VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Congressional Schools , Inc
3229 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls church, VA 22042
(703) 533-9711

Current Inspector: Stephanie Salvatori (571) 389-0980

Inspection Date: April 14, 2021 and April 15, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION. 22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 22VAC40-185 PHYSICAL PLANT. 22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL CARE PROVISIONS AND EMERGENCIES. 22VAC40-185 SPECIAL SERVICES. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSE. 22VAC40-80 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191) 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

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 monitoring inspection was initiated on 04/09/2021 and concluded on 04/15/2021. A self-reported incident was received by the department regarding allegations in the areas of 22VAC40-185-40.E, 22VAC40-185-340.A and 22VAC40-185-340.F. The director was contacted by telephone to conduct the virtual investigation. The inspector emailed the director a list of documentation required to complete the investigation. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the self-report of non-compliance with standards or law and violations were issued.

Violations:

Standard #:	22VAC40-185-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews and record review, staff did not comply with center's own policies. Evidence: Staff A, Staff B & Staff C did not follow the policy regarding playground safety. When returning inside, name to face counts were not conducted, children were not lined up to go in all together and Child A was left on the playground.
Plan of Correction:	Our Early Childhood Coordinator will be spending time in the classroom during the week of April 12th and the week of April 19th to observe and provide continued feedback and suggestions for classroom organization and management. Teachers will receive direct guidance and support on new strategies and techniques from their administrator from April 12th-23rd based on observations made while shadowing the classroom. Teachers received an hour training on Monday April 12th reviewing our school's policies and licensing policies on supervision and transitions. Teachers also reviewed topics related to sight and sound, and the care, protection and guidance of children in our care. Teachers received a printed copy of our schools Standards of Operation Procedures and the Standards For Licensed Child Day Center manual on April 12th to keep as a reference and to refamiliarize themselves with all of our policies. A formal warning was issued on April 12th to each staff member involved and placed in their HR file. An email was sent to all faculty in the Little School on Friday, April 16th with reminders on licensing best practices, including sight and sound. Additional signage will be posted at various locations around campus to give a visual reminder for teachers to count their children. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th. We will add "line up spots? on the playground as another visual assistance for teachers when checking to see if they have all children in addition to their counting the children before transitioning indoors. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews, staff did not ensure care protection and guidance of one child. Evidence: Staff A, Staff B and Staff C returned into the classroom with the children from the playground. Child A was left behind on the playground. Child A was on the playground for approximately 2 minutes, in a gated secured area, before being retrieved from Staff A.
Plan of Correction:	Our Early Childhood Coordinator will be spending time in the classroom during the week of April 12th and the week of April 19th to observe and provide continued feedback and suggestions for classroom organization and management. Teachers will receive direct guidance and support on new strategies and techniques from their administrator from April 12th-23rd based on observations made while shadowing the classroom. Teachers received an hour training on Monday April 12th reviewing our school's policies and licensing policies on supervision and transitions. Teachers also reviewed topics related to sight and sound, and the care, protection and guidance of children in our care. Teachers received a printed copy of our schools Standards of Operation Procedures and the Standards For Licensed Child Day Center manual on April 12th to keep as a reference and to refamiliarize themselves with all of our policies. A formal warning was issued on April 12th to each staff member involved and placed in their HR file. An email was sent to all faculty in the Little School on Friday, April 16th with reminders on licensing best practices, including sight and sound. Additional signage will be posted at various locations around campus to give a visual reminder for teachers to count their children. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th. We will add "line up spots? on the playground as another visual assistance for teachers when checking to see if they have all children in addition to their counting the children before transitioning indoors. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th.
Standard #:	22VAC40-185-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews, one child under the age of 10 was out of sight and sound of staff members. Evidence: Child A was left on the playground for approximately 2 minutes, out of sight and sound of any staff members.
Plan of Correction:	Our Early Childhood Coordinator will be spending time in the classroom during the week of April 12th and the week of April 19th to observe and provide continued feedback and suggestions for classroom organization and management. Teachers will receive direct guidance and support on new strategies and techniques from their administrator from April 12th-23rd based on observations made while shadowing the classroom. Teachers received an hour training on Monday April 12th reviewing our school's policies and licensing policies on supervision and transitions. Teachers also reviewed topics related to sight and sound, and the care, protection and guidance of children in our care. Teachers received a printed copy of our schools Standards of Operation Procedures and the Standards For Licensed Child Day Center manual on April 12th to keep as a reference and to refamiliarize themselves with all of our policies. A formal warning was issued on April 12th to each staff member involved and placed in their HR file. An email was sent to all faculty in the Little School on Friday, April 16th with reminders on licensing best practices, including sight and sound. Additional signage will be posted at various locations around campus to give a visual reminder for teachers to count their children. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th. We will add "line up spots? on the playground as another visual assistance for teachers when checking to see if they have all children in addition to their counting the children before transitioning indoors. This will be completed by Monday, April 26th.