Richmond Hill Montessori Preschool

Rule .26(6) - Equipment-outdoor: (6) Equipment. Playground equipment shall provide an opportunity for the children to engage in a variety of experiences and shall be age-appropriate. For example, toddlers shall not be permitted to swing in swings designed for School-age Children. The outdoor equipment shall be free of lead-based paint, sharp corners and shall be regularly maintained in such a way as to be free of rust and splinters that could pose significant safety hazard to the children. All equipment shall be arranged so as not to obstruct supervision of children.

Rule .26(4) - Fence-playground: Fence or Approved Barriers. Playgrounds shall be protected from traffic or other hazards by a four (4) foot or higher secure fence or other barrier approved by this Department. Fencing material shall not present a hazard to children and shall be maintained so as to prevent children from leaving the playground area by any means other than through an approved access route. Fence gates shall be kept closed except when persons are entering or exiting the area.

Rule .10(4) - Diaper Changing surface: (4) If diapers are changed on a diaper changing surface, the surface shall be smooth, nonporous, and equipped with a guard or rails to prevent falls. Between each diaper change, the diaper changing surface shall be cleaned with a disinfectant and dried with a single-use disposable towel.

Rule .09(1)(l)3. - New Comprehensive Records Check Determination required: 3. At least once every five years; and

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.

Rule .30(2)(c) - Sleep in safety-approved cribs: (c) Infants shall not sleep in equipment other than safety-approved cribs, such as, but not limited to, a car safety seat, bouncy seat, highchair, or swing. Infants who arrive at the Center asleep or fall asleep in such equipment, on the floor or elsewhere, shall be transferred to a safety-approved crib.

Rule .26(9) - Playground-Safe/Clean: (9) Safety and Upkeep of Playground. Playgrounds shall be kept clean, free from litter and free of hazards, such as but not limited to rocks, exposed tree roots and exposed sharp edges of concrete.

Rule .17(2) - Clean, Dry, Comfortable: (2) Children's Hygiene. To the extent possible, Personnel shall keep children clean, dry and comfortable.

Rule .17(2) - Clean, Dry, Comfortable: (2) Children's Hygiene. To the extent possible, Personnel shall keep children clean, dry and comfortable.

Rule .36(7)(c) - Passenger Transportation Checklists: (c) Passenger Transportation Checklists. A passenger transportation checklist, provided by or in a format approved by the Department, shall be used to account for each child during transportation. A separate passenger checklist shall be used for each vehicle.

Rule .36(6) - Parental Authorization: (6) Parental Authorization. For routine transportation provided by the Center or on behalf of the Center, the child's Parent(s) must provide written authorization for the transportation and specify routine pick-up location, routine pick-up time, routine delivery location, routine delivery time and the name of any person authorized to receive the child.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight: (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .36(4)(a) - Vehicle Safety Check: (4)(a) Vehicle Safety. Vehicles used for transporting children shall be maintained as follows: Annual Safety Check. Each vehicle shall have a satisfactory annual safety check, completed by a trained individual, of at least: tires, headlights, horn, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, brakes, suspension, exhaust system, steering, windows, windshields and windshield wipers. A copy of a standard inspection report used by the Department or an equivalent shall be kept in the Center or on the vehicle and should include evidence of any repairs and/or replacements that were identified as needed on the inspection report.

Rule .33(3) - Staff Training-Health and Safety Orientation

Rule .33(1) - Orientation-Employee: (1) Center Orientation. Prior to assignment to children or task, all Employees (i.e., volunteers, students-in-training, independent contractors, etc.) and Provisional Employees must receive initial Center orientation.

Rule .32(7) - Supervision-Watchful Oversight: (7) Supervision. Children shall be supervised at all times appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. Such supervision must include, but not be limited to, indoor and outdoor activities, mealtimes, naptime, transportation, field trips, and transitions between activities. "Supervision" means that the appropriate number of Staff members are physically present in the area where children are being cared for and are providing watchful oversight to the children, volunteers and Students-in-Training. The persons supervising in the child care area must be alert, positioned to maximize their ability to hear and see the children at all times, and able to respond promptly to the needs and actions of the children being supervised, as well as the actions of the volunteers and Students-in-Training, and provide timely attention to the children's actions and needs. Staff shall be attentive and participating with all children during mealtimes and shall be seated within an arm’s length away from children thirty-six (36) months of age and younger.

Rule .32(2) - Mixed-ages groups/cap. of 19+: (2) Mixed-Age Groups for Centers with a licensed capacity of 19 or more children. The Staff:child ratios for a mixed-age group shall be based on the age of the youngest group of children that includes more than twenty (20%) of the total number of children in the mixed-age group .

Rule .32(1) - Ratios: (1) A center must establish groupings of children for care and maintain staff:child ratios as follows: Ages of Children Staff:Child Ratio* Maximum Group Size** Infants less than one (1) year old or children under eighteen (18) months who are not walking 1:6 12 One (1) year olds who are walking 1:8 16 Two (2) year olds 1:10 20 Three (3) year olds 1:15 30 Four (4) year olds 1:18 36 Five (5) year olds 1:20 40 Six (6) years and older 1:25 50 * Staff, such as the director or service workers (food, maintenance and clerical staff, etc.), shall be counted in the staff:child ratio only during the time that they are giving full attention to the direct supervision of the children. Service staff routinely acting as child care workers shall meet the qualifications of the respective caregivers. ** Maximum group size does not apply to outdoor play on the playground routinely used by the center or for special activities in the center lasting no more than two (2) hours. However, required staff:child ratios must be maintained.

Rule .31(13) - Applicable Laws and Regulations: (13) Compliance with Applicable Laws and Regulations. Center Staff shall not commit any criminal act, as defined under Georgia law, in the presence of any child enrolled in the Center. Center staff shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Rule .30(4) - Cots and Mats Storage: (4) Storage. If cots and mats are stored in the children's activity room or area, they shall be stored to prevent children's access to them and to allow maximum use of play space. When storage is available and used for the storage of cots and mats that allows the cots, mats and any bedding to be stored without touching any other cots, mats or bedding, the bedding may be left on the cot or mat. When such storage is not available for the cots and mats, each child’s bedding shall be kept separate from other children’s bedding and stored in containers marked for individual use, such as, but not limited to, bins, cubbies, or bags.

Rule .25(3) - Clean, free of debris, good repair: (3) Cleanliness. The Center and surrounding premises shall be kept clean, free of debris and in good repair. Hygienic measures such as, but not limited to, screened windows and proper waste disposal procedures shall be utilized to minimize the presence of rodents, flies, roaches and other vermin at the Center.

Rule .25(13) - Indoor Storage-Hazards: (13) Indoor Storage Areas. Potentially hazardous equipment, materials and supplies shall be stored in a locked area inaccessible to children. Examples of items to be stored include non-food related products under pressure in aerosol dispensing cans, flammable and corrosive materials, cleaning supplies, poisons, insecticides, office supplies and industrial-sized or commercial buckets with a capacity of three gallons or more or any other similar device with rigid sides which would not tip over if a toddler fell into the container head first.

Rule .24(1) - Personnel Records: (1) A Center must maintain a personnel file on the Director, all Employees, Provisional Employees, Personnel, Staff, Students-in-Training, Volunteers, Clerical, Housekeeping, Maintenance, and other Support Staff for the duration of the term of employment plus one calendar year, and it shall contain the following: identifying information to include: name, date of birth, social security number, current address and current telephone number; employment history; as applicable to the position held: evidence of education and qualifying work experience; evidence of all training required by these rules which shall include: title of training, date of training, trainer's signature, location of training and number of clock hours obtained; a statement completed by the staff member that the information provided is true and accurate; any other records required by these rules; and, as applicable to the position held, evidence of required orientation including date and signature of person providing the orientation;

Rule .20(4) - Medication-Storage: (4) Storage. Medications shall be kept in a storage cabinet or container which is locked or otherwise not accessible to the children and shall be stored separate from cleaning chemicals, supplies or poisons. Medications requiring refrigeration shall be placed in a leak-proof container in a refrigerator that is not accessible to the children.

Rule .20(2) - Dispensing medication: (2) Dispensing Medication. Written authorization to dispense medications shall be limited to two (2) weeks unless otherwise prescribed by a physician or authorized under Georgia law. Medication shall only be dispensed out of its original container which must be labeled with the child's name or as authorized under Georgia law.

Rule .20(1) - Medication-Parental Authorization: (1) Parental Authorization. Except for first aid, or as authorized under Georgia law, Personnel shall not dispense prescription or non-prescription medications to a child without specific written authorization from the child's physician or parent. Such authorization will include when applicable, date; full name of the child; name of the medication; prescription number, if any; dosage; the dates to be given; the time of day to be dispensed; and signature of parent.

Rule .17(8) - Handwashing-Staff: (8) Handwashing, Staff. Personnel shall wash their hands with liquid soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for the day, when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after diapering each child, dispensing medication, applying topical medications, ointments, creams or lotions, handling and preparing food, eating, drinking, preparing bottles, feeding each child, and assisting children with eating and drinking; after toileting or assisting children with toileting, using tobacco products, handling garbage and organic waste, touching animals or pets, and handling bodily fluids, such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .17(7) - Handwashing-Children: (7) Handwashing, Children. Children's hands shall be washed with soap and warm running water: immediately upon arrival for care; when moving from one child care group to another, and upon re-entering the child care area after outside play; before and after eating meals and snacks, handling or touching food, or playing in water; after toileting and diapering, playing in sand, touching animals or pets, and contact with bodily fluids such as, but not limited to, mucus, saliva, vomit or blood; and after contamination by any other means.

Rule .15(6)(b) - Serving food on plates/bowls and in cups: (b) Food and beverages shall be served in individual plates or bowls and with individual glasses or cups.

Rule .15(2) - Infant Feeding Plan: (2) Feeding of Infants and Children. A signed written feeding plan for children less than one (1) year of age shall be obtained from Parent(s). Instructions from the Parent(s) shall be updated regularly as new foods are added or other dietary changes are made. The feeding plan shall be posted in the child's assigned room and must include the child's feeding schedule, the amount of formula or breast milk to be given, instructions for the introduction of solid foods, the amount of food to be given and notation of any type(s) of commercially premixed formula which may not be used in an emergency because of food allergies.

Rule .14(1)(a) - First aid/CPR-Vehicle: (a) All Staff who provide direct care to children must obtain certification in a biennial training program in pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and a triennial training program in pediatric first aid within the first 45 days of employment. Current and valid evidence of the successful completion of such training shall be maintained on the Center’s premises. The hours obtained completing this certification will not count towards the required annual training hours.

Rule .12(2) - Equipment/Furniture-not hazardous/clean: (2) Equipment and Furniture. Equipment and furniture shall be free from hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, sharp rough edges or toxic paint and shall be kept clean.

Rule .10(4) - Diaper Changing surface: (4) If diapers are changed on a diaper changing surface, the surface shall be smooth, nonporous, and equipped with a guard or rails to prevent falls. Between each diaper change, the diaper changing surface shall be cleaned with a disinfectant and dried with a single-use disposable towel.

Rule .07(2) - Parental Notification of Incident/Illness/injury: (2) Parental Notification. Parents must be notified of a child's incidents, illnesses or injuriesy as follows: Immediately notify Parent(s) and obtain specific instructions until child can be picked up or returned to group. • When professional medical attention is required, or • When child experiences symptoms of moderate discomfort such as elevated temperature, vomiting or diarrhea., or When child is involved in an incident that puts their health and/or safety at risk (e.g., missing from program, left on vehicle, escaped from building/playground, etc.) Notify Parent(s) by the end of the day. • When professional medical attention is not required, or • When child experiences symptoms of less than moderate discomfort, or • When child experiences an adverse reaction to prescribed medication which does not constitute moderate discomfort.

Rule .19(1) - License capacity-35 square feet: (1) Usable Space Per Child. A Center's License capacity is based upon its size. A Center must have thirty-five (35) square feet of usable space per child. Kitchens, bathrooms, closets, halls, storage areas or rooms, offices, rooms designated for Staff use, other single use areas and space occupied by adult size furniture shall be excluded in determining usable space.

Rule .09(1)(l)3. - New Comprehensive Records Check Determination required: 3. At least once every five years; and

Rule .09(1)(c) - Employee - satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination: (1)(c) A Center must ensure that every Employee has a valid and current satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination on file prior to being present at the Center while any child is present for care or before an individual age 17 or older resides in the Center. The Comprehensive Records Check Determination must have a Records Check Clearance Date that is no older than the preceding 12 months of the hire date; provided, however, if the Employee has had a lapse of employment from the child care industry that lasted for 180 days (6 months) or longer, a new satisfactory Comprehensive Records Check Determination is required.