(1) ONB providers must allow only the following persons to have unsupervised access to a child in care:
- (a) The child's own parent or guardian;
- (b) Licensees or ONB program staff authorized by the department under chapter 110-06 WAC;
- (c) A government representative including an emergency responder who has specific and verifiable authority for access, supported by documentation; and
- (d) A person authorized in writing or by telephone by the child's parent or guardian such as a family friend or the child's therapist or health care provider.
(2) ONB providers must comply with department approved capacity, group size, and staff-to-child ratios while children are in care. This includes, but is not limited to:
- (a) Indoor and outdoor play activities;
- (b) Off-site activities;
- (c) During transportation;
- (d) Meal times;
- (e) Rest periods; and
- (f) When children are on different floor levels of an indoor space.
(3) ONB providers must supervise children in care by:
- (a) Scanning the environment, looking and listening for both verbal and nonverbal cues to anticipate problems and plan accordingly;
- (b) Positioning themselves to supervise all areas accessible to children;
- (c) Attending to children and being aware of what children are doing at all times;
- (d) Being available and able to promptly assist or redirect a child as necessary; and
(e) Considering the following when deciding whether increased supervision is needed:
- (i) The ages of children;
- (ii) The individual differences and abilities of children;
- (iii) The layout of the indoor and outdoor licensed space and play area;
- (iv) The risk associated with the activities children are or may be engaged in; and
- (v) Whether there are any nearby hazards including those in the licensed or unlicensed space.
- (4) ONB providers must ensure that the staff-to-child ratios required by this chapter are followed by program staff and that children are actively supervised.
- (5) ONB providers must ensure that program staff are equipped with cell phones or walkie-talkies at all times for the purpose of communicating with other staff.
- (6) ONB program staff may undertake other activities for a temporary time period when not required to be providing the active supervision required under subsection (7)(b) of this section, or when following a missing child protocol, pursuant to WAC 110-302-0470(2)(d). Such activities include, but are not limited to, cleaning up after an activity or preparing items for a new activity. The staff member must remain in visual or auditory range, and be available and able to respond to the children's needs.
(7) ONB providers must:
- (a) Not use devices such as baby monitors, video monitors, or mirrors in place of supervision;
(b) Actively supervise children when the children:
- (i) Interact with pets or animals;
- (ii) Engage in water or sand play;
- (iii) Play in an area adjacent to a body of water;
- (iv) Using a safe route to access an area or activity not immediately adjacent to the ONB program premises;
- (v) Search for or handle plant life (foraging);
- (vi) Engage in cooking activities;
- (vii) Engage in water activities;
- (viii) Engage in campfire activities;
- (ix) Engage in climbing activities;
- (x) Engage in tool use activities;
- (xi) Ride on public transportation;
- (xii) Are attending field trips; and
- (xiii) Are participating in hikes or walks.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.216.742. WSR 23-10-059, § 110-302-0345, filed 5/1/23, effective 6/1/23.]