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The Alexander School of Early Learning

Inspection · 2023-10-16

Date
2023-10-16
Complaint Related
No
Licensing Inspector
Florence Martus
(804) 389-0157
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.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770)
20 Access to minor?s records
22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide
32.1 Report by person other than physician
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Inspector Notes

An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted 10/16/2023 from 11:30am through 2:50pm. There were 79 children directly supervised by 13 staff and all classrooms were in ratio. The physical plant, outdoor playground areas, programming, menu, 5 staff records, 8 children?s records, 7 medications, emergency drills, injury reports, emergency supplies, and policies were inspected. Children were observed listening to Halloween themed story time, preparing for nap, washing hands, eating lunch, and learning about the Adventures of Clouse, the traveling mouse, who goes home with children in the Montessori classroom and they journal about their activities. Infants were observed napping, playing and participating in tummy time. Lunch served today was a turkey and cheese sandwich, carrots, oranges, and milk. Positive interactions between children and staff were observed during this inspection. There was an abundant supply of age appropriate materials for the children and the center was clean and organized. There was an adequate number of CPR/First Aid, Daily Health Observation, and MAT trained staff on site at the time of inspection.

In addition, a self-reported incident was also investigated regarding supervision. Interviews were conducted, documentation was reviewed, observation of the Pre-K classroom and outdoor playground area was completed, and review of the center's own video recording was inspected. Violations were cited related to the self-reported incident. Areas of non-compliance are identified in the Violation Notice.

Please complete the columns for "Plan of Correction" and "Date to be Corrected" for each violation cited on the Violation Notice, and then return a signed and dated copy to the licensing office by 5pm on 11/1/2023. Please email me at morgan.bryson@doe.virginia.gov with any questions.

Violations

2
Standard 8VAC20-780-340-F
Based on staff interview and review of the center?s own video recording, the center did not ensure that children under 10 years of age were always within sight and sound supervision of staff.

Evidence: On October 11, 2023 Child #1 (Age 4) was left on the back playground after the Pre-K classroom went inside after their morning outside play time. Staff #1 and Staff #2 took the other children in the Pre-K classroom back into the center at approximately 11:04am while Child #1 was hiding in the play equipment. Staff #3 discovered the child alone on the playground while doing a walk-through at approximately 11:05:53am. Staff #3 returned Child #1 to the Pre-K classroom and Staff #1 and Staff #2 were unaware the child did not come in with the group. Child #1 was out of sight and sound supervision for approximately 1 minute 53 seconds.
Plan of Correction: The safety of the children in care is our number one priority. Unfortunately on 10/11/2023, we self-reported an incident that occurred where a 4 year old student hid from our prekindergarten teachers while lining up to go inside from the playground. While the child was left behind for less than 2 minutes, the child was safely returned to the classroom, and family notification was attempted almost immediately. The teachers in charge on this day are highly experienced teachers who were absolutely devastated, admittedly having missed a step in our Name-to-Face procedures on this day. After an investigation and communication with the family, the teachers were to be retrained in procedures and will be observed in their adherence to policies. While this was a one-time error, we have taken steps to ensure that this mistake never happens again. The teachers were retrained the following day 10/12/2023, less than 24 hours after the incident occurred.
Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E
Based on staff interviews and review of the center?s own policies and procedures, the center did not ensure that activities and services were maintained in compliance with the licensing standards and the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by the licensing standards.

Evidence:
1. The center?s policies and procedures require name to face accountability for identifying where children are at all times. The policy states ?Name to face accountability is when you look at your roll call sheet and confirm by actually putting your eyes on each individual child marked present on the roll call sheet.? Further, the policy states ?Name to face takes place as each threshold is crossed? and ?All areas should be checked prior to transitioning?.
2. On October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:04am, Staff #1 and Staff #2 did not follow policies and procedures to account for children at all times when they transitioned the Pre-K class from the back playground back inside the center.
3. Staff #1 and Staff #2 advised there are three thresholds to and from the back playground. Staff #1 stated ?There was a miscommunication on who did the name to face. It was a huge mistake and it did not get done?. Staff #2 stated ?Name to face was not done at any of the thresholds that day. It was not done right?.
Plan of Correction: Because the safety of our children is a top priority, we immediately attempted to notify the family of the situation. The teachers in charge were very aware of the major mistake they made on this day of not following Name-to-Face policies and procedures. They were retrained on sight and sound and Name-to-Face procedures the following day after the incident 10/12/2023, less than 24 hours after the incident occurred. Due to the severity of the situation, all staff in the building were reminded of our sight and sound and Name-to-Face procedures. All current staff members were formally retrained on these procedures by 10/26/2023.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services