VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Capital Kids Preschool & Learning Center
8758 Richmond Highway
Alexandria, VA 22309
(703) 360-3668

Current Inspector: Mahrukh Aziz (571) 835-4718

Inspection Date: June 29, 2023

Complaint Related: Yes

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 ADMINISTRATION. 8VAC20-780 STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND TRAINING. 8VAC20-780 Physical plant. 8VAC20-780 STAFFING AND SUPERVISION. 8VAC20-780 SPECIAL SERVICES.

Technical Assistance:

Technical Assistance was offered related to physical plant, staffing, and ratios.

Comments:

An unannounced complaint inspection was initiated on 6/29/23 from 9:50 am to 1:15 pm. The complaint was related to the center not maintaining staff to children ratio in classrooms. Classroom observations were made, 7 staff members were interviewed, and attendance and employee timesheets were reviewed. Based on the preponderance the complaint is valid. Areas of non-compliance related and not-related to the complaint are listed in the violation notice. For any questions related to this complaint, please contact me at 571-835-4718 or mahrukh.aziz@doe.virginia.gov.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observations, areas and equipment inside and outside the center were not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. The doors to a wooden cupboard in the 2?s classroom, were broken and detached from the hinges. They were being held in place using a bench in the classroom, posing an injury hazard to the children. 2. The large blue rug in the school age room had fraying edges, posing a trip hazard to the children. 3. In the school age classroom, a child was observed getting a blue plastic chair to use. One corner of the chair had a large crack, and the broken piece was slightly separated exposing the sharp edges. The top back side of the chair also had a large crack. Both cracks had edges posing an injury hazard to the children. 4. One sink in the 4?s classroom was clogged, and there was dirty standing water in the sink with food residue and paper towel soaked in the water. 5. Protruding and rusty screws were found at the base of toilet seats in the 3?s and school age bathroom. The covers to these screws were missing. 6. The wooden half door in the 3?s bathroom was broken at the bottom and had a hole. 7. Peeling paint was found on the wall across from the main office. 8. The top corner of the yellow half door to the 3?s classroom was broken with peeling paint. 9. The storage shed on the playground was coming apart where the connecting pieces keep two side together. The left side of the shed was bowing out leaving a gap between the two sides.
Plan of Correction:	A contractor was hired two weeks prior to this inspection to repair items 1, 5, 6, 7, 8. All work has been completed. Item 4 was corrected at the time of the inspection. Items 2 and 3 have been removed. The shed will be repaired or replaced by 8/25/23.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-1
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interview and records review, the center did not maintain staff to child ratio for children from birth to 16 months of age. Evidence: 1. A review of the staff sign-in sheets for 6/27/23 and 6/28/23 showed that Staff # 1 and Staff # 3 were the only two staff members signed in at 6:00 am to 7:37 am and 7:38 am respectively, until other staff members started to arrive at work. 2. On both dates, Staff # 1 was responsible for children 2 years to school agers. 3. The attendance record for the infant classroom dated 6/27/23 showed that Staff # 3 was by herself with 5 infants and over ratio at 7:00 am, until approximately 7:37 am when another staff member arrived. 4. The attendance record for the infant classroom dated 6/28/23 showed that Staff # 3 was by herself with 5 infants and over ratio at 7:10 am until approximately 7:38 am when another staff member arrived.
Plan of Correction:	Classrooms are always staffed to meet ratio requirements. We have had an unusually high call out rate as of recent which is why we have been out of ratio until we have time to call in our substitute teachers. From here forward we will over staff classrooms in the morning to ensure that we meet ratio requirements in the event teachers are out for medical reasons. Staff # 1 in item # 6 was not being honest. Everyone is trained on ratio requirements. Staff # 1 will undergo further training to ensure they understand what is expected of them moving forward. #8 is not true. There are two teachers scheduled at 6:00 am. One at 7:00, 7:30, 7:45, 8:15, 8:30 and 8:45 am. This would not have been possible and there is no evidence to support this claim.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-350-B-2
Complaint related:	Yes
Description:	Based on staff interviews and records review, the center did not maintain the staff to child ratio for children two years old. Evidence: 1. The attendance sheets for 6/26/23 showed that Staff # 1 had 9 children at 7:25 am. 2 of the 9 children were two-years old. 2. The attendance sheets for 6/27/23 showed that Staff # 1 had 9 children at 7:34 am. 2 of the 9 children were two-years old. Staff # 1 was over ratio until Staff # 2 arrived at 7:37 am. 3. On 6/28/23: The attendance sheets for 6/28/23 showed that: a. Staff # 1 had 9 children at 7:09 am. 2 of the 9 children were two-years old; b. At 7:10 am one more child arrived increasing the number to 10 children; c. At 7:15 am one more 2-year-old child arrived and increased the total number of children to 11 with only Staff # 1 present, d. At 7:17 am two more children arrived to Staff # 1?s group increasing the number to 13 children including 4-two year old children. 4. On 6/28/23, Staff # 1 did not maintain the ratio for 2-year-old children until approximately 7:34 am when Staff # 2 arrived and took the 2-year-old children to their classroom. 5. The employee sign in and out sheets confirmed that Staff # 1 and Staff # 2 arrived at 6:00 am. 6. Staff # 1 stated that she was responsible for supervising children 2?s through school agers. Staff # 1 also stated that she did not know that the ratio would drop according to the age of the youngest child in care, and that she has had more than 8 children in care by herself with 2 years old in the same group. 7. Staff # 3 stated that she arrived at 6 am and was responsible for the infants. 8. One of the six staff interviewed stated that she has observed Staff # 1 with as many 22 children by herself from 7 am until other staff members start to arrive.
Plan of Correction:	Classrooms are always staffed to meet ratio requirements. We have had an unusually high call out rate as of recent which is why we have been out of ratio until we have time to call in our substitute teachers. From here forward we will over staff classrooms in the morning to ensure that we meet ratio requirements in the event teachers are out for medical reasons. Staff # 1 in item # 6 was not being honest. Everyone is trained on ratio requirements. Staff # 1 will undergo further training to ensure they understand what is expected of them moving forward. #8 is not true. There are two teachers scheduled at 6:00 am. One at 7:00, 7:30, 7:45, 8:15, 8:30 and 8:45 am. This would not have been possible and there is no evidence to support this claim.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Complaint related:	No
Description:	Based on observation and staff interview, warm running water and soap were not being used for children?s handwashing after diapering or before eating meals and snacks. 1. In the infant?s and the two?s classroom, there was no water coming out of the hot water faucet in each sink respectively. 2. One of six staff interviewed stated that the warm water had been turned off because children were getting to the sink and were able to turn the water on. 3. One other staff member of the six staff interviewed stated that she had not been using warm water for children?s handwashing because the warm water had been turned off in the classroom as the children were getting to the sink and playing with water.
Plan of Correction:	Corrected day of inspection All staff were trained again on proper handwashing for both children and staff. Warm water is available. Child proof covers will be installed to prevent children's access to water when not necessary.