The Growing Place Preschool

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall: 1. Maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release, and the parent or staff member's signature or other unique identifier. 2. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, adopt policies and procedures to ensure that the individual whose signature the electronic or digital method of identification represents is accountable for the use of the electronic or digital method; 3. Develop, document, and implement policies and procedures to ensure that the identity of an individual is known to the staff member or is verified with picture identification before releasing an enrolled child to the individual. 4. Not release the enrolled child to an individual other than the enrolled child’s parent or other individual designated in writing by the enrolled child’s parent except when the enrolled child’s parent is unable to collect the enrolled child and authorizes the licensee by telephone to release the enrolled child to an individual not so designated. 5. Not permit the self-admission or self-release of an enrolled child unless the enrolled child is of school-age and the licensee has obtained and verified written permission from the enrolled child’s parent. 6. Maintain the attendance form on facility premises for 12 months after the date of attendance.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, 4 of 20 reviewed enrolled children's attendance records lacked the following documentation: Child #1 and Child #2: A time of admission and the parent or staff member signature or other unique identifier for 11/5/2025, 11/6/2025, 11/7/2025, 11/10/2025, 11/12/2025, 11/13/2025, 11/14/2025, 11/19/2025, 11/20/2025, 11/24/2025, and no time of admission or release and parent or staff signature or unique identifier on 11/21/2025. Child #3: A time of admission, release, and a parent or staff signature or unique identifier on 11/12/2025 and 11/13/2025. Child #4: A time of release and parent or staff signature or unique identifier on 11/12/12025, 11/13/2025, 11/21/2025, and a time of admission, release, and a parent or staff signature or unique identifier on 11/17/2025.”

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 observations, in the outdoor activity area, the fall zones under 2 slides of the playground climbing structure, the carousel, the seesaw, and the blue, red, green, and yellow driving equipment lacked 6" of the required resilient surfacing.”

AAC R9-5-501.B.9. B. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member: 9. Does the following when a parent permits or asks a staff member to apply personal products on an enrolled child, such as petroleum jelly, diaper rash ointments, sun screen or sun block preparations, toothpaste, and baby diapering preparations: a. Obtains the enrolled child’s personal products from the enrolled child’s parent or, if the licensee provides the personal products for use by the enrolled child, obtains written approval for use of the products from the enrolled child’s parent; b. Labels the personal products with the enrolled child’s name; and c. Keeps the personal products inaccessible to enrolled children;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the 1s and 2s Room, there were 4 packs of wipes with the children's first names, 1 pack of unlabeled wipes, and 1 unlabeled Aquaphor, rather than being labeled with the children's first and last names as required.”

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 observations, in the 1s and 2s restroom, there was a buildup of grime and brown smudges around the light switch and the door trim.”

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 observations, in the North East corner of the Playground, the front panel of a large plastic storage box was detached, exposing sharp edges. The toys were overflowing, pushing on the front panel, and were not secured in the toy storage box.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.3.4. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 3. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled diapers; and 4. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled clothing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the 1s and 2s Room, the soiled clothing container lacked a liner.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.21. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 21. A refrigerator at the child care facility maintains a temperature of 41° F or below and a freezer maintains a temperature of 0° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the refrigerator and in the freezer at all times;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the 1s and 2s Room, the refrigerator temperature was 55° F, rather than 41° F, and the freezer temperature was 10° F, rather than 0° F or below, as required.”

AAC R9-5-401.4. A licensee shall ensure that staff members meet the following qualifications for employment or volunteer service at a facility:4. An assistant teacher-caregiver is 16 years of age or older and provides the licensee with documentation of one of the following: a. Current and continuous enrollment in high school or a high school equivalency class; b. High school or high school equivalency diploma; c. Enrollment in vocational rehabilitation, as defined in A.R.S. § 23-501; d. Employment as a teacher-caregiver aide for 12 months; or e. Service as a volunteer in a child care facility for 12 months;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer’s observations and facility documentation, 1 of 4 staff files reviewed lacked the following: **Staff #1: Staff did not qualify as an assistant teacher-caregiver because the foreign documentation was not evaluated in the United States as a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.”

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 observations and facility documentation, 1 out of 4 staff files reviewed lacked the required training documentation: **Staff #2: 18 hours of annual training for the time period of 07/19/23-07/19/24.”

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 observations, the following hazards were accessible to enrolled children: **1's/2's Room: There was peeling paint above floor baseboards throughout the room. **Multi-Age Room: There was a hole on the wall 1/2 an inch in diameter on the East wall.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.19. A. A licensee shall ensure that:19. Except as provided in subsection (A)(20), the following are stored separate from food storage areas and are inaccessible to an enrolled child: a. All materials and chemicals labeled as a toxic or flammable substance; b. All substances that have a child warning label and may be a hazard to a child; and c. Lawn mowers, ladders, toilet brushes, plungers, and other facility equipment that may be a hazard to a child;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the following was accessible to enrolled children: **Multi-Age Room: A plunger was on the floor next to the toilet in the 2nd child restroom.”

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 observations, the following areas of the diaper changing table in the 1's/2's room were not maintained in a sanitizable condition: **There were two holes in the middle section of the table. **There were yellow stains of dried liquid. **The base of the table had a buildup of black debris.”

AAC R9-5-512.C. C. A licensee shall ensure that floor coverings are:1. Clean; and 2. Free from: a. Dampness, b. Odors, and c. Hazards.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the 1's/2's room, there was buildup of black debris along the base of floor in the South end of the classroom.”

AAC R9-5-512.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that:1. Each toilet room in a facility contains, within easy reach of enrolled children: a. Mounted toilet tissue; and b. Except as provided in subsection (G): i. A sink with running water; ii. Soap contained in a dispenser; and iii. Disposable, single-use paper towels in a mounted dispenser, or a mechanical air hand dryer; 2. Staff members wash their hands with soap and running water after toileting; 3. An enrolled child’s hands are washed with soap and running water after toileting; 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; 6. A staff member or an enrolled child does not draw water for human consumption from a toilet room handwashing sink; 7. Toys, materials, and equipment are maintained in a clean condition; 8. Plumbing fixtures are maintained in a clean and working condition; and 9. Chipped or cracked sinks and toilets are replaced or repaired.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the paper towel dispenser in the second restroom of the Multi-Age room was not in working condition.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. 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 observations, the following lacked a resilient surface in the outdoor activity area: **The grey rock climbing structure lacked shock-absorbing material. **The colorful play structure with 2 slides lacked a shock-absorbing material. **The giant black tires lacked 4-5 inches of fine loose sand as resilient material.”

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.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations and facility documentation, Staff #3 lacked a valid fingerprint clearance card before their date of employment. (DOE 06/03/24, Issued: 06/17/24)”

AAC R9-5-503.A.4. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains:4. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled clothing.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, the soiled clothing container under the diaper changing table in the 1's/2's room lacked a liner and tight-fitting lid.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.2.a. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 2. A hand-washing sink next to the diaper changing surface for staff use when changing diapers and for washing an enrolled child during or after diapering that provides: a. Running water between 86° F and 110° F, b. Soap from a dispenser, and c. Single-use paper hand towels from a dispenser;

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the 1's-2's room, the temperature of the diaper changing sink was 116° F. rather than 86° F to 110° F. as required.”

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 include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, the following was observed in the 1's-2's room: *the lower wall next to the diaper changing surface had dirt build-up, and the drywall was chipped. *the lower east wall beneath the fire extinguisher had dirt build-up, and food grime.”

AAC R9-5-603.C. C. 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 include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the outdoor activity area, the wooden sensory table and lid was splintery and rough to the touch.”

AAC R9-5-603.E. E. 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 include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the outdoor activity area, the resilient material beneath the rock climber and play structure was non-shock absorbing.”

AAC R9-5-509.C.22. C. A licensee shall ensure that: 22. A refrigerator at the child care facility maintains a temperature of 41° F or below, as shown by a thermometer kept in the refrigerator at all times;

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, the refrigerator in the 1's-2's room lacked a thermometer.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.4. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 4. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled clothing.

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the 1's-2's room, the soiled clothing container lacked a tight-fitting lid. The lid was beneath the clothing container.”

AAC R9-5-503.A.3. A. A licensee shall ensure that each diaper changing area required in R9-5-601(4) contains: 3. At least one waterproof, sanitizable container with a waterproof liner and a tight fitting lid for soiled diapers; and

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the 1's-2's room, the soiled diaper container lacked a tight-fitting lid. The lid was beneath the soiled diaper container.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.9. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 9. If a staff member places an enrolled child in a feeding chair when feeding the enrolled child: a. The feeding chair is constructed to prevent toppling; b. The tray or feeding surface of the feeding chair is smooth and free of cracks; and c. The staff member: i Cleans the feeding chair before and after each enrolled child’s use; ii. Sanitizes the tray or feeding surface before and after each enrolled child’s use; and iii. If the feeding chair was manufactured with a safety strap, fastens the feeding chair’s safety strap while the enrolled child is in the feeding chair;

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the 1's-2's room, the feeding chair's safety strap was stained and dirty.”

AAC R9-5-504.5.d. A licensee providing child care services for 1-year-old and 2-year-old children shall: 5. Ensure that: d. If a parent brings a sippy cup for the parent’s enrolled child, the sippy cup is labeled with the enrolled child’s name.

“Findings include: Based on Compliance Officer #1's observation, in the 1's-2's room, there were 3 unlabeled sippy cups.”