MEMPHIS, TN – Daycare workers caught wiping their noses and not washing their hands and children were playing in spit-up.
1-2-3 Learning Academy in South Memphis received high marks for:
- Helping children understand and use language.
State Concerns:- A teacher reported that she was going to use small buttons for an art project. Small buttons are a choking hazard and the state says all material used must be safe, non-toxic and appropriate.
- Not enough storage space for the children. There were only 14 cubby spaces for 24 children to store their personal belongings.
- A state observer saw a child go out of the gate on a scooter two times.
1-2-3 Learning Academy received zero stars.
First Choice Kids Academy in Whitehaven received high marks for:
- The way staff interacts with children.
- Encouraging children to communicate.
State Concerns:- A state observer says staff’s and children’s hands were not washed 75 percent of the time after wiping noses. Also, staff did not regularly wipe the children’s noses. According to the observer, one child walked around with mucus running into her mouth for long periods of time before having her nose wiped.
- The observer says the staff did not warmly greet the children as they arrived at the center. The state says children should be greeted by name and made to feel welcome.
First Choice Kids Academy received zero stars.
Never Ending Rainbow Learning Center in Frayser received high marks for:
- The way staff interacts with children.
State Concerns:- There were no tables or chairs for play, no dolls and no shelves for toys.
- The toys were stored on the floor.
- According to the state observer, the caregiver could not see the children behind her whenever she was washing her hands or the children’s hands, changing diapers and preparing bottles. The state says rooms in a daycare should be arranged so children can be seen without difficulty.
- One child was observed spitting up and then playing in it. Her hands were not washed. The observers says sometimes, the teacher did not wash her own hands after wiping spit-up off of the floor.
Never Ending Rainbow Learning Center received zero stars.
