Alabama Licensing Standards for Day Care Centers

Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

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Section F
Nighttime Centers (additions and/or modifications)

Nighttime centers, in the context of these regulations, shall mean any center in operation past 7:00 p.m. In addition to the requirements set forth above, centers offering nighttime care shall meet the following requirements or modifications:

Administration
- a. A separate license shall be applied for and obtained prior to offering nighttime care.
- b. Arrangements for use of the same premises for nighttime care and day care services, by different, or the same, licensee shall be such as to eliminate overlapping which would disrupt either service, and shall provide smooth transition from one type of service to the other.
- c. Records on each child shall include information concerning family bedtime routines, and other information which would assist staff in providing a smooth transition for the child.
- d. A child who has spent more than 6 daytime hours in a day care center shall not be enrolled for nighttime care, except in the case of special temporary circumstances.
Staff Qualifications
- a. If all children enrolled at the center receive their regular night's sleep at the center, a staff person meeting at least child care worker qualifications shall be assigned the director/program director responsibilities and shall be on duty and present at the center during all hours of operation.
- b. During hours when children are normally sleeping, the child/staff ratio for sleeping children shall by met by staff persons meeting at least child care worker qualifications.
Facility
- a. Building
  
  (1) In groups of children where all enrolled received their regular night's sleep at the center and where all in the group are sleeping in cribs, there shall be at least 20 square feet of space in addition to crib space per child.
  (2) There shall be 1 bathing facility for each 15 children receiving their regular night's sleep at the center.
- b. Equipment and furnishings
  
  (1) Requirements for equipment shall be adjusted to implement the nightly activity schedule if no child is at the center more than 2 hours prior to normal bedtime or after normal waking time.
  (2) Cots, fitted with a firm, waterproof mattress, shall be provided for each child receiving his/her regular night's sleep at the center.
Child Care Program
- a. Arrival and departure
  
  (1) The scheduling of arrival and departure of children, and the grouping of the children, shall be arranged so that no child is deprived of sleep or has his/her sleep unnecessarily disrupted.
  (2) The staff shall work with the child's parent(s)/guardian(s) to coordinate child's plan for time spent at the center with the family schedule.
- b. Staffing
  
  (1) Child-staff ratio
  
  (a) For sleeping children:
  
  Age of Children Child-Staff Ratio
  3 weeks - 6 months 1 adult to 6
  6 months - 1 year 1 adult to 10
  1 year - 2 1/2 years 1 adult to 15
  2 1/2 years - 4 years 1 adult to 20
  4 years and older 1 adult to 30
  
  (b) Ratios and grouping for day care centers shall apply during the hours prior to normal sleeping time or after normal waking time.
  (c) Support staff
  ((1)) There shall be an additional staff person available to assist with groups of children age 2 1/2 years to 6 years, in which there is only 1 staff person, during the pre-bedtime and bedtime routine.
  ((2)) Additional support staff shall not be required for groups of children who are sleeping.
  
  (2) Coverage
  
  (a) A staff person at least 19 years of age shall be present in the center during all hours of operation. A second adult shall be present in the center whenever 7 or more children are in attendance.
  (b) Each staff person giving care during pre-bedtime and bedtime periods shall be assigned the responsibility of caring for the same children nightly.
  (c) There shall be at least 1 adult in each room of sleeping children ages 3 weeks to 4 years. One adult shall supervise no more than 2 adjoining rooms of sleeping children, ages 4 years and older.
  (d) All staff on duty shall be awake and alert to the needs of the children.
  (e) There shall be an additional adult on call, whose name, address, and telephone number are posted by the center's telephone, in case of emergency.
- c. Nightly activity schedule
  
  (1) A nightly schedule shall be planned for the hours the children are awake.
  (2) Outdoor time and experiences shall be available to the children during daylight hours.
  (3) The staff shall give each infant who receives his/her regular night's sleep at the center, personal contact and individual attention.
  (4) A nightly creative art experience shall not be required for toddlers.
  (5) Activities available for pre-school and school-age children shall not be required if the child is at the center no more than 2 hours prior to the normal bedtime or after normal waking time. A selection of quiet activities which can be used with minimal staff supervision shall be available.
  (6) Quiet activities shall be scheduled immediately preceding bedtime for pre-school and school-age children.
  (7) The word "napping" as included in the day care standards shall mean "sleeping" for nighttime centers.
  (8) Parent(s)/guardian(s) and staff shall work together to insure consistency between the family and the nighttime center bedtime routines.
  (9) The staff shall assist children, in dressing and grooming, as needed, if they are going directly from the center to school.
- d. Food and food service
  
  Children who go directly from the center to school shall be served breakfast before leaving the center unless breakfast shall be eaten at school. An evening meal shall be served for children who are continuing in attendance from the day time program.
- e. Hygienic practices
  
  Children shall have shower, tub or sponge baths as needed for body cleanliness.
  
  (1) When a bathtub is used, fresh water shall be provided for each use.
  (2) All children shall be provided individual washcloths, towels, and soap for bathing.
- f. Sleepwear
  
  (1) Sleepwear shall be clean and comfortable, and labeled with the child's name.

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