Virginia Law

A. When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.

B. During the center's hours of operation, one adult on the premises shall be in charge of the administration of the center. This person shall be either the administrator or an adult appointed by the licensee or designated by the administrator.

C. During the stated hours of operation, there always shall be on the premises and on field trips when one or more children are present one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director and an immediately available staff member, volunteer or other employee who is at least 16 years of age, with direct means for communication between the two of them. The volunteer or other employee shall have received instruction in how to contact appropriate authorities if there is an emergency.

D. In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present. Such a program leader shall supervise no more than two aides.

E. Exception: A program leader is not required in each grouping of children during the first and last hour of operation when a center operates more than six hours per day and during the designated rest period if the following are met: (i) there is a staff member in the group who is over 18 years of age and has at least three months of programmatic experience at the center; (ii) there is an additional staff person on site who meets program leader qualifications, is not counted in the staff-to-children ratios and is immediately available to help if needed; and (iii) there is a direct means for communicating between these two staff members.

F. Children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff, except that staff need only be able to hear a child who is using the restroom provided that:

1. There is a system to assure that individuals who are not staff members or persons allowed to pick up a child in care do not enter the restroom area while in use by children; and

2. Staff check on a child who has not returned from the restroom after five minutes. Depending on the location and layout of the restroom, staff may need to provide intermittent sight supervision of the children in the restroom area during this five-minute period to assure the safety of children and to provide assistance to children as needed.

G. Children 10 years of age and older shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff except when the following requirements are met:

1. Staff can hear or see the children (video equipment, intercom systems, or other technological devices shall not substitute for staff being able to directly see or hear children);

2. Staff are nearby so they can provide immediate intervention if needed;

3. There is a system to ensure that staff know where the children are and what they are doing;

4. There is a system to ensure that individuals who are not staff members or persons allowed to pick up children in care do not enter the areas where children are not under sight supervision; and

5. Staff provide sight and sound supervision of the children at variable and unpredictable intervals not to exceed 15 minutes.

H. When the outdoor activity area is not adjacent to the center, there shall be at least two staff members on the outdoor activity area whenever one or more children are present.

I. Staff shall greet each child upon arrival at the center and oversee each child's departure from the center.

J. Staff shall not allow a child to leave the center unsupervised.