VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

La Petite Academy #7143
1569 Mill Dam Road
Virginia beach, VA 23454
(757) 481-6078

Current Inspector: D'Nae Goodwin (757) 404-3063

Inspection Date: Dec. 14, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Programs.

Comments:

An investigation was initiated on 12/9/22 in response to a self-reported incident received by the department regarding behavior guidance in the classroom. Video footage of the incident was reviewed on 12/14/22 and an on-site inspection was conducted on 12/15/22. Interviews with staff were conducted and documentation and records related to the incident were reviewed. Based on the information gathered during the investigation, the self-reported incident is determined to be valid. Violations are cited on the violation notice and were discussed with center management at the conclusion of the investigation.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews, video footage and a review of the center?s policies, the center failed to ensure that the operational responsibilities of the licensee shall ensure that the center?s services are maintained in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by these standards. Evidence: The center failed to follow their written policy for positive guidance and redirection as demonstrated by the following incident: 1. The center?s policy for positive guidance and redirection states ?No staff member is permitted to utilize the following means of punishment or redirection on any child: Hitting, shaking, biting, pinching, pulling, pushing, physical force or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment to hurt a child?restricting a child?s movement by binding, tying or any other type of physical restrain or timeout, including lifting or carrying a child.? a. On 12/8/22, child 1 (age 1 year) and child 2 (age 1 year) were pulled by their arm and sat down on the floor multiple times by staff 1. Staff 1 also took a toy out of child 1?s hands on two occasions and threw a soft foam rocker chair over the heads of the children onto the area rug where the children were standing. 2. Center management confirmed that staff 1 did not follow the center?s policy for positive guidance and redirection.
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: Staff one no longer works for the company. All staff and management were retrained on positive guidance and behavior, how to use our behavior support team, and how to manage classroom observations. During all onboarding training all staff now have a specialized training to ensure understanding of positive guidance support. DM will do periodic inspections for compliance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Based on interviews and a review of video footage, the center did not ensure that behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: 1. The center self-reported that a parent reported they witnessed staff 1 inappropriately handle child 2 (age 1 year) on 12/8/22 through the center?s live camera system. 2. The licensing inspector viewed video footage from 12/8/22 provided by the center of the toddler classroom. The video is of an approximate 15-minute time period. Staff 1 was alone supervising 4 children, ages 1 year, while attempting to clean up the childcare area after lunch. There were no planned activities provided during this time. As a result, the techniques used to manage the children?s behavior were not age and stage appropriate. The video showed the following incidents of inappropriate behavioral guidance: a. Child 1 (age 1 year) is standing by a table and staff 1 takes him by his upper left arm and pulls him over to the area rug. Staff 1 sits child 1 down on the area rug and takes away a toy that child 1 was holding. b. Child 2 (age 1 year) is walking around the classroom when staff 1 takes her by her upper arm and walks her over to the area rug and sits her down. c. Child 1 is standing by the diaper changing table when staff 1 takes him by his upper arm and sits him down on the area rug. Child 1 begins to cry. d. Child 2 is walking around the classroom holding a soft foam rocker chair when she slips on a piece of food that is on the floor next to the table staff 1 is cleaning. Child 2 falls to the floor and staff 1 takes her by her upper right arm, lifts her off her feet into the air and pulls child 2 onto the area rug. Staff 1 then picks up the foam rocker chair and throws it overhead onto the area rug where the children are all standing. e. Child 1 is sitting on the floor of the classroom playing with a toy when staff 1 takes the toy away from him, picks him up by his underarms and sits him down on the area rug, resulting in child 1 falling onto his back. Child 1 begins to cry. 3. Center management confirmed that staff 1 did not demonstrate age and stage appropriate behavior guidance in the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	The center responded with the following: Staff one no longer works for the company. All staff were retrained on positive guidance and behavior. Management and DM will periodic inspect for compliance.