This was 100% the daycare employees' fault.
The one who found him and was quoted in the article was correct. They should have done a head count at the door, on the van, on the sidewalk back at the school as they got off the van, and once back in the classroom at the
bare minimum. That is 4 times, at the very least, when they should have noticed that he was missing.
Also, in every childcare center where I have worked, a 2yo needs assistance with either diapering or going to the bathroom, and it is usually documented in some way. Did no one notice that he hadn't had a diaper change in 6 hours???
Did they not notice that he had had no lunch, no afternoon snack, no nap?
When they went on the playground for the afternoon or did circle time, no one noticed that little Joey was missing from the group? Which leads me to the question, how many children was each teacher responsible for?
In FL, according to this website, it could be as low as 1:6 or as high as 1:11, depending on the age group he was with. I'm assuming the older since they were on a field trip. Also, at least one additional adult is required since they were on a field trip.
http://www.daycare.com/florida/ BTW, we never took kids younger than 3 on a field trip - WAY too risky.
http://www.daycare.com/florida/standard.html
(f) When transporting children, staff to child ratios must be maintained at all times. The driver may be included in the staff to child ratio. Prior to transporting children and upon the vehicle(s) arrival at its destination the following shall be conducted by the driver(s) of the vehicle(s) used to transport the children:
1. A log shall be maintained for all children being transported in the vehicle. The log shall include each child's name, date, time of departure and time of arrival, signature of driver and signature of second staff member to verify driver's log and the fact that all children have left the vehicle. The log shall be retained for a minimum of four months.
2. Upon arrival at the destination the driver of the vehicle shall:
a. Mark each child off the log as the child departs the vehicle,
b. Conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep of the vehicle to ensure that no child is left in the vehicle, and
c. Sign the log verifying that all children were all accounted for and that the visual sweep was conducted.
3. Upon arrival at the destination a second staff member shall:
a. Conduct a physical inspection and visual sweep the vehicle to ensure that no child is left in the vehicle, and
b. Sign the log verifying that all children were accounted for and drivers log is complete.
This whole thing was a disaster waiting to happen. And now it's left to the lawyers. I'm just so thankful that the little boy is okay, but the poor thing having to spend the day with DFCS because of these idiots!!!