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Skipwith Academy @ Lauderdale Square (#77)

Inspection · 2023-12-05

Date
2023-12-05
Complaint Related
No
Licensing Inspector
Sharon Curlee
(804) 840-8312
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 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING.
8VAC20-780 PHYSICAL PLANT.
8VAC20-780 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
8VAC20-780 PROGRAMS.
8VAC20-780 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES
8VAC20-780 SPECIAL SERVICES.
8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE.
8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS.
8VAC20-820 SANCTIONS.
8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES.
8VAC20-770 BACKGROUND CHECKS
22.1 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION

Inspector Notes

A self-reported incident regarding supervision was received by the Office of Child Care Health and Safety on December 4, 2023. The inspector initiated the investigation on December 5, 2023. The inspector was on site from 10:40 am until 12:05 pm. Interviews with management and staff were conducted, observations were made at the center and documentation was reviewed including one staff record and two child?s record. An additional interview was conducted off site on December 21, 2023, with other local agencies. The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports areas of noncompliance with the licensing standards related to Supervision of children, therefore the allegation was determined to be valid.
If you have any questions regarding this inspection, please contact the Licensing Inspector.

Sharon Curlee, Licensing Inspector
Office of Child Care Health and Safety
Division of Early Childhood Care and Education
804-840-8312
Sharon.curlee@doe.virginia.gov

Please complete the plan of correction and date to be corrected for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to your licensing inspector within 5 business days from today. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measures. Please do not use staff names, list staff by positions only.

Violations

3
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
Based on interview and review of documentation, the licensee did not ensure the care, protection and guidance by staff when supervising children.

Evidence:

1. The morning of December 4, 2023, staff #2 took 10 children outside the gated playground to the tree line along the center?s property line to pick up sticks and leaves for a nature project.
2. Staff #2 was unaware that two children were missing from the group until approximately 9:30 am when staff #2 lined the children up to return to the building when she noticed child #1 (age 3 years) and child #2 (age 3 years) were not in sight. Staff #2 returned to the classroom where she notified staff #1 that she was unable to locate the two children. Staff #1 started to look throughout the building for the two children. Staff #1 notified management that the two children could not be located.
Staff #1 and management spoke with the staff #2 and realized the two children had been outside. At approximately 9:45 am, management headed outside to search for child #1 and child #2. Management was met at the door by passerby #1 who asked if the center was missing two children. Management confirmed they were missing two children.
3. At approximately 9:35 am, passerby #1 and five additional persons were walking through the neighborhood when they saw two children running through the yards and across the streets unattended. Passerby #2 called law enforcement while passerby #1 walked to the center. The five passersby stayed with the two children until law enforcement and center management arrived.
4. The two children were located in a neighborhood approximately 6 tenths of a mile from the child care center.
Plan of Correction: At 9:29 AM a name to face check was conducted and child #1 and child #2 were accounted for. The police responded and connected with the passerbys a tenth of a mile (walking distance) from the school where the children were reunited with management. Staff #2 was terminated. All staff have been retrained on Safety and Accountability policies and procedures to include sight and sound supervision as well as name to face tracking.
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-F
Based on interviews and a review of documentation, the facility failed to ensure children under the age of 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.

Evidence:

1. On December 4, 2023, at approximately 9:30 am, staff #2 informed staff #1 that child #1 and child #2 (both 3 years in age) could not be located.
2. Passerby #1, and passerby #2 found child #1 and child #2 running through yards and crossing the streets of their neighborhood. The neighborhood is approximately 6 tenths of a mile from the center. Passerby #2 contacted police at approximately 9:35 am.
3.A t approximately 9:45 am, passerby #1 walked to the center and inquired if the center was missing two children. At which time, management confirmed the children were missing from the center.
4. It is estimated that that child #1 and child #2 were out of sight and sound supervision of staff for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Plan of Correction: Staff #2 was terminated. All classrooms and management have been provided walkie talkies to ensure immediate and effective communication between staff and management. All staff have been retrained on Safety and Accountability policies and procedures to include sight and sound supervision as well as name to face tracking.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
Based on interviews with staff and review of supervision policies, the facility failed to follow the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards.
Evidence:
1. On December 4, 2023, at approximately 9:30 am, staff #1 reportedly told management that child #1 and child #2 (both 3 years in age) could not be located. During interviews, it was reported that child #1 and child #2 were separated from their class while they were outside picking up sticks and leaves for a nature project. It is estimated the two children could not be located for at least 15 minutes.
2. The center's supervision policy states "If a situation occurs during which a child is unaccounted for, the manager in charge should be notified immediately.? and ?Children must be within sight and sound of the teacher at all times?.
3. A member of management stated staff #2 did not immediately notify management but rather notified staff #1.
Plan of Correction: At 9:29 AM a name to face check was conducted and child #1 and child #2 were accounted for. The police responded and connected with the passerbys a tenth of a mile (walking distance) from the school where the children were reunited with management. Staff #2 was terminated. All staff have been retrained on Safety and Accountability policies and procedures to include sight and sound supervision as well as name to face tracking. Following this self-reported incident our school continues to offer transparency and open communication with parents, the two children involved are still enrolled at the school.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services