Inspection · 2023-04-25

Based on interviews with staff, and a review of documentation, it was determined that staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection and guidance.
Evidence:
1) On 4/19/2023, from approximately 4:47-4:53pm staff were unaware of child #1's location, or that they were left sleeping on the bus.
2) Staff #1 did not take attendance or count children as they exited the bus and entered the facility.
3) Two management staff taking attendance, and signing children in, realized that child #1 was not with the group and immediately began to search for the missing child inside the building.
3) Child #1, age five, awoke on the bus, realized they were alone, and "pressed a button" to exit the bus, walked through the parking lot and arrived at the front door all by themself.
4) Staff in the prek B classroom noticed child #1 arrive at the door, unlocked and opened it, taking the child into the prek B class until management arrived.
5) Child #1 stated they were sad; staff reported that child #1 looked confused but was not crying.
6) Management then took child #1 to join their school age classroom at approximately 4:53pm.
7) The temperature on 4/19/23 was approximately 76 degrees at 4:47pm.

Based on interviews with staff, and a review of documentation, the center failed to ensure that all children under ten years of age were always in sight and sound supervision of staff.
Evidence:
1) On April 19, 2023, at approximately 4:47pm, staff #1 arrived at the center with a bus load of approximately 14 children from local elementary schools.
2) Staff #1 dropped off the children at the front door, handed the clipboard to management, and proceeded to park the bus.
3) Staff #1 exited the bus, locked it, clocked out, and left for the day.
4) Management staff signed the children in, realized child #1 was missing, and proceeded to walk them to their school age classroom while also searching for child #1.
3) At approximately 4:53pm, child #1 arrived at the center?s front door alone, and was brought inside by prek B staff.
4) Child #1 was alone, outside of the building and out of sight and sound supervision, from approximately 4:47 - 4:53pm.

Based on review of the center's policies and procedures, and multiple staff interviews, it was determined that the center failed to ensure that staff followed the center's own policies and procedures required by the standards for verifying that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip. Evidence: The center's policy (Vehicle Inspection with Attendance Sheet) states, "When arriving at the destination, the driver is responsible for taking a complete walk from the front to the back of the bus, looking in all aisles and touching the back of the vehicle to ensure that the check has been complete and that no child is left on the vehicle." On the incident date of April 19, 2023, at approximately 4:47pm, staff #1 did not follow the center's policy, which resulted in leaving a five year old child alone on the bus for approximately three to five minutes.

Based on observation, and a review of documentation, the center failed to ensure that vehicles meet the safety standards set by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Evidence: bus #1510, used to transport children on 4/19/23 from the local elementary school to the center, had expired Illinois tags (expired 6/22) and an expired state inspection sticker (expired 5/22.)

Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that staff verify that all children have been removed from the vehicle at the conclusion of any trip. Evidence: At approximately 4:47pm on 4/19/23, staff #1 did not verify that all children had been removed from the vehicle after returning from the local elementary school. Staff #1 parked the bus, locked the door, and left child #1 (age 5) on the bus.