VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

La Petite Academy #7140
1921 South Independence Boulevard
Virginia beach, VA 23456
(757) 471-6104

Current Inspector: Brandie Viscayda

Inspection Date: Aug. 25, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on 08/25/2022 and completed on 08/26/2022 in response to a self reported incident of inappropriate behavior guidance. Based on the information gathered which included classroom observation, staff interviews, a review of center video and a review of written records violations were found in the areas of behavior guidance and forbidden action. The violations are listed on the violation notice issued to the facility.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Based on staff interviews and a review of center video, the center failed to ensure that behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. Evidence: 1. Staff 1 failed to provide positive redirection or constructive guidance to child 1, age 18 months, who had pulled a chair up to the hand washing sink and wasplaying in the water. 2. Staff 2 stated it was normal for child 1 to pull a chair up to the hand washing sink and play in the water. Staff 2 additionally stated that child 1 did not generally respond to verbal redirection. a. Staff 2 stated that child 1 had been playing in the hand washing sink at 11:00 am that morning. b. Center video showed child 1 playing in the hand washing sink at approximately 12:04 pm as the class prepared for nap. 3. On both occasions, staff 1 grabbed child 1 by the arm in order to move him away from the sink. a. Center video shows staff 1 taking child 1 by the arm and quickly moving him across the room and dropping him on his cot at 12:04 pm. Staff 1 then walks away without offering any quite activity, comfort or nap assistance. b. Staff 2 reported that staff 1 grabbed child 1 by the arm to remove him from the sink at 11:00am. According to staff 2, staff 1, "appeared frustrated" as she moved child 1 by the arm across the room, and dropped him on the carpeted area. Staff 2 indicated that staff 1 walked away leaving child 1 crying on the carpeted area of the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 1 no longer works for company. All remaining were retrained on classroom management and positive child interaction. All staff are trained during the new 5 day orientation which focuses on classroom management and positive child interaction prior to being in ratio. Management and DM are conducting random classroom observations weekly to ensure compliance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Description:	Based on staff interviews and a review of video, the center failed to ensure that roughly handling a child is forbidden. Evidence: 1. Child 1 received a bruise to his left forearm when staff 1 inappropriately picked him up on two instances on 08/18/2022. 2. Staff 2 who was in the classroom with staff 1, stated she observed staff 1 grapping child 1 by the arm at approximately 11:00 am. a. Staff 2 stated that child 1 was standing on a chair at the hand washing sink when staff 1 grabbed child 1 by the arm and pulled him off of the chair. b. Staff 2 stated that staff 1 pulled child 1 over to the carpeted area of the classroom, by his arm, and dropped him onto the carpet. c. Staff 2 stated that child 1 cried when his arm was grabbed by staff 1. 2. At 12:04 pm center video shows staff 1 picking child 1 up by the arm and pulling him off of a chair. a. Staff 1 is then observed holding child 1's hand and walking at a faster pace than the child is able which causes him to trip over a cot. b. Staff 1 picks child 1 up by the arm, pulls him the rest of the way to his cot and then drops him onto his cot and walks away. 3. The parent of child 1 reported that her child had a finger shaped bruise on his left arm which was noted the evening of 08/18/2022 during bath time. a. The parent stated she had observed the live feed of the center video on 08/18/2022 and noted that staff 1 had grabbed her child by the arm in a way that appeared aggressive. 4. Staff 2 and staff 3 confirmed they saw the bruise on child 1's forearm on 08/19/2022. a. Staff 2 described the bruise as purple in appearance and in the shape of a fingerprint. b. Staff 3 described the bruise as purple in appearance and in the shape of a thumbprint.
Plan of Correction:	Staff 1 no longer works for company. All remaining were retrained on classroom management and positive child interaction. All staff are trained during the new 5 day orientation which focuses on classroom management and positive child interaction prior to being in ratio. Management and DM are conducting random classroom observations weekly to ensure compliance.