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Inspection · 2025-07-01

Date

2025-07-01

Complaint Related

Yes

Licensing Inspector

Florence Martus
(804) 389-0157

Areas Reviewed

8VAC20-780 Administration.
8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training.
8VAC20-780 Physical Plant.
8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.
8VAC20-780 Programs.
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 to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. 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 inspection was initiated on 07/01/2025 and completed on 08/22/2025 with local agencies, in response to a complaint received by the licensing office on 06/27/2025 relating to allegations of administration, behavioral guidance, and injury reporting. The inspector reviewed two children?s records and one staff record on-site on 07/07/2025. This inspection included document review, tour of the facility, interviews, and observations.

The preponderance of evidence gathered during the investigation supports parts of the allegations; therefore, the complaint is determined to be valid. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and the 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 11/12/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations

Standard 8VAC20-780-40-E

The center is required to ensure the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards are in compliance.

On 04/02/25, Staff #1 did not follow the center?s discipline policies when Staff #1 separated Child #1 (3-year-old) from his designated classroom and placed him in time out in the two-year-old classroom as punishment when the child was having a challenging behavior.

The center?s discipline policies state ?Certain discipline methods are simply not acceptable at KCE, including:?isolation or separation as punishment, including ?time outs.?

Plan of Correction: Per the Center: "Staff #1 is not in the center. All staff retrained on Positive Child Guidance 9/15/25."

Standard 8VAC20-780-400-A

In order to promote the child's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being and growth, staff shall interact with the child and one another to provide needed help, comfort, support and: promote ways of getting along.

On 04/02/25, Staff #1 placed Child #1 (3-year-old) in the two-year-old classroom when the child was having a challenging behavior. Staff #1 taunted and teased Child #1 for being placed with younger children. When Staff #2 addressed Staff #1?s behavior towards Child #1, Staff #1 and Staff #2 engaged in a confrontational altercation in front of Child #1 and other children that were in the classroom. A coaching form issued to Staff #1 on 04/07/25 states: ?[Staff #1] interaction with the child and with her coworker were inappropriate and did not align with KinderCare?s services values.?

Plan of Correction: Per the Center: "Staff #1 and Staff #2 are no longer in the center. All staff were retrained on Positive Child Guidance 9/15/25."

Standard 8VAC20-780-400-B

Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.

On 04/02/25, Staff #1 removed Child #1 (3-year-old) from his designated classroom and placed him in timeout in the classroom next door, the two-year-old classroom, when the child was having a challenging behavior.

After approximately two minutes, Staff #1 was reported to have opened the classroom gate a little bit, began taunting Child #1 and asked, "are you going to be nice to me now?" When Child #1 screamed 'no,' Staff #1 slammed the gate causing Child #1 to fall to the floor, and his face to slam into the gate. Child #1 began to cry loudly.

Child #1 reported he didn't like Staff #1 because "her slam me down on my butt, put me in timeout, and hit me with the gate." Child #1 advised he was hit with the gate because he was in trouble. Child #1 pointed to his head and stated he was hit "right here, on my mind."

Plan of Correction: Per the Center: "Staff #1 is no longer in the center. All staff were retrained on Positive Child Guidance on 9/15/25."

Standard 8VAC20-780-550-O

The center shall notify the parent by the end of the day of any known minor injuries.

On 04/02/2025, Staff #1 and Staff #2 observed Child #1 sustain a minor injury when Staff #1 slammed a gate in the classroom causing him to fall to the floor and his face to slam into the gate. The parent of Child #1 was not notified by the end of the day.

Plan of Correction: Per the Center: "Parent was verbally notified of incident same day. The center will follow up with written documentation of incidents."

Standard 8VAC20-780-550-P

The center shall maintain a written record of children's serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence.

On 04/02/2025, Child #1 (3-year-old) sustained a minor injury at the center, but a written record of the injury was not maintained at the center.

Plan of Correction: Per the Center: "Parent was notified verbally same day. The center will follow up with written documentation of incidents."

View original record on Virginia Department of Social Services