On September 12, 2025, site supervisor, Lueza reported that a child (C1) was inadvertently left unsupervised on the play yard for about two minutes during the outdoor-to-indoor transition. As children lined up to go indoors for breakfast, staff member S1 remained on the playground securing bicycles and did not realize C1 was still present. The teachers inside completed a head count and used walkie-talkies to confirm 17 children were inside and one was outside (with a staff member). S1, however, was not carrying a walkie-talkie and was unaware that a child remained out. After locking up the bikes, S1 entered the building, leaving C1 alone outside. Approximately two minutes later, C1 opened the classroom door and rejoined the group. The site supervisor noted that C1 was not distressed and does not have any known history of hiding from staff. At the time of the incident, there were 18 children and four staff members present.

The site supervisor stated that C1’s authorized representative was notified of the incident, and that the incident was reported to Community Care Licensing as required by regulation. The site supervisor reported that she also interviewed all staff members involved. Beginning September 16, 2025, the facility implemented a revised policy in response. A “face-to-name” checklist is now kept at the classroom door for use during transitions. Each teacher has individually reviewed and signed off on NBCC’s supervision policies, and as a group they completed a review and discussion of the Department’s care and supervision training video during an all staff meeting. The facility now uses prominently posted whiteboards to track staff-child ratios and the number of children present. As part of the ongoing supervision procedure, teachers are required to perform head counts before going outdoors and again when returning indoors, walk through the play yard to confirm no child has been left behind, post supervision guidelines on classroom doors for staff reference, and use walkie-talkie radios to communicate during transitions and outdoor periods. (Continued on LIC809-C)

• Type A deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, if not corrected, have a direct and immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care.

• Type B deficiencies are violations of licensing requirements that, without correction, could become a risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of persons in care, a recordkeeping violation that could impact the care of said persons and/or protection of their resources, or a violation that could impact those services required to meet the needs of persons in care.

Although it was corroborated that C1 was left without staff supervision while on the preschool’s fenced play yard, a deficiency citation was not issued today due to the facility’s history of compliance with Title 22 regulations and immediate follow up actions.Technical assistance and best practice recommendations were provided by the LPA during today’s case management visit. This report was read and reviewed with the site supervisor, Kristie Lueza. Notice of site visit shall be posted for 30 days.