VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Carousel Children's Academy
9151 Centreville Road
Manassas, VA 20110
(703) 365-7622

Current Inspector: Laura Brindle (540) 905-2062

Inspection Date: Oct. 6, 2020 and Oct. 27, 2020

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE.

Technical Assistance:

The Licensing Inspector reviewed COVID-19 Essential Guidance for Child Care programs with the Director.

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, necessary due to a state of emergency health pandemic declared by the Governor of Virginia. A complaint inspection was initiated on October 6, 2020 and concluded on November 17, 2020. Complaints were received by the department regarding allegations in the areas Code of Virginia, care, protection and guidance, nutrition, physical plant, and supervision. The director was contacted by telephone to conduct the investigation. Virtual inspections were conducted on October 6, 2020 and October 27, 2020. Interviews were conducted throughout the course of the investigation. The inspector emailed the director a list of documentation required to complete the investigation. An exit interview was conducted on November 24, 2020 at 2:45 p.m. by phone. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the allegation of non-compliance with standards or law and violations were issued. The complaints regarding physical plant and care, protection and guidance was determined to be valid. The complaints regarding Code of Virginia, supervision and nutrition were not substantiated and determined to be invalid. Any violations not related to the complaints but identified during the course of the investigation can also be found on the violation notice.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-270-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on observation, not all areas of the center inside and outside were maintained in safe, operable condition. Evidence: 1. On October 1, 2020 the window on the door in the back classroom was broken and it remained broken until approximately October 15, 2020. 2. On the large playground, the school bus climber has an approximately six inch piece of wood that is broken that creates tripping, scratch and impalement hazards. 3. On the toddler playground, there is a one foot crack in the large plastic climber that creates a scratch and pinch hazard.
Plan of Correction:	1. Window (plastic laminate) was secured with cardboard both inside and outside the same day. The window repairman came and gave us an estimate and the owner approved it. Due to COVID, it took some time to fix the door. corrected 10/15/2020 2. Fixed 3. Plastic Climber removed from playground
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-330-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, it was determined that resilient surfacing under playground equipment did not meet requirements. Evidence: In several areas on the large playground (under the fireman's pole, the side of the climbing structure) there is visible dirt and grass growing in fall zones and use zones. Resilient surfacing should be at least six inches in depth.
Plan of Correction:	Resilient surfacing has been fixed
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on observation and interviews, it was determined that the center did not ensure the care, protection, and guidance of children in care. Evidence: 1. In the school age classroom, since September 2020, Child A, age four years old, had significant behavior that included throwing shoes, scratching his peers in the face, biting peers, smacking and kicking teachers, using curse words toward his peers and staff. Interviews revealed that this behavior occurred approximately two to three times per week but sometimes every day of the week. This behavior created a significant disruption to the other children's daily activities and schedule. 2. Child B, age eight years old, was sent inside from the playground to use the restroom and he brought a chair back with him. He became upset and picked used the chair to hit the window area of the door with the chair, causing the plexiglass to break. 3. The center failed to adhere to the health and safety guidelines established due to the COVID-19 pandemic of maintaining the same groups of children day-to-day, not combining classrooms and implementing social distancing or use of face coverings for school aged children when social distancing cannot be implemented to help reduce potential exposure to COVID-19. Interviews revealed that classrooms were combined in the afternoons when the census was low or for other staffing issues. Observation revealed that children were not social distanced in the school age classroom. Three children were observed sitting at one small table for virtual learning. No children wore face coverings.
Plan of Correction:	1, Child was suspended. Meet with teachers to discuss class 2. Child was suspended. 3. Implemented social distancing in the classroom and kept children with the same group. School agers are required to wear masks.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-410-5
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on review of documentation, it was determined that staff utilized a forbidden action of withholding food as a means of discipline. Evidence: An incident report written by Staff B dated 9/15/2020 stated "When it was lunch time Child B didn't listen to me and when he asked me for more food I said no because he doesn't listen to me and then he spit in my face".
Plan of Correction:	Make a list of forbidden actions and each teacher will sign it. A list of forbidden actions will also be posted in the classroom