VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Treetop Academy
12707 Jefferson Avenue
Newport news, VA 23602
(757) 872-2671

Current Inspector: Michele Patchett (757) 439-6816

Inspection Date: Aug. 28, 2020

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.

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. An self- report monitoring inspection was conducted jointly with a local agency . Staff interviews and documents were reviewed to determine compliance with the standards. The director was contacted by telephone to initiate the inspection. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance(s) with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the facility.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Description:	Based on staff interviews and written statements, the licensee did not ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: Interviews and review of the written statements August 28, 2020 and September 3,2020 confirmed that on August 27, 2020 during outside playground activities, child #1 was observed outside of the fenced center playground and in the parking lot beside the center. Staff #2?s written statement confirmed she was leading a relay race when she heard a child's voice behind her and she saw Child #1 (3 years of age) "outside of the gates". Interview with staff #2 confirmed her written statement that she left the playground to get child #1 from the parking lot and as soon as she went to "grab" Child #1?s hand, Child #1 ran down the parking lot. The parking lot is located between the playground fence and the side of a shopping center building. Staff #1 stated she received a call on the center telephone at 9:32 am from an individual in the drive thru line with a report that a child was on the side of the child care building. The child care center is located at one end of a strip mall shopping center. The center sits in the middle of a fast food restaurant drive thru area, strip mall shopping center and a residential street with 25 mile per hour speed limit.
Plan of Correction:	The center adjusted the latch to both gates to make the gates secure . The center retrained the staff on playground safety . The center is keeping the kids away from the gates and centralizing the children when on the playground.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews and review of statements provided, the facility staff did not maintain sight and sound supervision of a child under the age of ten years. Interviews and review of documentation confirm three staff took 11 children to the outdoor play area on August 27, 2020 between the hours of 9:00 am and 9:30 am. Interviews conducted on August 28 and September 3, 2020 as well as review of written statements confirmed Staff #2 heard a child's voice behind her and saw Child #1 (3 years of age) in the parking,"outside of the gates" to the playground. Neither Staff #1, #2, nor Staff #3 maintained sight and sound supervision of Child #1 as he exited the center playground area into the adjacent parking lot nor on the side of the child care building.
Plan of Correction:	The center adjusted the latch to both gates to make the gates secure . The center retrained the staff on playground safety . The center is keeping the kids away from the gates and centralizing the children when on the playground.