Berks Nature Preschool

During renewal inspection conducted on 11/5/2024, emergency contact form was not present in the child care space for child #1 in Miss. Joan's group and an emergency contact form was not present for child #2 in Miss Shelby's group.

During renewal inspection conducted 11/5/2024, emergency contact form for child #1 was missing signed parental consent for emergency medical care and signed parental consent for minor first-aid.

During unannounced monitoring conducted 10/2/2024, mandated reporter training certificates on file for staff person #1 are dated 7/2/2019 and 8/14/2024, which is past 60 months.

During swim inspection conducted on 7/30/2024, emergency contact forms were not present for child #1 and child #2.

During swim inspection conducted 7/30/2024, emergency contact form for child #3 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care or minor first-aid.

Staff person #3 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. Staff person #3 has not completed the following pre-service training required prior to caring for children unsupervised: pediatric first aid/CPR from a PQAS approved trainer and a PQAS approved curriculum.

File for staff person #5, see code sheet for hire date, contained a DHS approved FBI clearance dated 9/15/18, but no updated DHS approved FBI clearance was observed on file completed within the last 60 months as required. File for staff person #4, see code sheet for hire date, did not contain a DHS approved FBI clearance as required.

It was observed that part of the facility's emergency plan was not posted in a conspicuous location within the facility.

It was observed at the time of inspection that children were playing with shaving cream. The shaving cream container stated "keep out of reach of children".

It was observed that the Diazepam present for child #5 and the Albuterol and Flovent present for child #4 were both accepted and stored without the original containers.

It was observed that a Loratadine medication was present for child #3, but no written parental consent was observed on file to allow for facility staff to administer the medication.

File for staff person #1 contained a health assessment that did not include adequate verification of an examination for communicable diseases or additional results of the examination that might threaten or prohibit a staff person from providing adequate care to children.

It was observed on the facility's fire drill log that a drill was logged on 5/1/23, but the next drill was not logged again until 9/20/23. The facility's fire drill log shows that these drills were conducted more than 60 days apart.

Staff person #6 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see LIS code sheet): pediatric first aid/CPR from a PQAS approved trainer and a PQAS approved curriculum.

File for staff person #2 and #6 contained at least 2 years of verified experience, but did not contain adequate documentation to verified a high school diploma or GED. It was observed and stated that both staff person #2 and #6 were hired and working as assistance group supervisors.

Emergency contact information for child #2 did not contain an emergency contact name or telephone number for the child. In addition the form did not include any information on the child's special needs which might be required in an emergency situation; these spaces were left blank on the form.

Emergency contact form for child #2 did not include the name, address, or telephone number of the child's physician or source of medical care, and did not include the enrolling parent's home telephone number.

Emergency contact forms for child #1 and #2 did not contain health insurance coverage policy name or the policy number for a child under a family policy or Medical Assistance benefits, if applicable.

It was observed that all the required emergency contact information was not present in the child care spaces where the children were receiving care.

Files for child #1-3 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care or minor first aid treatment by facility staff. The spaces available for these signatures on the emergency contact forms for child #1-3 were left blank.

It was observed that the file for staff person #2 only had one written, nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person.

File for staff person #1, see code sheet for hire date, did not contain a signed disclosure statement or a FBI clearance acceptable for the purposes of working in childcare under a DHS licensed program. The file for staff person #1 also showed documentation that they have lived outside of PA within the last 5 years, but out of state clearances were not observed on file as required under the CPSL.

It was observed that the cabinet under the classroom sink contained cleaning materials and a small bottle of sunscreen was left on the staff person's desk all of which were accessible to the children in care.

File for staff person #1 did not contain an initial health assessment or the written results of an initial tuberculin skin test, x-ray or other medical documentation necessary to confirm freedom from communicable tuberculosis.

It was observed that although facility was able to show on their calendar that a fire drill was completed on 3/29/23, this drill was not written as required on the facility's fire drill log. The information observed on file did not contain the hypothetical location of the fire, the evacuation time, and the names of the facility persons and the number of children who participate in the fire drill.

Staff person #2 has not completed mandated reporter training within the last 60 months. This is evidenced by the previously documented mandated reporter training on file being dated 02/06/2018.

File for staff person #1, who was employed as an aide, did not contain documentation verifying that they obtained a high school diploma.

File for staff person #1 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 (see code sheet for hire date) did not contain out of state clearances and staff person #2 did live outside of PA within the last 5 years. File for staff person #3 (see code sheet for hire date) did not contain a DHS approved FBI clearance.

There were several ants observed to be climbing across the countertop by the sink in the childcare space.

Although the facility does have a fenced-in outdoor play space, it was observed on the day of inspection that a group of children were taken outside to play in the back of the building in the unfenced grassy area next to a large pond. The pond would have been considered accessible to the children playing outside in that space therefore making the body of water a visible hazard.

File for child #1 and #2 did not contain a written review of all immunizations recommended by the ACIP.

The facility's emergency plan did not include accommodations for those children with chronic medical conditions, and medications for children with chronic medical conditions were observed the day of inspection.

Staff person #1 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see LIS code sheet): pediatric first aid/CPR from a PQAS approved trainer and a PQAS approved curriculum.

File for staff person #2 included at least 15 credit hours in a human service field and 1 year verified experience working with children, but did not contain a high school diploma and was employed as an assistance group supervisor at the facility.

Emergency contact form for child #1 did not include the name, address and telephone number of the child's physician or source of medical care.

File for child #1 and #3 did not contain signed parental consent for emergency medical care or signed parental consent for administration of minor first-aid procedures by facility staff.

File for staff person #2, hired 9/7/21, did not contain a FBI clearance that can be used for the purposes of employment with DHS.

It was observed in the Wetlands Room that a staff bag containing medication and nail polish was located on the floor accessible to the children in care, and in the Pond Room, Craft Bond Adhesive Spray was observed and labeled as "keep out of reach of children" but accessible to the children in the classroom.

It was observed in the Pond Room that two toy bins, one containing magnetic letters and the other containing small stuffed animals, were cracked and broken and not in good repair.

File for staff person #1, hired 9/7/21, contained documentation of a TB screening conducted on 10/5/17; this screening was completed more than 12 months from the date of hire.

Emergency contact form for child #1 and #2 did not contain the enrolling parent's work address, and emergency contact form for child #1 also did not contain the release person's address.