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The Learning Experience

Inspection · 2024-02-12

Date
2024-02-12
Complaint Related
Yes
Licensing Inspector
Lauren Bickford
(540) 280-0742
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.
8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies.
8VAC20-780 Special Services.

Inspector Notes

An unannounced inspection was initiated on 2/12/2024 in response to related complaints that were received by the licensing department on 2/2/2024, 2/5/2024 and 2/9/2024 regarding allegations in the areas of behavioral guidance, forbidden action, supervision and ratio, nutrition, and the spread of disease. The inspection was initiated on 2/12/2024 and completed on 2/20/2024. On 2/12/2024, two inspectors were on site from approximately 7:55 am to 9:25 am. Interviews with staff were completed, observations were made in the center, and documentation was reviewed. Additional interviews were conducted remotely.

The preponderance of the evidence gathered during the investigation supports part of the allegation; therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. See the violation notice for more details.

If you have any questions about this inspection, please contact the licensing inspector at (540) 430-0384.

Please complete the plan of correction and date to be corrected for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 5 business days from today. You will need to specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Just writing the word corrected is not acceptable. Your plan of correction must contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventative measures. Please do not use staff names; list staff by positions only.

Violations

2
Standard 8VAC20-780-350-B-4
Based on interview, the center did not ensure to follow the required staff to child ratios for children age three through school age eligible as required.

Evidence:
1. In interview, administration and staff stated that the preschool classroom had run out of ratio by several children for up to 10 minutes in the mornings due to short staffing. The staff to child ratio for the classroom is one staff to ten children. (1:10)
Plan of Correction: Center director has adjusted
morning schedules to
accomadate ratios. Center
director has been actively
hiring staff to maintain child
teacher ratios.
Standard 8VAC20-780-350-C
Based on observation and interview, the center did not ensure that when children are in ongoing mixed age groups, the staff-to-children ratio and group size applicable to the youngest child in the group shall apply to the entire group.

Evidence:
1. On 2/12/2024, 9 infant/toddler children were observed with two staff. The children ranged in age from 6 weeks to 16 months. The ratio for infants is one staff to four children (1:4) meaning they could only have a total of eight children without requiring an additional staff. The staff acknowledged they were over ratio when combined.
2. In interview, administration and staff stated there were several days when they were over ratio in the infant room for up to 10 minutes in the morning when short staffed.
Plan of Correction: Center director has been
actively hiring staff to
accomadate child to staff ratios.
Staff have been retrained that
they are to immediately
separate and go to their
assigned classroom and not
linger in other classroom. This
will prevent mixed ages groups
and classrooms being out of
ratio.
View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services