Inspection · 2026-03-06
Date
2026-03-06
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Angela Farmer
(276) 608-2283
(276) 608-2283
SHSIA monitoring inspection of an approved subsidy vendor to determine compliance with current subsidy requirements regarding the health and safety of children and to promote quality standards for the children in their care.
No
Areas Reviewed
8VAC20-780 Administration
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision
8VAC20-780 Programs
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies
Inspector Notes
An unannounced inspection was initiated on 3/6/2026 and completed on 3/23/2026 with local agencies, in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 3/4/2026 relating to allegations of supervision of children, forbidden actions, and operational responsibilities. The inspector reviewed one children?s records on-site.
This inspection included:
? document review, tour of the facility, interviews, observations
The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports the allegation(s); therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and the violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program.
Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five business days from today, which will be the close of business on 4/1/26. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Violations
7Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection and guidance.
During a 30-minute period on 03/03/2026, Child #1 (age 3 years) was not provided protection by staff. Child #1 was taken to the office for behaviors in the classroom. Staff #2 was in the office for approximately 30 minutes, watched the forbidden actions of Staff #1 requiring exercise as punishment, and did not intervene. During this time, Staff #2 also watched staff #1 roughly handle Child #1 and did not intervene.
Staff # 3 was in the classroom for approximately 30 minutes during lunch time, watched the forbidden actions of Staff # 1, forcing the child to eat food while gagging and did not intervene. Several children at the same table as Child #1 and at an adjacent table were watching Child #1 being force fed and Staff #3 did not intervene.
During a 30-minute period on 03/03/2026, Child #1 (age 3 years) was not provided protection by staff. Child #1 was taken to the office for behaviors in the classroom. Staff #2 was in the office for approximately 30 minutes, watched the forbidden actions of Staff #1 requiring exercise as punishment, and did not intervene. During this time, Staff #2 also watched staff #1 roughly handle Child #1 and did not intervene.
Staff # 3 was in the classroom for approximately 30 minutes during lunch time, watched the forbidden actions of Staff # 1, forcing the child to eat food while gagging and did not intervene. Several children at the same table as Child #1 and at an adjacent table were watching Child #1 being force fed and Staff #3 did not intervene.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
The licensee must ensure that the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by the standards are maintained in compliance.
The center?s policy for discipline states that the center does not allow the use of corporal or physical punishment. The policy requires the use of positive discipline techniques which include praising, calling attention to appropriate behavior and acting as good role models in order to influence and re-enforce a child positively.
Staff #1 did not follow the center?s policy and use positive discipline when responding to Child #1. Staff #1used physical punishment, forcing of food, and rough handling toward Child #1 in response to the child?s behavior.
The center?s policy for discipline states that the center does not allow the use of corporal or physical punishment. The policy requires the use of positive discipline techniques which include praising, calling attention to appropriate behavior and acting as good role models in order to influence and re-enforce a child positively.
Staff #1 did not follow the center?s policy and use positive discipline when responding to Child #1. Staff #1used physical punishment, forcing of food, and rough handling toward Child #1 in response to the child?s behavior.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-400-C
When time out is used, it shall not exceed one minute for each year of the child?s age.
Child #1, 3 years old, was sent to the office due to behaviors, and sat in a chair for approximately 12 minutes with no interaction or activities. Staff #2 was working at a computer during the entire time the child was sitting in the chair.
Child #1, 3 years old, was sent to the office due to behaviors, and sat in a chair for approximately 12 minutes with no interaction or activities. Staff #2 was working at a computer during the entire time the child was sitting in the chair.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-1
Roughly handling a child, striking a child, and exercise as punishment are forbidden actions.
On March 3, 2026, Staff #1 made Child #1, 3 years of age, jump up and down with their hands in the air for approximately two minutes. Staff #1 stated that since the child had so much energy to misbehave in the classroom the child could do some jumping jacks in the office. Child #1 was crying, rubbing their stomach, pulling at their shirt and pants, coughing at times, and breathing heavily while crying.
During a period of approximately 30 minutes, Staff #1: squeezed Child #1?s face, forcefully pushed the child?s arms down by the child?s side holding them in place, struck the child?s nose, grabbed the child?s face under the chin and pushed the child?s face in a direction to look at a computer monitor. Child #1 was crying for multiple periods of time, continuously, up to and more than two minutes while Staff #1 continued to scold and roughly handle the child. Staff #1 wiped the child?s nose forcefully, covering the child?s entire face with the tissue and pushed the child?s head back.
On March 3, 2026, Staff #1 made Child #1, 3 years of age, jump up and down with their hands in the air for approximately two minutes. Staff #1 stated that since the child had so much energy to misbehave in the classroom the child could do some jumping jacks in the office. Child #1 was crying, rubbing their stomach, pulling at their shirt and pants, coughing at times, and breathing heavily while crying.
During a period of approximately 30 minutes, Staff #1: squeezed Child #1?s face, forcefully pushed the child?s arms down by the child?s side holding them in place, struck the child?s nose, grabbed the child?s face under the chin and pushed the child?s face in a direction to look at a computer monitor. Child #1 was crying for multiple periods of time, continuously, up to and more than two minutes while Staff #1 continued to scold and roughly handle the child. Staff #1 wiped the child?s nose forcefully, covering the child?s entire face with the tissue and pushed the child?s head back.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-5
Withholding or forcing of food is a forbidden action.
Child #1 was using a spoon to taste small amounts of soup that was served for lunch on 3/03/2026 and was gagging. Staff #1 took the spoon from Child #1 and forced Child #1 to eat full spoons of the soup. Child #1 was crying and spitting out each spoonful into the bowl. Staff #1 would take another spoonful of soup from the bowl and force Child # 1 to eat the soup. Child #1 was being forced to repeatedly eat the soup from the same bowl they had spit food back into. Child #1 was gagging each time another spoonful of soup was put in their mouth. Staff #1 would hold Child #1?s back and pushed the child?s head down so Child #1 could not push away from the spoon. The child held their throat several times and put their hand over their mouth while gagging multiple times.
Child #1 was using a spoon to taste small amounts of soup that was served for lunch on 3/03/2026 and was gagging. Staff #1 took the spoon from Child #1 and forced Child #1 to eat full spoons of the soup. Child #1 was crying and spitting out each spoonful into the bowl. Staff #1 would take another spoonful of soup from the bowl and force Child # 1 to eat the soup. Child #1 was being forced to repeatedly eat the soup from the same bowl they had spit food back into. Child #1 was gagging each time another spoonful of soup was put in their mouth. Staff #1 would hold Child #1?s back and pushed the child?s head down so Child #1 could not push away from the spoon. The child held their throat several times and put their hand over their mouth while gagging multiple times.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-500-A
Staff shall wash their hands with soap and running water after contact with body fluids and before feeding a child.
During lunch on 3/03/2026, Staff #1 wiped Child #1?s nose several times and never washed their hands. Staff stated that Staff #1 had to wipe the spit and food off of her hands and table.
Staff #1 did not wash their hands before feeding Child #1.
During lunch on 3/03/2026, Staff #1 wiped Child #1?s nose several times and never washed their hands. Staff stated that Staff #1 had to wipe the spit and food off of her hands and table.
Staff #1 did not wash their hands before feeding Child #1.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard 8VAC20-780-560-J
Tables and highchair trays shall be sanitized before and after each use for feeding.
The tables in the 3-year-old classroom were not sanitized before lunch on March 3, 2026.
The tables in the 3-year-old classroom were not sanitized before lunch on March 3, 2026.
Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.