VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Two By Two Learning Center, Inc.
2499 W. Beverley Street
Staunton, VA 24401
(540) 213-2292

Current Inspector: Stephanie Reed (540) 272-6558

Inspection Date: Dec. 12, 2019

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:

The unannounced non-mandated inspection was completed on 12/12/2019 from 2:20 P.M.-4:00 P.M. The inspection was in response to a complaint that was received in the Valley Licensing Office on December 6, 2019 regarding supervision and care of children. Interviews with staff, four staff records, one child record, and employee handbook were reviewed. Classroom observations were conducted. The information gathered during the investigation does support the allegation, so the allegation is determined to be "valid". The exceptions to compliance are noted on the violation notice. If you have any questions or concerns contact the licensing inspector at 540-430-9257 for further assistance.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-140-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of children's records, the center failed to obtain documentation of a physical exam within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Evidence: 1. Child #1's file did not contain documentation of a physical exam. Date of enrollment for Child #1 was 09/23/2019. 2. Staff verified that there was no documentation of a physical exam for Child #1.
Plan of Correction:	The parent of Child #1 had requested the form to be faxed from the physician's office in the allotted time period. The physical of Child #1 sibling, who started on the same day was received. However, there was a delay in receiving this child's form. The parent called repeatedly to get the paperwork and was told it needed to be mailed and not emailed or faxed. We have now received the form which arrived by FedEx and was over 300 pages. Administration in the future will ensure physicals are obtained within 30 days after the child starts.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on review of policies and procedures, the operational responsibilities of the licensee did not ensure that the center's activities and services are maintained in compliance with these standards and the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards. Evidence: 1. The Staff Handbook states that, "Children shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff at all times, except that they need only to hear a child that is using a restroom. Head counts shall be taken before and after all transition times." 2. On 11/22/2019, 13 children were in the care of three staff. During a transition from the classroom to the cafeteria, Child #1 (age 23 months) was left unsupervised in Classroom #1 and out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately six to eight minutes. During the transition, Staff #4 was positioned in front of the line inside the cafeteria; Staff #5 was preparing snack in the kitchen area; and Staff #1 was positioned in the hallway monitoring children as they exited the classroom to the cafeteria located across the hall. Staff #4 noticed that one child was missing from the group when plates were passed out. Staff #1 returned to to Classroom #1 and found Child #1 alone in the classroom. 3. Upon arrival to the cafeteria, a head count was not taken by staff to ensure all children were accounted for. Staff became aware that a child was missing from the group when plates were passed out. 4. Staff #1 confirmed that a headcount was not completed upon arrival to the Cafeteria.
Plan of Correction:	On 11/22/2019 the owners of Two by Two Learning Center were made aware of the non-compliance. Owner #1 immediately called a staff meeting to discuss the noncompliance, go over policies and procedures that were not followed to make an action plan to ensure the situation did not happen again. Owner #2 shortly joined the meeting that lasted an hour and a half. There was also an additional staff meeting on the mourning of 11/23/19 to once again go over policies and procedures. Addressed in the meeting were sight and sound supervision, care and protection of children in the facility, the importance of taking head counts even if the class is only moving across the hall and checking classrooms before door is shut. The incident happened because the second to last child puled the door shut and the teacher assumed he was the last child and did not check the room. Administration continues to monitor that these policies and procedures are being adhered to by all staff members. The teacher directly in charge of this situation is no longer employed by Two By Two Learning Center. Additionally, we will add that the child although out of direct sigh was not out of sound. He was contained in his classroom four feet from the rest of the class with windows to the cafeteria and the adjoining 9 to 18 month classroom where there were two teachers. He was also on camera the entire time which allowed administrators to go back and view to ensure he was playing in his classroom during the seven minutes.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-240-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on a review of the center's written policies and procedures and interviews with administrative staff, staff were not provided in writing with all required information by the end of the first day of supervising children. Evidence: Documentation provided to staff did not contain the following required information; procedures for reporting child abuse and neglect, procedures for identifying where children are at all times on a field trip, and procedures to response to natural and man made disasters.
Plan of Correction:	Two by Two administrators will add required information to the Employee Handbook. Employees are given a Parent Handbook during orientation which is referenced that includes child abuse and neglect. We do not take field trips at all (page #16 Parent handbook), and have no procedure for identifying them on trips since we don't take any. Disaster plans are posted in the Parent handbook which teachers are given and on the information board, but will be added to the Employee Handbook as well.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, staff failed to ensure the care, protection and guidance of a 23-month-old child. Evidence: 1. On 11/22/2019, 13 children were in the care of three staff. Child #1 (age 23 months) was left unsupervised in the Classroom #1 during a transition to the cafeteria for snack. Staff were unaware that Child #1 was missing from the group for approximately six to eight minutes. During the transition, one of the children closed the classroom door, and Staff #1, who was positioned in the hall monitoring children as they walked from the classroom across the hall to the cafeteria, failed to open the door to ensure all children had exited the classroom. During the transition, Staff #4 noticed that one child was missing. Staff #1 went back to the classroom and found Child #1 unsupervised and sitting in a chair next to a counter completing a puzzle. 2. Staff #1 verified that approximately six to eight minutes elapsed before staff realized that a child was missing from the group.
Plan of Correction:	On 11/22/2019 the owners of Two by Two Learning Center were made aware of the non-compliance. Owner #1 immediately called a staff meeting to discuss the noncompliance, go over policies and procedures that were not followed to make an action plan to ensure the situation did not happen again. Owner #2 shortly joined the meeting that lasted an hour and a half. There was also an additional staff meeting on the mourning of 11/23/19 to once again go over policies and procedures. Addressed in the meeting were sight and sound supervision, care and protection of children in the facility, the importance of taking head counts even if the class is only moving across the hall and checking classrooms before door is shut. The incident happened because the second to last child puled the door shut and the teacher assumed he was the last child and did not check the room. Administration continues to monitor that these policies and procedures are being adhered to by all staff members. The teacher directly in charge of this situation is no longer employed by Two By Two Learning Center. Additionally, we will add that the child although out of direct sigh was not out of sound. He was contained in his classroom four feet from the rest of the class with windows to the cafeteria and the adjoining 9 to 18 month classroom where there were two teachers. He was also on camera the entire time which allowed administrators to go back and view to ensure he was playing in his classroom during the seven minutes.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age shall always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: On 11/22/2019 Child #1 (23 months) was not in sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately six to eight minutes. As 1.Children walked from the classroom to the cafeteria, one of the children closed the door to Classroom#1. Staff #1, who was positioned in the hall monitoring children as they exited Classroom #1 and walked across the hall to the cafeteria, did not open the door to ensure all children had exited the classroom. Staff #4 noticed that one child was missing when she started passing out plates. Staff #1 went back to the classroom and found Child #1 unsupervised and sitting in a chair next to a counter completing a puzzle. 2. Staff #1 and Staff #2 verified that Child #1 was left unsupervised in Classroom #1 out of sight and sound supervision of staff on 11/22/2019 for approximately six to eight minutes.
Plan of Correction:	On 11/22/2019 the owners of Two by Two Learning Center were made aware of the non-compliance. Owner #1 immediately called a staff meeting to discuss the noncompliance, go over policies and procedures that were not followed to make an action plan to ensure the situation did not happen again. Owner #2 shortly joined the meeting that lasted an hour and a half. There was also an additional staff meeting on the mourning of 11/23/19 to once again go over policies and procedures. Addressed in the meeting were sight and sound supervision, care and protection of children in the facility, the importance of taking head counts even if the class is only moving across the hall and checking classrooms before door is shut. The incident happened because the second to last child puled the door shut and the teacher assumed he was the last child and did not check the room. Administration continues to monitor that these policies and procedures are being adhered to by all staff members. The teacher directly in charge of this situation is no longer employed by Two By Two Learning Center. Additionally, we will add that the child although out of direct sigh was not out of sound. He was contained in his classroom four feet from the rest of the class with windows to the cafeteria and the adjoining 9 to 18 month classroom where there were two teachers. He was also on camera the entire time which allowed administrators to go back and view to ensure he was playing in his classroom during the seven minutes.
Standard #:	63.2(17)-1720.1-B-2
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of staff records, the center failed to ensure that a fingerprint based national background check was completed for staff prior to employment. Evidence: 1. Staff #6's file did not contain a completed national background check. Date of hire for Staff #5 was 12/09/2019. 2. Staff #6 was present and working at the center as a lead teacher on 12/12/2019. 3. Staff #3 verified the date of hire for Staff #6 as 12/09/2019 and confirmed that a national background check had not been completed. Staff #3 called the Office of Background Investigations during the inspection. The Office of Background Investigations reported that the background check was being processed and had not been completed.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #6 had the fingerprinting done, but there was an oversight on the administration's part in ensuring the email, which usually arrives quickly, had been received. Administration immediately relieved Staff #6 of all responsibilities with the children until the fingerprinting email came in. In the future administration will ensure that the require checks are in and printed before staff being work. We have put into place a redundant check system where two administrators check paperwork before staff start. Additionally, Staff #6 had come to us directly from the public school system where she had a clear fingerprint check. She was always with another staff member and on camera at all times. We have since received the cleared check and Staff #6 contnues to be the lead teacher at Two by Two Learning Center.