DCF 251.06(12)(12)Swimming areas.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)(a)
DCF 251.06(12)(a)1.1. Aboveground and in-ground swimming pools on the premises may not be used by children in care.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)2.2. Swimming pools shall be enclosed by a 4-foot fence with a self-closing, self-latching door. Spaces between the vertical posts of the fence shall be 4 inches or less.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)3.3. If access to the pool is through a gate, the gate shall be closed and visibly locked during the licensed hours of the center.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)4.4. If access to the pool is through a door, the door shall be closed, visibly locked, and equipped with an alarm at the door that signals when someone has entered the pool area. The door may not be used as an exit.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)5.5. Locks shall be located so that the locks cannot be opened by children.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)6.6. The free-standing wall of an aboveground pool may not serve as an enclosure unless it is at least 4 feet in height and not climbable. If a ladder is present, the ladder shall be removed or raised up so that it is inaccessible to children.
DCF 251.06(12)(a)7.7. The area around the pool enclosure shall be free of toys or equipment that would allow a child to climb or otherwise gain access to the pool.
DCF 251.06(12)(am)(am) A beach on the premises may not be used by children in care. Access to a beach shall be controlled so that children may not enter the area.
DCF 251.06(12)(b)(b) A wading pool on the premises may be used if the water is changed and the pool is disinfected daily. Supervision and staff-to-child ratio requirements under s. DCF 251.055 (1) and (2) shall be met.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)(c) A wading pool, pool, water attraction or beach that is not located on the center premises may be used by children, if all the following conditions are met:
DCF 251.06(12)(c)1.1. The construction and operation of the pool shall meet the requirements of chs. SPS 390 and ATCP 76 for public swimming pools. A beach shall comply with any applicable local ordinance.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)2.2. Certified lifesaving personnel shall be on duty.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)3.3. While children are in the water of a pool, wading pool, water attraction or beach, staff-to-child ratios for child care workers who can swim shall be:
DCF 251.06(12)(c)3.a.a. For children under 3 years of age: 1:1.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)3.b.b. For children 3 years of age: 1:4.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)3.c.c. For children 4 and 5 years of age: 1:6.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)3.d.d. For children 6 years of age and older: 1:12.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)4.4. When a mixed age group of children are swimming, the staff-to-child ratio shall be adjusted based on the number of children in the water and each child’s age.
DCF 251.06 NoteNote: A worksheet to help calculate the staff to child ratio for mixed aged groupings during swimming is available from the department. Requests may be made to the licensing representative or regional licensing office listed in Appendix A.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)5.5. A child shall be restricted to the area of the pool or beach that is within the child’s swimming ability.
DCF 251.06(12)(c)6.6. If some of the children are in the water and others are not, there shall be at least 2 child care workers supervising the children. One child care worker shall supervise the children who are in the water, and the other child care worker shall supervise children who are not in the water.
DCF 251.06 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, January, 1997, No. 493, eff. 8-1-97; r. and recr. (11), Register, September, 1998, No. 513, eff. 10-1-98; reprinted to restore omitted copy in (11) (b), Register, April, 1999, No. 520; correction in (1) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.; CR 03-052: am. (title), (1) (a), (2) (h) and (i), (3) (b) and (c), (6) (b) 2., (9) (b) 3. c., 4. b. and (c) 1., (9) (f) 5., (g) 1., c., (10) (a), Table 46.06 (title), (10) (b), (11) (b) 1. and 2. a., (11) (b) 3. and 6. and (c) 2. (intro.), cr. (2) (k) and (L), (6) (b) 3., (9) (c) 3m. and (11) (c) 1m., renum. (11) (b) 2. b. to d. and 3. a. to d. to be (b) 3. to 9., r. and recr. (12) Register December 2004 No. 588, eff. 3-1-05; corrections in (6) (b) 1. and (12) (c) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; CR 07-102: am. (2) (a), (3) (intro.), (a) to (c), (4) (j), (6) (b) 1., 3., (9) (d) 2. a., (10) (f), (11) (a), (b) 5. to 7., (12) (a), (b) and (c) 3., cr. (9) (a) 1m. and (12) (c) 6., r. and recr. (9) (b) 4. and 5., r. (9) (c) 3. and (11) (b) 9., renum. (12) (c) to be (12) (c) (intro.) and am. Register December 2008 No. 636, eff. 1-1-09; corrections in (12) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2008 No. 635; correction in (6) (b) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register August 2011 No. 668; correction in (12) (c) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register January 2012 No. 673; correction in (12) (c) 1. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register July 2016 No. 727; EmR1918: emerg. am. (1) (a), r. and recr. (1) (b), am. (1) (e), (2) (d), (f), cr. (2) (gm), am. (2) (h), r. and recr. (2) (i), cr. (2) (im), (m) to (o), r. and recr. (3), am. (4) (j), r. (5), am. (6) (b) 1., r. (8), (9) (a) 6., am. (9) (b) 3. c., 5., r. (9) (e), am. (9) (d) 1. a., (f) 3., 4., (g) (title), cr. (9) (g) 1. d., (10) (dm), am. (11) (b) 5., 6., cr. (11) (b) 6m., am. (11) (b) 7., cr. (11) (bm), am. (11) (c) 2. b., (12) (a), (b), eff. 1-30-19; CR 19-089: am. (1) (a), r. and recr. (1) (b), am. (1) (e), (2) (d), (f), cr. (2) (gm), am. (2) (h), r. and recr. (2) (i), cr. (2) (im), (m) to (o), r. and recr. (3), am. (4) (j), r. (5), am. (6) (b) 1., r. (8), (9) (a) 6., am. (9) (b) 3. c., 5., r. (9) (e), am. (9) (d) 1. a., (f) 3., 4., (g) (title), cr. (9) (g) 1. d., (10) (dm), am. (11) (b) 5., 6., cr. (11) (b) 6m., am. (11) (b) 7., cr. (11) (bm), am. (11) (c) 2. b., (12) (a), (b) Register March 2020 No. 771, eff. 4-1-20; CR 21-100: r. (1) (b), cr. (2) (p), r. and recr. (4) (j), cr. (4) (jm), r. and recr. (6), r. (9) (g) 1. a., d., cr. (10) (h), r. and recr. (12) (a), cr. (12) (am) Register February 2023 No. 806, eff. 3-1-23; correction in (2) (p) 2. made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2023 No. 806.
DCF 251.07DCF 251.07Program.
DCF 251.07(1)(1)Program planning and scheduling.
DCF 251.07(1)(a)(a) Each group child care center shall have a written program of daily activities posted that are suitable for the developmental level of each child and each group of children. The program shall provide each child with experiences that will promote all of the following:
DCF 251.07 NoteNote: The Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards are voluntary standards that were designed to help centers develop programs and curriculum to help ensure that children are exposed to activities and opportunities that will prepare them for success in school and into the future. The Standards are primarily intended as guidance on developmentally appropriate expectations and are not intended to be used as a checklist to gauge a child’s progress. The Standards are based on scientific research. Copies of the Wisconsin Model Early Learning Standards are available on the Wisconsin Early Childhood Collaborating Partners website at http://www.collaboratingpartners.com/ or through the Child Care Information Center at 1-800-362-7353.
DCF 251.07 NoteNote: The standards of quality for school-age programs are addressed in the School-Age Curricular Framework course. More information on this course is available at https://www.wiafterschoolnetwork.org/registry-approved-courses.