VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Little Eyes Daycare, Inc.
290 E. Monroe St.
Wytheville, VA 24382
(276) 223-1610

Current Inspector: Katie Gifford (276) 698-9981

Inspection Date: Dec. 7, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was initiated on 12/7/2023 at 10:00a.m. until 12:20pm based on a complaint received in this office on 12/05/2023. The complaint inspection ended on 01/04/2024. Two children's records and two staff records were reviewed. Interviews were conducted with staff and witnesses. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violation 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 #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on record review and interview, the center failed to have documentation for each child a physical examination within 30 days after the child?s first day of attendance. Evidence: Child record #1 (date of attendance 9/25/23) did not contain a physical exam. The director verified the record did not have a physical exam in the file.
Plan of Correction:	After the inspector left the program the administrator went through the manual where the physicals and student information is kept and found the physical form misfiled under a different student's name. the physical form has been placed in the binder under the appropriate child's name.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: 1. On December 4, 2023, two staff and 10 children ages two and three years old were on the playground. Child #1 and child #2, both two years old, left the fenced playground through an unsecured gate in the back/side of the center, crossed a one-way street approximately 9 feet wide, then traveled approximately 55 feet through the library parking lot to the back of the building. The two children were missing approximately 5 minutes before staff realized they were missing. 2. Child #1 and #2 were missing for approximately 10-13 minutes before being delivered back to the center by witness #2. Conditions were mostly cloudy and 55 degrees. The children did not have on coats. The children were not upset. 3. Additional information related to the incident was unable to be obtained due to staff #1 and staff #2 refusing to be interviewed. The inspector made multiple attempts to conduct interviews with staff #1 and staff #2 and, in a telephone conversation with the staff on 01/04/24, received telephone confirmation that the interviews were being refused.
Plan of Correction:	On 12/5/23 a mandatory staff meeting of all employees was held to review policies and procedures in regards to supervision of children. It was determined that the two staff members who were in charge of the children in question were not following the appropriate procedures that had already had been put in place by the daycare. It was reiterated to them where they were supposed to be situated while outside with children. It was reiterated with them appropriate procedures for head counting before re-entering the building as well as interval head counts while outside. In addition a new safe guard as added to ensure that children are not counted twice. Teachers are now to take roll of each child by name on a log sheet before leaving to go outside and to gather the children on the porch for roll call and head count before re-entering the building as well as interval head counts while outside. In addition a secondary fence was installed on the night of the incident 12/4/23 to prevent children from leaving sight areas.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision. Evidence: 1. On December 4, 2023, at approximately 4:30 P.M. there were two staff with 10 children, two and three years old on the playground. At approximately 4:35 P.M., staff #1 and staff #2 brought 8 children inside to their classroom. At approximately 4:40 P.M., witness #1 arrived at the center to pick up child #1 and noticed child #1 and child #2 running back and forth between the side back gate and a shed. Witness #1 went inside the center to sign child #1 out and staff #3 stated that no one should be outside. Witness #1 and staff #3 then went outside and looked around on the playground and did not find the children. The back/side gate was open. Staff #3 then proceeds to the classroom and the children were not there; staff #1 and #2 did not know where the two children were. Staff #3 then went outside and sees an adult (witness #2) with the two children in the library parking lot across the street from the center. Witness #2 then crossed the street and delivered the children to staff #3 and witness #1 at approximately 4:48. 2. Witness #2 states she was in her office at the library when she heard the doorbell ring at the back of the building where she sees to two children. Child #2 stated they were hiding from their friends. The children pointed to the childcare center when asked where their friends were. Witness #2 then walked the children across the one-way street approximately 9 feet wide to the parking lot of the center and delivers the children to staff #3 and witness #1. Witness #2 states that on the library video, the children ring the doorbell at 4:46 P.M. 3. Additional information related to the incident was unable to be obtained due to staff #1 and staff #2 refusing to be interviewed. The inspector made multiple attempts to conduct interviews with staff #1 and staff #2 and, in a telephone conversation with the staff on 01/04/24, received telephone confirmation that the interviews were being refused.
Plan of Correction:	Initially staff member 1 and 2 were places on probation and demoted in position. Since the incident staff member 1 quit her position and staff member 2 was terminated.