VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Capital Kids Preschool & Learning Center
8758 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
(703) 360-3668

Current Inspector: Mahrukh Aziz (571) 835-4718

Inspection Date: May 6, 2022

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 ADMINISTRATION. 8VAC20-780 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 8VAC20-780 Physical plant. 8VAC20-780 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION.

Technical Assistance:

Technical assistance was offered related to the following: 1. Background checks. 2. A discussion was held with the center's administration related to staff conduct with each other and around children. 3. Staffing, supervision and classroom ratios.

Comments:

A complaint inspection was initiated on 5/6/22 and concluded on 6/27/22. A complaint was received by the department on 4/20/22 regarding allegations in the areas of staffing and supervision, ratios, nutrition and staff conduct. 8 staff were interviewed; classroom observations were made throughout the center; and 1 staff record and center documents including attendance and center's policies were reviewed. The evidence gathered during the investigation supported the allegation related to ratios. Violations not related to the complaint but identified during the course of the investigation can be found on the violation notice. For any questions regarding this inspection, please contact me at (571)-835-4718 or mahrukh.aziz@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-770-60-B
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on records review and staff interview, the center did not obtain a complete Sworn Disclosure Statement (SDS) for an employee prior to the first day of employment. Evidence: 1. Staff # 8 stated that Staff # 9?s approximate first day of employment was 4/18/20. 2. Staff # 9?s SDS was not complete; it was missing the date that the form was completed.
Plan of Correction:	The employee signed the SDS but did not date it. The date has been added.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-80-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on record review and staff interview, the center did not maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child as it occurs. Evidence: 1. At the time of the inspection, the attendance record for 5/6/22 did not have any documentation of the children?s arrival times. 2. Staff # 3 went through the attendance clipboard and stated that the attendance was not documented at all for 5/6/2022. The attendance clipboard had attendance from previous dates.
Plan of Correction:	The written record of attendance was present. The teacher accidentally dated it for 5/5/22 and it should have been 5/6/22. I have included both attendance records for both day with this report.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, areas inside the center were not maintained in a safe and operable condition. Evidence: On 5/6/22, a puddle of water was observed over the floor in front of the 3?s classroom sink. The water had been sitting there for an undetermined amount of time, posing a slip hazard for the children.
Plan of Correction:	Teachers have been trained on safety in the classroom. The teacher said she attempted to clean the water but the children needed her attention and she was trying to prevent a child from getting hurt so she had to leave the wet floor to attend to the what was in her opinion of a more urgent safety matter.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, center staff did not always ensure the care, protection and guidance when supervising children. Evidence: 1. On 5/6/22, at approximately 4:10 pm Staff # 5 in the 3-4 year old classroom had 11 children under her direct supervision. 2. Two children in the classroom were consistently climbing on a stand-alone bookcase, posing the risk of it flipping backwards, while all the books from the bookcase were all over the floor, making it a slippery surface to walk on. The same two children were observed climbing on the small couch and standing on the edge. 3. Child # 1 was observed to be constantly hitting another child even after being told by Staff # 5 to stop. Without another staff member in the room and trying to manage multiple issues simultaneously, Staff # 5 could not take the necessary guidance measures to stop Child # 1. 4. At approximately 4:20 pm, Staff # 5 took 10 children with her to the bathroom across the hall from her classroom. Two of the ten children were not listening to Staff # 5 and were consistently trying to run out of the bathroom. Staff # 5 sat on the bathroom floor and held both children with her arms around them to keep them from running out of the bathroom. While Staff #5 was attending to these two children, she was not able to provide care to the other 8 children in the bathroom as needed, such as ensuring that those children washed hands after using the bathroom.
Plan of Correction:	We dropped our teacher:child ratio by 1 child and have either 1. added an assistant to classrooms that have children with challenging behaviors or 2. we have moved children with challenging behaviors to a classroom with more instructional support.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews, center staff did not ensure that children under the age of 10 years were always within sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1. On 4/19/22, at approximately 4:50 pm, Staff # 1 and Staff # 2 engaged in a verbal argument. Staff # 3 stated the following: a. As the verbal argument increased between Staff # 1 and Staff # 2, Staff # 1 stepped out of the 2?s classroom, leaving 9 children in the 2?s classroom unsupervised for an undetermined period of time. b. Staff # 3 walked Staff # 1 back to the 2?s room and closed the door. c. Shortly after that, Staff # 1 left the 2?s classroom, said ?I?m done? and left the building. The children were again left unsupervised, until Staff # 4 stepped into the 2?s classroom to supervise them. 2. On 5/6/22, at approximately 4:10pm, there were 11 children with Staff # 5 in the 3-4 year old classroom. Two children from that room opened the door and ran out of the room. Staff # 5 stepped out of the classroom, and went down the hallway to get the 2 children, leaving the 9 children unsupervised for approximately 45 seconds in the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	Staff # 1 was terminated for stepping out of the classroom to approach staff # 2 (4/19/22). Staff # 2 was put on probation and required to complete 2 trainings on the importance of safety and supervision in the classroom (4/19/22). A staff meeting was held and this standard was reviewed. If a teacher does not have an assistant they are to notify the director immediately if a child runs out of the classroom. Child safety door knob locks have been installed where applicable to prevent children from running out of the classroom. Staff # 5 was required to complete training on proper supervision in the classroom. (7/8/22)
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-3
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, the center did not maintain staff to children ratios with children in care. Evidence: On 5/6/22, at approximately 4:37 pm, Staff # 4 was alone with ten 2 year old children. This exceeded the increased 9 children to 1 staff ratio temporarily permitted by the ratio waiver approved by the department.
Plan of Correction:	Teachers will always maintain staff to children ratios with children in care.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-4
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, the center did not maintain staff to children ratios with children in care. Evidence: 1. On 5/6/22, at approximately 4:00pm, 16 school age children and one 3 year old (Child #2) were with Staff # 6 and Staff # 7. The 3 year old lowered the required staff-to-child ratio for this group to 1:11 per the ratio waiver option approved by the department. 2. Child # 2 from the 3 year old classroom was observed holding Staff # 6?s hand. Staff # 6 stated that she had to bring Child # 2 over to help maintain ratio in the 3 year old classroom. 3. Between approximately 4:00 and 4:10 pm, Staff # 7 left the school age room to put away food, and did not return to the school age room, leaving Staff # 6 with the 17 children (16 school age and one 3 year old), for an undetermined amount of time.
Plan of Correction:	A staff meeting was held and professional development training was conducted around this standard. Teachers have been properly trained on not leaving the classroom in order to maintain ratio requirements.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation, children?s hands were not washed before eating snacks. Evidence: On 5/5/22, the school age children did not wash hands with soap and water prior to eating snack.
Plan of Correction:	Staff meeting was held and this standard was enforced. Children will always wash their hands before snacks and meals are served from here forward.