8.

01 Sampler of Childcare Rules

Directions: Use this handout to record information about typical health and safety policies for child care centers.
Each policy is based on a child care rule from the ​NC Child Care Center Handbook​. Instructions are provided at the
top of each column.

Goal of Notes from Sample Child Care Rule: Interpretation of

Policy: Text: ​ rite in your own
Find in the ​NC Child Care Center Handbook​ the Child Rule: W
State a rationale Record notes Care Rule referenced by code number; then copy the words what each rule
to explain why from the rule in the block provided. means.
each type of textbook(s) that
policy is needed. relate to this
topic or type of
policy.

1. Supervise 10A NCAC 09 .0714 - Other Staffing Staff should be able

children at all Requirements to see and hear
times Children must be adequately supervised at children at all times.
all times. Adequate supervision means that
They should also be
staff interact with the children while moving
interacting with
Rationale: about the indoor and outdoor area, and are
There should able to hear and see the children at all times,
children. The only
be a except when emergencies necessitate that exception should be
consistent direct supervision is impossible for brief emergencies.
rule defining periods of time.
when and how
children
should be
supervised.

2. Maintain 10A NCAC 09.0712 - Staff/Child Ratios for Centers with a

minimum Centers with a Licensed Capacity of Less licensed capacity of
adult-child than 30 Children less than 30 should
ratios
have a set staff/child
Age of No. No. Maximum No. ratio.
Children Children Staff Group Staff
Rationale: So Size
that there is
enough 5 1 10 2
0-12
teachers to
months
help and
monitor each 6 1 12 2
child. 12-24
months

2 to 3 10 1 20 2
years old
 15 1 25 2
3 to 5
years old

5 years 25 1 25 1
and older

3. Provide a 10A NCAC 09 .0601 - Safe Environment All equipment must

safe A safe indoor and outdoor environment shall be be sturdy and stable
environment provided for the children in care in accordance and free if hazards
with rules in this Section.
such as sharp
edges,peeling or
Rationale: Equipment and furnishings shall be sturdy,
This rule stable, and free of hazards that may injure
lead based
exists so that children including sharp edges, lead based or paint,rust,loose nail
a kid is not peeling paint, rust, loose nails, splinters, splinters , and pinch
put in harm's protrusions (excluding nuts and bolts on sides and crush points.
way and their of fences), and pinch and crush points.
environments
are safe.

4. Require (Notes will 10A NCAC 09 .0701 – Health Standards for All staff are
medical vary) Staff required to have on
examinations All staff must have on file within 60 days of the file within 60 days of
of staff date of employment, a statement signed by a
employment a
members licensed physician or an authorized health
statement that
professional under his/her supervision, that
indicates that the person is emotionally and
signed by their
Rationale: physically fit to care for children. doctor or a
This rule physician stating
exists so that that the person is
the employees emotionally and
do not expose physically fit to for
any type of care .
viruses or
diseases to
the children.

Purpose of Notes from Text: Sample Child Care Rule: Interpretation of

Policy: Record notes from the Find in the ​NC Child Care Center Rule: Write in your
State a rationale to textbook(s) that relate Handbook​ the Child Care Rule referenced own words what each
explain why each to this topic or type of by code number; then copy the rule in the rule means.
policy. block provided.
type of policy is
needed.

5. Keep medical 10A NCAC 09 .0801 – Application for Each child must
care information Enrollment have a copy of all
for children on Each child must have a completed medical information
file application on file on the first day of
on file to
attendance and must remain on file for
at least one year from the date the
Rationale:This child is no longer enrolled in the center.
policy was The child’s parent or guardian must
created to make sign the application. The application
sure the a child’s must be available and easily
medical needs accessible to the caregiving staff. The
are met if needed completed application must include, at
and to make sure a minimum, the following information:
its the the child's full name and the name the
appropriate child is to be called the child's date of
approach. birth, any allergies, particular fears, or
unique behavior characteristics that the
child has names of individuals to
whom the center may release the child
as authorized by the person who signs
the application date of enrollment
emergency medical information.

6. Follow 10A NCAC 09 .0803 – Administering

regulations for Medication
giving No prescription or over-the-counter
medications medication and no topical, non-medical
ointment, repellent, lotion, cream, or
powder may be administered to any
Rationale: child: without written authorization
from the child’s parent, physician, or
other health professional; without
written instructions from the child’s
parent, physician, or other health
professional; in any manner not
authorized by the child’s parent,
physician, or other health professional;
after its expiration date; or for
non-medical reasons, such as to
induce sleep. When questions arise
concerning whether any medication
should be administered to a child, the
caregiver may decline to administer the
medication without signed written
 dosage instructions from a licensed
physician or authorized health
professional.

7. Provide care 10A NCAC 09 .0804 – Infectious and If child has a fever
for mildly ill Contagious Diseases of 101 orally then a
children teacher is to
Centers may provide care for a mildly
separate the child
ill child who has a Fahrenheit
from other to
Rationale:If child temperature of less than 100 degrees
is sick and need auxiliary; 101 degrees orally; or 102
prevent from the
the proper care it degrees rectally and who remains child from whatever
is appropriate to capable of participating in routine the child may have.
take care of the group activities; provided the child
nd inform parents does not: have the sudden onset of
with the right diarrhea characterized by an increased
knowledge that is number of bowel movements
needed help compared to the child's normal pattern
prevent getting and with increased stool water; or
the other children have two or more episodes of vomiting
sick within a 12 hour period; or have a red
eye with white or yellow eye discharge
until 24 hours after treatment; or have
scabies or lice; or have known chicken
pox or a rash suggestive of chicken
pox; or have tuberculosis, until a
health professional states that the child
is not infectious; or have strep throat,
until 24 hours after treatment has
started; or have pertussis, until five
days after appropriate antibiotic
treatment; or have hepatitis A virus
infection, until one week after onset of
illness or jaundice; or have impetigo,
until 24 hours after treatment; or have
a physician or other health
professional’s written order that the
child be separated from other children.

Purpose of Notes from Text: Sample Child Care Rule: Interpretation of

Policy: Record notes from the Find in the ​NC Child Care Center Handbook Rule: Write in your
State a rationale to textbook(s) that relate the Child Care Rule referenced by code own words what each
explain why each to this topic or type of number; then copy the rule in the block rule means.
type of policy is policy. provided.
needed.
8. Exclude ill 10A NCAC 09 .0804 – Infectious and
children from Contagious Diseases
contact with well
children ● Centers which choose to
provide care for mildly ill
children must: follow all
Rationale: procedures to prevent the
spread of communicable
diseases as described in 15A
NCAC 18A .2800, “Sanitation
of Child Care Facilities;”
separate from other children
any child who becomes ill while
in care or who is suspected of
having a communicable
disease or condition other than
described above until the child
leaves the center; notify all
parents at enrollment that the
center will be providing care for
mildly ill children; immediately
notify the parent of any child
who becomes ill while in care
or who is suspected of being ill
with a communicable condition
and may not remain in care;
immediately notify the parent of
any sick child in care if the
child’s condition worsens while
the child is in care.

9. Implement Blank 10A NCAC 09 .0805 Sanitary Food BLANK

sanitary Service
practices (a)

Rationale:
BLANK BLANK
(b)
10. Provide 10A NCAC 09 .0205 – Parental
parents access to Access
their children The parent, guardian or full-time
custodian of a child enrolled in any child
care center must be allowed unlimited
Rationale: access to the center during its
operating hours for the purposes of
contacting the child or evaluating the
center and the care provided by the
center.