(a) General. The program shall ensure that all children are adequately supervised at all times. [See definition of "supervision of children" contained in 340:110-3-36.]
- (1) When the program provides or arranges for activities off the premises, there shall be an adult staff member with each group, and appropriate staff ratios shall be maintained.
- (2) When play areas are accessible to the public, boundaries shall be identified to children. Supervision of enrolled children shall be possible, e.g., space reserved for program use only, children easily identifiable to staff.
(b) Infants, toddlers and twos. Staff required to meet staff-child ratios shall be present in the room and able to see and hear all children at all times including nap time.
(c) Preschool-age children. At nap time, when children are resting quietly, at least one staff person shall be within vision and hearing of children. Other staff required to meet staff-child ratios shall remain in the building.
(d) School-age children. Children shall generally be within the vision or hearing of staff. However, staff may assess whether children, who have a good understanding of the program's rules and policies regarding appropriate behavior, shall have the privilege of taking part in a short-term activity that is not within the vision or hearing of staff. Staff shall make personal contact at least every 10 minutes.
- (1) Staff shall be able to provide immediate intervention if needed.
- (2) Staff shall know the whereabouts of each child at all times and the nature of his or her activities.
(e) Staff-child ratios. The number of children in a group is limited to facilitate staff-child interaction and constructive activity among children.
- (1) There shall be staff present with the children to correspond with the chronological age and grouping of the children present. There shall be a substitute staff member present in the absence of regular staff.
- (2) The requirements for staff-child ratio and maximum group size listed in (A) - (J) of this Paragraph shall be met. Each group of children shall meet one of the staff-child ratio selections listed. Either a single-age grouping or a mixed-age combination may be used as needed to accommodate low attendance, special activities or sibling groups. The requirements for staff-child ratio and maximum group size are:
- (A) infants (0 through 9 months)
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:4
- (ii) maximum group size is 8;
- (B) toddlers (10 through 23 months)
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:6
- (ii) maximum group size is 12;
- (C) two-year olds
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:8
- (ii) maximum group size is 16;
- (D) three-year olds
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:12
- (ii) maximum group size is 24;
- (E) four and five-year olds
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:15
- (ii) maximum group size is 30;
- (F) six-year olds and over
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:20
- (ii) maximum group size is 40;
- (G) 0 through 35 months
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:6 (no more than 2 under 10 months per staff)
- (ii) maximum group size is 12;
- (H) 0 through school age
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:8 (no more than 2 under 2 years per staff)
- (ii) maximum group size is 16;
- (I) 2 through school age
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:12 (no more than 4 2-year olds per staff)
- (ii) maximum group size is 24;
- (J) 3 through school age
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:15 (no more than 6 3-year olds per staff)
- (ii) maximum group size is 30; and
- (K) 4 through school age
- (i) staff-child ratio is 1:18 (no more than 8 4-year olds per staff)
- (ii) maximum group size is 36.
- (3) In any other grouping not listed in (2) of this subsection, the age of the youngest child shall determine the ratio and maximum group size.
- (4) A group is determined by the number of children being cared for by the same caregiver or group of caregivers in a designated area.
- (A) Groups shall have assigned staff and be recognizable by both staff and children.
- (B) If more than one group of children uses the same room and includes children under three years of age, the room shall be physically divided by the use of furnishings, dividers, temporary or permanent walls. For groups of children over three years of age, there shall be well-defined areas that are appropriately equipped for each group of children.
- (C) Groups, with their assigned staff, may be combined for special group activities, e.g., outdoor play, meals, sleeping, field trips. Designated area requirements will not apply during these activities.
(f) Swimming guidelines. Staff-child ratios listed in (1)-(6) of this subsection shall apply when children are swimming and are not participating in swimming lessons with a certified instructor. [Also see 340:110-3-49 regarding supervision of children engaged in water activities.] Staff-child ratios when children are swimming are:
- (1) under 2 years, a staff-child ratio of 1:1;
- (2) 2-year olds, a staff-child ratio of 1:2;
- (3) 3-year olds, a staff-child ratio of 1:6;
- (4) 4 and 5-year olds, a staff-child ratio of 1:7;
- (5) 6-year olds and over, a staff-child ratio of 1:10; and
- (6) When children of two or more ages are grouped together, staff ratio for the youngest child shall apply.