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The Gardner School of Herndon

Inspection · 2025-04-22

Date
2025-04-22
Complaint Related
No
Licensing Inspector
Diana DeSilva
(571) 596-3656
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.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks
20 Access to minor?s records
22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education
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, on-site monitoring inspection was initiated on 4/22/2025 and completed on 4/22/2025, as a part of the licensure period. The on-site inspection began at 10:20am and ended at 1:45pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 163 children present and 25 staff. The inspector reviewed ten children?s records and nine staff records on-site. This inspection included document review and a tour of the facility.

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 (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on 4/30/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations

7
Standard 22.1-289.011-F
The license and any other documents required must be posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises.

The findings from the most recent inspection, dated 10/23/2024, were not posted in a conspicuous place on the premises.
Plan of Correction: The inspection report will be posted immediately to ensure transparency and compliance with all regulatory requirements.
Standard 22.1-289.035-B-4
The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years.

The center did not request a search of the child abuse and neglect registry from one state for Staff B, who has been employed for one year and five months and was working with children at the time of the inspection.
Plan of Correction: We will use our new hire checklist to ensure that background checks are completed and properly documented for all new employees before they
begin working. additionally, we will implement a tracking system to ensure background checks are renewed on time for all current staff.
Standard 8VAC20-780-140-A
REPEAT VIOLATION:
Physical examinations completed by a physician shall be obtained prior to the first day of attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance.

There were no physical examinations in the records of child G, enrolled for seven months, and child H, enrolled for 8 months.
Plan of Correction: We will ensure that all required physical examinations and immunizations are
completed prior to each child's start date. All files will be audited regularly to ensure compliance. Parents are reminded to provide management with updated copies of physicals or immunizations as they become available, so they can be added to the child's file.
Standard 8VAC20-780-270-A
REPEAT VIOLATION:

The center must ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, are maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.

In the Explorer-B twos classroom, there were four areas of peeling paint on the wooden border, within reach of children.
Plan of Correction: We will inspect the affected area and either notify our maintenance technician or
complete the touch-up ourselves using approved paint stored in a locked room if
the technician is unavailable. After repairs, the area will be thoroughly cleaned.
Standard 8VAC20-780-420-E-3
Up-to-date information is required to be requested from the parent for each child's record at least annually.

The annual update of the information in the record of child E was overdue by one year and three months.
Plan of Correction: We will regularly audit all child files to ensure that required information is current and complete. Parents will be reminded to provide updated documentation such as immunizations, physicals,emergency contact information, and work contact
details so it can be promptly added to their child's file.
Standard 8VAC20-780-60-A
Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled that contains all of the required information.

The record for Child E, enrolled for one year and seven months, was missing one emergency contact and documentation of viewing proof of child's identity and age. Child H, enrolled for eight months, was missing one parent's work phone number. Child J, enrolled for 11 months, was missing both parents' work numbers and doctor's name and phone number.
Plan of Correction: We are conducting a full review of all enrollment records to ensure each child's file contains the required documentation, including emergency contact information, immunization records, authorization forms, and signed policies. Families
have been contacted to submit any missing standardized enrollment checklist for each child to ensure all required forms are completed and filed before
the child begins attending. Regular file audits will also be conducted to maintain ongoing compliance.
Standard 8VAC20-780-70
Documentation of at least 2 references to character, reputation, and competency are to be checked prior to employment to include dates of contact, name of persons contacted, and signature of person making call. Each staff record must include name, address, and telephone number of a person to be notified in an emergency.

Staff A, C, D, and G were missing dates references were contacted. Staff B was missing names of persons contacted for references and information for an emergency contact. Staff C's record was missing signature of person making the reference call. Staff E's second reference was checked three days after hire.
Plan of Correction: We will continue to use our new hire reference check form as part of the hiring
process. This form ensures two references are completed prior to the employee's start date and includes spaces for the name of the reference, date contacted, and the signature of the person conducting the check.

We will conduct regular audits of staff files to ensure that all required
documentation is complete and up to date. This includes verifying that
emergency contact information is on file and that reference checks have
been completed, with documented dates and the name of the person
contacted.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services