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On March 11, 2025, the Office of Childhood received an allegation that there were 12 infant/toddlers present in a room that had a capacity for 7 children. On March 14, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.042(18)., which states: "The number and ages of children a group child care home or child care center is authorized to have in care at any one (1) time shall be specified on the license and shall not be exceeded except as permitted within these rules."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.082(2)(B)2.B.(I)., which states: "For facilities initially licensed for infant/toddler care after the effective date of these rules or facilities adding new infant/toddler space, at least forty-five (45) square feet of usable floor space shall be provided in the facility for each infant and toddler. Space occupied by napping equipment does not have to be deducted from usable floor space;"
AND
5 CSR 25-500.112(1)(A)., which states: "The staff/child ratio and group size shall be followed as outlined in the below chart unless it meets an exception in subparagraphs (1)(B)-(G) below: Infants, toddlers, and 2-year-olds shall have one caregiver for every four children with no more than eight children per group; Groups composed solely of children 24 to 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 3 to 4 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; Groups composed solely of children 5 years or older shall have one caregiver for every 16 children with no more than 32 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of no more than four children age 2 years, and at least one child older than 3 years shall have one caregiver for every 10 children with no more than 20 children per group; A mixed group of children consisting of more than four children ages 24 to 36 months, and at least one child older than 36 months shall have one caregiver for every eight children with no more than 16 children per group."
On March 14, 2025, CI Hughes conducted an in person interview with director, Pamela McCulley. Pamela stated that the center was replacing flooring and needed to put extra children in the Infant/Toddler room licensed for seven children and there could have been a day that there were 12 children in the room. The room had eight children in it on March 14, 2025, that included her two grandchildren ages 2-years-old. Pamela later stated that her two grandchildren that were present on March 14, 2025, were not 2-years-old but were actually ages 15-months-old.
On March 14, 2025, (CI) Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and observed caregiver Margaret Pettis caring for eight children ranging in ages from 6-months-old to 15-months-old by herself in the Infant/Toddler classroom licensed for seven children. Director, Pamela McCulley was around the corner in a different classroom allowing a staff member to retrieve something. She was the second staff member in the Infant/Toddler room. CI Hughes was able to walk into the classroom, count children and walk back out before Pamela returned to the classroom.
CI Hughes conducted a follow up inspection on March 19, 2025, and observed the facility to be in ratio and maintaining group size and following the licensing limitation of no more than seven children under the age of 24 months old.
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