[R.O. 2007 §10½-4; Ord. No. 4599, 7-6-1981]
As used in this Article, the following term shall have this
prescribed meaning:
Any day care program with more than ten (10) children in
a family home occupied by the day care provider or more than four
(4) children in a facility other than a family home for any part of
the twenty-four (24) hour day.
[R.O. 2007 §10½-5; Ord. No. 4599, 7-6-1981]
A.
Generally. The physical plant shall be safe and suitable
for the care of children and for the program activities.
1.
The day care center shall be located in an area which offers no hazards
to the health, safety or welfare of the children.
2.
The building and premises shall conform to meet local commercial,
health, sanitation, fire and building codes.
3.
All rooms used by the children shall be maintained at no less than
sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68°F) (twenty degrees centigrade
20°C) two (2) feet from the floor.
4.
Fireplaces and open-faced heaters, hot radiators or floor furnaces
shall be protected by screens.
5.
Artificial and/or natural lighting shall supply at least ten (10)
foot-candles of light in each room used by the children as determined
by the Division of Health.
6.
Open windows shall be securely screened. Safeguards to prevent children
from falling from window openings shall be provided.
7.
Clear glass doors shall be plainly marked at varying heights to avoid
accidental impact.
8.
All flammable liquids, cleaning supplies, poisonous materials, guns,
firearms or other dangerous items shall be stored so as to be inaccessible
to the children.
9.
The walls and floors shall be finished so as to be free of cracks
and splinters and easily cleaned. Lead-free paint shall be used for
all painted surfaces.
10.
The physical plant shall be reasonably clean and tidy at all times,
free from dirt and any evidence of vermin, flies and rodent infestation.
11.
The day care center shall be equipped with a telephone in working
order.
12.
For the health and safety of the children, smoking shall be permitted
only in a designated area away from the children.
13.
There shall be two (2) means of entrance and exit from the building
at the ground level floor. If second story floor space is used as
part of the day care facility, there shall be two (2) means of entry
and exit to it.
B.
Indoor Space.
1.
The area designated for child care shall provide a minimum of thirty-five
(35) square feet of usable floor space per child occupied only by
the children's play material and equipment. Floor space occupied by
permanent built-in cabinets and shelves or large pieces of furniture
or equipment not intended for children's use may not be considered
as usable floor space, nor can kitchen, halls, bathroom areas be counted.
If cots or cribs for napping are left consistently in place, this
space cannot be counted as usable square feet of floor space.
2.
In a center located in a family home the area used for child care
shall be separated from the family living quarters.
3.
There shall be storage space for play materials and equipment used
by the children, some of which is accessible to the children.
4.
There shall be space for a child's clothing and other personal belongings
accessible to the child.
5.
Space shall be so arranged to permit a variety of play activities
to be carried out at the time without interfering with each other.
6.
Kitchen.
a.
The kitchen of the day care center shall be equipped with stove,
sink, hot and cold running water, refrigeration and storage space
for food, dishes and cooking utensils, a dishwasher approved by the
Division of Health, a three (3) vat sink or other substitute approved
by the Division of Health.
b.
Kitchens shall not be used for children's play activities, unless
they are adult supervised and part of the learning program.
c.
Kitchens shall not be used for napping nor as passageways for children.
7.
Toilet and handwashing facilities.
a.
One (1) flush toilet and one (1) running water handwashing facility
shall be required for every fifteen (15) children.
b.
Toilet and handwashing facility shall be convenient and accessible
for the children's use and in working order. There shall be steps
provided so that the children may reach the sink or a sink must be
installed at a height the children can reach.
c.
Soft paper towels or individual towels and wash cloths shall be provided
for each child.
d.
When a day care center offers care for school age children, separate
toilet facilities shall be provided for the school age boys and girls.
e.
If a center is licensed for more than fifty (50) children, a separate
bathroom must be available for staff use.
C.
Outdoor Play Space.
1.
There shall be fenced outdoor play area. The fence shall have a locking
gate and shall be a minimum of four (4) feet from the ground level.
2.
There shall be a minimum ratio of fenced outdoor play area to total
indoor space of 1:1; in no case shall the outdoor play area be less
than seventy-five (75) square feet per child.
3.
The surface of the playground shall have good drainage and be safe,
suitable for the children's activities, free of hazards such as broken
glass and other debris.
4.
The playground shall be well maintained.
5.
The area under climbing equipment, swings, slides and other equipment
from which children might fall shall be of resilient materials such
as sand, grass, tanbark, rubber matting and the like.
6.
Swimming and/or wading pools shall be constructed, maintained and
used in such a manner as to safeguard the lives and health of the
children.
a.
Swimming pools and/or other areas such as ponds, lakes or rivers
shall be fenced to prevent accidental or chance access by children.
Wading pools that are left filled with water when not in use shall
also be protected in some way.
b.
The water in the pool or other water areas shall be treated, cleaned
and/or maintained in accordance with the health practices and regulations
as determined by the local or State health authority.
D.
Parking. There shall be a minimum of one (1) parking space
for every five hundred (500) square feet of building space plus one
(1) space for each employee.
[R.O. 2007 §10½-6; Ord. No. 4599, 7-6-1981]
[R.O. 2007 §10½-7; Ord. No. 4599, 7-6-1981]
Staff-to-child ratios shall be as follows:
|
0 — 2 years old
|
1 employee to 5 children
| |
|
2 — 3 years old
|
1 employee to 7 children
| |
|
3 — 5 years old
|
1 employee to 10 children
| |
|
5 — 7 years old
|
1 employee to 12 children
| |
|
Over 7 years of age
|
1 employee to 15 children
|
[R.O. 2007 §10½-8; Ord. No. 4599, 7-6-1981]
A.
Disaster Preparedness Plan. Prior to the issuance of an
occupancy permit, the applicant must meet with the civil defense coordinator
of the City of Poplar Bluff for the drafting and approval of a disaster
preparedness plan.
B.
Monitoring Of Weather Conditions. The applicant must also
purchase a tone alert weather receiver to monitor weather conditions.
The weather receiver must be kept in the day care facility in operating
condition at all times.
C.
Emergency Medical Plans — First Aid Kit. The applicant
must meet with the civil defense coordinator for his/her approval
of the applicant's emergency medical plans and the applicant must
satisfy to the civil defense coordinator that an adequately stocked
first aid kit will be maintained at the facility at all times.
