Wee Rascals Preschool

AAC R9-5-404.C.3. C. A licensee shall ensure that when there are: 3. Six or more enrolled children are present in a facility, an infant is not placed for supervision with a child who is not an infant.

“Findings: Based on staff statements and the Compliance Officers' observations, in Room 4A, there was an infant who was unable to walk placed with a group of one-year-old children. Staff stated the infant "can't walk" and was "already one and transitioning" from the infant room.”

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's observation, upon entering Room 4A, a staff member from Room 4B was observed opening the gate and entering Room 4A. During the staff member's absence from Room 4B the staff-to-children ratio was 1:9 rather than 2:9 for two-year-old children. Previously cited on 09/20/2023.”

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 facility documentation and the Compliance Officers' observations, upon entering the following classrooms, it was determined that the rosters did not reflect the number of children present in the activity area: In the Infant room, the roster indicated 3 children, but there were 2 children present in the room. In the Ones classroom, the roster indicated 8 children, but there were 6 children present in the room. In the Threes classroom, the roster indicated 9 children, but there were 11 children present in the room. Previously cited on 01/12/2024 and 09/20/2023.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.8.c. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall: 8. Provide a crib for each infant that: c. Is furnished with clean, sanitized, crib-size bedding, including a fitted sheet and top sheet or a blanket;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in the Infant room, there were 5 cribs that had loose fitting sheets.”

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 Room 1, there was a package of wipes on a low cubby shelf that was accessible to enrolled children. In Room 4B, there were 7 packages of wipes on a 3-tiered rolling cart by the diaper changing area that was accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.1. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 1. In addition to complying with the requirements in this Chapter, the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child is not placed at risk of harm;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant room, the health, safety, or welfare of an enrolled child was placed at risk of harm. An infant was observed laying in their crib with their pacifier attached to their shirt by a strap.”

AAC R9-5-301.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that a facility director: 1. Designates, in writing, an individual who meets the requirements of R9-5-401(2) to act on behalf of the facility director when the facility director is not present in the facility; 2. Supervises or assigns a child educator to supervise each staff member who does not meet the qualifications of R9-5-401(3); 3. Prepares a dated attendance record for each day and ensures that each staff member documents on the attendance record the time of each arrival and departure of the staff member; and 4. Maintains on the facility premises, the dated attendance record required in subsection (B)(3) for 12 months after the date on the attendance record.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, Staff #1 (start date 04/10/2025) was a child educator in the Infant room at the time of the inspection. Staff #1 was not qualified as a child educator and was not supervised by a qualified staff member.”

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: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, Staff #1 (start date 04/10/2025) was acting in the capacity of a child educator in the Infant room. It was determined that Staff #1 was not qualified as a child educator because the staff file lacked documentation of 6 months of childcare experience working with enrolled children five years old and younger.”

AAC R9-5-208.F. F. A licensee shall not implement any change described under subsection (B) until the Department issues an approval or amended license.

“Findings: Based on the Licensee's statements and the Compliance Officer's observation, in Room 1, a wall was removed and a diaper changing area was added. In Room 2, a diaper changing area was added. The Licensee stated those changes were made sometime during the year. The licensee failed to submit a modification request to remove the wall and add the diaper changing areas prior to use as required.”

AAC R9-5-203.A. A. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member completes, signs, dates, and submits to the licensee, before the staff member’s starting date of employment or volunteer service:1. The form required in A.R.S. § 36-883.02(C); and 2. If required by A.R.S. § 8-804, the form in A.R.S. § 8-804(I).

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the file for Staff #2 (start date 01/09/2024) lacked a DCS Central Registry Clearance Form (dated 01/11/2024) that was completed prior to the staff member's start date as required. Refer to R9-5-203.G, form submittal. The file for Staff #3 (start date 01/25/2024) lacked a DCS Central Registry Clearance Form (dated 01/26/2024) that was completed prior to the staff member's start date as required. Refer to R9-5-203.G, form submittal.”

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: Based on the Compliance Officer's observations, in Room 4 A (Ones) the temperature of the refrigerator was 50° F rather than 41° F or below as required.”

ARS § 36-883.02.C. C. Applicants, licensees and child care personnel shall attest on forms that are provided by the department that:1. They are not awaiting trial on or have never been convicted of or admitted in open court or pursuant to a plea agreement committing any of the offenses listed in section 41-1758.07, subsection B in this state or similar offenses in another state or jurisdiction. 2. They are not parents or guardians of a child adjudicated to be a dependent child as defined in section 8-201. 3. They have not been denied or had revoked a certificate to operate a child care group home or a license to operate a child care facility in this or any other state or that they have not been denied or had revoked a certification to work in a child care facility or child care group home.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the Criminal History Affidavit for Staff #1 (start date 01/09/2024) lacked the facility name and address or the CDC number of the location.”

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 facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, it was determined that Staff #2's start date was on 01/09/2024 and the Fingerprint Clearance Card was issued on 01/19/2024. Staff #3's start date was on 01/25/2024 and the Fingerprint Clearance Card was issued on 01/29/2024. Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observations, it was determined Staff #2's start date was on 01/09/2024 and the Criminal History Affidavit was completed on 01/11/2024. Staff #3's start date was on 01/25/2024 and the Criminal History Affidavit was completed on 02/08/2024.”

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 the Compliance Officer's observations, in Room 4 A (ones), the temperature of the freezer was at 10° F rather than 0° F or below as required.”

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, in Room 4 A (Ones) there were 3 paint cups and 2 paint brushes in the diaper changing areas sink.”

AAC R9-5-502.A.5.b. A. A licensee providing child care services for infants shall:5. Develop, document, and implement tummy time policies and procedures that: b. Ensure a staff member who is supervising a non-crawling infant while the infant is flat on their stomach and on the floor: i. Is within reach of the infant; ii. Does not perform any other duties while supervising the infant; iii. Does not allow the use of pillows, comforters, sheepskins, stuffed toys, or other soft products in the same floor space as the infant; and iv. Does not allow any product specified in subsection (A)(5)(b)(iii) to be within reach of the infant;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in the Infant room, a staff member was sitting next to a non-crawling infant that was flat on their stomach on the floor. The staff member left the infant alone, still on their stomach, to attend to another child. At this time, the Compliance Officer reviewed the tummy-time guidelines with the staff member, and the staff member sat back down with the child. As the Compliance Officer was leaving the Infant room, the staff member got up and stepped away, leaving the child unattended on their stomach.”

AAC R9-5-501.C.9. C. 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 observation, in Room 4 B (Ones) a tube of diaper ointment was on the floor next to a shelf and accessible to enrolled children. In Room 1 (Twos) wipes were placed on a low shelf and accessible to enrolled children.”

AAC R9-5-501.A.2. A. A licensee shall ensure that: 2. Except for an enrolled school-age child, drinking water is provided sufficient for the needs of and accessible to each enrolled child in both indoor and outdoor activity areas;

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, in Room 2 (Threes), a pitcher of drinking water was located on a high shelf without cups and was inaccessible to the enrolled children. Previously cited on 09/20/2023”

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 teacher-caregiver 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 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: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that staff #1 (start date 01/09/2024) was a teacher-caregiver. Staff #1 was not qualified as a teacher-caregiver because the staff file lacked documentation of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma.”

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 facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the Licensee lacked a current violation-free fire inspection report as required. The inspection on file expired in 08/2024.”

AAC R9-5-306.A. A. A licensee shall maintain a dated attendance form containing an enrolled child’s name with the time of each admission and release of the enrolled child. 1. Except as provided in subsection (A)(2), a licensee shall ensure that the attendance form is signed with at least a first initial of an individual’s first name and the individual’s last name by each enrolled child’s parent or individual designated by the enrolled child’s parent, each time the enrolled child is admitted or released. 2. An electronic fingerprint verification or an electronic signature may be used in place of a signature of the enrolled child’s parent or designated individual to admit or release the enrolled child. 3. If an electronic signature is used to admit or release the enrolled child, the licensee shall 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; 4. A licensee shall 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. 5. A licensee shall 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. a. The licensee shall verify the telephone authorization using a means of verification that has been agreed upon between the licensee and the enrolled child’s parent at the time of enrollment. b. The licensee shall document the means of verification in subsection (A)(5)(a) on the enrolled child’s Emergency, Information, and Immunization Record card. 6. A licensee shall 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. 7. A licensee shall 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 observation, it was determined that 6 out of 20 enrolled children's attendance forms lacked the following information: Child #1 and Child #2: The arrival and departure signature was the first name only for 09/16/2024, 09/17/2024, and 09/18/2024. Child #3, Child #4, Child #5, and Child #6: A release signature and time for 09/18/2024.”

AAC R9-5-303.B. B. A licensee shall ensure that the licensed capacity of each indoor activity area or room is posted in that activity area or room.

“Findings: Based on the Compliance Officer's observation, Classroom 4B lacked a posted capacity.”

AAC R9-5-301.F. F. A licensee shall ensure that a staff member submits, on or before the starting date of employment or volunteer services, one of the following as evidence of freedom from infectious active tuberculosis: 1. Documentation of a negative Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, administered within 12 months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service, that includes the date and the type of tuberculosis screening test; or 2. If the staff member has had a positive Mantoux skin test or other tuberculosis screening test, a written statement that the staff member is free from infectious active tuberculosis that is signed and dated by a health care provider within six months before the starting date of employment or volunteer service.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and the Compliance Officer's observation, it was determined that the Mantoux skin test for Staff #1 (start date 01/09/2024) was read on 01/12/2024 and Staff #2 (start date 01/09/2024) was read on 01/13/2024, rather than on or before the starting date of employment as required.”

AAC R9-5-203.E. E. If a staff member possesses a fingerprint clearance card that was issued before the staff member became a staff member at the facility, a licensee shall:1. Contact the Department of Public Safety before the individual becomes a staff member to determine whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid; and 2. Document this determination, including the name of the staff member, the date of contact with the Department of Public Safety, and whether the fingerprint clearance card is valid.

“Findings: Based on facility documentation and Compliance Officer's observation, the Fingerprint Clearance Card for Staff #1 (Start Date 01/09/2024) was issued prior to the staff member's start date (issued 08/17/2023). The fingerprint clearance card was not verified to be valid by the licensee until 01/22/2024, after the staff member's start date, rather than prior to as required. The fingerprint clearance card was verified to be valid through the DPS website at the time of the inspection.”

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 facility documentation and Compliance Officer #2's observation, upon arrival in Room 5 (threes) the roster indicated 23 children, but there were 22 enrolled children present in the room.”