Child Care Center
✓ Licensed
First Mountain Pre-School
West Orange, NJ
· Essex County
270 Pleasant Valley Way,
West Orange, NJ 07052
Quick Facts
Capacity
69 children
Age Range
0 - 13 years
Subsidized Program
Participates
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Contact Information
📞 (973) 243-6768
Licensed Child Care Center
Active License
License Number
07FIR0008
License Issued
Oct 8, 2024
Active Through
Oct 8, 2027
Issued By
New Jersey Department of Children & Families
District Office
New Jersey Dept of Children and Families - Office of Licensing
Reviews
Kate
2016-09-19 00:12:35
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
I have used this provider for more than 6 months
The teachers are creative, fun, responsible, & encouraging. My child loves going to school at First Mountain! I know graduates who still visit regularly & talk about their fond experiences. First MountainPreschool is the only preschool for me (us)!
109 out of 227 think this review is helpful
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About the Provider
First Mountain Preschool offers a literature-based learning curriculum in an environment that integrates Art, Science, Math & Music. This Language and Literature Curriculum creates project ideas developed through interactional, developmentally appropriate discussions and questions in an effort to get to know each child & discover their interests. This interactional teaching method is the basis of the Founder & Director Susan McCartney's graduate thesis research to offer emotional security and a mutual respect for the children as well as their parents.
Hours of Operation
- Monday08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
- Tuesday08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
- Wednesday08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
- Thursday08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
- Friday08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
- Saturday Closed
- Sunday Closed
Inspection/Report History
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Inspection Date | Type | Reinspection / Rule | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2026-07-27 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2025-10-31 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-09-30 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-09-03 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-08-19 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-07-16 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-06-09 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-05-05 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2025-04-21 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2024-10-07 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2024-09-10 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2024-08-08 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2024-07-08 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2024-06-05 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2024-05-03 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2024-04-29 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2024-03-25 | Renewal | No | Center Inspection |
| 2023-09-28 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2023-08-22 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2023-08-08 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2023-07-25 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2023-07-10 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2023-07-10 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-7.7(a)(3)(iv) | Ensure that the center washes and disinfects the tables used by the children for eating before each meal. - The schedule for disinfecting shall be as follows: tables used by the children for eating shall be washed and disinfected before each meal. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-4.6(a) | Ensure that the center completes an updated Staff Records Checklist designated by OOL. - The center shall maintain on file a Staff Records Checklist designated by the Office of Licensing, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.1(b), indicating that the center has obtained documentation of the applicable staff education and experience, as specified in 3A:52-4.6(b) through (d). |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-4.5(c)(2)(ii) | Ensure that the director and the director designee complete the Understanding Licensing training provided by OOL. - The director or his or her designee(s) shall be on the premises at all times when the center is operating and the designee shall complete staff development in understanding licensing rules as provided by the Office. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(n)(4) | Ensure that all fire extinguishers are serviced and tagged annually and recharged as needed. - Fire prevention requirements are as follows: all fire extinguishers shall be visually inspected once a month, and serviced and tagged at least once a year and recharged, if necessary, as specified in the NJUFC. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-5.2(a)(5) | Provide a current fire certificate as required. - The center shall be permitted to obtain a valid fire safety inspection certificate issued by the municipality in which it is located, based on a fire inspection conducted within the preceding 12 months, and submit a copy of the certificate to the Office of Licensing in lieu of a CO or CCO, if the center serves only children 2 ½ years of age or older and is located in a public school building that is used as a public school. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(a)(2) | Replace stained ceiling tiles in room 1. - Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(q)(3)(v) | Label all rooms approved by the OOL for the children's use. - Space and room requirements are as follows: Indoor space requirements for play rooms and sleep rooms are as follows the center shall identify all rooms of the center that have been approved by the Office of Licensing. This identification shall consist of numbers, letters, names or any other means of identification and shall be located either inside or directly outside each room. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-6.1(b)(7)(ii) | Develop a written policy for the use of television, computers and other technology by children over the age of 2 years old and maintain it on file at the center. - The staff member(s) specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-4.5 who are responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the center's daily activities shall ensure that the use of a television, computers, and other video equipment shall be limited to educational and instructional use, shall be age and developmentally appropriate, and shall not be used as a substitute for planned activities or for passive viewing. Centers shall develop a written policy regarding the use of television, computers, and other equipment for children over the age of two and maintain on file written plans for such use and the length of time for their use. In addition, centers shall develop a written policy for the use of such equipment as it pertains to children in care less than four hours and children in care more than four hours. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-3.4(a) | Ensure that the center has a current comprehensive general liability insurance policy and maintains the documentation on file. - The sponsor or sponsor representative shall secure comprehensive general liability insurance coverage for the center and shall maintain on file a copy of the insurance policy or documentation of current insurance coverage. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(l)(4) | Ensure that the center conducts at least two lockdown drills per year during each session provided at the center and maintains records of the drills on file. - Emergency procedure requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct two lockdown drills per year and maintain on file a record of each lockdown drill. The center shall ensure that lockdown drills are conducted during each session provided at the center. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-4.11(a)(1) | Provide a CHRI clearance for 1 staff member. - As a condition of securing a license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall ensure that a Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) fingerprint background check is completed for himself or herself, and for all staff members at least 18 years of age who are or will be working at the center on a regularly- scheduled basis, to determine whether any such person has been convicted of a crime, as specified in P.L. 2000, c. 77 (N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.10 to 6.17). The sponsor or sponsor representative and each staff member shall complete the electronic fingerprinting process through the vendor authorized by the State to conduct CHRI background checks through the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-4.5(a)(3)(i)(1) | Ensure that the center has a table of organization that includes job descriptions. - The sponsor or sponsor representative shall designate individuals with the authority and responsibility to develop and implement written policies and procedures for the operation of the center, including a table of organization that illustrates lines of authority, responsibility and communication. |
| 2023-07-10 | Violation | 3A:52-4.5(b)(2)(ii) | Ensure children are signed in as required. At the time of the inspection, 25 children were signed in while 27 were present. - The director shall have the authority and responsibility for the implementation of policies and procedures for the day-to-day operation of the center, including maintenance of children's daily attendance records, including the daily time of arrival and departure. |
| 2023-01-11 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2023-01-05 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-12-22 | Phone Call | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-11-07 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-10-31 | Phone Call | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-08-24 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-07-19 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-05-19 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-05-03 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-05-03 | Re-Inspection | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-04-18 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-03-28 | Monitoring | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-03-28 | Monitoring | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2022-03-28 | Violation | 3A:52-4.3(a)(1) | Ensure that adequate procedures for tracking children are adhered to at all times throughout the center. At the time of the inspection, staff in room 1/2 stated there were 34 children when 32 were present. 5/3/2022 At the time of the inspection, staff on the playground did not know the number of children in her care and needed to count the children. Staff in room 3 did not know the number of children in her care. - The center shall develop and implement an Office of Licensing-approved method to keep track of the location and ensure the safety of all children at all times when under the center’s supervision, including the transfer of supervision from and to parents during arrival and departure and the utilization of off-site locations, including playgrounds and field trips. |
| 2022-03-28 | Violation | 3A:52-5.3(n)(1) | Ensure that the center conducts fire drills at least once per month during each session provided at the center, including one fire drill annually that is conducted during nap time. - Fire prevention requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct fire drills at least once a month, as specified in the NJUFC. The center shall ensure that fire drills are conducted during each session provided at the center and that one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable. |
| 2022-03-28 | Violation | 3A:52-4.10(b)(1) | Provide renewal CARI clearances for 2 staff and the sponsor rep. 4/18/2022 Provide renewal CARI clearances for 3 staff. 5/3/2022 Provide renewal CARI clearances for 2 staff. 11/7/2022 Provide CARI clearance for 1 staff. - When the center applies for a new or renewal license or Certificate of Life/Safety Approval, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department the completed CARI consent forms for all staff members who are or will be working at the center on a regularly scheduled basis. Within two weeks after a new staff member begins working at the center, the sponsor or sponsor representative shall submit to the Department a completed CARI consent form for the new staff member. |
| 2022-03-28 | Violation | 3A:52-4.1(d)(1) | Ensure that the information on the Staff Records Checklist is current and that it is maintained on file at the center, including the staff's CARI and CHRI background checks. - The staff records specified in 3A:52-4.1(a) through (c) shall be maintained on file as follows: the Staff Records Checklist for the current director and all staff members currently working at the center shall be maintained on file at the center. |
| 2022-02-14 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2022-01-06 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-10-06 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-08-31 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-07-09 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-06-10 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-05-21 | Yes | Center Inspection | |
| 2021-04-12 | Renewal | No | Center Inspection |
| 2019-08-23 | Monitoring | Yes | Center Inspection |
| 2019-06-28 | Monitoring | No | Center Inspection |
If you are a provider and believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
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