New Horizon Little Learners

AAC R9-5-504.A.9.a. A. A licensee providing child care services for 1-year-old and 2-year-old children shall: 9. Ensure that: a. If finger food is served, the food is of a size and texture that does not present a choking hazard;

“Per allegation findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and information provided by the staff at the time of the inspection, it was determined that the children in the 1's classroom were served whole green grapes approximately 1" in length.”

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

“Per allegation findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and information provided by staff during the inspection, it was determined that the children in the 1-year-old classroom were given latex balloons to play with. Staff stated that a parent had brought in the balloons for the children. The children were observed putting the balloons in their mouths, creating a choking hazard.”

AAC R9-5-508.G. G. In addition to the required daily servings of food stated in subsection (C), a licensee: 1. Shall make second servings of food available to each enrolled child at meals and at snack time, 2. May substitute a food that is equivalent to a specific food component if second servings of the specific food component are not available, and 3. Shall ensure that a food substitution in subsection (G)(2) is written on the posted weekly menu by the end of the meal or snack service.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the food substitution for lunch on 11/5/2025 was not indicated on the menu. The menu listed pasta with meatballs, but the children were served pizza instead.”

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, it was determined that the fall zone around the small slide on the 2's playground lacked 6" of the required 6" of resilient surfacing.”

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, it was determined that there was a 5.5" gap between the ground and the base of the concrete wall on the southwest corner of the pre-school playground.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.16. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 16. The fire extinguisher required in subsection (A): a. Is serviced at least once every 12 months; and b. Has a tag attached to the fire extinguisher that specifies the date of the last servicing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the fire extinguisher in the hallway was not tagged.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 1. A nonabsorbent, sanitizable diaper changing surface that is: a. Seamless and smooth, and b. Kept clear of items not required for diaper changing;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that there was a pen on the diaper changing surface in 2’s classroom.”

AAC R9-5-502.C.3.a. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 3. When preparing, using, or caring for an infant's feeding bottles, a staff member: a. Labels each bottle received from the parent with the infant's name;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that there were 2 unlabeled bottles in the Infant classroom.”

AAC R9-5-403.A. A. Within 10 calendar days of the starting date of employment or volunteer service, a licensee shall provide, and each staff member who provides child care services shall complete, training for new staff members that includes all of the following: 1. Facility philosophy and goals; 2. Names and ages of and developmental expectations for enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 3. Health needs, nutritional requirements, any known allergies, and information about adaptive devices of enrolled children for whom the staff member will provide child care services; 4. Lesson plans; 5. Child guidance and methods of positive discipline, including separation; 6. Hand washing techniques; 7. Diapering techniques and toileting, if assigned to diaper changing duties; 8. Food preparation, service, sanitation, and storage, if assigned to food preparation; 9. If a staff member is assigned to feeding infants, the preparation, handling, and storage of infant formula and breast milk; 10. Recognition of signs of illness and infestation; 11. Child abuse or neglect detection, prevention, and reporting; 12. Accident and emergency procedures; 13. Staff responsibilities as required by A.R.S. Title 36, Chapter 7.1, Article 1 and this Chapter; 14. Sun safety policies and procedures; 15. Safety in outdoor activity areas; 16. Transportation procedures, if applicable; 17. Field trip procedures, if applicable; 18. Infant tummy time, if applicable; 19. Prevention of sudden infant death syndrome and use of safe sleeping practices, if applicable; and 20. Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, pediatric abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that the files for Staff #1 and Staff #2 lacked documentation of new staff training within 10 days of the start date of employment.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings: 1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that there were brown smudges and a buildup of dirt on the carpets in the 1's classroom and the 3's classroom.”

AAC R9-5-605.B.6. B. A licensee shall ensure that: 6. Except for a room used only for an enrolled school-age child, each unused electrical outlet is covered with a safety plug cover or insert;

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that there was an uncovered outlet in the 2/3's classroom.”

AAC R9-5-512.B. B. A licensee shall maintain facility premises and furnishings:1. In a clean condition, and 2. Free from odor.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that there was algae on the water fountain on the playground.”

AAC R9-5-512.G. G. A licensee may have a sink with running water, soap contained in a dispenser, and single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser or a mechanical air hand dryer located directly outside a toilet room if an enrolled child exiting the toilet room can access the sink, soap, and paper towels or air hand dryer without having to cross space that is used for any activity.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that there were no paper towels in the dispenser in the 2/3’s restroom.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.23. C. A licensee shall ensure that:23. A freezer at the child care facility maintains a temperature of 0° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the freezer at all times; and

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #2's observation, it was determined that the freezer temperature in the kitchen used to store the children's food was 10° F.”

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. A statement, signed by the enrolled child’s 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. A statement, signed by the enrolled child’s parent, that the enrolled child is being raised in a religion whose teachings are in opposition to immunization.

“Findings: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation and review of facility documentation, it was determined that Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, Child #4, Child #5, and Child #6 lacked an immunization record (20 children files were reviewed).”