Section 170-296A-5750. Supervision.

Supervising children.

(1) The licensee must provide required staffing levels, staff-to-child ratios and supervision for the number of children in attendance.

(2) The licensee or primary staff person must be aware of what the children are doing at all times and be available and able to promptly assist or redirect activities when necessary. If unable to see the children, the licensee or primary staff person must frequently go to the area where the children are located to check on them. For the purposes in this section frequently is defined as on many occasions with little time between them.

(3) The licensee must consider the following when deciding how closely to supervise the children:

(a) Ages of the children;

(b) Individual differences and abilities;

(c) Layout of the indoor and outdoor licensed space and play area;

(d) The risk associated with the activities children are engaged in; and

(e) Any nearby hazards including those in the licensed or unlicensed space.

(4) A baby monitor or video monitor must not be used in place of direct supervision of the children.

Additional requirements when the children are indoors.

(5) The licensee or primary staff person must be within sight or hearing range when children are indoors and be available and able to respond if the need arises for the safety of the children.

(6) When children are present on more than one level (floor) of the home, the licensee or primary staff person must be supervising the children on each level and maintain required staff-to-child ratios. Each level of the home used by the children must be licensed space.

Additional requirements when children are outdoors.

(7) The licensee or primary staff person must be within sight and hearing range when children preschool age or younger are using the licensed outdoor space and be available and able to respond if the need arises for the safety of the children.

(8) The licensee or primary staff person must be within sight or hearing range of school age children when in the licensed outdoor space and be available and able to respond if the need arises for the safety of the children.

(9) The required staff-to-child ratio must be maintained when the children are in the licensed outdoor space, except as provided in subsection (10) of this section.

(10) Except when children in care are using a wading pool or swimming pool, a second staff person or assistant may engage in other child care activities temporarily as long as he or she is in sight or hearing range and is available and able to respond if the need arises for the safety of the children.

(11) See:

(a) WAC 170-296A-5150 for additional supervision requirements when children are engaged in an off-site waterplay or swimming activity;

(b) WAC 170-296A-5175 for additional supervision requirements when children are using a wading pool; and

(c) WAC 170-296A-5200 for additional supervision requirements when children are using a swimming pool.

Supervising staff.

(12) When the licensee or primary staff person is supervising staff, he or she must be:

(a) Aware of what staff are doing; and

(b) Available and able to respond if the need arises to protect the health and safety of children in care.

(13) See WAC 170-296A-1925 for additional supervision requirements for assistants and volunteers.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 11-23-068, § 170-296A-5750, filed 11/14/11, effective 3/31/12.]

RCW 43.215.060, 43.215.070, and chapter 43.215 RCW. WSR 11-23-068, § 170-296A-5750, filed 11/14/11, effective 3/31/12.

Rules

170-296A-5150,170-296A-5175,170-296A-5200,170-296A-1925,