VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Montessori School of Charlottesville
1602 Gordon Avenue
Charlottesville, VA 22903
(434) 295-0029

Current Inspector: Beth Orebaugh (540) 847-9173

Inspection Date: Feb. 16, 2023

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies.

Comments:

An unannounced non-mandated investigation was started on February 16, 2023 and concluded on May 25, 2023 due to a self-reported incident regarding suspected child abuse and neglect. A local agency representative and licensing inspector conducted interviews jointly on 03/01/2023, 03/14/2023, 03/23/2023, and 04/25/2023. The inspector reviewed compliance areas of staffing and supervision, programs, special care provisions and emergencies, and child abuse and neglect. Exit interview was conducted on 06/14/2023. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance(s) with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the plan of correction and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice and return it to me within 5 business days from today. Please specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Your plan of correction should contain: 1) steps to correct the noncompliance with the standard(s): 2) measures to prevent the noncompliance from occurring again; and 3) person(s) responsible for implementing each step and/or monitoring any preventive measure(s). **A corrected violation notice was issued on 08/14/2023 to change the inspection type to monitoring.**

Violations:

Standard #:	63.2-1509-A*
Description:	Based on document review and staff interview on 02/16/2023, staff who had reason to suspect that a child is abused or neglected failed to report the matter immediately to the local department of the county or city wherein the child resides or wherein the abuse or neglect is believed to have occurred or to the Department?s toll-free child abuse and neglect hotline. Evidence: 1. An email received by Staff 6 from parent of Child 1 sent on 02/05/2023 at 4:15 p.m. expressed concerns that Staff 3 was ?squeezing the children?s hands hard? and Child 2 stated it ?hurt her body?, noting ?the possibility of physical punishment an emotional abuse happening is a real concern.? 2.Staff 1 reported the incident to the Licensing Inspector on 02/09/2023 and verified that they had not reported to the local department or county.
Plan of Correction:	In the future, when there is reason to suspect that any child is abused or neglected the school admin will immediately report the concerns to VDOE and CPS. Completed by 2/20/23.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on interview, the center failed to always ensure sight and sound supervision for children under the age of 10. Evidence: 1.In an interview with Staff 3, on 04/25/2023, Staff 3 stated that she brought Child 3 to the stairwell hallway for being disruptive during rest time and left Child 3 alone for under a minute and a half with the door closed.
Plan of Correction:	End the employment of Staff 3 based on failing to meet requirements in her contract. Staff were immediately reminded and retrained on 2/20/23 in sight and sound requirements outlined in the Virginia Licensing Standards: 8VAC29-780-340-F . Annual All-Staff Meetings will continue to include reminders regarding licensing standard requirements including ratios relative to age of the youngest child in their care, sight and sound requirements and behavioral management rules and regulation as well as Montessori best practices. MSC will create a written policy as well as re-training of all staff in the practice of head counting prior to entering and exiting the facility by 8/28/23.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Based on staff interviews, the center failed to use behavioral guidance that was constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate. Evidence: 1. An email sent on 02/09/2023 at 9:55 a.m. to Staff 1 and Staff 6 from the parent of Child 2 (age 3) indicated that Staff 3 has been putting a mask on Child 2 and telling Child 2 that ?she can?t suck her thumb in the classroom?. The same email also indicated that Child 2?s brother, who is in the same classroom as Child 2, ?has been openly shaming (Child 2) when I picked them up? and the parent stated, ?I also know that supporting a child to move away from an automatic and self-soothing behavior is very nuanced and should have been a conversation with the family?. 2. During an interview on 02/16/2023, Staff 3, 4, & 5 all stated that masks were given to Child 2 to prevent Child 2 from sucking their thumb.
Plan of Correction:	End the employment of Staff 3 based on failing to meet requirements in her contract. Engage with parents of children involved in allegations. Create opportunities for feedback and concerns from parents and offer any outside support services needed for children and adults. Interview other classroom staff to clarify MSC standards of behavior for adults in the classrooms. An All-Staff re-training was held on 2/20/23 to solidify everyone?s understanding of developmentally appropriate behavioral management practices: including following the child through observation and modeling appropriate behaviors versus only correcting behavior. Administration will have a more regular observation schedule as well as daily walk throughs to both observe teaching staff and students and to provide support and training where needed, starting in March of 2023.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-5
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that staff did not threaten to withhold food. Evidence: 1. Interview with Staff 3 on 04/25/2023 stated that there was a time in January that Child 2 did not get a snack. 2. Interview with Staff 4 on 03/23/2023 stated that she witnessed Staff 3 saying to Child 2 ?because you did not clean up snack correctly. You will not have snack tomorrow until you learn how to clean up.?
Plan of Correction:	End the employment of Staff 3 based on failing to meet requirements in her contract. Review of 8VAC29-780-(6)-410-5 on 2/20/23 on ?forbidden actions? by staff members in a child day center. This training will be part of our ?New Staff Orientation Training? for new staff as well as continuing education for all staff.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-550-O
Description:	Based on document review and staff interview, the center failed to notify the parent by the end of the day of any known minor injuries. Evidence: 1. Interview on 02/16/2023 with Staff 3 revealed that Child 2 was burned while making winter candles and parent was not notified of the injury.
Plan of Correction:	End the employment of Staff 3 based on failing to meet requirements in her contract. Staff re-training on 4/17/23 focused on how to log and document incidents and when it is applicable using our incident report documents, stored in classroom notebooks. Reminder to all staff of the requirement to notify parents by the end of the day.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-550-P
Description:	Based on document review and staff interviews, the center failed to maintain a written record of children?s serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence. Evidence: 1. Parent of Child 2 sent email to Staff 1 and Staff 6 on 02/09/2023 at 9:55 am. It stated ?(Child 2) had a significant burn on her arm from making winter candles?. 2. Interview on 02/16/2023 with Staff 3 and Staff 4, confirmed that Child 2 did get burned while making winter candles and was treated with First Aid 3. Staff 3 verified during an interview on 02/16/2023 that there was no written record of the injury.
Plan of Correction:	End the employment of Staff 3 based on failing to meet requirements in her contract. Continue to re- train/remind staff of required use of Incident Report including notification of parent on the day of the incident. Staff Re-trained on 4/17//23. Continue to have administrative review of Incident Reports with follow up as needed with parents and VDOE.