Inspection · 2024-07-03

Based on documentation review and interviews, the center failed to follow their own policies related to behavior guidance.

Evidence:
1. Review of document titled ?Positive Behavioral Guidance? states that ?teachers are encouraged to embrace strategies that help learn how to identify feelings and make safe choices to express those emotions. The following strategies are the core of the Positive Behavioral Guidance Police: Rules of the Roost, Positive Acknowledgment or response to Specific Prosocial Behaviors, identifying feelings and the use of appropriate words to describe them, redirection, providing choices, talk it out/conflict resolution, using the primrose friends puppets to support. Prevention is a key component of Primrose?s Positive Behavior Guidance approach. Knowing each child as an individual and implementing the Balanced Learning curriculum as intended are at the core of Positive Behavior Guidance. Developing in understanding of developmentally appropriate behaviors and their potential causes, will further help teachers anticipate and effectively respond to behaviors when they occur?.

2. Review of documented title Staff Prohibited Behaviors 7.6 located in the employee handbook states ?Employees are not permitted to display any of the following behaviors. Violation of this policy could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination. The use of corporal punishment. Corporal punishment means punishment inflicted directly on the body including, but not limited to: Hitting, spanking (refers to striking a child with an open hand on the buttocks or extremities with the intention of modifying behavior without causing physical injury), shaking, slapping, twisting, pulling, squeezing, or biting?.

3. reported that staff #1 entered the infant classroom with child #2. As staff #1 and child #2 entered the classroom, child #2 was crying and upset. Child #2 went to put his fingers in his mouth when staff #1 pulled the child?s hands down forcefully while telling the child to ?put your hands down? harshly. Staff #1 was seen smacking child #2?s hand two times.

4. Staff #1 was witnessed having child#2 put their hands in their mouth and bite down on their hand to see how it felt as punishment for biting another child.

In interviews on 7/3/2024 staff reported that, the center failed to ensure that behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.

Evidence:
Staff #1 was witnessed having child#2 put their hands in their mouth and bite down on their hand to see how it felt as punishment for biting another child.

Based on interviews, the facility failed assure that certain forbidden actions or threats of forbidden actions did not occur.

Evidence:
In interviews on 7/3/2024 staff reported that staff #1 entered the infant classroom with child #2. As staff #1 and child #2 entered the classroom, child #2 was crying and upset. Child #2 went to put his fingers in his mouth when staff #1 pulled the child?s hands down forcefully while telling the child to ?put your hands down? harshly. Staff #1 was seen smacking child #2?s hand two times.

Based on interview, the center failed to ensure that certain actions or threats thereof are forbidden including verbal remarks which are demeaning to the child.

Evidence:
Staff witnessed staff #1 asking child #2 ?if he would like to be placed in a crib because that?s where babies go when they don?t listen?. Staff stated that child #2 looked upset but wasn?t crying.