Kids in the Country Child Care and Preschool

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“Staff person A has a start date within BFIS of 09/18/2025. As of the date of this visit, Staff person A does not have CPR certification. Corrective Action: Have Staff person A complete CPR training. Until the training is completed, have a plan to ensure Staff person A works directly with a staff person currently qualifed in CPR. Send confirmation of the certification in CPR for Staff person A to NL@CCV and to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 3.7.1.1: The licensee shall develop and maintain a written Emergency Response Plan to respond to a full range of emergencies both natural and man-made. A complete plan shall include how the licensee will address and manage the following situations and responsibilities: Evacuations or other emergencies such as leaving the premise and lockdown situations; Specific concerns related to the location of the program, such as proximity to a nuclear reactor, an area prone to flooding or power loss; Notifying the local authorities of the emergency; A system for notifying the parents of the emergency; Notifying the local emergency planning committee regarding the location of the CBCCPP and using the committee as a resource in emergency planning for the program; A system of identifying the children and staff present at the time of the emergency and maintaining knowledge of their whereabouts; A system for handling infants, toddlers, and children with special needs; An established evacuation meeting location within walking distance of the CBCCPP; A system to account for all children and staff at the evacuation meeting place; A process for relocation if necessary, including safe transportation; A system for shelter in place if the staff and children present need to remain in the CBCCPP for an extended period; and Staff chain of command and individual staff roles and responsibilities, (if applicable) during emergencies.

“The Emergency Response Plan does not contain the transportation plan for an off-site evacuation location nor the re-unification plan for parents. This requirement was reviewed in the 03/07/2025 site visit. Corrective Action: Update the Emergency Response plan to include a plan for an identified off-site evacuation location and how children and staff will be tranported to that location. This updated plan needs to also include how children with special need, including health needs will be accomodated at the off site location. The plan shall include how parents will be notified of the evacuation and the plan to re-unify parents at the off-site location. The program is to work with the local Emergency Management representative for the Dover area in generating this plan. Submit the plan for review and approval to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford. Status: Appeal Period.”

Regulation 6.2.7.3: Staff shall use positive methods of guidance and behavior management that encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation.

“The Division received a copy of a video from 08/18/2025 that showed a staff person using their body to physically force a school-age child to remain in a corner. The video footage captured 1 minute and 28 seconds of the staff person's back to the room and the child's leg visible behind the staff person. It is not possible to determine the length of the intervention as the video begins and ends with the staff person in place. The child who took the video was twice heard identifying the child involved and stated one time "She is squishing ----". The staff person's hands were not visible and only the child's lower leg was visible. The staff person's head appeared to be touching the wall over the child's body. It was clear that the child did not have the room to get out of the corner. Measurements of the corner area and the estimation from the positioning of the staff person in the video feed showed the staff person and the child in a 19 inch by 30 inch space between the wall and refrigerator. Two other staff persons, who were visible in the video feed, did not address the incident nor intervene. The two staff persons in the video acknowldged during the 10/22/2025 visit that they did not address the incident, nor was the Director or parent notified of the incident. This is a serious violation requiring a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: The staff person blocking the child is no longer employed at the program. As required during this visit, staff persons are to address and intervene as neccessary if a co-worker uses inappropriate guidance with a child. Develop a plan to establish concrete expectations for what is acceptable guidance, how to support/address a co-workers interactions that need to change, and what the reporting process to the Program Director or the Director's designee will be. Include in this plan, what outside supports (trainings/consultatons) the program will have to create the expectations and to educate/train staff upon the requirements. Submit this plan to Licensing FIeld Specialist Crawford for review. Send a copy of this site visit letter to the parent(s) of each child currently enrolled in the program and to the parents of children enrolled at the time of the incident by 11/10/2025. Send the names and contact information to Licensing FIeld Specialist Crawford by 11/10/2025.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 7, 2025

Regulation 6.2.5.2: Staff shall appropriately hold, touch, smile and talk to children.

“Video feed of the morning of August 26th shows Staff person A used one arm to pick up a toddler around the torso and the child was carried in a football hold across the playroom to the kitchen area. The child's legs swung up and behind Staff person A, the child's arms flailed in the air, and the child's head was horizontal to the floor. The child was placed in a high chair with no play items. This occurred after the child was seen kicking the gate, and throwing two items towards the staff person. The child remained in the high chair for ten (10) minutes. Corrective Action: As of 08/29/2025, Staff person A is no longer employed at the program. Staff persons are to appropriately pick up, carry, and interact with children. Define and review with all staff persons appropriate ways to carry children and what are reasonable expectations/interventions for toddler age children. Have staff persons sign a statement of understanding for the acceptable practices. As additionally noted, high chairs and/or any other type of equipment is not be used for guidance purposes.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 30, 2025

Regulation 6.2.7.4.2: No form of inappropriate discipline or corporal punishment shall be used with children such as but not limited to: Restricting a child's movements or actions through use of physical force, binding, tying, use of any other mechanical restraint, or using medication without written parental permission, without following the medicine's label, and/or without following medical prescription;

“Video feed of August 26th shows, Staff person A used physical force to put a resisting school-age child into a toddler sized high chair. During fifty-five (55) seconds of attempting to force the child to sit in the high chair, Staff person A grabs each of the child's upper arms and pushs the child back with enough force for the child's head and hair to visible rock back and touch the back of the high chair seat. There are two (2) instances of Staff person A positioning their forearm across the child's upper body as the child pushs against the arm. The child's arms are grabbed and forced against the child's body two (2) times, and the child's legs are forcibly held down after child attempted to move legs over the side of the high chair. In an eighteen (18) second section of the video, the staff person is observed pushing the high chair tray in place to lock while the child pushes out against it. At points in the struggle, the high chair is tilted and resting on the back legs only. The high chair appears to slide across the floor approximately one (1) foot. The child is restrained in the high chair for approximately fourteen (14) minutes. During that time, there are instance of the child attempting to pull themselves out of the chair and appearing to speak or yell. At these moments, Staff person A is seen re-entering the camera field and speaking to the child from across the room. The video feed did not record sound. A community member reported to the Division seeing a child through the interior door of the program near the library and hearing the child yelling "get away from me, get away from me, and other phrases during the timeframe of this incident. During the time that the child was in the high chair, two (2) staff persons and three (3) children were observed walking in and out of the room. This is a serious violation of staff to child interaction requiring a parental notification letter. The matter was referred to other entitities involved in child protection for review. Corrective Action: As required during the visit to the program on 08/28/2025, high chairs or any other devices are not to be used to restrain the movement of a child for guidance/discipline purposes. All use of physical force as observed in the video is prohibited. It was confirmed that Staff Person A no longer works at the program as of 08/29/2025. The program is to submit for approval a program improvement plan that outlines the steps taken to re-establish and define acceptable behavioral guidance practices, and identifying responsibilities for staff persons regarding addressing and reporting inappropriate actions of co-workers. Include in this plan, the reported actions taken and in process including: requirement for staff persons to review mandatory reporter requirements, involvement of consulting early childhood resources (SPARQs, CIS etc.,) to enhance classroom practices, and specific trainings/activities engaged in by program staff and the program director. Indicate in this plan what on going program and staff interaction with children assessments will be occurring and by whom. In addition, a copy of this site visit report is to be sent to the parents of each child who was enrolled at the time of the incident. The names and contact information for each parent is to be submitted to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford by the the identified corrective action date with the improvement plan.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 30, 2025

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Staff person A was employed as a Trainee during the summer of 2023 and again in the summer of 2024. This person did not complete an orientation training as required by this rule. Corrective Action: This staff person is no longer associated with the program. Develop a plan to ensure trainees complete orientation within the required timeframe. Send this plan to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford.”

Correction date in the state record: May 16, 2025

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“The program was notified on 04/21/2023 that Staff Person A would need to complete the fingerprint clearance process. It was confirmed during this visit that Staff Person A was a part time employee and counted in staff to child ratios during the summer of 2023 and 2024. As of the date of this visit, Staff person A had not completed the fingerprint clearance process. Corrective Action: Following this visit, the individual was removed from the associated parties list. As discussed during the visit, the program needs to develop and submit a plan to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford explaining how the program will ensure future short term or seasonal employees complete the fingerprint clearance process as required.”

Correction date in the state record: May 16, 2025

Regulation 3.7.2.3: At least one (1) drill every 365 days shall be conducted while children are sleeping or resting.

“The fire drill/emergency evacuation drill log for all of 2023 does not contain a drill practiced during the program's rest time. Corrective Action: Establish a date for the required drill to occur during rest time. Review this requirement with staff persons and review the expectations for evacuation drills. Conduct the rest time drill by 05/31/2024 and send the date of the drill to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 15, 2024

Regulation 5.10.4.5.6: Exterior stairs, walks, ramps, and porches shall be cleared of ice and snow or other environmental hazards that may block exits.

“The designated second emergency exit for the infant/toddler classroom cannot be used as egress. There is snow fencing in place approximately three (3) feet from the bottom step for this exit extending from the side of the building across the front of this exit and to the far side of the building. The placement of the snow fencing makes this emergency exit unusable as the fencing is a barrier preventing staff/children from moving away from the exterior of the building. In addition, there is a dismantled crib blocking the door from opening in to the building. Corrective Action: Maintain all identified exits usable at all times that children are in care. Use the Division of Fire Safety approved second exit that leads into the shared hallway with the library. Ensure that exit is maintained clear at all times. Review the change of evacuation procedures with all staff persons. Update the emergency evacuation diagrams in the room and any other policies referencing evacuation exits to reflect the change of emergency exit. Post a sign upon the classroom door leading to this second exit.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 15, 2024

Regulation 3.4.7.5: The licensee shall maintain a current list of the licensee or designee, staff, auxiliary staff, and volunteers as in the rules in section 7.7.5 of these regulations, as applicable in BFIS. Any changes shall be reported through BFIS within five (5) working days of the change.

“A staff person is listed on the associated parties and this person reportedly has not been employed at the program since at least October 2023. A volunteer is listed on the associated parties list and has not been a part of the program since the summer of 2022. Corrective Action: Remove the identified persons from the associated parties list. Develop a practice to monitor and update the list to ensure it remains current.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 15, 2024

Regulation 5.4.2.3: Staff shall ensure that infants sleep in cribs or port-a-cribs. Infants shall not be placed to sleep on soft surfaces, such as a couch or sofa, pillow, quilts, sheepskins or blankets. Infants shall not be placed in car seats, swings, high chairs, jumping chairs or similar equipment for sleep. A child that falls asleep in this type of equipment shall be gently transferred to a crib or port-a-crib as soon as feasible.

“A child under the age three months of age was sleeping with her head upon a positioning "boppy" pillow while laying on the floor. The child was observed sleeping like this for 19 minutes. The staff person in the room was observed playing with another infant, walking within the space, placing the other child on the floor and picking the child back up while the younger child was sleeping on the position pillow. Corrective Action: As required during the site visit, the child was picked up by a staff person and held until the child's portable crib was set up for the child to sleep within. Review safe sleep practices with each staff person. Post safe sleep requirements within in the infant play room.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.1: General Safety: The licensee shall ensure the physical facilities of the CBCCPP, grounds, equipment, and toys present no hazard to the health, safety, and well-being of the children.

“The area described as the shed area has visible chipping and peeling paint. There are visible chips of paint on the grass areas near the doorframe and upon the grass area near the tented seating area. Corrective Action: Staff were required to keep children aware from the back and side of the shed area for the remainder of the day. As required during a telephone call with the Program Director on 04/17/2023, the program staff are to check daily to ensure that all areas of ground accessed by children is free of chipped or peeling paint. Contact the Vermont Department of Health at 1 800 464 4343 for guidance to create a plan to prevent child access to chipping peeling paint. Send the recommendation and dates of planned actions to this licensor by 04/27/2023.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 25, 2023

Regulation 5.10.3.1.3: The play area shall be fenced or otherwise protected from traffic and other hazards. Fencing or natural barriers, such as hedges or other clear land boundaries, shall prevent children from exiting and allow for safe supervision of outdoor play.

“The metal playground nearest the tented area used for children is in need of repair. There are two sections bent and metal gating and two of the metal posts are bent and partially on the ground. There are sharp metal points of the fencing laying on the ground and resting at child height. Corrective Action: As required during the site visit, children are to be kept away from the downed and broken fence pieces. Repair the broken section of the fencing.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 25, 2023

Regulation 3.4.6.5: Staffing Schedule: A licensee shall maintain a written record of the daily schedule for at least 365 days of all staff including exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned.

“Upon review of twenty-four (24) sign in sheets, it was found that one (1) or more staff had not recorded their time in or time out on each time sheet reviewed. In addition, there were three (3) staff in the infant classroom on the day of the visit, however only one (1) staff was reflected on the sign in sheet. Corrective Action: Ensure staff reflect their arrival, break, and departure times for each group of children they work with. Develop a system to ensure ongoing monitoring and compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 22, 2020

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Upon review of staff BFIS quality and credential acounts, it was found that four (4) staff had missing or incomplete documentation in their accounts. Corrective Action: Review staff BFIS quality and credential accounts and ensure all required documentation is reflected as required by this rule. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 22, 2020

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, and on-site files, it was found that Staff C had not obtained the required fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development. Corrective Action: Review staff files and ensure staff who have not completed the required fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development does so, and ensure all staff maintain ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 22, 2020

Regulation 5.10.1.10.4: Materials required for routine cleaning shall be stored and used in a safe manner out of the reach of children.

“Upon observation in the preschool classroom, a bottle labeled as bleach spray, and another bottled labeled soap and water were found at children's height on two (2) different sensory tables. Staff A acknowledged that is is common practice to place both bottles on the sensory tables. Corrective Action: Ensure items that are toxic to children are kept out of reach. Develop a system to monitor ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 22, 2020

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“Upon review of the outdoor play area, the cushioning material found under structures over thirty (30) inches off the ground was insufficent and did not meet the depth required by this rule. Corrective Action: Until cushioning material has been replenished, discontinue use of outdoor play areas that do not meet the required depth of cushioning as required by this rule. Develop a system to ensure ongoing compliance to this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 22, 2020