Nana's Place Preschool and Childcare

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, during a large storm, strong winds lifted a child-sized chair onto the top of the west fence line near the toddler room patio. When the toddler room door was shut, the movement caused the chair to fall from the top of the fence and hit an enrolled child on the head.”

AAC R9-5-404.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that at least the following staff-to-children ratios are maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children: Age Group/Staff: Children - Infants/1:5 or 2:11; 1-year-old children/1:6 or 2:13; 2-year-old children/1:8; 3-year-old children/1:13; 4-year-old children/1:15; 5-year-old children not school-age/1:20; School-age children/1:20

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and DBC's observation, the ratio was 1:7 in the Pre K classroom with a 1-year-old present. ***Previously cited 5/6/25”

AAC R9-5-402.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that, for a staff member who is currently working at the facility, the staff member’s information required by: 1. Subsections (A)(1) through (11) is maintained in a single location on facility premises, and 2. Subsection (A)(12) is maintained and provided to the Department within two hours of the Department’s request.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Deputy Bureau Chief's observation, staff files (3) were not available for review at the time of the inspection. Upon the arrival of the Department representatives, no staff were available for administrative duties. ***Previously cited 1/15/25”

AAC R9-5-510.A.1. A. A staff member shall provide guidance to help children respond to difficult situations. To develop self-regulation, children should receive adult support that is individual to the child and adapts as the child develops internal controls. This process should include: 1. Forming a positive relationship with the child, which occurs when the adult spends time talking to the child, listening to the child, following the child’s lead, playing with the child, and responding to the child’s needs; 2. Base expectations on the child’s developmental level; 3. Establishing and being proactive in teaching and supporting children in learning simple rules; 4. Modifying the learning/play environment to support the child’s appropriate behavior; 5. Creating a predictable daily routine and schedule; 6. Modeling desired behavior; 7. Showing children positive alternatives; 8.Using deliberate redirection, the staff member should encourage the child to use appropriate behavior, and provide positive feedback when the child exhibits the behavior; 9. Individualized positive discipline strategies based on the individual needs of children, such as using a buddy system, individualized schedule, special break, or another applicable positive discipline strategy; and 10. If applicable, a licensee shall develop a written plan with the enrolled child's parent to provide individualized social and emotional intervention supports for the enrolled child that includes methods for understanding the enrolled child's behavior, and developing, adopting, and implementing a team-based positive behavior support plan.

“Findings: Per allegation and based on the Compliance Officer and DBC's observation, staff failed to respond to an enrolled child's needs, when, upon the arrival of the Department representatives in the Pre K classroom, a child was sitting in a chair at a table crying. Throughout the time the representatives were in the classroom, the child was not tended to or soothed. The child could be heard crying from outside the classroom door as well as from the infant room. Staff stated: *(The child) cries all the time. *The child started getting upset 45 minutes before.”

AAC R9-5-404.E. E. In addition to maintaining the required staff-to-children ratios, a licensee shall ensure that: 1. Staff members are present on facility premises to perform facility administration, food preparation, food service, and maintenance responsibilities; and 2. Facility maintenance does not depend on the work of enrolled children.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and DBC's observation, upon the arrival of the Department representatives, no staff member was present to perform facility administrative duties. ***Previously cited 5/6/25 and 1/15/25”

AAC R9-5-501.A.12. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 12. The facility premises, including the buildings, are maintained free from hazards;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and DBC's observation, there was a stack of 10+ chairs in the corner of the Pre K classroom accessible to enrolled children. A child was standing in the corner next to the chairs; the stack was taller than the child.”

ARS § 36-883.02.A. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, child care personnel, including volunteers, shall submit the form prescribed in subsection C of this section to the employer and shall have valid fingerprint clearance cards issued pursuant to section 41-1758.07 before starting employment or volunteer work.

“Based on the Compliance Officer and DBC's observation, the fingerprint clearance cards for the staff working at the time of the inspection were not available for review. ***Previously cited 11/8/24”

AAC R9-5-603.B. B. Except as provided in subsection (D) a licensee shall ensure that an outdoor activity area: 1. Is enclosed by a fence: a. A minimum of 4 feet high; b. Secured to the ground; and c. With either vertical or horizontal open spaces on the fence or gate that do not exceed 4.0 inches; 2. Is maintained free from hazards, such as exposed concrete footings and broken toys; and 3. Has gates that are kept closed while an enrolled child is in the outdoor activity area

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the following hazards were accessible on the big playground: *There were broken and cracked plastic balls scattered throughout the playground. *The cap on the sprinkler system was cracked with sharp edges.”

AAC R9-5-309.C. C. A licensee shall maintain on facility premises: 1. A current fire inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the fire inspection report; and 2. If there are gas pipes that run from a gas meter to an appliance or location on the facility premises, a current gas inspection report including documentation of any repairs or corrections required by the gas inspection report.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer Supervisor's observation, the facility lacked a violation-free fire inspection.”

AAC R9-5-603.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following is provided and maintained within the fall zones of swings and climbing equipment in an outdoor activity area: 1. A shock-absorbing unitary surfacing material manufactured for such use in outdoor activity areas; or 2. A minimum depth of 6 inches of a non-hazardous, resilient material such as fine loose sand or wood chips.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the following fall zones lacked 6 inches of resilient surfacing as required: *The playground ladder lacked 3 of the 6 inches required.”

AAC R9-5-503.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the written diaper changing procedure in subsection (C) states that an enrolled child’s diaper is changed as soon as it is soiled, and that a staff member, when diapering: 1. Uses a separate washcloth and towel only once for each enrolled child; 2. Washes and dries the enrolled child using the enrolled child’s individual personal products labeled with the enrolled child’s name; 3. Uses single-use non-porous gloves; 4. Washes the staff member’s own hands with soap and running water between 86° F and 110° F before and after each diaper change; 5. Washes each enrolled child’s hands with soap and running water between 86° F and 110° F after each diaper change; 6. Cleans, sanitizes, and dries the diaper changing surface following each diaper change; and 7. Uses single-use paper towels from a dispenser to dry the diaper changing surface or the hands of the enrolled child or staff member.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer Supervisor's observation, the staff in the Pre K classroom failed to wash a child's hands after diaper changing the child.”

AAC R9-5-304.B. B. Except as required in A.R.S. § 36-3009, before an enrolled child receives child care services, a licensee shall require the enrolled child’s parent to complete an Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record that is no more than a two-page written notice, and is signed by the enrolled child’s parent containing: 1. The child’s name, home address, sex, and date of birth; 2. The date of the child’s enrollment; 3. The name, home address, email address, and telephone number of each parent of the child; 4. The name and contact telephone number of at least two individuals authorized by the child’s parent to collect the child from the facility in case of emergency, or if the child’s parent cannot be contacted; 5. The name and contact telephone number of the child’s health care provider; 6. The written authorization for emergency medical care of the enrolled child when the parent cannot be contacted at the time of the emergency; 7. The name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; 8. The written instructions of a child’s parent or health care provider for the nutritional and dietary needs of the child including, if applicable, the request in R9-5-509(C)(14); and 9. A written record completed by the child’s parent or health care provider noting the child’s susceptibility to illness, physical conditions of which a staff member should be aware, and any individual requirements for health maintenance.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, 3 of the 3 Emergency, Information, Immunization Record Cards lacked the following: Child #1 and Child #2: The child's date of enrollment, the child's date of birth, the child's home address, the home address of the first parent of the child, the name, home address, and telephone number of the second parent of the child, the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child; and Child #3: The name, home address, and telephone number of the second parent of the child, and the name of the individual to be contacted in case of injury or sudden illness of the child.”

AAC R9-5-305.A. A. A licensee shall not permit an enrolled child to attend a facility until the facility receives: 1. An immunization record for the enrolled child with the information required in 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7, documenting that the enrolled child has received all current, age-appropriate immunizations required under 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7: a. Provided by a healthcare provider, or b. Generated from the Arizona State Immunization Information System, which is the Department’s child immunization reporting system established in A.R.S. § 36-135; or 2. An exemption affidavit for the enrolled child provided by the enrolled child’s parent that contains a statement, signed by the enrolled child's: a. Health care provider, that the immunizations required by 9 A.A.C. 6, Article 7 would endanger the enrolled child’s health or medical condition; or b. Parent, that the enrolled child is being raised in a religion whose teachings are in opposition to immunization.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the Emergency, Information, Immunization Record cards for Child #1, Child #2, and Child #3 lacked documentation of the children's immunization records.”

AAC R9-5-512.F.4.5. F. A licensee shall ensure that: 4. Except for a cup or receptacle used only for water, food waste is stored in a covered container and the container is clean and lined with a plastic bag; 5. Food waste and other refuse is removed from the facility building at least once every 24 hours or more often as necessary to maintain a clean condition and avoid odors;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, on the small playground, there was food waste in an uncovered bin.”

AAC R9-5-401.3. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 3. A child educator is 18 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Six months of child care experience if working with enrolled children five years old and younger, or three months of child care experience if working with school-aged children; and: i. A high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma; or ii. At least 12 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; b. Associate or bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or c. N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential;

“Findings: Per allegation and based on the Compliance Officer Supervisor’s observation and facility documentation, the file for Staff #3 (DOE 6/24/25) lacked documentation of 6 months of child care experience to qualify as a child educator. Staff #3 was working as a child educator upon the arrival of the Department representatives.”

AAC R9-5-401.1. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 1. A facility director is 21 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. At least 24 months of child care experience, a high school or high school equivalency diploma, and: i. Six credit hours or more in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field from an accredited college or university; or ii. At least 60 actual hours of instruction, provided in conferences, seminars, lectures, or workshops in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field, and an additional 12 hours of instruction, provided in conferences, seminars, lectures, or workshops in the area of program administration, planning, development, or management; b. At least 18 months of child care experience and: i. An N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential; or ii. At least 24 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; c. At least six months of child care experience and an associate degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or d. At least three months of child care experience and a bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field;

“Findings: Per allegation and based on the Compliance Officer’s observation and facility documentation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 1/28/23) lacked the training hours to qualify as a director.”

AAC R9-5-401.2. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility: 2. A facility director’s designee is 21 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. At least 12 months of child care experience, a high school or high school equivalency diploma, and: i. Three credit hours or more in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field from an accredited college or university, or ii. At least 30 actual hours of instruction, provided in conferences, seminars, lectures, or workshops in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field;b. At least 12 months of child care experience and: i. An N.A.C., C.D.A., or C.C.P. credential; or ii At least 24 credit hours from an accredited college or university, including at least six credit hours in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; c. At least six months of child care experience and an associate degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field; or d. At least three months of child care experience and a bachelor degree from an accredited college or university in early childhood, child development, or a closely-related field;

“Findings: Per allegation and based on the Compliance Officer Supervisor’s observation and facility documentation, the file for Staff #2 (DOE 9/30/24) lacked experience documentation to qualify as the director designee. Staff #2 was working as the director’s designee upon the arrival of the Department representatives.”

AAC R9-5-203.G. G. As required by A.R.S. § 8-804, before an individual’s starting date of employment or volunteer service, a licensee shall comply with the submission requirements in A.R.S. § 8-804(C) for the individual.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Officer Supervisors’ observation and facility documentation, the files for Staff #2 (DOE 9/30/24) and Staff #3 (DOE 6/24/25) lacked background check documentation. The file for Staff #1 (DOE 1/28/23) lacked the staff’s background check results.”

AAC R9-5-301.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following individuals are allowed immediate access to facility premises during hours of operation: 1. A parent of an enrolled child or an individual designated in writing by the parent of an enrolled child; or 2. A representative of: a. The Department, b. The local health department, c. Arizona Department of Child Safety, or d. The local fire department or State Fire Marshal.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, the licensee failed to ensure Department representatives immediate access to the facility during hours of operation. The Department representatives waited 11 minutes before gaining access to the facility.”

AAC R9-5-403.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each staff member who provides child care services completes 18 or more actual hours of training every 12 months after the effective date of this Chapter or the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service in at least two topics listed in this subsection: a. Child growth and development, including: i. Infant growth and development, which may include sudden infant death syndrome prevention; ii. Developmental psychology; iii. Language development; iv. Observation and child assessment; v. Developmentally-appropriate activities; vi. Child guidance and methods of discipline which may include training on the appropriate techniques to prevent a child from harm or to prevent the child from harming others; and vii. Developmentally-appropriate activity areas; b. Health and safety issues, including: i. Accident and emergency procedures, including CPR and first aid for infants and children; ii. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; iii. Nutrition and developmentally-appropriate eating habits; iv. Child abuse detection, reporting, and prevention; v. Safety of indoor and outdoor activity areas; and vi. Sun safety policies and procedures; c. Program administration, planning, development, or management; and d. Availability of community services and resources, including those available to children with special needs; and 2. As part of the required 18 hours of training in subsection (B)(1): a. A staff member who has less than 12 months of child care experience before the staff member’s starting date, completes at least 12 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) in the staff member’s first 12 months at the facility; b. A staff member who has 12 months or more of child care experience, completes at least 6 hours in one or more of the topics in subsection (B)(1)(a) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; c. A staff member who provides child care services to an infant completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(a)(i) every 12 months after the staff member’s starting date; and d. A facility director completes at least 6 hours in subsection (B)(1)(c) every 12 months after the facility director’s starting date.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, the file for Staff #1 (DOE 1/28/24) lacked 18 of the 18 hours of annual training required for 1/28/24-1/28/25.”

AAC R9-5-301.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that the following individuals are allowed immediate access to facility premises during hours of operation: 1. A parent of an enrolled child or an individual designated in writing by the parent of an enrolled child; or 2. A representative of: a. The Department, b. The local health department, c. Arizona Department of Child Safety, or d. The local fire department or State Fire Marshal.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, the licensee failed to ensure Department representatives immediate access to the facility during hours of operation. The Department representatives arrived to the facility at 810 AM and did not gain access until 820 AM.”

AAC R9-5-404.E. E. In addition to maintaining the required staff-to-children ratios, a licensee shall ensure that:1. Staff members are present on facility premises to perform facility administration, food preparation, food service, and maintenance responsibilities; and 2. Facility maintenance does not depend on the work of enrolled children.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, there was not a staff member present on the facility premises to perform facility administrative responsibilities. ***Previously cited 1/15/25.”

AAC R9-5-404.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that at least the following staff-to-children ratios are maintained at all times when providing child care services to enrolled children: Age Group/Staff: Children - Infants/1:5 or 2:11; 1-year-old children/1:6 or 2:13; 2-year-old children/1:8; 3-year-old children/1:13; 4-year-old children/1:15; 5-year-old children not school-age/1:20; School-age children/1:20

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, the ratio in the Preschool Room was 1:9 with 2 year olds present.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.1. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 1. Provide a wall-enclosed room for infants that provides exits required by R9-5-601(1);

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, the window separating the Infant Room and Pre K room was open with 2 infants present in the room. ***Previously cited 1/15/25.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.11. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 11. Label each food container received from the parent with the infant's name.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, there were 9 unlabeled pouches filled with a white substance in the Infant Room freezer. ***Previously cited 10/16/24.”

AAC R9-5-306.B. B. A licensee shall: 1. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that a staff member maintains daily documentation of the presence of an enrolled child in an activity area that includes a method to account for any temporary absences of the enrolled child from the activity area, and 2. Maintain the documentation of the presence of enrolled children in an activity area required in subsection (B)(1) on facility premises for 12 months after the date of the documentation.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and Compliance Supervisors' observations, the following rosters did not accurately reflect the presence of enrolled children in an activity area: Preschool Room: There were 12 children on the roster and 9 were present; and Infant Room: Lacked a roster. ***Previously cited 10/16/2024 and 11/19/2024.”

AAC R9-5-404.E. E. In addition to maintaining the required staff-to-children ratios, a licensee shall ensure that:1. Staff members are present on facility premises to perform facility administration, food preparation, food service, and maintenance responsibilities; and 2. Facility maintenance does not depend on the work of enrolled children.

“Findings: Based on the OC and COS observations, it was determined that there was not a staff member present on the facility premises to perform facility administrative responsibilities.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.1. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 1. Provide a wall-enclosed room for infants that provides exits required by R9-5-601(1);

“Findings: Per Allegation: Based on OC and COS's observations, the Director opened the door from the Infant Room to the Pre-K on multiple occasions while there were infants present in the classroom.”

AAC R9-5-512.A. A. A licensee shall maintain facility premises free of insects and vermin.

“Findings: Based on the OC and COS's observations, there was an infestation and swarm of bees in the palm tree by the front entrance of the facility and near the infant room entry door.”

AAC R9-5-402.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that, for a staff member who is currently working at the facility, the staff member’s information required by:1. Subsections (A)(1) through (11) is maintained in a single location on facility premises, and 2. Subsection (A)(12) is maintained and provided to the Department within two hours of the Department’s request.

“Findings: Based on the Office Chief (OC) and Compliance Officer Supervisor's (COS) observations, there was not a staff member present at the facility to access the staff files.”

AAC R9-5-203.D. D. A licensee shall ensure that each staff member submits to the licensee a copy of the staff member’s valid fingerprint clearance card each time the fingerprint clearance card is issued or renewed every six years.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer and the Compliance Officer Supervisors' observations, Staff #1 (DOE 12/6/2023) fingerprint clearance card expired on 5/15/2024. The staff's fingerprint clearance card had not been renewed as of 1/8/2025.”