Inspection · 2025-02-24
Licensing Inspector
Michelle Argenbright
(540) 848-4123
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 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks
22.1 Background Checks Code
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.
Inspector Notes
An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on February 24, 2025 and completed on February 24, 2025 in response to a self-report received by the licensing office on February 6, 2025 relating to behavioral guidance, forbidden actions, and care and protection. The inspector reviewed one staff record on-site on February 24, 2025. This inspection included interviews, observations, and record review. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and 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 March 27, 2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-A
REPEAT VIOLATION When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
On February 6, 2025, Staff #1 did not ensure proper guidance when guiding Child #2's hand to smack Child #1 twice across the face, knocking child #1 to the floor. Staff #1 did not ensure the care of Child #1 by failing to check for injury after the child fell to the floor crying. Both children are two years old.
Plan of Correction: Upon the director being notified about this incident, Staff #1 was informed her behavior was unacceptable and she was asked to leave the building. This type of action, towards a child, is absolutely unacceptable and not tolerated at this school. Staff #1 has not, and will not, return. To seek guidance, the director immediately called DSS to self report this incident to the licensing inspector assigned to Foundations. The director also notified other applicable agencies.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
REPEAT VIOLATION The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring that the center's activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with these standards, the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards.
The center's discipline policy states .... at no time will staff use punishment of any kind... Children will not be punished..., or be allowed to punish another child.."
On February 6, 2026, Staff #1 used physical punishment and allowed a child to punish another child.
Plan of Correction: Teachers will mediate opportunities for children to be advocates for themselves though their usage of language to problem solve with peers. Guidance in navigating constructive conversations to alleviate problems is key. Allowing or encouraging children to solve problems using any form of punishment is prohibited. Again, the type of action noted in this case is wholly unacceptable. We are here to teach children, care for them, and protect them. We feel that we followed all protocol in reporting this to our DSS inspector for further investigation, and retraining current staff so that this type of incident will not occur again.
Standard 8VAC20-780-400-B
Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.
On February 6, 2025. Staff #1 used physical punishment as a form of behavioral guidance in response to a two year old child hitting another two year old child instead of redirecting the child or using constructive, age-appropriate guidance.
Plan of Correction: Monday, February 17 was a predetermined Staff Training Day. The majority of the day was dedicated to reviewing our discipline policies and procedures, reviewing our staff handbook, and brainstorming as a staff appropriate approaches to different kinds of behaviors for all ages, comparing and contrasting similarities and differences across age groups. A significant part of the day was also used to define the different types of child abuse and neglect, recognize signs of each kind of abuse and the importance, and legal requirement, of reporting anything suspicious. All staff are mandatory reporters, and we take this mandate seriously. Teachers are always commended for their diligence in reporting any concern.
Standard 8VAC20-780-410-3
The following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: Punishment by another child.
On February 6, 2025, Staff #1 used Child #2's hand to smack Child #1 twice across the face as a form of punishment. The second smack knocked Child #1 to the floor crying.
Plan of Correction: Policy and procedures were reviewed as a whole staff. Staff were reminded that at no time will staff use physical means of punishment, force or withhold meals or naps, or use abusive language as a form of discipline. Children will not be punished or demoralized for toilet accidents, or be allowed to punish another child. If any of these behaviors occur staff will leave the building immediately, and will be terminated. All necessary departments will be notified and investigations will be launched, as we promptly did in this case. If negative child behaviors occur, the consequence is to be ?logical? or natural? whenever possible. This process helps children to learn from their behavior and make good choices, while retaining their self esteem.