DHS Licensure Rules (TN Rule 1240-04-01) Compliant

Tennessee ChildcareLicensing Requirements

Stay compliant with Tennessee DHS Licensure Rules (TN Rule 1240-04-01) regulations. Bloomily helps Tennessee childcare centers manage staff ratios, certifications, and emergency drills — all in one platform.

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Tennessee Pre-Inspection Checklist

Based on DHS Licensure Rules (TN Rule 1240-04-01) requirements • 50 items • Generated from bloomily.app

Center Name: _________________________________ Date: _____________

Licensing

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Written operational policies available

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Physical Environment

Indoor space meets minimum (30 sq ft per child)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Temperature maintained (68-78°F)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Health Practices

Daily health observation performed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Safety Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Smoke detectors working

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Lockdown drills semi-annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Evacuation drill annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Drill records documented properly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Emergency plan posted

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Staff Requirements

TBI background check current for all staff

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

DCS Child Abuse Registry check completed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

CPR certification current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

First Aid certification current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.09

Annual training completed (18 hours)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Orientation within 30 days of hire

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Health statement with TB screening on file

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

Safe sleep training (infant caregivers)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Child Records

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Emergency contact information current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Immunization records on file (TN Certificate)

Ref: TCA 49-6-5001

Physical exam within 30 days of enrollment

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Supervision

Children supervised at all times

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.09

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

This checklist is provided for reference only. Always verify requirements with your state licensing agency.

Pre-Inspection Checklist

50 items based on Tennessee DHS Licensure Rules (TN Rule 1240-04-01) requirements

Licensing(5)Physical Environment(10)Health Practices(7)Safety Practices(10)Staff Requirements(10)Child Records(6)Supervision(2)

License displayed in prominent location

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Licensing

Capacity not exceeded

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Licensing

Operating within licensed hours

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Licensing

Written operational policies available

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Licensing

Parent handbook current and distributed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.05

Licensing

Indoor space meets minimum (30 sq ft per child)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Outdoor play area adequate (75 sq ft per child)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Temperature maintained (68-78°F)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Adequate lighting in all areas

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Toilets clean and child-accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Handwashing facilities available

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Drinking water readily accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Sleeping/napping equipment appropriate

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Outdoor equipment safe and maintained

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Fall zones with resilient surfacing

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Physical Environment

Daily health observation performed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Handwashing procedures followed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Diapering area sanitized properly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Medications stored locked and inaccessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

First aid supplies stocked and accessible

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Illness exclusion policy enforced

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Safe sleep practices followed (infants)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Health Practices

Fire extinguishers inspected annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Smoke detectors working

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Emergency exits marked and unobstructed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Fire drills conducted monthly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Severe weather drills quarterly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Lockdown drills semi-annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Evacuation drill annually

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Drill records documented properly

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Emergency plan posted

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.11

Safety Practices

Hazardous materials stored safely

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.12

Safety Practices

TBI background check current for all staff

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

Staff Requirements

DCS Child Abuse Registry check completed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

Staff Requirements

Director meets qualification requirements

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

CPR certification current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

First Aid certification current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

Staff-to-child ratios maintained

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.09

Staff Requirements

Annual training completed (18 hours)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

Orientation within 30 days of hire

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

Health statement with TB screening on file

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.07

Staff Requirements

Safe sleep training (infant caregivers)

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.08

Staff Requirements

Enrollment forms complete

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Child Records

Emergency contact information current

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Child Records

Immunization records on file (TN Certificate)

Ref: TCA 49-6-5001

Child Records

Physical exam within 30 days of enrollment

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Child Records

Pickup authorization documented

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Child Records

Allergy/special needs documented

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Child Records

Children supervised at all times

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.09

Supervision

Sign-in/out procedures followed

Ref: TN Rule 1240-04-01-.06

Supervision

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Tennessee compliance and operations resources

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Nearby State Requirements

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