New Jersey › Fair Haven › Smart Start Preschool

Smart Start Preschool

Child care center · 786 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704 · License 13SMA0003

0Compliance score
Poor

Capacity 49. 2½ to 6 Grow NJ Kids: Level 1

Violation history (17)

Severity	Date	Standard / narrative	Corrected
?	Tue Apr 28 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(16) — Walls shall be painted or otherwise covered whenever there is evidence of: i. Excessive peeling or chipped paint; or ii. Heavily soiled conditions. Repair and/or paint surfaces including chipped surfaces on outside red brick wall.	Yes
?	Tue Apr 28 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(1) — (a) Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: 1. The center shall be free of moisture resulting from water leaks or seepage. 2. Floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. 4. Carpeting shall be securely fastened to the floor. 9. Toilets, wash basins, kitchen sinks, and other plumbing shall be maintained in good operating and sanitary condition. Ensure all surfaces are clean and in good repair including soiled carpeting in room #2.	Yes
?	Tue Apr 28 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-7.6(a) — (a) The center shall take immediate necessary action to protect the child from further harm and shall immediately notify the child's parent(s) when one of the following occurs while the child is in the center’s care: 1. A child is bitten and the skin is broken; 2. A child sustains a head or facial injury, including when a child bumps his or her head; 3. A child falls from a height greater than the height of the child; or 4. An injury requiring professional medical care occurs. Ensure that documentation shows that parents are notified immediately when a child sustains a head or facial injury, including when a child bumps his or her head.	Yes
?	Tue Apr 28 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-7.3(a) — (a) For early childhood programs, the following shall apply: 1. Each child not enrolled in a public or private school shall have had a health examination performed by a health care provider within: i. Six months prior to admission, for children who are 2½ years of age or younger; or ii. One year prior to admission, for children above 2½ years of age. 2. For each child not enrolled in a public or private school, upon admission, the center shall maintain on file at the center a Universal Child Health Record (Department of Health Form CH-14) or its equivalent, updated annually, along with an immunization record , and a special care plan, if applicable. A 30-day grace period is permitted in N.J.A.C. 8:57- 4.5(e): i. For children coming from other states or countries in accordance with N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.6 and 4.7; and ii. For children who are in foster care or experiencing homelessness as defined by the McKinney-Vento Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). 3. For children enrolled in a public or private school, the center shall obtain a written statement from each child's parent indicating: I. That the child is in good health and can participate in the normal activities of the program; and ii. Any conditions or specific needs that may require special accommodations. 4. If immunizations are contraindicated for medical reasons, the center may choose to admit the child, provided that the parent submits to the center a written statement from a health care provider attesting to the following: i. The reason the immunization is medically contraindicated; and ii. The specific time period that the immunization is medically contraindicated. 5. A child shall be exempted from a physical examination, immunization, or medical treatment if the parent objects thereto in a written statement submitted to the center, signed by the parent, explaining how the examination, immunization, or medical treatment conflicts with the child’s exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices. i. Religiously-affiliated centers shall have the authority to withhold or grant a religious exemption from the required immunization for children entering or attending their centers without challenge by any secular health authority, as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:57-4.4. ii. The center shall maintain the parent’s written statement on file as part of the child’s record. 6. Those children with immunization exemptions may be excluded from the center by the Office of Licensing or the Department of Health during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak, as determined by the State Commissioner of Health. Ensure health records are maintained on file as required including universal health form completed annually for 1 child.	Yes
?	Tue Apr 28 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(1) — (a) Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: 1. The center shall be free of moisture resulting from water leaks or seepage. 2. Floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. 4. Carpeting shall be securely fastened to the floor. 9. Toilets, wash basins, kitchen sinks, and other plumbing shall be maintained in good operating and sanitary condition. Ensure all surfaces are clean and in good repair including cracked ceramic tile on teaching desk.	Yes
?	Mon Mar 03 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-6.3(a)(12)(ii) — center shall ensure that these safety and sanitation practices are followed: sippy cups shall be labeled with the child’s name. Ensure that each child's sippy cup is labeled with the child's name.	Yes
?	Mon Mar 03 2025 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(m)(2) — Supplemental evacuation requirements are as follows: cribs, beds, playpens, and cots used for rest or sleep shall be arranged so as to provide access to a three-foot-wide aisle that leads to an unobstructed exit. Ensure that all exits and egress areas are unobstructed and that the emergency exit doors are easily operable	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(b)(7) — Outdoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: the center shall comply with the Playground Safety Subcode of the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, as specified in N.J.A.C. 5:23-11. Ensure that all playground equipment meets public playground design standards (ASTM F-1487). Provide commercial documentation for Step 2 slide in gym.	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-7.8(a)(1)(i) — Handwashing requirements are as follows: the center shall ensure that children three months of age and older wash their hands with soap and running water before intake of food. Ensure children wash hands and go directly to the cleaned and disinfected table before the intake of food.	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(16)(i) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: walls shall be painted or otherwise covered whenever there is evidence of excessive peeling or chipped paint. Touch up lavender paint in girl's upstairs bathroom.	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(17) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: all televisions and computers shall be secured on a stable surface and shelving shall be secured and not be overloaded. Ensure that all shelving is secured to a stable surface. Secure loose cubbies to walls throughout center.	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(2) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. Clean and maintain the walls in upstairs girl's and boys bathrooms.	Yes
?	Thu Apr 20 2023 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-4.3(a)(1) — The center shall develop and implement an Office of Licensing-approved method to keep track of the location and ensure the safety of all children at all times when under the center’s supervision, including the transfer of supervision from and to parents during arrival and departure and the utilization of off-site locations, including playgrounds and field trips. Ensure that adequate procedures for tracking children are adhered to at all times throughout the center. A staff member stated 5 when 4 children were present.	Yes
?	Mon Mar 07 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(n)(1) — Fire prevention requirements are as follows: the center shall conduct fire drills at least once a month, as specified in the NJUFC. The center shall ensure that fire drills are conducted during each session provided at the center and that one fire drill per year is conducted during nap time, if applicable. Ensure that the center conducts fire drills at least once per month during each session provided at the center, including one fire drill annually that is conducted during nap time.	Yes
?	Mon Mar 07 2022 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-4.3(c) — The following staff/child ratios shall apply, except as specified in 3A:52-4.3(d) through (f): Age Staff/Child Ratio Under 18 months - 1:4 18 months up to 2 ½ years - 1:6 2 ½ years up to 4 years - 1:10 4 years - 1:12 5 years and older - 1:15 Ensure that adequate staff/child ratios are maintained at all times throughout the center. In room 2, there were 13 children between 3 and 4 years old with 1 staff member.	Yes
?	Fri Mar 26 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(2) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. Clean and maintain dusty vents and windowsills throughout the center.	Yes
?	Fri Mar 26 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)	3A:52-5.3(a)(2) — Indoor maintenance and sanitation requirements are as follows: floors, carpeting, walls, window coverings, ceilings, and other surfaces shall be kept clean and in good repair. Repair/replace chipped paint on bathroom stalls and doors throughout center.	Yes

Severity 5 = most serious. Source: official state record.

Inspections (9)

9 inspection record(s) on file from NJ-DCF.

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