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On October 15, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on October 13, Parent A went to the daycare to drop off Child A (18 months old), and there were two staff with 15 children in the infant/toddler room. Parent A feels that this is mostly occurring between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. during drop off time. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Curtis West finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of a licensing rule violation that occurred at the facility:
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 October 15, 2025, CI West interviewed Parent A (Parent of Child A), who stated she took Child A (18 months old) to the daycare on October 13, 2025. She noticed that the classroom already had 14 children and two caregivers. She spoke with Director Natalie Walgren about her concerns with the ratios.
On October 16, 2025, CI West conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Natalie Walgren, Caregiver Allyson Santo, and Caregiver Chelsea Hunsaker "Conner". Natalie stated that when she arrived at the daycare on October 13, 2025, there were 14 children ages 18 months old to 23 months old in the 1-year-old classroom with two caregivers. Allyson and Conner provided consistent information. They stated that on October 13, 2025, they had 15 children ages 18 months old to 23 months old in one classroom, exceeding the allowed ratio and group size.
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