Required: A staff person shall administer a prescription medication only if written instructions are provided from the individual who prescribed the medicine. Instructions for administration contained on a prescription label are acceptable.

Noncompliance Area: Boudreaux's Butt Paste and Desitin were observed in the Infant classroom, labeled for use on individual children, but parental permission to administer this medication was not on file. A tube of Desitin was observed in the Toddlers classroom, labeled for use on a child, but parental permission to administer this medication was not on file. Honest Diaper Rash Cream, A&D Diaper Cream, Desitin, Up and Up Creamy Diaper Rash Ointment, and BeLoved Vitamin A&D Ointment were observed in the Discovery Preschool classroom, labeled for use on specific children, but parental permissions to administer these medications to the children intended were not on file. A box containing individual packets of Desitin was observed in the Discovery Preschool classroom for use on a child, but the packets showed expiration dates of 08/2020.

Correction Required: A parent shall provide written consent for administration of medication or a special diet. Medication shall be stored in accordance with the manufacturer's or health professional's instructions on the original label.

Noncompliance Area: The health assessment on file for Staff #1 was not updated within the required 24 months (Old:5/9/17; New:10/1/19); Staff #6 (Old:6/12/18; New:7/1/20); and Staff #13 (Old:2/1/17; New:3/13/19).

Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem.

Noncompliance Area: The staff files for Staff #14 and #15 were reviewed during the inspection on 10/20/2020. During this review, there were no written letters of reference observed on file for either staff.

Correction Required: A facility person's record shall include two written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person

Noncompliance Area: The last annual firesafety training for staff who have been employed at the facility for at least one year was conducted on 4/16/19, but updated firesafety training has not yet been completed for any of the 24 staff persons who have been employed at the facility for at least one year, as of the date of the on-site portion of the blended inspection on 10/20/2020.

Correction Required: Staff persons shall participate, at least annually, in firesafety training conducted by a fire protection professional. Staff persons and volunteers shall receive training in maintenance of smoke detectors, the duties of facility persons during a fire drill and during a fire and the use of the facility's fire extinguishers, not including discharge of the fire suppressant agent.

Noncompliance Area: The state police clearances for the following staff were not updated within the required 60 months of the CPSL: Staff #1 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/15/2020); Staff #2 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/21/2020); Staff #3 (Old:6/26/15; New:8/17/2020); Staff #5 (Old:9/17/15; New:10/15/2020); Staff #7 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/15/2020); Staff #8 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/15/2020); Staff #10 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/16/20); Staff #11 (Old:10/8/15; New:10/21/20); and Staff #13 (Old: 10/8/15; New:10/15/20). The Child Abuse clearances for the following staff were not updated within the required 60 months of the CPSL: Staff #1 (Old:10/14/15; New:10/16/2020); Staff #3 (Old:6/29/15; New:8/20/2020); Staff #5 (Old:9/17/15; No new clearance on file); and Staff #11 (Old:10/13/15; No new clearance on file). Mandated reporter training for the following staff was not updated within the 60 months required by the CPSL: Staff #1 (Old: 5/4/15; New:6/15/2020); Staff #2 (Old:4/28/15; New:10/1/2020); Staff #3 (Old:1/23/15; New:1/24/2020); Staff #7 (Old:5/1/15; New: 10/22/2020); Staff #8 (Old:4/17/15; New: 10/4/2020); Staff #9 (Old: 2/28/15; 6/25/2020); Staff #10 (Old: 4/16/15; New:6/14/2020); and Staff #13 (Old:5/7/15 New:10/2/20). Staff #6 did not obtain an NSOR certificate until 7/14/2020, which is after the required deadline of 7/1/2020 for existing staff per the CPSL. Staff #4 began working with the legal entity on 10/15/19, but did not complete mandated reporter training until 2/1/2020, which is beyond the 90-day requirement. Staff #4 began working at the facility on 10/15/19, but did not obtain an NSOR certificate until 1/28/2020, and the facility did not have an approved provisional hire waiver on file. All of these staff were working at the facility after it reopened on 6/8/2020 during the gaps in their paperwork.

Correction Required: The operator shall comply with the CPSL and with Chapter 3490 (relating to protective services). The Director or person responsible for maintaining staff files is required to submit a copy of a completed staff file for any new hire at the facility to the Regional Office for review. New employees may not begin working at the facility until the file is reviewed and approved by the Regional Office. This practice must occur for 3 months from the date an acceptable plan of correction is received by the Regional Office.

Noncompliance Area: During a review of the facility staff files, there was no proof of education, experience or training on file for Staff #14 and #15. Due to a lack of documentation, these staff were unable to be qualified as staff persons at any level, but were identified on paperwork provided to the Regional Office to work in aide capacities at the facility.

Correction Required: A staff person or a substitute staff person shall meet one of the applicable staff qualifications for the position in which the person is performing. A facility person's record shall include verification of child care experience, education and training prior to service at the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The emergency telephone numbers of the nearest hospital, police, fire, ambulance and poison control center were not posted by the telephone in the Toddlers classroom during the on-site portion of the blended inspection on 10/20/2020.

Correction Required: The telephone number of the nearest hospital, police department, fire department, ambulance and poison control center shall be posted by each telephone in the facility.

Noncompliance Area: The small wooden stage in the school-age classroom was observed to have peeling carpet around the edges. The pour-in-place rubber surfacing on the infant/toddler playground was observed to be torn and in poor repair in multiple spots, which exposes the small rubber pieces underneath the surfacing and poses a choking hazard.

Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards.

Noncompliance Area: A source of running water for handwashing was not observed to be present in the diapering area of the Discovery Preschool classroom during the on-site portion of the blended inspection.

Correction Required: A source of running water for handwashing shall be present in infant and toddler diapering areas. If the running water does not flow directly into a drain that is connected to a sewage system, a receptacle shall be provided to contain the water used for washing. The receptacle shall be emptied into an approved sewage system at least once a day.

Noncompliance Area: At 4:20 p.m. on 1/10/19, Staff #1 unintentionally locked Child #1 in a closet unsupervised in the Discovery Preschool classroom for approximately 2-3 minutes. The staff were unaware the child was in the closet until they heard the child crying, which prompted them to open the door and find the child inside crying. This was confirmed through staff interviews and reported by the facility to DHS.

Correction Required: Children on the facility premises and on facility excursions off the premises shall be supervised by a staff person at all times. Outdoor play space used by the facility is considered part of the facility premises. Children must be supervised at all times. 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. The legal entity must arrange for all facility staff, who are employed as of the date of the training, to receive a minimum of 3 hours of PQAS-approved, in-person training regarding supervision of children and classroom ratios, as well as follow up with the trainer or STARs quality coach. It does not matter if the PQAS-approved training is done through the ELRC, but the legal entity must receive DHS approval of the training content prior to scheduling the training.

Noncompliance Area: During part of a renewal inspection conducted on 10/7/19, three staff were present in the Discovery Preschool classroom. There were 18 children present, but one child was not assigned to a staff person in the group. There were 2 staff in the Pre-K classroom with 12 children, but one child was not assigned to a staff person in the group. A plan of correction was received from the facility that by 10/8/19, "Center management will conduct frequent care giver group check-ins to make sure staff know who they are responsible for supervising." During an unannounced inspection conducted on 11/18/19, Staff #13 and #14 were present in the Discovery Preschool classroom with 13 children. When asked to identify their primary supervision groups, only 9 children were identified by the two staff, as the additional 4 children were assigned to a staff person who was not yet present in the classroom. The remaining four children were not assigned to a staff person who was physically present in the classroom.

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.