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Compliance Inspector (CI) Jessica Ibbotson conducted an investigation regarding the allegation that staff/child ratios were not maintained. After conducting the investigation, CI Ibbotson finds this allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A) which states: "Birth Through Two (2) Years. Groups composed of mixed ages through two (2) years shall have no less than one (1) adult to four (4) children, with no more than eight (8) children in a group;"
On August 22, 2023, CI Ibbotson interviewed Managing Member McCant, Director Reese, Caregiver Mays and Caregiver Jenkins. Managing Member McCant and Director Reese stated that they were unaware that the infant and toddler classrooms were licensed as two separate rooms within each room and that children and staff could not go back and forth without changing staff/child ratios. Managing Member McCant stated that she would have a conversation with the staff to make sure they understood staff/child ratios in the infant and toddler classrooms moving forward. .
Even though Caregiver Mays and Caregiver Jenkins stated that there were never more than 16 children total in the Purple Room with less than two caregivers. The purple room is the 2-year-old classroom. CI Ibbotson conducted a walkthrough of the facility to document staff and child attendance and observed Caregiver Cynthia Sasser with five children, ages 6-months-old to 10-months-old, Caregiver Aysia Williams with five children, ages 18-months-old to 23-months-old and Caregiver Shawna Gant with five children, ages 12-months-old to 13-months-old.
On August 31, 2023, CI Ibbotson conducted an unannounced reinspection and interviewed Director Reese who stated that she and Managing Member McCant had communicated with all staff regarding staff/child ratios, specifically in the infant and toddler classrooms. She stated that there had been no staff/child ratio concerns since.
CI Ibbotson conducted a walkthrough of the facility to document staff and child attendance and did not observe any violations.
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