Bloom Early Education Centers INC Edwardsville

A wall air vent near the cherry blossom tree decoration in the Junior Preschool Room was observed to be dusty. Four air vents in the Older Toddler Room were observed to be dusty. Also, the Older Toddler Restroom had one dusty air vent. The hallway restroom had two brown stained ceiling tiles above the toilet. Both the Preschool Restroom and the hallway restroom had one toilet each with an exposed bolt near its base. One light gray cushion in the School Age Room was observed to have torn fabric.

A perishable food item (i.e. cut watermelon) was observed in one child's Ninja Turtles lunch bag in the Older Toddler Room. This potentially hazardous food item, that was in the child's lunch bag, was not refrigerated.

The facility had documentation on file showing that they notified the local traffic safety authorities of the location of the facility and the program's use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the childcare facility. The most recent documentation on file was dated 7/10/23. However, this was required to be done annually.

The agreement on file for Child #8 was observed to be missing the child's arrival and departure times.

The emergency contact information on file for Child #7 was observed to be missing the parent's work phone number.

On 2/12/2025, Staff were observed to be supervising preschool aged children in the Preschool Room and admitted that they did not have the children specifically assigned to a staff person, and therefore did not know which children were specifically assigned to their group. During the same inspection, Staff #2 identified 1 older toddler and 8 preschoolers in their supervision group. Staff #9 identified 7 preschoolers in their supervision group. Only 1 older toddler and 5 preschoolers should have been assigned to Staff #2 to maintain ratio within their specific supervision group.

Staff #14 acknowledged that an iron supplement pill, which should be kept inaccessible to children, fell from the staff's pocket and was found on the floor in the infant area of the facility, accessible to children receiving care at that time.

Two cots in the Junior Preschool Room, Older Toddler Room, and Young Toddler Room and one cot in the Preschool Room, which were occupied by sleeping children, were not spaced at least two feet on three sides.

Five bottles in the Infant Room were observed to be missing a label which included the child's name.

Staff #11 acknowledged that they put diatomaceous earth under the children's carpets in the Older Toddler, Young Toddler, and Junior Preschool Rooms and behind a shelf in the Junior Preschool Room. The bag containing the diatomaceous earth was labeled "keep out of reach of children." The bag also indicated that it was to be used with "an approved respirator and goggles." Diatomaceous earth was observed to be caked onto the underside of carpets where children were in care. Staff also stated that children were present in the childcare space when Staff #11 was applying the diatomaceous earth, and no one was wearing a respirator or goggles. Additionally, an older toddler was observed to be picking up and playing with a corner of a rug in the Infant/Toddler Room. The underside of this rug was caked in diatomaceous earth, which came off the rug and onto the toddler's skin and clothing.

Staff person #9 had a health assessment on file dated 5/14/24, but it did not include a physician's or CRNP's assessment of the person's suitability to provide child care.

Staff Person #25 only had one, and not the required two, nonfamily references on file which attested to the person's suitability to serve as a staff person. Staff Person #26 did not have any nonfamily references on file which attested to the person's suitability to serve as a staff person.

Staff #10 (see code sheet for date of hire) did not have a completed out of state child abuse clearance on file before working with children. Staff #10 also did not have proof that the missing out of state child abuse clearance was requested prior to working with children.

Neutrogena sunscreen, labeled "keep out of reach of children," was observed in a bookbag, that was about knee height, on a wooden shelf in the School Age Room. This sunscreen was accessible to the children.

The telephone number of the nearest ambulance was not observed by the two telephones in the Infant/Toddler Room.

Two artificial grass carpets, whose edges were pulled up by toddler aged children, were observed in the outdoor play space. An approximately five-inch hole was observed in the ground of the outdoor play space. These things were potentially a tripping hazard. Also, there was a hole observed on the wall, next to a round table, in the School Age Room. A ceiling tile in the Infant/Toddler Room was observed to have brown stains on it.

A hand washing sign was not observed at the kitchen sink.

Mulch, that had a diameter of less than 1 inch, was observed in the outdoor play space where toddler aged children were playing.

The documented fire drill logs showed that the hypothetical locations of the fire were at the same location, i.e. janitor's closet, for two consecutive fire drills, which occurred on 5/24/2024 and 6/27/2024.

A renewal inspection was completed on 9/26/23. The facility emergency plan does not address continuity of operations.

A renewal inspection was completed on 9/26/23. In the young toddler area, the emergency bag containing the first aid kit did not contain a bottle of water.

A renewal inspection was completed on 9/26/23. In the infant changing table, the drawers had child proof locks that did not work. Inside the drawers were diapers and soft plastic bags containing wipes, that were accessible to the children. In the young toddler changing table, the top drawer did not have a child proof lock and contained rolls of plastic garbage bags and plastic gloves. The children in these areas are still placing objects in their mouths.

A renewal inspection was conducted on 9/26/23. Child #1 and #2's immunization record indicates the children do not have the flu vaccine and no exemption letter is in the children's file. The children are over six months of age.

A renewal was conducted on 9/26/23. The garbage cans in the infant and young toddler area were locked therefore, not hands free.

A renewal inspection was completed on 9/26/23. The facilities emergency plan did not provide information for accommodations for infants and toddlers.

The operator did not have proof of purchase for the fire alarm system currently in operation. Operator reports that the system has been in use since 2001.