PJs Childcare Center

Regulation 5.1.2: General Health Examinations: Within forty-five (45) days of enrollment, the licensee shall obtain documentation of the child's age appropriate well care exam from the parent. Documentation shall include information regarding any health conditions and medications that may impact the care of the child.

“The children's files were audited, and the required well-care exam was missing for four (4) children who have been in care for more than 45 days. Corrective Action: By 3/24/2026 collect well-care exams for all children and create a system that supports receiving well-care exams within the required forty-five (45) days. Submit confirmation to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 6, 2026

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.

“A review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account, a review of staff files and confirmation from Northern Lights, and time for the program to submit training certificates, it was determined that; one (1) staff had an expired First Aid and CPR certificate, and one (1) staff did not complete the First Aid and CPR course within their three (3) months of hire. Corrective Action: By 3/24/2026, have the two staff members complete their CPR and First Aid course and submit the certificate to Northern Lights through Direct Send and send confirmation of completion to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 6, 2026

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.

“There are three (3) staff members listed on the associated parties list who have worked in the program and do not have fingerprint results. One staff member has had fingerprints several times completed, but the program has not followed up with the next steps with how to move forward. This staff received their fingerprint letter on 7/23/24, The second staff received their fingerprint letter on 4/20/25, the program did not have a receipt confirming fingerprints were completed. The third staff received the fingerprint letter on 10/30/25 but did not complete their fingerprints until 1/29/26, which is past the required timeline to complete the fingerprint process when working in the program. Corrective Action: Immediately contact the Business Technician to follow through with the three (3) staff's fingerprint results. By 3/24/2026, submit a program improvement plan with how newly hired staff will complete their fingerprints in a timely manner and how the program will follow through after 60 days without hearing from the Child Development Division.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 6, 2026

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“A review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account, the staff file and time given to the program to submit the training certificate, they were unable to provide the certificate that shows completion of the Protecting Vermont's Children, Mandated Reporter training for one (1) staff member who has been working in the program since 10/21/2025. Another staff member did not have a name on their certificate for this required training. Corrective Action: By 3/24/2026, complete the Protecting Vermont's Children Mandated Reporter Training and submit the training certificate through Direct Send in Northern Lights and submit confirmation to Licensor [name].”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 24, 2026

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.

“A review of staff files, their BFIS Quality and Credential account and the program was unable to provide the certificate to show the completion of the VT Orientation for two (2) staff members. Corrective Action: By 3/24/2026, submit the VT Orientation certificate for the two (2) staff members to Northern Lights through Direct Send and submit the confirmation to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 24, 2026

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“A review of staff's BFIS quality and credential accounts, review of the staff schedule and director's statement concluded that the program does not have qualified staff leading the infant classroom and the two's classroom 75% of the hours of operation. The staff who have been working as lead teachers do not meet the emergency rule for 7.3.2.2, teacher associate expedited variance from the Division in October of 2021. Corrective Action: By 3/27/2026, submit a program improvement plan on how the program will assign a qualified teacher(s) or teacher associate(s) to lead the three classrooms 75% of the day. The program improvement plan shall include A. The steps the program will take to ensure each classroom is led by a staff member who qualify as teacher associates. B. Include the plan of any current staff member who is taking courses to meet compliance with teacher associate qualification which will include the date they will meet compliance with this rule. C. The plan shall also include how the program will maintain compliance of this rule should any qualified staff member who is leading a group of children leave the program in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 20, 2026

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.

“A review of the staff's individual BFIS Quality and Credential account, a review of Northern Lights to find missing documentation, it was determined that five (5) staff have not submitted their current CPR and First Aid certificates. thier education documents and required training certificates to Northern Lights to be uploaded into their BFIS Quality and Credential account. These staff have been employed for longer than six (6) months. Corrective Action: By 3/24/2026, all staff must submit the missing training certificates to Northern Lights at CCV through Direct Send and submit the confirmation e-mail to this Licensor once completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 30, 2026

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The required annual immunization survey was not submitted to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 12/31/25. Initial notification of this requirement was sent the beginning of November, with reminders provided weekly, then daily, closer to the due date. Corrective Action: You must submit the past due 2025 annual immunization survey to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 1/14/26. Failure to submit this survey will result in further regulatory action. Additionally, submit a statement to Kristy.Haapala@vermont.gov indicating who will be responsible for submitting this survey in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 27, 2026

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.

“A review of staff's BFIS quality and credential account and verbal confirmation from one (1) staff member that they had not renewed their CPR and First Aid certificate prior to the expiration date. The CPR and First Aid certificate expired on 11/29/2024. A second staff member had not completed their CPR and First Aid certificate and has been working in the program longer than three (3) months. Corrective Action: By 5/9/2025 the two (2) staff members complete their CPR and First Aid course and submit the training certificates to Northern Lights with the required cover sheet and include this Licensor in the e-mail.”

Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2025

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“The Director's statements and a review of the staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account concluded that the program does not have qualified staff leading the older toddler classroom and the preschool classroom for over a thirty (30) day period. Corrective Action: By 5/13/2025 submit a program improvement plan on how the program will assign lead teachers who meet teacher associate qualifications to lead the preschool classroom and the two-year-old classroom. In the improvement plan, it shall include 1. What current staff members who are taking courses that could qualify as teacher associates, lead teachers with a date of when they would be qualified, 2. How the program will use new strategies to advertise for lead teachers and, 3. How the program will maintain compliance with this rule if staff leave the program in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: May 13, 2025

Regulation 6.2.6.6: The program director shall ensure that no person be left alone with children without approval from the Division based on the results of a background check that includes fingerprinting; with the exception of a parent may be left alone with his/her own child(ren).

“A new staff member was working alone in the infant classroom during this licensing visit. The program received a letter stating the new staff member is required to complete the fingerprint process which includes results prior to being alone with children. Corrective Action: Immediately do not leave staff alone with children who have not completed the record check process which includes results of their fingerprints. By 5/13/2025, submit a program improvement plan which will include the new plan which will prevent new staff to be alone with children. Include in the program improvement plan the staff schedule that will be used to capture all staff's schedule and times they work in each classroom.”

Correction date in the state record: May 13, 2025

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

“A staff member moved a child away from the gate by pulling on the child's arm, causing the elbow to become dislocated. Different staff members had shared incidents with how this staff was treating children with the director prior to this incident. Corrective Action: By 11/14/2024, submit a program improvement plan with how the director will address issues that are brought to their attention in a timely manner. The program improvement plan shall address, 1. How you will formally address concerns with the staff person, 2. Create a training plan that can be used with staff to address concerns, 3. Identify a mentoring plan that can be used with staff to address concerns brought forth and 4. How you will schedule time to do direct observation of the staff person for follow up and to discuss feedback with this staff.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 7, 2024

Regulation 5.10.3.2.1: All outdoor play equipment shall be sturdy, safe, clean and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters, and exposed bolts. To prevent entrapment, no openings in equipment shall be between 3.5 and nine (9) inches. Chains on swings shall have protective coverings and swing seats shall be made of soft materials with no sharp edges.

“The infant/toddler playground had a small trampoline that had a broken handle and the material was weathered. The children were jumping on this trampoline during this licensing visit. Corrective Action: Immediately remove the broken trampoline from the playground and train the staff on reviewing the play equipment prior to children using it.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2024

Regulation 5.2.3.5: The hand washing sink used for toileting and diapering shall be conveniently located near the toileting and diapering areas. This sink shall not be used for food preparation and shall meet requirements in the rule 5.2.1.5 of these regulations.

“The diaper changing table in the preschool classroom is not conveniently located to a hand washing sink, meaning children and teachers need to leave the classroom and walk through a dining room to wash hands. This rule was discussed during other licensing visits, dated 9/19/2023 and 1/5/2024. A sink was not installed or the diaper changing area moved prior to this licensing visit. Corrective Action: Immediately move the diaper changing table or add a hand washing sink. By 4/30/2024 submit a photo to this Licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 29, 2024

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.

“After a review of individual BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and a review of staff files, it was determined five (5) staff were missing qualifications and the required training certificate. The five (5) staff have worked longer than six (6) months. Corrective Action: By 4/30/2024, review staff's BFIS Quality and Credential account, then submit the missing required training certificates and credentials to Northern Lights with the required cover sheet. Include this Licensor on the e-mail to Northern Lights.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 6, 2024

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“The Licensees' statements and a review of staff's BFIS Quality and Credential accounts concluded that program does not have qualified staff leading the young toddler classroom and the preschool/school age classrooms 75% of the hours of operation. The two (2) staff do not meet the emergency rule for 7.3.2.2, teacher associate expedited from the Division in October of 2021. Corrective Action: By 4/28/2023, submit a program improvement plan on how the program will assign a qualified teacher(s) or teacher associate(s) to lead the young toddler group and the preschool/ school age group of children 75% of the day. The program improvement plan shall include A. The steps the program will take to ensure each classroom is led by a staff member who qualify as teacher associates. B. Include the plan of any current staff member who is taking courses to meet compliance with teacher associate qualification which will include the date they will meet compliance with this rule. C. The plan shall also include how the program will maintain compliance of this rule should any qualified staff member who is leading a group of children leave the program in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: May 21, 2023

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.

“It was determined that Staff A did not complete fifteen (15) hours of annual professional development and Staff B completed only two (2) hours of the fifteen (15) hours of the required annual professional development. Corrective Action: Ensure Staff A and Staff B complete the hours of annual professional development that were not obtained during the previous annual period in addition to the current annual period. Develop a system to ensure that all staff complete the required annual professional development hours.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 26, 2022

Regulation 4.4.2: Staff shall encourage and facilitate two-way communication between the CBCCPP and parents. Staff shall communicate regularly to parents about CBCCPP activities and program policies, community resources, and shall allow many opportunities for parents to provide information, identify preferences, ask questions, and share concerns.

“An incident was reported by staff to management staff that staff Y roughly put a child down and yelled at this child to stop crying. This incident was not reported to the parent. Corrective Action: Effective immediately report this incident to the parent of this child. By 8/11/2021 submit a program improvement plan on how all staff will be trained on reporting incidents to parents and how the management team will reconfigure responsibilities with the line of communication, so all parents are informed about their child.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 6, 2021

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.

“Two staff members witnessed staff Y putting a child down roughly and yelled at the child to stop crying. Staff C noticed staff Y was having physical and mental health issues prior to the incident and left staff Y alone to manage a classroom. Corrective Action: Effective immediately instruct staff to use developmentally appropriate expectations of children's behavior. By 8/11/2021 review and modify the programs guidance and behavior management practices and policies. Make changes that will support and encourage positive interactions between staff and children. Submit a program improvement plan to this Licensor with the changes and include how staff will be trained on positive guidance for children.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 6, 2021

Regulation 6.2.8.4.2: In the event that the concerns cannot be resolved, written notice to the child's parent(s) is required with at least five (5) days' notice prior to expulsion.

“The program issued a five-day termination letter with the date July 2, 2019. The letter was given to the parent on July 6, 2021, with the expulsion date of July 9, 2021, which gave the parent three (3) days to find alternative care for their child. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, ensure compliance by giving the family the required 5 day notice to ensure alternative care can be found for the child.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 6, 2021

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

“Three staff witnessed staff Y yell at a young child to stop crying, yell at another child to stop being so annoying, and two staff witnessed staff Y roughly put a young child down. Corrective Action: Effective immediately speak, touch, and hold children appropriately. By 8/11/2021 submit a program improvement plan on how staff will be retrained on appropriately holding, touching, and speaking to children.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 6, 2021