Stepping Stones Academy
282 Westgate Mall Cir. Suite #106
Pennington gap, VA 24277
(276) 318-0529
Current Inspector: Angela Farmer (276) 608-2283
Inspection Date: July 6, 2023
Complaint Related: 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.
8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS.
8VAC20-770 Background Checks
20 Access to minor?s records
22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
- Comments:
-
A monitoring inspection was initiated on 7/6/2023 and concluded on 7/6/2023. There were 18 children present with four staff supervising. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, physical plant, staffing and supervision, programming, medication, special care and emergencies and nutrition. A total of three staff records were reviewed. The inspection started at 10:25 am and concluded at 12:50 pm.
Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program.
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 five (5) business days from today. You will need to specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s), 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring gain; and 3) person or person(s) responsible for implementation.
- Violations:
-
Standard #: 8VAC20-770-60-B Description: Based on record reviews the center failed to ensure that an employee or volunteer of a licensed child day program must not be employed or provide volunteer service until the agency or home has the person's completed sworn statement or affirmation.
Evidence:
1. Staff #1 (hire date 12/30/22) indicated on the sworn statement in December, 2022 that staff #1 had lived outside of the state of Virginia in the last five years. When reviewing the file it was found that this information had been removed however, this question was left blank. The sworn statement was not completed.
2. Staff #3 (hire date 5/22/23) did not date the sworn statement on file.
3. Staff #4 (hire date 4/24/23 did not have a completed sworn statement on file.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-70 Description: Based on record reviews the center failed to ensure that all staff records contained the required information.
Evidence:
1. Staff record # 3 & 4 did not have job titles listed for these staff.
2. Staff record # 3 & 4 do not have documentation that two or more references were checked before employment.
3. Staff record # 1-4 did not have documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the education, certification and experience required by the job position.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-210-A-4 Description: Based on observations and interviews the center failed to ensure that staff in lead teacher (program leader) positions met those qualifications.
Evidence:
1. Staff #3 (hire date 5/22/23) was the lead teacher in the infant area. Staff #1 stated that staff #4 (hire date 4/24/23) was the lead teacher in the toddler area.
2. Both staff #3 & 4 do not have the required experience or training to be lead teachers.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-270-A Description: Based on observation the center failed to ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
Evidence:
1. The wooden climber has a green slide that is approximately four feet tall. The slide was not attached, secured to the climber.
2. The ground covering is not covered by the mulch near the wooden climber. This is a tripping hazard.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-340-A Description: Based on observation the center failed to ensure that When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.
Evidence:
Sixteen children, the youngest being 16 months, lined up to go outside. One child stayed in a playhouse in the infant area, there were two infants and one staff present in this area. Fifteen children and three staff walked to the playground. Upon arriving to the playground no staff counted the children. LI requested that staff #1 count the children on the playground. Staff #1 stated there are 16, LI requested that staff #1 count the children again. Staff #1 stated there are 16-17 I'm sure. Staff #4 called out to staff #1 "I'm going inside for a minute". Again LI requested staff #1 to count the children. Staff #4 brought the 16th child to the playground.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-340-F Description: Based on observation the center failed to ensure that Children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
Evidence:
In the infant area staff # 3 would leave the area and go into the bathroom designated for changing diapers. This would leave one child out of sight supervision.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-350-C Description: Based on observation the center failed to 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. Upon arrival to the center at 10:25 am staff #3 was in the infant room with two infants. Staff # 1 and 4 were in the toddlers/school age area with 16 children. Staff #2 was helping in both areas.
2. The youngest child in the toddler/school age area was 16 months making the ration 1:5. When staff #2 was helping in this area the center was out of ratio by one. When staff #2 was not in this area the center was out of ratio by six.
3. While on the playground the center was out of ratio by one.Plan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #: 8VAC20-780-530-C Description: Based on record reviews and interviews the center failed to ensure that there shall be at least two staff members with current certification in CPR and first aid present on the premises during the center's hours of operation, on fieldtrips, and wherever children are in care.
Evidence:
Upon arrival to the center at 10:25 am staff #1 was the only staff person present with first aid and CPR certification. The center opens at 7:00 am. The second person with first aid and CPR certification arrived at approximately 11:00 amPlan of Correction: Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Disclaimer:
A compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility.
The online compliance history includes only information after July 1, 2003. In addition, the online compliance history includes information regarding adverse actions that may be the subject of a pending appeal. An adverse action is not final until a provider has exhausted or waived all due process rights. For compliance history prior to July 1, 2003, or information regarding the status of pending adverse actions, please contact the Licensing Inspector listed in the facility's information. The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is not responsible for any errors in or omissions from the compliance history information.
