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Preschool and Daycare Discussion
Only one member of staff supervising 6 toddlers at daycare?
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Anonymous
| I picked DD up from her in home daycare today and was surprised to find only one member of staff with 6 kids. The staff member told me that this is allowed per the licensing regulations, and in fact they have a lower kids to staff ratio than the licensing regs call for. There are two members of staff there in the mornings but then one of them leaves after lunch so that when the kids are napping there is only one person looking after them. Does anyone else think this is strange? The other parents must know about this as they pick their kids up in the afternoon, but this was the first time that DD had stayed past lunchtime so I never knew that this was happening. |
Anonymous
| Which state? It makes a difference. |
Anonymous
| This is in DC. |
Anonymous
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Your daycare is out of compliance. There must be 2 people in the room at all times. I am running out the door right now-but you can look up the DC regulations.
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Anonymous
Against DC licensing agreement. Is this place even licensed? |
Anonymous
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Here's some info--in home daycare facilities are licensed with DC's Dept of Health, Child and Residential Care Facilities Division:
http://dchealth.dc.gov/DOH/cwp/view,a,1374,q,577097,dohNav_GID,1806.asp Page summarizing the types of child care facilities: http://dchealth.dc.gov/DOH/cwp/view,a,1374,q,577104,dohNav_GID,1842.asp Page specific to in-home daycare: http://dchealth.dc.gov/DOH/cwp/view,a,1374,q,600309,dohNav_GID,1842.asp |
Anonymous
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It depends on the ages of the children.
From Title 29, Chapter 3 (linked above by a PP): The size of any one (1) group of children shall not exceed that specified in the following chart for each age group: AGE: 2 years to 2 years, 6 months MAXIMUM SIZE OF GROUP: 8 CHILD-ADULT RATIO: 4 to 1 AGE: 2 years, 6 months through 3 years MAXIMUM SIZE OF GROUP: 16 CHILD-ADULT RATIO: 8 to 1 Are all the children over 30 months old? If so, 6 to 1 is okay. If some are under 2 yrs 6 months, then the following applies: 316.3 When children of different ages are placed in one (1) group, the ratio shall be adjusted, subject to the approval of the Mayor, to protect the welfare of the younger children in the group. |
Anonymous
| In my childs daycare (and in other MD schools I checked) it was one adult per six children. This is in the two year age group. |
Anonymous
Your information is correct, but the fact is that there ALWAYS needs to be 2 adults in a room. As hard as it is to believe, even if there is one child there needs to be 2 adults. That is the reason why daycare centers combine groups of children at the beginning and end of the day. |
Anonymous
| I can't imagine there always needs to be 2 people present regardless of how many children there are. Are you sure? I am not in your state but have a home daycare and I am licensed for 8 if all children are over 2, six if I have any under (max of 2 infants) I keep my numbers at 6 over 2 just because I wish too. I don't have any assistants. Personally, I have no problem supervising 6 over 2, I do it all day.................we have a dependable routine so that is the key. |
Anonymous
| Yes, in DC there must be two people in the room at all times. The reason is for the safety of the children and most importantly the safety of the daycare providers. You can challenge this all you want, but in DC that is the way it is. |
Anonymous
| Wow, no I would not challenge as I don't live there and have no knowledge. So, I guess you could not have a small home daycare as I do as I do not have any assistants, just myself. Seems like "home daycares" are more like centers there then with employees? |
Anonymous
| I can confirm the 2 people at all times rule in DC. I just went through licensing and renewal in the past two years - you CAN NOT have the children with only one adult - EVER! |
Anonymous
| I think probably the reason for the 2 adults at all time rule is, what would happen if one of the kids needed emergency care? How would you take him to the hospital, while still taking care of the others? Also, it protects you from unfounded allegations of abuse. |
Anonymous
Sounds like the rules are quite a bit different there-no in home daycare without an assistant. I would not transport a child for emergency care though, I would call our emergency number. I have never had a problem in 8 years, it's much the same as when I raised my own six children so I guess the ratio of 6/1 I have is familiar to to me. Some days it would be nice to have another adult around though  but most of the time things operate very smoothly with our little group. I have long term families also, and a dependable daily schedule so that also helps.
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