1
Health and Safety Checklist for Religiously Exempt Child Day Centers
This checklist is used to review basic health and safety practices for religiously exempt child day centers participating in the Virginia Star Quality Initiative. This checklist
is not used to determine compliance with the Code of Virginia (§ 63.2-1716). The Virginia Star Quality Initiative is administered in partnership with the Virginia
Department of Social Services and Virginia Early Childhood Foundation. For more information the Virginia Star Quality Initiative, visit www.smartbeginnings.org.
*Items in italics represent information found in the Code of Virginia (§ 63.2-1716) for child day centers operating with a religious exemption.
Section A. Supervision and Discipline
A.1. There is always someone present in charge of the administration of the program.
A.2. Daily attendance for all children is recorded.
A.3. The following staff to child ratios are followed:
 One staff member to four children from zero to twenty-four months.
 One staff member to ten children from ages twenty-four months to six years.
 One staff member to twenty-five children ages six years and older.
A.4. Staff shall be counted in the required staff-to-children ratios only when they are directly supervising
children (except as stated in A.6).
A.5. Staff are actively supervising children on site and whenever children are in care, including daily intake
and dismissal procedures to ensure safety of children.
A.6. In each grouping of children, at least one adult staff member shall be regularly present. However,
during designated daily rest periods and designated sleep periods of evening and overnight care programs,
for children ages 24 months to six years, only one staff member shall be required to be present with the
children under supervision. In such cases, at least one staff member shall be physically present in the same
space as the children under supervision at all times. Other staff members counted for purposes of the
staff-to-child ratio need not be physically present in the same space as the resting or sleeping children, but
shall be present on the same floor as the resting or sleeping children and shall have no barrier to their
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011
Yes No
N/A Comments
2
immediate access to the resting or sleeping children. The staff member who is physically present in the
same space as the sleeping children shall be able to summon additional staff counted in the staff-to-child
ratio without leaving the space in which the resting or sleeping children are located.
A.7. Staff members shall be at least 16 years of age.
A.8. Staff members under 18 years of age shall be under the supervision of an adult staff member.
Volunteers working with children are at least 13 years old.
A.9. Adult staff members shall supervise no more than two staff members under 18 years of age at any
given time.
A.10. Staff do not let children leave the program unsupervised.
A.11. There is a least one staff person present with current training in first aid and CPR.
A.12. Staff keep all children safe during transportation and field trips; including swimming and wading
activities.
A.13. When children are swimming, there is a lifeguard and safety equipment present.
A.14. Staff practice positive guidance techniques when disciplining children. Staff do not physically or
emotionally punish children for misbehavior.
A.15. More than one staff supervise swimming and wading activities and outdoor activities when the
outdoor area is not next to the center.
Section B. Staff Records
B.1. The program maintains a confidential file on each staff person and volunteer.
B.2. All staff and volunteers receive orientation training that includes recognizing the signs of child abuse
and neglect.
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011
Yes No
N/A Comments
3
B.3. Information such as any allergies, health problems or disability is kept in the staff’s file.
B. 4. Employees or volunteers or any other person who is expected to be alone with one or more children
enrolled in the center have on file initial background checks upon employment. Background checks are
then updated every three years with no barrier crimes reported or any felony conviction in the past 5
years. (Background checks include: the Central Registry Check, Criminal Record Check and Sworn
Statement)
Section C. Transportation
Yes No
N/A Comments
Yes No
N/A Comments
C. 1. Cars, vans or buses used to transport children are insured, have up-to-date inspections, are in good
repair and have a first aid kit for emergencies.
C.2. Drivers have and maintain a valid drivers or commercial driver’s license.
C.3. Drivers share information with the program on any moving violations that occurred five years prior to
or during employment or their assignment as a driver.
C.4. There is always a staff or adult with current first aid and CPR during transportation and on field trips.
C.5. Drivers have had training on safety and emergency procedures before they transport children.
C.6. Parents give written permission for any transportation; including field trips.
C.7. The driver has a list of all children being transported.
C.8. Children are always transported in the appropriate child restraint devices based on current laws.
Section D. Food and Nutrition
D.1. Menu is posted that lists the foods to be served for meals and snacks; substitutions are noted and
foods considered potential choking hazards not served.
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011
4
D.2. Snacks and meals served by the programs are nutritious; referring to the nutritional requirement set
by the USDA depending on the child’s age.
D.3. If food is brought in from home, it is marked with the child’s name and stored so not to spoil. Leftover food discarded or returned to the parents at the end of the day.
D.4. Programs ask parents about any food allergies. If a child has an allergy, the staff who work with the
child know about that allergy and any food omissions or procedures to take in case of an emergency.
D.5. Contaminated or spoiled/expired food is not served to the children.
Section E. Written Information for Parents
Yes No
N/A Comments
Yes No
N/A Comments
E.1. Operating information such as; operating schedule, contact information, fees, required paperwork,
physical facilities, enrollment capacity, liability insurance, the fact that it is exempt from licensure and the
qualifications of the personnel employed therein.
E.2. Program information such as; daily schedule, parent conferences and program activities.
E.3. Policies for illnesses, medication, discipline, transportation, emergency procedures, food service,
health requirements for staff, and termination.
Section F. Health
F.1. Child and staff maintain good hand washing practices including before eating and after toileting and
diapering, after eating, after coming in from the playground or outdoors, before and after messy
play(finger painting or sand/water play) and after playing with animals.
F.2. Highchairs, diapering surfaces, potty chairs and other surfaces contaminated with bodily fluids are
cleaned and sanitized after each use.
F.3. A simple health screening and exclusion of sick children is conducted daily by a person trained to
perform such screenings; this training is updated periodically.
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011
5
F.4. Children and staff who are ill are excluded from the program until they are no longer contagious.
F.5. Drinking water is accessible at all times. Water or there beverages without caffeine is offered at
regular intervals to nonverbal children.
F.6. For programs with animals or pets, precautions are taken to protect the health of the children. If a
child receives a bite, the child is given the proper first aid, parents notified and the incident is reported to
the child’s pediatrician or the health department.
Section G. Children’s Records
Yes No
N/A Comments
Yes No
N/A Comments
G.1. Program maintains a confidential file for each child enrolled.
G.2. Each child has a copy of a current physical and immunizations in their file before they attend.
G.3. Each file has information regarding the child’s previous child care and school attendance; and proof of
the child’s identity and age.
Section H. Safety
H.1. All areas of the premises accessible to children are free of obvious injury hazards (pinch points,
tripping hazards, head entrapments, open s-hooks, peeling/chipping paint, rotting wood, entanglement
hazards, recalled products) , including providing and maintaining sand or other cushioning material under
playground equipment.
H.2. Resilient surfacing (mulch, sand, etc.) under playground equipment meets the minimum safety
standards when tested in accordance with the procedures described in the American Society for Testing
and Materials. The area of resilient surfacing meets recommendations of the National Program for
Playground Safety.
H.3. Playground sandboxes with bottoms are covered when not being used and trampolines are not used.
H.4. When children are injured while in care, an Injury/incident report is completed and parents notified.
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011
6
H.5. Programs review injury report to check on patterns of injuries which might require changes to
supervision procedures or removal of equipment to keep kids safe.
H.6. Staff follow safety procedures for medications, which include over-the-counter skin products, which
address proper permission, storage, administration and documentation of medication given to children
(except for sunscreen).
H.7. Prescription medication is only administered by a staff person with current Medication Administration
Training according to the prescriber’s instructions and written authorization from the parent or guardian.
The medication is maintained in the original, labeled container (§ 54.1-3408 of the Code of Virginia).
H.8 Program has an emergency preparedness plan, which includes evacuation drills practiced monthly
and shelter-in-place drills are practiced two times a year. Emergency supplies such as first aid kits, radios
and flashlights are available.
H.9. Cleaning materials and other hazardous chemicals are kept locked, are not stored above or with food,
and are kept in original containers if practical. Cleaning materials are stored separately from
insecticides/pesticides.
H.10. Cleaning supplies such as spray bottles used to sanitize tables, high chairs and changing tables are
made daily and are labeled with its contents ; example - “bleach and water”.
H.11. Indoor temperature is no lower than 68 degrees Fahrenheit . Fans or cooling devices are used when
indoor temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
H.12. Any suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected is immediately reported to the local
department of social services where the child resides or where the abuse or neglect is believed to have
occurred; or to the Virginia Department of Social Services’ toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline.
VDSS/MM 5-23-2011