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Guidepost Montessori at West Alexandria
3475 N. Beauregard St., Suite 301
Alexandria, VA 22302
(571) 206-1687

Current Inspector: Sarah Marbert (703) 479-4678

Inspection Date: April 27, 2021 , May 10, 2011 and May 11, 2021

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:
22VAC40-185 ADMINISTRATION.
22VAC40-185 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING.
22VAC40-185 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.
22VAC40-185 PROGRAMS.
22VAC40-191 Background Checks (22VAC40-191)
63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect
63.2(17) License & Registration Procedures

Comments:
An inspection was begun after the receipt of a self-reported incident regarding a lack of supervision. On 4/26/21 a child was left in the classroom when the group transitioned to the outside. Additional violations were cited that were not part of the original report but were discovered during the course of the investigation. This investigation 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. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliances with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the facility. If you have any questions, please contact me at (703) 479-4678 or at Sarah.Marbert@dss.virginia.gov.

Violations:
Standard #: 22VAC40-185-160-A
Description: Based on a review of records, one staff record did not contain documentation of a negative TB screening within 21 days of employment.
Evidence:
School administration stated that Staff #2 did obtain a TB test within 21 days of employment but had not provided the documentation for the record. Leniency for TB test/screening results during the current State of Emergency applies to a staff member being able to obtain a test or screening. The leniency does not apply to providing the documentation of the test. As it was stated the test was obtained within 21 days of employment, documentation should be on file.

Plan of Correction: *This staff member's test is now on file.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-40-E
Description: Based on multiple staff interviews, staff failed to follow the center's policies for knowing where children are at all time.
Evidence:
*Guidepost Montessori policy states: "Before transitioning the children to a new area, do a careful visual sweep of the area you are about to leave." On April 26, 2021 at approximately 11:00am the Children's House 4 (CH4) room was transitioning to outside. One group of 11 children and 2 staff (Staff #1, #2) left the room, leaving 2 staff (Staff #3 #4) and 11 children in the classroom. When the second group exited the room, Staff #4 did not conduct a careful visual sweep of the room as a 4 yr old child (Child A) was left in the classroom when the second group left the room. A staff person from another room (Staff #5) observed the child walk out of CH4 approximately 3-4 minutes after the second group left the room.

Plan of Correction: *Retrained all Staff on counting and safety procedures two times. *Implementing new counting documentation procedures and accountability measures *Implemented new monitoring of counting procedures. *Held individual and whole staff meetings on safety and counting procedures. *Placed employees involved on rigorous 60 day probation plan involving multiple trainings on counting and supervision. *All staff must announce on radio how many children and staff they are transitioning with and document on the attendance tracker. *Children are counted every 30 minutes in the classroom and documented on the attendance tracker. *All staff members had to sign documentation of understanding of counting and supervision procedures. *Employee primarily responsible for this incident was immediately terminated.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-A
Description: Based on multiple interviews, staff did not ensure care and protection for a child when the child was left unattended in the classroom.
Evidence:
Staff #3 and #4 were unaware of the number or names of children present in the room as they prepared to transition to outside. A "first group" of 11 children and 2 staff had exited the room, taking the class attendance sheet with them. Staff stated that sometimes the first group may take an extra child with them when they leave. The 2 staff left in the room had no way of knowing how many or which children were in the room as they began to leave the room. The staff counted 10 children; however, they were unaware that there were 11 children present.

Plan of Correction: *Staff do not split children p into groups.
*Staff announce the number of children present whenever a child arrives at the school or leaves and when transitioning with the group.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-D
Description: Based on a review of records and staff interviews, in one grouping of children a program leader supervises more than two aides.
Evidence: Staff #6 (Lead Guide) in the CH4 classroom supervises three assistant teachers (Staff #1, #2, #3).

Plan of Correction: *Two of the four staff members are qualified to be lead guides per VA standards. Guidepost only has one lead guide per classroom. We will label the second qualified lead guide as a lead for licensing purposes.

Standard #: 22VAC40-185-340-F
Description: Based on a self report from the school administration, a child under the age of 10 was not kept in constant sight and sound supervision.
Evidence:
On April 26, 2021 Child A was not kept within actual site and sound supervision when their classroom (CH4) transitioned to outside at approximately 11:00 am. The child was observed by Staff #5 exiting the CH4 room approximately 3-4 minutes after the class had left the room.

Plan of Correction: *Correction plan listed above for this incident

Standard #: 63.2(17)-1720.1-B-4
Description: Based on a review of records, one staff record does not contain documentation of the completion of out of state background searches for a staff person that has resided in another state with in the past 5 years.
Evidence:
Staff #3 listed a current home address in Maryland on their Sworn Disclosure Statement signed 2/22/21. There are no results available for an out of state Sex Offender Registry search or a Child Abuse and Neglect search for Maryland. The results of the Sex Offender search are required to be on file prior to employment. The results of the out of state Child Abuse and Neglect search are required to be on file within 45 days of employment. (Date of Employment: 3/18/21)

Plan of Correction: *The staff only listed Texas as a previous state lived in. We will ensure all future sworn statements are filled out correctly by staff members.
*All background check results for Maryland have now been acquire for this staff member.

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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