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PDFWAC 110-301-0345

Supervising children.

(1) A school-age provider must only allow the following persons to have unsupervised access to a child in care:
(a) That child's own parent or guardian;
(b) Licensees or school-age program staff authorized by the department in chapter 110-06 WAC;
(c) A government representative including an emergency responder who has specific and verifiable authority for access, supported by documentation; and
(d) A person authorized in writing or over the phone by that child's parent or guardian such as a family member, family friend, or the child's therapist or health care provider.
(2) A school-age provider must meet capacity, group size, and staff-to-child ratios while children are in care. This includes, but is not limited to:
(a) Indoor and outdoor play activities;
(b) Off-site activities;
(c) During transportation;
(d) Meal times;
(e) Evening and overnight care, if applicable; and
(f) When children are on different floor levels of the school-age program.
(3) A school-age provider must supervise children in care by:
(a) Scanning the environment looking and listening for both verbal and nonverbal cues to anticipate problems and plan accordingly;
(b) Visibly checking children on many occasions with little time in between;
(c) Positioning themselves to supervise all areas accessible to children;
(d) Attending to children and being aware of what children are doing at all times;
(e) Being available and able to promptly assist or redirect a child as necessary; and
(f) Considering the following when deciding whether increased supervision is needed:
(i) Ages of children;
(ii) Individual differences and abilities of children;
(iii) Layout of the indoor and outdoor licensed space and play area;
(iv) The risk associated with the activities children are engaged in; and
(v) Any nearby hazards including those in the licensed or unlicensed space.
(4) A school-age program staff member may undertake other activities for a temporary time period when not required to be providing active supervision required under subsection (5)(c) of this section. Such activities include, but are not limited to, cleaning up after an activity or preparing items for a new activity. This school-age staff member must remain in visual or auditory range, and be available and able to respond if needed.
(5) A school-age provider must:
(a) Not use devices such as audio monitors, video monitors, or mirrors in place of supervision;
(b) Be able to hear when doors in the immediate area are opened to prevent children from leaving unsupervised;
(c) Actively supervise children when the children:
(i) Interact with pets or animals;
(ii) Engage in water or sand play;
(iii) Play in an area in close proximity to a body of water;
(iv) Use a safe route to access an outdoor play area not immediately adjacent to the school-age program;
(v) Engage in planned activities in the kitchen;
(vi) Ride on public transportation;
(vii) Engage in outdoor play; and
(viii) During field trips.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.055 and 43.216.065. WSR 21-10-035, ยง 110-301-0345, filed 4/27/21, effective 6/1/21.]
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