Berks County Montessori Country Day School

Staff #8, identified as a Group Supervisor, did not have sufficient documentation on file to qualify for the position.

Staff #3 and #4, both identified as Assistant Group Supervisors, did not have sufficient documentation on file to qualify for the position.

Staff #7, identified as an Aide, did not have documentation on file to qualify for the position.

There was not 2 references on file for staff #2, #6, and #7.

Staff #7 did not have 12 hours of training documented for the training year of 12/19/23 to 12/19/24.

During an unannounced inspection on 1/27/25, staff #1 (see code sheet for start date) did not have two written, non-family references on file.

As of the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, the child abuse clearance for staff #2 was a volunteer clearance, and staff #2 is not a volunteer. The FBI clearance for staff #3 was issued 5/24/19, greater than 60 months.

During the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, there was a staff handbag on the counter accessible to children in Room 1 that contained perfume and Chloraseptic lozenges labeled keep out of reach of children. There was a staff handbag on the counter accessible to children in Room 3 that contained eye drops and prescription medication.

During the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, there was no handwashing sign at the sink in the lower level bathroom.

During the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, several areas in the fall zone or exit zone of the embedded play structure measured less than 6" of mulch. A minimum of 9" is required.

As of the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, the health assessment for staff #1 indicated a communicable disease with no further information from the physician. The health assessment for staff #2 did not include an assessment of communicable disease or the physician's assessment of the person's suitability to provide child care.

As of the renewal inspection on 7/24/24, the facility was not retaining a copy of incident reports in the child's file.

File for staff person #4 contained two PA state criminal clearances one full completed clearance dated 8/1/17 and the other was a pending clearance dated 12/19/22; these dates, and the status of the updated clearance, verify that a full and complete PA state criminal clearance was not updated and on file within the 60 month expiration date requirement. File for staff person #7, see code sheet for hire date, did not contain a FBI clearance.

It was observed that Room 2 was outside in the outdoor play space with 2 staff and 13 toddlers. Staff person #1 stated they had 5 toddlers in their primary care group and staff person #2 stated they had 4 toddlers in their primary care group. Staff person #3 had gone inside the building leaving their 4 assigned children outside and causing the remaining staff in the outdoor play space to be out of ratio.

It was observed in the hallway by the front desk, two children, one boy and one girl, from Room 4 were sent out of that room, walked down the hallway and into their respective bathrooms without any staff person supervising them at that time. The children were left alone for approximately 30 seconds until the staff person, normally stationed at the front desk, returned to the front desk area.

It was observed that the facility's emergency plan did not contain a portion that addressed a continuity of operations plan which is required.

Although it was stated that staff person #5 completed emergency plan training prior to the day of inspection, it was observed that no written documentation was on file verifying the completion date of this training.

File for staff person #6, see code sheet for hire date, contained an initial written health assessment and TB test results dated 8/22/22 and 8/25/22, respectively. These dates verify that the health assessment and TB test was not completed and on file prior to the start of initial employment as required.

File for staff person #5 contained documentation showing that fire safety training was completed on 5/19/22, but no additional documentation of updated fire safety training was observed on file verifying that staff person #6 completed this training annually thereafter.

File for staff person #5 contained a written evaluation completed by the director in May of 2022, but no additional evaluation was observed on file completed within the last 12 months.

File for staff person #3 and #5 did not contain verification of their education prior to service at the facility.

File for staff person #7 did not contain two written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person.

File for staff person #2, hired (see code sheet), contained two PA state police clearances dated 6/24/15 and 5/16/22, a child abuse clearance dated 6/24/15, and mandated reporter training dated 10/12/15 and 5/2/21. The updated PA state police clearance and mandated reporter training was completed more than 60 months apart, and the child abuse clearance has not been updated within the last 60 months as required. File for staff person #5, hired (see code sheet), contained a FBI clearance not suitable for the purposes of employment with childcare under DHS.

File for staff person #5 and #6 did not contain documentation of initial emergency plan training at the time of initial employment.

It was observed in room 1 that a handwashing sign was not posted by the sink in that classroom.

File for child #1, who is an older toddler, contained a health report dated 1/28/21, and no updated health report completed within the last 12 months was observed on file.

File for staff person #1, hired (see code sheet), contained a TB test result dated 8/30/18, which is more than 12 months prior to their initial employment date. File for staff person #2 contained a health assessment dated 7/9/19, but an updated health assessment completed within that last 24 months was not found on file. Staff person #2 TB test results were not observed on file at the time of inspection. File for staff person #3, hired (see code sheet), contained a TB test result dated 7/30/14, which is more than 12 months prior to their initial employment date.

It was observed and stated by staff that the facility did not conduct or log an annual emergency drill.

File for child #3, who is of preschool age and enrolled more than 60 days at the facility, did not contain a health report or written documentation of the status of the child's immunizations in accordance with the recommendations of the ACIP.

Emergency contact form for child #4 did not include the release person's address. Emergency contact form for child #1 did not include an emergency contact name or contact information.

Emergency contact forms for child #1-5 did not include the address of the child's physician, the parent's work address, or the parent's work telephone number. Emergency contact form for child #1 also did not include the telephone number of the child's physician.

Emergency contact forms for child #1-5 did not include, or allow for parents to adequately address, information on the child's special needs, as specified by the child's parent, physician, physician's assistant or CRNP, which is needed in an emergency situation.

Emergency contact forms for child #1-5 were last reviewed, signed, and dated by parents in August and September of 2021, therefore these forms were not review at least once in the last 6 month period. Agreement for child #1 was last reviewed, signed, and dated on 3/23/21, therefore this form was not reviewed at least once in the last 6 month period.