Inspection · 2024-09-17
(804) 629-8167
Areas Reviewed
8VAC20-780 Administration
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
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. 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 9/17/24 and completed on 9/24/24 with a local agency, in response to a self-report received by the licensing office on 9/11/24 relating to supervision. The inspector reviewed 2 children?s records and 3 staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, tour of the facility, interviews, observations, and measurements. 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 10/4/24. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.
Violations
4Evidence:
On 9/11/2024, Child #1 (age 5) left the playground, walked across 3 streets, passed by a neighborhood pond, and continued down the sidewalk away from the facility approximately .3 miles away where a stranger noticed the child walking alone and brought them back to the facility. Staff were unaware the child had been missing when the child was returned to the facility.
Evidence:
1)On 9/11/2024, Staff did not have actual sight and sound supervision of all children on the playground during the outdoor time. Staff #2 and Staff #3 who were posted on the playground were both observed leaving their posts on the playground area and walking over to the blacktop area for approximately 11-14 minutes before returning to the playground area. This left the children on the playground area without sight and sound supervision for that duration. When the 2 staff returned, they were observed clustering in one area and talking to each other.
2)Staff stated that Staff #1 was standing close to the facility on the blacktop area instead of their usual post on the grassy hill next to the blacktop area. Staff #1 was engaging in one-on-one interactions with children and parents. Staff #1 did not maintain sight and sound supervision of children. During this period, one of the children left the playground and began walking through the neighborhood to go home. The child was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 13 minutes.
Evidence:
1)On 9/11/24 during outdoor play time, Child #1 put on their backpack and told Staff #1 that they wanted to go home and get more juice. Staff #1 told the child that snack would be given shortly and to set their backpack aside and go play until that time. Staff #1 then went back to interaction with other students and parents and did not maintain sight and sound supervision of Child #1 as the child moved with their backpack to the edge of the outdoor play area.
2)Child #1 sat for several minutes on the hill at the edge of the outdoor play area without any sight and sound supervision from the staff. The child then got up and walked away from the facility towards home. The child was gone and unsupervised for approximately 13 minutes.
Evidence:
1)The center did not follow their written playground safety procedures that included active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities, and circulation among the children. On 9/11/24, 2 staff positioned themselves on the playground in such a way that they stood next to each other with their backs to some of the children while talking and dribbling a ball. The third staff member was positioned by the facility conducting one on one interaction with children and parents. During this time, a child left the playground and began walking home.
2)The center did not follow their written attendance policy that includes documenting arrival and departure of each child in their care.