Ohio Administrative Code
Title 5101:2 - Division of Social Services
Chapter 5101:2-12 - Licensing of Child Care Centers
Section 5101:2-12-19 - Supervision of children and child guidance for a licensed child care center
Universal Citation: OH Admin Code 5101:2-12-19
Current through all regulations passed and filed through March 18, 2024
(A) What are the requirements for supervision by child care staff members?
Each child care staff member shall:
(1) Leave no child unsupervised. Supervision
means the child care staff members have knowledge of a child's needs and
accountability for his or her care at all times,
including but not limited to, developmental and behavioral needs and parental
preferences. Supervision includes awareness of and responsibility for the
activity of each child and being near enough to respond and reach children
immediately including responding to the child's basic needs and protecting them
from harm.
(2) Ensure all children
in care are within sight and hearing of child care staff members at all times,
except as listed in paragraph (B) of this rule. Within sight and hearing means
without the use of mechanical devices such as baby monitors, video cameras or
walkie talkies. The use of mirrors to view children in another room does not
meet the supervision requirements of this rule.
(3) Not be under the influence of any
substance that impairs the child care staff member's ability to supervise
children and/or perform duties.
(4)
Always have immediate access to a working telephone on the premises which is
available and capable of making outgoing calls and receiving incoming
calls.
(5) Only release a child to
the parent or to a person who has been previously approved by the
parent.
(6) Not permit children to
be exposed to inappropriate language or media.
(7) Supervise outdoor play.
(a) The child care staff member shall remain
outdoors with the children at all times.
(b) The child care staff member shall be able
to summon another adult without leaving the group unsupervised.
(c) When the outdoor play space is not on the
premises, child care staff members shall accompany and supervise all children
in transit and at the outdoor play space.
(B) What are the requirements for supervision of school-age children?
(1) School-age
children may run errands inside the building, use the restroom, or engage in a
short term activity which poses no physical risk to their safety alone or in
groups of no more than six children without adult supervision as long as the
following conditions are met:
(a) Children are
within hearing distance of a child care staff member, without the use of
electronic equipment.
(b) The child
care staff member checks on the children who are in kindergarten through third
grade at least every five minutes until they return to the group.
(c) The child care staff member checks on the
children in fourth grade or higher at least every ten minutes until they return
to the group.
(d) The center has
exclusive use of the child care space being used by the children.
(2) With written parent
permission, school-age children may leave the center for specific activities.
(a) These activities include:
(i) Walking to and from the center or
school.
(ii) Walking home or to
another destination.
(iii)
Participation in activities inside the building that are sponsored by another
group.
(b) The written
permission shall specify:
(i) Child's
name.
(ii) Location of the
activity.
(iii) Arrangements for
going to and from the activity.
(iv) Start and end time of the
activity.
(v) Time period for when
permission is given.
(vi) Parent's
signature and date.
(C) What are the child guidance techniques to be used in the licensed child care center?
(1) All
employees shall follow appendix A to this rule regarding guidance techniques to
be used with children.
(2) The
center shall communicate and consult with the parent prior to implementing a
specific behavior management plan. This plan shall be in writing and signed by
the parent and shall be consistent with the requirements of this
rule.
(3)
When a child is expelled from the center for a behavioral reason, the expulsion
is to be reported in the Ohio child licensing and quality system (OCLQS) in
accordance with paragraph (G) of rule
5101:2-12-16
of the Administrative Code.
(D) What are the child abuse and/or neglect reporting requirements?
If the owner, administrator, employee or child care staff member suspects that a child has been abused or neglected, he or she shall immediately notify the public children services agency (PCSA).
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Ohio may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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