Section 407.240  Evening, Night, Weekend, and Holiday Care

a)         A center receiving children for evening, night, weekend and holiday care shall comply with standards for all day care centers except when inconsistent with the special requirements prescribed by this Section.

b)         A child shall be considered to be enrolled in evening and/or night care when a majority of his or her time at the center occurs between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m.

c)         Family-like groups of mixed ages are allowed during evening, night, weekend and holiday care.  The age of the youngest child present shall be used to determine the staff/child ratio and group size.

d)         Staff counted for purposes of meeting child/staff ratio requirements shall be awake at all times and shall be in the sleeping area whenever children are sleeping.  Nap time staff/child ratios may be applied to the children who are on their cots.

e)         Each child shall have an individual cot, bed, or crib equipped with comfortable bedding appropriate to the indoor room temperature and maintained in sanitary and safe condition.  Cots, cribs or beds used by other children during the day may be used for other children at night if separate sets of clean sheets and other bedding are provided to each user, and the cot or crib is washed and then sanitized with a germicidal solution between users.

f)         Each child shall have an individual washcloth, towel, toothbrush, comb or brush, and  sleep-wear furnished either by the center or the child's parents.

g)         The night care program shall facilitate a relaxed atmosphere characterized by informal quiet activities.

1)         Scheduling shall reflect the need for regularity in meeting basic needs such as relaxation, meals, self-care, and sleep.

2)         Evening activities shall be primarily self-selected by individuals. Selections shall be chosen from activities such as, but not limited to, outdoor play, reading, lounging, study, table games, group games, conversation, listening to music, dramatic play, and art.

3)         Self-care routines shall include:

A)        Brushing teeth at bedtime or upon rising;

B)        Grooming hair upon rising; and

C)        Toileting scheduled at bedtime and upon rising.

4)         Sleeping arrangements shall be such that the children who stay all night are not disturbed by the departure of those who stay only a portion of the night.

h)         An evening meal shall be served at a regular time each evening to all children then in attendance, and shall be available to other children who may arrive without having first eaten.

i)          A bedtime snack shall be served to each child.

j)          Breakfast shall be provided for all children who have been at the facility throughout the night and are present between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

(Source:  Added at 22 Ill. Reg. 1728, effective January 1, 1998)