Licensing visit when children are NOT present???

[Lovisa]

Just curious how a licensing surprise visit would go if they showed up on a day where you aren't actually working. For example, this summer is going to be VERY light for me (a lot of school district parents) so there will be days where I am not working at all even though normally I would be. If my analyst showed up, how would they do their visit? Just check that all my paperwork is in order? Obviously, I do not keep the house kid proofed when kids aren't here (knives in the kitchen sink, toothpaste being left out, etc.). Would they just come back another day?

Just curious if anyone has had this happen. Thanks!

[Second Home]

I have had it happen twice. They do everything that they normally do with the exception of going over the things related directly to the children who are present .

For me I have to keep the house child proofed for the hours of care I am licensed for whether children are present or not .

Once I was painting in the basement and a mess when the knock on the door came. My licensing specialist was great about it . Did her visit and left .

[Lovisa]

For me I have to keep the house child proofed for the hours of care I am licensed for whether children are present or not

Thanks for the reply!

I am curious why this is? Is it like this everywhere? (I'm in Ca by the way) I would assume that no children present means I can do whatever I want in my home......:confused:

I'm confused why licensing would get to dictate how my home is kept if I'm not working (I'm asking in general, not you specifically ).

[rosieteddy]

I would put a Daycare Closed sign when children are not there.Then you can open the door or not.

[daycarediva]

I email my registrar when I will be closed so she doesn't waste her time. I don't want to work (even an inspection) when I don't have to.

[Play Care]

Mine has shown up when I've been closed.
She's not done anything. If I am open and children are present then I have to let her in. If I'm closed (even on a day I'm normally open) I don't. Nor does my house have to be "day care ready" when children are not present.
I could email her when I'm closed but usually I don't think of it. She is aware I have mostly teacher kids so she's taking her chances showing up on a week when schools are closed.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

In Calif we are required to advise licensing whenever we are not open, i.e. vacation, extra holiday, etc. So depending on the analyst they might make that an issue if they were to arrive and you where not working or where not even there.

[Lovisa]

In Calif we are required to advise licensing whenever we are not open, i.e. vacation, extra holiday, etc. So depending on the analyst they might make that an issue if they were to arrive and you where not working or where not even there.

I didn't know this. I wonder why my analyst never informed me of this rule? Also, during the summers, my days off change weekly depending on a few parents schedules. Surely, my analyst would get sick of me calling her every Monday . I'll have to call her and see what she says I should do.

[thrivingchildcarecom]

Like I said it really depends on the analyst (can you say annoying) as to what they ultimately do. I always thought I would just send them an email or fax if I needed to be closed for the day. See if they say that is acceptable.

[Lovisa]

Like I said it really depends on the analyst (can you say annoying) as to what they ultimately do. I always thought I would just send them an email or fax if I needed to be closed for the day. See if they say that is acceptable.

My analyst has never given me her email but that is a good idea. If notifying her is required, email would be much easier than having to call

[BumbleBee]

I didn't know this. I wonder why my analyst never informed me of this rule? Also, during the summers, my days off change weekly depending on a few parents schedules. Surely, my analyst would get sick of me calling her every Monday . I'll have to call her and see what she says I should do.

There`s a ton of rules my analysts have never informed me of. I am still expected to follow all of them and can be cited for any of them. When I first got licensed one of the requirements was to read the entire child care act and licensing handbook and sign a paper stating I have read both. They do this so that a provider cannot state they did not know a specific rule. My state also has a technical assistance manual available online explaining each rule and how to be in compliance with that rule.

So basically don't expect your analyst to make sure you know the rules.

[AmyKidsCo]

In Calif we are required to advise licensing whenever we are not open, i.e. vacation, extra holiday, etc. So depending on the analyst they might make that an issue if they were to arrive and you where not working or where not even there.

Same thing in WI - we're required to let our licensor know when we're closed. If I ended up having an unexpected day without children I'd probably email her just to be safe.

[MrsSteinel'sHouse]

If I know that I will not have kids, I have to inform my food program and I email the county at the same time. Some days it is a surprise... if I think they might be up because it is "that time of the year" I email. If I am light on kids like in the summer, I make sure I let them know.... usually a "hey XXXXX, just FYI right now my summer is light and Friday's are looking like I may only have two kidlets so we might be doing park days etc so if you decide to drop by then I might not be here. I just wanted to let you know." My inspector knows we go for walks in the mornings and if I don't answer the door.. she will usually wait around to see if I show back up. If I will not be home during a meal time I have to let the food program know. Now, I have had them show up on a day when I don't have any kidlets here and they have done a regular inspection. My childcare room is exclusively childcare. But, she didn't care about cleaner on counter etc. She did offer to come back another time. But, I really try to keep my inspector informed of what my schedule is like and when "best times" are. Like this winter Tuesday and Wednesday I had all three babies so I would send her an email saying that so she knew and could choose a different day that was easier to do. Oh and she knows not to come during naptime!!! Sacred at my house! She was here a couple of weeks ago on a Monday- I was actually being shadowed by a student that day and it worked out brilliantly!

[DaveA]

I email my registrar when I will be closed so she doesn't waste her time. I don't want to work (even an inspection) when I don't have to.

I do the same thing. Save trouble from him knocking on my door when I'm not home or taking up my time when I'm doing something else.

[sharlan]

In Calif we are required to advise licensing whenever we are not open, i.e. vacation, extra holiday, etc. So depending on the analyst they might make that an issue if they were to arrive and you where not working or where not even there.

May I ask where you read this? In over 30 years I have never heard anyone else state this or read it.

I've discussed my frequent outings with different analysts and not one has said anything about informing them. In fact, I asked my last analyst about this 3 years ago and at that time he told me that he would leave his card on the door and return on a later date.