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Children's House Montessori School
2425 - A North Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 276-1360

Current Inspector: Mark Davis (804) 629-7103

Inspection Date: July 24, 2019 and Aug. 29, 2019

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS.

Comments:
A complaint was received on 7/22/2019 by the Fairfax Licensing Office regarding behavior guidance. An announced inspection was conducted on 7/24/2019 and a follow up unannounced inspection was conducted on 8/29/2019. Interviews were conducted with staff each day . Also reviewed documentation of staff statements, staff and children's records and inspected physical space. The investigation was jointly conducted with local agencies. Based on the preponderance of evidence, the complaint is determined to be valid. Areas of non-compliance are identified in the violation notice. If you have any questions regarding the inspection, please feel free to contact me.
Thank you
Ann Dramstad
Licensing Inspector
703-314-0860
ann.dramstad@dss.virginia.gov

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Complaint related: Yes
Description: Based on both parent and staff interviews and documentation review, staff failed to follow the Center's own policy on discipline.
Evidence:
1. According to the Center's own policy on discipline, "The staff is highly trained in early childhood education and classroom management techniques. In the classroom and on the playground, conflict resolution, activity redirection and limit setting are used as the first form of redirection" (page 24 of CHMS Parent Handbook). Staff #4 stated that "staff ask permission to touch or hug a child prior to putting their hands on a child"
2. On 7/16/2019, after attempts to redirect a child were not successful, Staff failed to follow the center's own policy on behavior management.
3. Staff #2 put her arms around Child #1 from behind to restrain his arms as the child was "throwing mulch at two teachers" and would not move to the bench on the playground. Child #1 was removed from the playground and taken into the center.
4.. A total of 6 teachers were in the lunchroom when Child #1 began "flipping over cots and pulling supplies off the shelves" Staff #2 removed one of Child #1's shoes "which made him angry and he started crying and hitting" Staff #2. Staff #3 then picked up Child #1 and tried bringing the child to the Sweetpea classroom. Child #1 is "kicking, screaming and crying" according to Staff #1.
5. According to Staff #1, #2 and #3, Child #1 was laying on the floor in front of the classroom door. All 3 staff verified that they blocked Child #1 from leaving that area by surrounding the child with their legs so he could not freely exit that area.
6. Child #1's parent arrived and stated he could hear the screaming and crying from the doorway and saw the three teachers surrounding the child against the door.

Plan of Correction: 1. As part of on-going professional development, the CHMS administration will review the school's redirection policy at our in-service trainings, throughout this school year as we do every year. 10/24, 11/5, 1/3, 1/31, 3/5, 3/6, 4/13, 6/15, 8/31, etc.
2. If the child continues to harm him/herself, another child(ren), or a staff member(s), the teacher will redirect the child. If after more than two attempts to redirect the child, and the child continues to hurt him/herself, another child(ren), or a staff member(s), the teacher will call the child's parent for recommendations for discontinuing the above behavior. The teacher will remain on the phone with the parent, while the parent talks on a hands-free phone and drives to pick up the child who continues to attempt to harm her/himself, another child(ren), or a staff member(s).
3. When a child harms his/her immediate environment, himself, another child(ren), or a staff member(s), a teacher will ask the child to leave the area that the student occupies, in order to protect him/herself, other children, and staff members. If the child refuses to leave the area that the child occupies, the teacher will remove all children and teachers from the area that the child occupies, to ensure the child is unable to further harm his/her immediate environment, him/herself, another child(ren), or a staff member(s). Two staff members will remain with the child, until the child can understand the request to calm down and follow the teacher's directions, in order to keep the child safe.
4. See number #3
5. All CHMS staff understand our redirection policy. Staff were already aware that it is inappropriate to block a child from leaving an area. The staff will continue to practice not blocking a child.
6. Staff were already aware that it is inappropriate to surround a child. The staff will continue to practice not surrounding children.

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.

Virginia Quality is a voluntary quality rating and improvement system for early care and education facilities serving children ages birth through pre-K. To find programs participating in Virginia Quality, click here.

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