PHYSICAL SITE
§ 3280.61. Measurement and use of indoor child care space.
(a) A facility shall provide indoor child care space for individual and group small muscle activity.
(b) Indoor child care space may not be used simultaneously as play space.
(c) Indoor child care space is measured within permanent, stationary partitions or walls. The allowable number of children in a space is determined by dividing the total square feet in a space by 40.
(d) Measured indoor space includes space occupied by cupboards, shelves, furniture and equipment.
(e) Measured indoor space does not include space occupied by halls, bathrooms, offices, kitchens and locker rooms.
(f) Indoor space in which children are receiving care may not be used simultaneously for other business, commercial, social or another purpose unrelated to the child care being offered.
(g) Preschool and school-age children may not be involved in small or large muscle activity in the same group space in which children are sleeping or resting.
(h) The capacity established for an indoor space may not be exceeded except in the following situations:
(1) At naptime, when toddler or preschool children are resting on rest equipment described in § 3280.105 (relating to rest equipment) if the following conditions are met:
(i) The capacity is determined by the requirement for placement of rest equipment described in § 3280.105(f).
(ii) The capacity may be exceeded for no longer than 2 1/2 consecutive hours and no more than twice in a program day.
(2) When older toddler, preschool or school-age children are participating in a program activity if the following conditions are met:
(i) The capacity of the indoor child care space may be exceeded for no more than two separate 1/2 hour time periods daily.
(ii) Each time period shall be designated on the facility’s schedule of daily activities.
(iii) The space may not be occupied by children of the infant or young toddler age levels during a time period when the capacity is exceeded.
(iv) The number of children present in the space may not be more than twice the measured capacity of the space.
(3) When a meal is served in a space designated and measured as indoor child care space if the following conditions are met:
(i) The capacity of a space may be exceeded when children are eating for no more than 1 hour daily.
(ii) The meal time shall be designated on the facility’s schedule of daily activities.
(iii) The number of children present in the space may not be more than twice the measured capacity of the space.
Authority The provisions of this § 3280.61 amended under Articles IX and X of the Human Services Code (62 P.S. § § 901—922 and 1001—1088).
Source The provisions of this § 3280.61 corrected April 24, 1992, effective April 4, 1992, 22 Pa.B. 2243; amended May 23, 2008, effective September 22, 2008, 38 Pa.B. 2437. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (312276) and (268709).
Cross References This section cited in 55 Pa. Code § 3280.13 (relating to waivers); 55 Pa. Code § 3280.53 (relating to children of an operator or a facility person); and 55 Pa. Code § 3280.221 (relating to requirements specific to school-age programs).
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