Childcare Licensure in Pennsylvania - Essay Example

To run a child care facility the director of the facility should obtain a legal certificate of compliance to function at a specific location. The department issues the certificate of compliance to an authorized entity. Childcare-certified credentials correspond to staff qualifications (Decker 10). A director of the childcare facility should ensure that the staff has training in childcare such as child development, early childhood education as well as special education. The staff should possess supervision skills, discipline, and guidance of children. The staff must know about child nutrition and childcare program development. Other training includes first aid, fire safety, and lifeguard and water safety instruction.

The director of the facility should at least have a degree in early childhood and development. A director is accountable for the overall management of the center.
In parent communication, the standards state that the director of the facility should institute written communication understandable to the parent. Childcare standards permit a parent free access to the center except for cases where a court has denied the parental right of access to the child. In the overall health and safety standards, the Pennsylvania childcare licensure states that the conditions of the center should not pose a threat to the safety and health of the children. The center should have an emergency plan that facilitates the protection of children in the event of an emergency at the facility and as well as away from the facility. Fencing should be put in place around unsafe areas to safeguard children. Cleaning materials and toxic substances should be inaccessible to children. Trash should be removed occasionally.

There should be no smoking of cigars and pipes in a childcare space. The center should provide adequate safe water for use and drinking in compliance with Pennsylvania Safe Drinking Water standards. The indoor temperature should be at least 65° F. The center should be well-ventilated with clean surfaces and in good repair. Outdoor space should be clean too and free from hazards (Morrison7).
Pennsylvania childcare standards direct that the facility should provide an indoor childcare space that cannot be used as a play space. Indoor space incorporates the space occupied by shelves, furniture, cupboards, and equipment. The indoor space should not be used for other businesses or other purposes not linked to childcare.

Playing materials and equipment suitable to the progressive essentials, specific appeals, and ages of the children should be made available in adequate amounts and assortment to prevent long waits for usage. The facility should ensure it has equipment that facilitates a child’s cognitive, emotional, perceptual-motor communicative, physical, and social development.
In nutrition standards, the licensure state that stored food, prepared or served should be clean. It should be free from putrefaction and safe for consumption. For a child who has received care for four or more uninterrupted hours, nutritional, properly timed snacks and meals should be served (Gonzalez-Mena 6).

Regarding transport standards, the operator must notify traffic authorities of the facility and the program’s use of pedestrian and vehicular routes around the daycare facility. Reliable pedestrian crossways, bike routes, and pick-up and drop-off points must be appropriately established within the facility area and conveyed to the parents and children. Safe routes signposts should be put in a conspicuous location within the center. Children should only be picked up and discharged at places identified by the center.

In Pennsylvania child record standards, the operator is directed to create and retain a distinct record for every child registered in the center. Children's records should be appraised and regularly updated for currency purposes. Records should include the following information early and subsequent health reports, dates of submission, admittance, and withdrawal of a child. Read More