Licensing Standards for DayCare Centers

Section 10:122-4.3
Staff/Child Ratios

GEN (a) The children shall be supervisedx "supervision:during activities" by a staff member at all times, including during outdoor activities, rest and sleep, toileting procedures and walking through hallways, as appropriate for their ages and developmental needs, the physical setting and the nature of the activity.

1. The center shall develop and implement a Bureau-approved method to keep trackx "tracking children" of the location and safety of all children at all times when under the center's supervisionx "supervision:tracking children".

2. The center shall ensure that all staff members are trained in the method of keeping track of children.

(c) The following staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio"s shall apply, except as specified in (d) through (f) below:

Age	Staff/Child Ratio
Under 18 months	1:4
18 months up to 2 ½ years	1:7
2 ½ years up to 4 years	1:10
4 years	1:12
5 years	1:15
6 years and older	1:18

(d) The following staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio:rest periods"s shall apply during restx "rest" \t "See sleep" or sleepx "sleep:staff/child ratios", when the criteria listed in (d)1, 2 and 3 below are met:

Age	Staff/Child Ratio
Under 2 ½ years	1:10
2 ½ years and above	1:20

1. At least one staff member shall be physically present in the room or area in which children are napping and shall be able to summon other staff members without leaving the room or area.

2. A sufficient number of staff members shall be in the facility and readily accessible to ensure compliance with the staff/child ratioe "staff/child ratio"s specified in (c) above.

3. Naptime preparations shall have been completed and all children above 12 months of age shall be resting or sleeping, while all children 12 months of age or below shall be sleeping.

Age	Staff/Child Ratio
Under 2 ½ years	1:3
2 ½ years of age and over (non-ambulatory)	1:3
2 ½ years of age and over (ambulatory)	1:5

(f) Centers serving children who are sick shall comply with the variation on staff/child ratios for sick children, as specified in N.J.A.C. 10:122-8.3(c).

(g) In computing the required number of staff, the center shall apply the applicable staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio"s, as specified in (c) through (f) above, to the actual number of children in attendance at the center. The total number of staff members required for a center shall be the sum total of staff members required per room or area within a large room that has been divided by partitions, furniture or other barrier. The number of staff members per room or area within a large divided room shall be computed by dividing the number of children in attendance per room or area within a large divided room at any given time by the staff/child ratio required for the age of the children served. When this resulting figure is any fraction above a whole number, an additional staff member shall be required.

(h) When children of mixed ages requiring different staff/child ratiochild ratio:mixed ages"s are in one room or area within a large divided room, the center shall compute the staff/child ratios applicable for each group separately to the nearest tenth decimal. If the resulting cumulative figure for all age groups is any fraction above a whole number, an additional staff member shall be required.

(i) For purposes of determining whether a required staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio" is met, only those staff members who are involved in the direct care and supervision of children shall be counted.

(j) Staff members who are under 18 years of age shall be directly supervised by and visible to a staff memberx
"staff members:age" who is 18 years of age or older.

EC (k) For early childhood programsx "early childhood programs:staffing", the following shall apply:

1. A minimum of two staff memberse "staff members:two required", one of whom shall be at least 18 years of age, shall be present and involved in the care of children when:

   i. At least six children are present, who are below six years of age; or

   ii. Fewer than six children are present but applicable staff/child ratioe "staff/child ratio"s, governing children below 18 months of age and/or children with special needsx "special needs", require two staff members.

2. The following minimum ages of staffx "minimum ages of staff" members shall apply for purposes of computing the staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio":

   i. Only staff membersx "staff members:age" who are at least 14 years of age shall be counted for the staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio"; and

   ii. Staff members below 16 years of age shall only be utilized when school is not in session, or, if school is in session, only if they are participating in a school/work program.

1. A minimum of two staff membersx taff members:two required", one of whom shall be at least 18 years of age, shall be at the center and involved in the care of children when six or more children are present, except as specified in (l) 2 and 3 below.

2. A minimum of one staff member, who shall be at least 18 years of age, shall be at the center and involved in the care of children when all the provisions in (l) 2 i through iv below are met:

   i. Children attend for no more than one and one half hours;

   ii. No more than five children present are below six years of age;

   iii. No more than 12 children are present; and

   iv. An additional adult has agreed to be available and immediately accessible in an emergency.

3. A minimum of one staff member, who shall be at least 18 years of age, shall escort up to 12 children on any walkx "walks:staff/child ratio" including walks to and from their school and the center.

4. Only staff membersx "staff members:age" who are at least 16 years of age shall be counted for the staff/child ratiox "staff/child ratio".

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