VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Montessori Academy of Virginia-Suffolk
5805 Harbourview Boulevard
Suffolk, VA 23435
(757) 484-4902

Current Inspector: Melinda Popkin (757) 802-5281

Inspection Date: July 8, 2022

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Programs.

Technical Assistance:

Policies in place to minimize day to day distractions for children in class may not supersede a direct request from parents to enter the facility where their children are in care.

Comments:

This inspection was conducted by licensing staff using an alternate remote protocol, including telephone contacts, documents review and interviews. A complaint inspection was initiated on 7/8/2022 and concluded on 9/6/2022. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration and programming. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-420-A
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on a review of written procedures and interviews, the program does not provide all of the required written procedures to parents before the child's first day of attending. Evidence: 1. The written policies included in the current parent handbook do state that the custodial parent has a right to be admitted to the center, as required by the Code of Virginia 22.1-289.054. 2. The parent handbook states throughout , in several areas "Let your child walk independently into school carrying own belongings." ; "Students will be walked into the school building by staff members during drop off time." ; "Pull up to the drop off entrance of the building and please remain in your vehicle." ; and for late arriving students "ring the front doorbell; student will be escorted to class by office personnel". 3. The parent handbook states that Class room observations, using viewing windows, by reservation, are encouraged. However, it is noted that no observations will be scheduled during the month of September or "until children are settled into a routine and anxieties are dispelled". In addition, it states that "due to Covid-19 restrictions we will not have casual observations until further notice." 4. Interviews with the Program Director revealed that parents are not normally permitted in the classrooms without prior arrangement and are discouraged from entering the facility unless an appointment is made in advance to observe from the viewing window or to meet with staff.
Plan of Correction:	The following written response was received by the department on 9/13/2022: "We will update our parent handbook to reflect this exception and better clarify the reasoning behind this...by the end of the month."
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-420-C
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Interviews with the parent of a two year old child and with the Program Director revealed that a parent requested to walk her two-year-old child to her classroom on the first day of summer camp (6/27/2022) but was not permitted to enter the facility to do so.
Plan of Correction:	The following written response was received by the department on 9/13/2022: "Moving forward if a parent does request to come into the building, we will allow them to step into the lobby area with their child, but we cannot let them walk the child into the classroom as that will cause a disruption to the rest of the students. We will update our parent handbook to reflect this exception and better clarify the reasoning behind this."