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: May 16, 2023

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. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on May 16, 2023, and concluded on May 19, 2023. This monitoring inspection was a follow up to the Intensive Plan of Correction previously developed by the center in addition to a self-report of a child being left alone in a classroom. There were 49 children in care with 10 staff and two administrators. Classroom observations were made, and children were observed in teacher and self-directed activities. A video recording and sample of children and staff records were reviewed. Violations were cited in the areas of operational responsibilities, supervision, behavior guidance, tuberculosis screenings and children's physicals. These violations appear on the violation notice and were discussed with the program director during the exit interview at the conclusion of the inspection.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Description:	Based on record review and interview the facility failed to ensure that each child has documentation of a physical examination on file within the required time frame. Evidence: 1 - The records for children #3 and #4 did not contain documentation of any physical examination. a. Child #3 has a documented first date of attendance as April 10, 2023. b. Child #4 has a documented first date of attendance as April 3, 2023. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not any documentation of physical examinations in the records of Child #3 or #4.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/31/2023. Child # 4 is no longer in care. Child # 3 is requesting physical from pediatrician. Going forward parents are required to have a complete paperwork appointment to ensure a 100% completed file signed off by two managers prior to start. All current files of active children will be checked for compliance in 30 days.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Description:	Risk rating B2 Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that each staff member obtained documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening within the required time frames. Evidence.: 1 - The record for Staff #7 does not contain any documentation that a Tuberculosis screening was completed. a. The documented date of hire for Staff #7 is February 13, 2023. 2 - The record for Staff #8 contained documentation of a tuberculosis screening; however, the results do not contain the date the results were determined. a. The documented date of hire for Staff #8 is April 10, 2023. 3 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not a tuberculosis screening on file for Staff #7. Additionally, Staff #1 confirmed that the documentation in the record of Staff #8 for was not dated.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/31/2023. Staff # 7 and # 8 will be making an appointment by 07/07/2023 to get TB test completed. All management will check files to ensure completeness and staff will not start if file is not complete. All current files of active staff will be checked for compliance every 30 days.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to demonstrate operational responsibilities ensuring that the center's activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with the center's own policies and procedures. Evidence: 1 - The center's policy states ?face to name transition sheet must be used to document staff to child ratios at the following times throughout the day: hourly, children arriving and leaving the classroom, transitioning children from one location to another, combining and or blending classrooms, teachers changes and breaks in the classroom.? However, on May 12, 2023, the policy was not followed leading to a Child #1 being left alone and unattended in the two-year-old classroom by Staff #2 and #3. a. Staff #2 stated that she did not complete the required head count using the face-to-name sheet; she thought Staff #3 had completed the head count using the face-to-name sheet because Staff #3 was the last staff to leave the classroom. b. Staff #3 stated that she was not regularly assigned to the two-year-old classroom, and she was not the lead teacher, therefore she did not fill out the face-to-name sheet. c. Staff #3 stated that she did not follow the center procedure of using the face-to-name sheet until returning to classroom and preparing to go outside. d. Staff #2 stated that she understood it was the responsibility of both staff to ensure that the policy of head counts with the face-to-name sheet was completed, and that both she and Staff #3 confirmed that it was both of their responsibility to ensure that the face-to-face sheet was completed. 2 ? The center?s procedure for a child being separated from their group states when ??a child is unintentionally separated from their group, not within sight or sound of a staff member, for any period of time call for help while ensuring the supervision of other children.? However, on May 12, 2023, Staff #2 stated that it was approximately 15 ? 30 minutes before she called for help after it was known to her that Child #1 was not present in the group of children she was responsible for. a. Staff #1, #4 and #5 stated that they were never notified by Staff #2 that Child #1 was no longer within her sight/sound supervision. b. b. Staff #3 who was present in the two?s classroom stated that at no time did either herself or Staff #2 inform management that Child #1 was no longer in their sight sound supervision. 3 - The center?s procedure for managing challenging behaviors states: ?No staff member is permitted to utilize the following means of punishment or redirection on any child - Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language.? On May 16, 2023, Staff #2 and #6 were observed subjecting children to harsh language in three separate incidents: a. Staff #6 was heard using a raised angry voice while speaking to children in her care. She stated, ?GET OFF EACH OTHER NOW!?. Staff #5 was located at the back of the building, and she was heard clearly by people sitting near the front door of the building. b. Staff #2 was heard saying ?She?s mean! She?s just mean!? Staff #6 was referring to a toddler in care. The statement was made while the toddler class, consisting of 10 children and two staff, was outside on the playground and could be heard by everyone within hearing proximity. c. Staff #2 was heard using a raised angry voice as she passed through the two-year old room. Staff #6 stated GET DOWN! NO! GET DOWN! NO! NO! [Child #2] GET DOWN! 4 ? Staff #1 confirmed that Staff #2 and #6 did not follow center policy regarding managing challenging behaviors.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/14/2023. Staff # 3 is no longer with the company. All staff are being retrained on 07/12/2023 on positive guidance and redirection. All staff are being retrained on child supervision and face to name procedures to ensure all children are within sight and sound while in care on 07/12/2030. All staff are trained during orientation on proper supervision of children prior to being in ratio. All staff are trained on positive guidance and redirection during orientation. Management will do periodic inspections and ensure a manager is available throughout the day if staff need assistance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to demonstrate that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care and protection. 1 ? Staff #2 and #3 took their group of children from the two-year-old classroom to retrieve materials from the preschool classroom. Upon returning to the two-year-old classroom Staff #2 stated to Staff #3 that Child #1 was not present in the classroom. However, neither Staff #2 or #3 took action to determine if Child #1 was anywhere in the building or to locate Child #1 once it was determined that the child was not present in their care. a. Staff #3 stated that Child #1 was missing from their classroom for approximately 30 minutes to an hour, until Staff #1 returned the child to their care. 2 ? Child #1 had been found alone and unsupervised in the two-year-old classroom by Staff #4. Staff #4 stated that while Child #1 ?was not crying he appeared confused, like where is everybody.? a. Staff #4 stated that she brought Child #1 to the office where she stayed with him and fed him lunch. 3 ? Staff #1 and #4 stated that there were general radio calls throughout the center asking staff to complete head counts/face to name sheets and report back. However, a response from Staff #2 or #3 was never received. a. Staff #1 stated that he was waiting to see how long it took Staff #2 and #3 to report that they did not have possession of Child #1. b. After approximately 30 minutes to an hour Staff #1 returned Child #1 to the two-year-old classroom. c. Staff #1 stated that Staff #2 nor #3 ever acknowledged that Child #1 was not within their supervision.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/14/2023. Staff # 3 is no longer with the company. All staff are being retrained on child supervision and face to name procedures to ensure all children are within sight and sound while in care on 07/12/2030. All staff are being retraining on 07/12/2023 on procedures for a child separation. All staff are trained during orientation on proper supervision of children prior to being in ratio and on procedures for child separation. Management will do periodic inspections and ensure a manager is available throughout the day if staff need assistance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age are always within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1 - Video footage viewed and staff interview confirm that on May 12, 2023, two-year old, Child # 1, while in the care of Staff #2 and #3, was left unattended in the two-year-old classroom for approximately 2 - 4 minutes. 2 - Staff #4 found the child in the two-year-old classroom while walking through the center carrying out lunch related duties. a. Staff #4 stated that the child was not crying "but he looked confused, like where is everybody." 3 - An incident report generated by the facility documents that Child #1 was left unattended by Staff #2 and #3 on May 12, 2023 at approximately 11:00am.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/14/2023. Staff # 3 is no longer with the company. All staff are being retrained on child supervision and face to name procedures to ensure all children are within sight and sound while in care on 07/12/2030. All staff are being retraining on 07/12/2023 on procedures for a child separation. All staff are trained during orientation on proper supervision of children prior to being in ratio and on procedures for child separation. Management will do periodic inspections and ensure a manager is available throughout the day if staff need assistance.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Based on observations and interactions the facility 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 and resolve conflicts. Evidence: 1 ? While on the playground with the toddler/two-year-old class, Staff #2 verbally stated to a child in care ?She's just mean?she's mean.? loud enough for all the children to hear. 2 ? Staff #2 could be heard yelling at a child in care ?Get Down! No! Get Down! No! No! (Child?s name) Get Down!?. Staff #6 was passing through the two-year-old room as she returned to the playground with her class, the toddler group. 3 ? Staff #6 could be heard yelling ?Get off of each other NOW!? a. The staff?s raised voice startled adults seated at the opposite end of the child care center. Adults hearing this stopped typing, writing and reviewing records to turn in the direction of the raised voice.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected by 07/14/2023. All staff are being retrained on 07/12/2023 on positive guidance and redirection. All staff are trained on positive guidance and redirection during orientation. Management will do periodic inspections and ensure a manager is available throughout the day if staff need assistance.