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The Gardner School of Ashburn
44128 Navajo Drive
Ashburn, VA 20147
(571) 223-1900

Current Inspector: Karen Dickens (571) 423-6978

Inspection Date: Jan. 13, 2020 , Jan. 16, 2020 and Jan. 31, 2020

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES.

Technical Assistance:
Discussed with the center's administration the staff's lawful responsibility as mandated reporters to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect.

Comments:
An unannounced inspection was conducted in response to a complaint that was received by the licensing office on 01/08/2020. On 01/13/20, 01/16/20 and 01/31/20, documentation was reviewed and interviews were conducted with staff relating to the allegations of lack of monthly evacuation drills. The information gathered during this investigation supports the allegations, so the complaint is determined to be valid. Areas of non-compliance not related to the complaint were also identified during the inspection and are listed in the Violation Notice. If you have any questions, please contact the Licensing Inspector, Maria Robles at maria.robles-lopez@dss.virginia.gov.

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Complaint related: No
Description: Based on document review and interviews, it was determined that staff failed to follow the center's own policies and procedures on discipline policies, including acceptable and unacceptable discipline measures.
Evidence:
1) According to the center's employee handbook: "Employees are prohibited from the following behaviors... *The use of corporal punishment including...pulling. * Any form of emotional abuse, including...terrorizing...isolating. *Any abuse or maltreatment of a child..."
2) Examples of incidents in which staff did not follow the center's own policies and procedures include:
a) Staff 6 stated that on 01/10/2020, she witnessed when Child 1 (16 months) ran away from the buggy and Staff 2 grabbed him by his right arm and pulled him to bring him back to the buggy. Child 1 "cried a bit".
b) Staff 5 stated that she had witnessed Staff 2 grabbing children by their arms and lifting them up from the floor.
c) Staff 4 and Staff 7 both witnessed Staff 3 on two different instances (01/10/2020 and 01/17/2020) yelling at Child 2 asking the child to stop crying. On both occasions, Staff 3 took the child to the bathroom with the lights off and kept raising their voice asking Child 2 to stop crying. On 1/10/2020, she said phrases like "Stop. Stop crying. Stop it, right now" . On 1/17/2020, she said, "You're stressing me out" , and ?You're not getting out until you stop crying".

Plan of Correction: Both, Staff 2 and Staff 3 were immediately terminated for not following school policy. Staff 2: 01/20/2020. Staff 3: 01/17/2020.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-400-A
Complaint related: No
Description: Based on interviews and document review, it was determined that staff did not always interact with the children and one another to provide needed help, comfort and support.
Evidence:
1) Staff 6 stated that on 01/07/2020, in the Infant room, they witnessed Staff 2 having a "meltdown", heard Staff 2 saying "It's a lot" and witnessed when Staff 2 "threw a chair in the baby room".
2) According to documentation provided by the center, "during this time several of the infants were visibly upset and crying."

Plan of Correction: Both, Staff 2 was immediately terminated for not following school policy. Staff 2: 01/20/2020.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-400-B
Complaint related: No
Description: Based on interviews and document review, it was determined that behavioral guidance was not always constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.
Evidence:
1) On two different incidents, Staff 3 was witnessed yelling at a child in attempts to make them stop crying.
a) On Friday, 01/10/20, in the Pathfinders classroom, Staff 4 witnessed Staff 3 yelling at Child 2 asking the child to stop crying. Staff 3 brought the child into the bathroom and "was even louder asking her to stop". Staff 4 stated that Staff 3 turned off the light and kept yelling "Stop, stop crying", "Stop it now". Staff 4 estimates that the incident lasted around 5 minutes. Child 2 was crying during the entire time. Staff 4 reported the incident to the administration on 01/16/20.
b) Staff 7 stated that, on 01/17/20, in the Pathfinders classroom, Child 2 was crying. Staff 7 witnessed Staff 3 take Child 2 to the bathroom and was raising her voice while telling Child 2, "Stop crying", "You're stressing me out", "You're not getting out until you stop crying".

2. According to documentation provided by the center, Staff 3 had been addressed previously (11/05/2019) by the center's Administration regarding concerns with the "lack of developmentally appropriate practices".

Plan of Correction: Staff 3 was immediately terminated for not following school policy. Staff 3: 01/17/2020.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-550-D
Complaint related: Yes
Description: Based on interviews, it was determined that the center did not complete monthly evacuation drills.
Evidence:
1) 7 out of 12 staff interviewed stated that an evacuation drill for the month of November 2019 was not conducted. 10 out of 12 staff interviewed stated that an evacuation drill for the month of December 2019 was not conducted.

Plan of Correction: Fire drills will be conducted when more staff are present and earlier in the month when possible.

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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