Alabama Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers

Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

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Section D
Facilities

State, Local, and Municipal Codes and Ordinances

The center facilities shall meet all state, local and municipal codes and ordinances. Written approval shall be obtained from the fire and health departments for the particular kind of center being licensed. Separate approval by fire and health departments are required for the day care center and for the nighttime center. Subsequent inspections after the initial approval shall be made at the discretion of the director, Department representative, or the official of the fire and health departments.
Building: Indoor Area
- a. Exclusive use
  
  Activity areas to which the day care children are assigned shall be used exclusively by the children during operating hours. When lunchroom facilities are shared with other groups, children receiving center care shall be seated together, apart from other groups.
- b. Footage per child
  
  There shall be at least 32 square feet of indoor play space for each child. Bathrooms, kitchens, isolation room, office, halls used as passageways, and storage areas shall not be considered when computing play space.
- c. Space for groups
  
  Designated areas of indoor play space shall be provided for each grouping of children.
  
  (l) A separate area(s) shall be provided for children younger than age 2 1/2 years.
  (2) A separate indoor area shall be provided for use by school-age children.
- d. Provisions shall be made to control excessive glare in areas occupied by children.
- e. Bathroom facilities
  
  (1) Location
  Bathrooms shall be located on the same floor level and under the same roof as activity rooms.
  (2) Number of fixtures per child:
  (a) one flush toilet for every 15, or fewer children.
  (b) one handwashing sink for every 15 or fewer children.
  (c) one tub (portable plastic type acceptable) per center.
  (3) One handwashing sink with warm running water, soap, and disposable paper or single use cloth towels, shall be located in each room where children are diapered.
  (4) Size of fixtures
  The toilets and lavatories shall be child size in height, or shall be adjusted for easy use with sturdy platforms and/or seat adapters, as needed.
- f. Laundry facilities
  
  (1) When provided, laundry facilities shall be located in an enclosed room apart from the food storage, preparation, and serving areas, as well as apart from the storage of cooking and eating utensils.
  (2) Dryers when vented to the outside, shall be vented away from the children's play area.
- g. Isolation space for ill or injured children
  
  Space shall be provided to isolate an ill or injured child. A cot or crib, bedding and play equipment shall be provided in the isolation space and disinfected following use by an ill child.
- h. Storage space for children and staff.
  
  (1) each child shall have individual, labeled storage space. For children age 2 1/2 years and older, the space shall be at child level.
  (2) Shelving, accessible to the children, shall be provided for the play equipment and supplies, in rooms used by children.
  (3) Storage space shall be provided for storage of teacher's supplies, and reserve equipment.
  (4) Accessible storage space shall be provided for cots and bedding.
- i. Office space shall be provided for storage of records and to afford privacy for conferences.
- j. Ventilation, lighting, and heating in rooms used by children.
  
  (1) There shall be windows to provide ventilation and fans with properly enclosed blades or ceiling fans to maintain circulation, unless the building is air-conditioned.
  (2) The temperatures shall be maintained between 68 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit, at child level, as appropriate to the season. There shall be an indoor thermometer.
  (3) Outside windows which open shall be securely screened.
  (4) Lighting shall be maintained at a minimum of 30 foot candles of illumination in area where children are doing close work.
- k. There shall be an operational telephone in the center.
- l. Hazard prevention.
  
  (1) All apparent safety hazards shall be eliminated from inside the center.
  (2) Floors shall have a non-slippery surface, free of splinters and other hazards.
  (3) All flammable and other dangerous substances, and potential poisons, shall be stored in locked cabinets accessible only to authorized persons. No firearms or ammunition shall be kept in the center.
  (4) Stairways shall have hand railings at child height.
  (5) In rooms used by the children, doors shall remain unlocked during hours of operation. Locks which would prevent children from exiting a room are prohibited.
  (6) Clear glass doors shall be plainly marked, at child level, to avoid accidental impact.
  (7) Water temperatures at the handwashing sinks used by the children shall not exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
  (8) Staff and children's medications shall be properly stored in a separate location away from toxic chemicals and other harmful items and out of the reach of the children.
  (9) Barriers shall be erected around radiators, heaters, and fans that are accessible to the children.
  (10) Consumption of alcoholic or use of other non-prescription narcotic or illegal substances is prohibited on the center premises. Smoking is permitted only in designated areas away from the children, food storage, and food preparation areas.
- m. The center shall be clean.
  
  (1) Cleaning shall be done daily. Floors and bathroom fixtures shall be cleaned and disinfected daily or more often as needed. Carpets shall be vacuumed daily.
  (2) Cleaning shall not interfere with children's activities.
Grounds: Outdoor Area
- a. An area for loading and/or parking shall be provided.
- b. Outdoor play space footage shall be:
  (1) a minimum of 50 square feet of space for each child younger than age 2 1/2 years; for centers licensed prior to January 1, 1975, a minimum of 40 square feet.
  (2) a minimum of 60 square feet of space for each child 2 1/2 years of age and older.
  (3) a minimum of 60 square feet of play area per child for at least one-half of the licensed capacity, in centers enrolling 60 or more children.
  (4) Substitution
  In unusual circumstances, when the above footage is not available, special permission may be granted by the Department for a partial substitution of a large indoor play area equipped with outdoor-type equipment.
- c. Separate play areas shall be provided for children younger than age 2 1/2 years.
- d. Outdoor play areas shall adjoin, or be safely accessible to, the indoor area.
- e. Outdoor play areas on the premises shall be enclosed by a fence or wall at least four feet in height, and fences shall be free from sharp protruding edges. Licensed centers which have a three foot fence shall be permitted to use that fence until it needs to be replaced, at which time a four foot fence shall be installed. Centers without a fence shall install a four foot fence by July l, 1989.
  
  (1) Fencing for outdoor play space located on the roof shall be enclosed by a fence which meets fire department standards.
- f. Shade and sun areas shall be provided.
- g. All apparent safety hazards shall be eliminated from the outdoor play area.
  (1) Concrete or asphalt shall not be used as surface material under climbing structures or swings.
  (2) Play areas shall be well-drained.
  (3) All freestanding play equipment shall be securely anchored to the ground.
  (4) The play area shall be free of hazard-producing conditions.
Swimming and Wading Facilities and Additional Supervision
- a. Pools exceeding two feet in depth, on the premises, shall be enclosed with a fence at least 4 feet in height. Gates and other access areas shall be locked when pool is not be use.
  
  (l) A lifeguard holding at least a current Advanced Life Saving Certificate shall be on duty at all times when the pool is in use. This person shall not be counted in the child/staff ratio if people other than the children from the center are swimming (as in parks or "Y" pools). If the lifeguard is employed by the center, a copy of his/her Certificate shall be on file in the center.
  (2) Written safety rules shall be formulated and posted. Staff and children shall be informed verbally of these safety rules.
  (3) The water shall be clean and treated in compliance with health department recommendations (available from the State Health Department) and municipal codes where applicable.
  (4) Child/staff ratio for additional supervision shall be:
  
  Age Child-staff Ratio
  Under 2 1/2 yrs. 1 staff to 1 child
  2 1/2 up to 5 yrs. 1 staff to 5 children
  5 up to 8 yrs. 1 staff to 10 children
  8 yrs. and older 1 staff to 15 children
  
  (5) The number of regular staff, in addition to the lifeguard, supervising the children shall meet at least minimum child/staff ratios. Parents or volunteers trained in the center's procedures for supervising swimming may be used to meet the required ratios for additional supervision.
  (6) Adults counted in child-staff ratios shall be able to swim and shall constantly supervise the swimming activity.
- b. When a wading structure less than two feet in depth is available to the children:
  
  (1) there shall be continuous supervision by a minimum of 2 staff persons.
  (2) The wading area shall be filled with clean water for each day's usage. It shall be emptied when not in use.
- c. The center shall have on file written, signed permission from parent(s)/guardian(s) for all children participating in swimming and wading activities.
Furnishings and Equipment
- a. Size
  
  The furniture shall be child size related to the age range of children in care.
- b. Condition
  
  (1) Equipment and furniture shall be in operative condition, free of sharp, loose, or rusty parts.
  (2) Equipment shall be easily cleaned and kept in a clean condition.
  (3) Equipment used by infants and toddlers shall be free of small parts which could be swallowed.
  (4) Toys made of easily breakable materials shall not be used by infants and toddlers.
- c. Amount and type of furnishings
  
  (1) There shall be table space for each child who is able to sit at the table.
  (2) There shall be a straight chair, with a back, without arms, for each child who is able to use a chair.
  (3) A feeding chair shall be provided for children who do not eat at the table.
  (4) There shall be a crib provided for each infant, and a washable cot for each toddler and preschool child. (See Section Napping/Resting). Each crib shall have a waterproof mattress.
  (5) Each cot and crib shall be equipped with a bottom sheet and an additional sheet or covering for the child.
- d. Arrangement
  
  (1) Indoor equipment shall be arranged in an orderly manner, in designated activity areas, such as home living, books, blocks, and stories, music, art, manipulative toys and games, and science and nature, for each group of children between 2 1/2 years and school age.
- e. Amount and type of equipment
  
  The amount and type of equipment shall be determined and supplied for each age group according to Section III. I, the Required Equipment List. (Substitutes and modifications of equipment shall be considered by the Department upon written request, at the time of initial licensing or licensing renewal).
  
  With written approval from the Department, stated pieces of equipment shall be shared by more than one group at alternating period of time.

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