VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Tierra Encantada Ford dba Alexandria Day Care
4401 Ford Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22302
(571) 312-0185

Current Inspector: Eureka Nance (703) 638-5968

Inspection Date: June 13, 2024

Complaint Related: No

Technical Assistance:

Discussion on center policies and procedures, staff training on behavioral guidance and supervision. Effective January 1, 2025, the VDOE will begin determining compliance with ? 22.1-289.057 of the Code of Virginia, which is legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2020. The law requires all licensed child day programs, religious exempt child day centers that serve preschool age children, and certified preschools to test potable drinking water. The law requires that programs submit their plans and test results to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water (VDH ODW) and the Superintendent. If the results of the testing indicate elevated lead levels, the program shall remediate, retest, and resubmit results to VDH ODW and the Superintendent. There is an additional alternative bottled water option that comes with additional requirements. The statutory requirement can be found online at https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title22.1/chapter14.1/section22.1-289.057/. Resources are now available for providers on the "What's New" webpage on the ChildCareVA website at https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/providers/what-s-new. New applicants for employment and volunteering hired on or after July 1, 2024, may be provisionally hired if the applicant has received qualifying results on a fingerprint-based background check through the Central Criminal Records Exchange or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Current employees must continue to meet the requirements set out in ? 22.1-289.035 of the Code. Previous background check requirements apply to all applicants and volunteers hired prior to July 1, 2024.

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on June 13, 2024, and completed on July 24, 2024, in response to a self-report received by the licensing office on June 11,2024 relating to supervision and programs. The inspector reviewed three children?s records and three staff records on-site on June 13, 2024). This inspection included document review, interviews, and observations. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law, and violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the deficient practice will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on July 30, 2024. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website. If you have any questions regarding this inspection, please call or email. Licensing Inspector, Eureka Nance Office of Child Care Health and Safety Division of Early Childhood Care and Education Phone# 703-638-568 eureka.nance@doe.virginia.gov

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Repeat Violation Systemic Deficiency Based on observation, interviews and documentation review the center has failed to demonstrate operational responsibilities including but not limited to ensuring the center?s activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with these standards the center's own policies and procedures that are required by these standards, and the terms of the current license issued by the department when staff left a child unattended for approximately four minutes. Evidence: 1. On June 10, 2024, Staff 1 snatched Child #1?s by the arm to sit the child on the carpet. Staff #1 grabbed 9 other children by the arm to forcefully sit them on the carpet. 2. Staff 1 grabbed Child #2 by the arm forcefully to sit the child on the carpet. 3. The center?s policy regarding supervision and playground safety of children were not followed when a child was left unattended in the bathroom with the door closed ad lights off on June 10, 2024, for approximately four minutes. 4. Child #3 was left in the bathroom because Staff 2 acknowledged she did not check the bathroom stalls before turning the light off and closing the door. 5. Child #3 was pulled by the arm forcefully to sit down on bathroom bench.
Plan of Correction:	Teacher Cynthia Padilla will own classrooms quality control and will spend tie in classrooms observing and providing guidance on how to make sure our policies and procedures for handling children are being met. Additionally, both the Director and assistant director will conduct audits to ensure that teachers are abiding by the policies and childcare standards. We have provided additional training to teachers to ensure students are being counted everytime they leave a room and specifically bathroom areas. We are having teacher Cynthia Padilla perform quality control visits to all classroom on a weekly basis to ensure teachers are following our polices.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	A child was left out of sight and sound supervision in the classroom of two-year-olds for approximately four minutes. Evidence: 1. .On June 10, 2024, two children were in the bathroom with Staff 1. Staff 2 went in the bathroom to cover for Staff 1. Staff 2 was standing in front of the bathroom stall. One child leaves out of the bathroom. Staff 2 leaves out the bathroom leaving, cut the light off and closes the door. 2. Staff 3 found Child #3 inside the bathroom stall with the lights off. 3. Child #3 was left in the bathroom approximately four minutes with the lights off and door closed. 4. Staff 3 acknowledged she did not they did check the bathroom stalls to ensure there were no children in the bathroom stalls before cutting the lights off and closing the door.
Plan of Correction:	We are having teacher Cynthia Padilla to perform quality control checks and to ensure that teachers are counting children at all times when leaving areas in the center and before turning bathroom lights off. Both the director and the assistant director will perform camera audits weekly to ensure this practice is being done.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Description:	Repeat Violation Systemic Deficiency Based on staff interviews, observation of video camera footage, and documentation reviewed a staff member used forbidden actions on a child. Evidence: 1. On June 10, 2024, Staff 1 snatched Child #1?s by the arm to sit the child on the carpet. 2. Staff 1 grabbed Child #2 by the arm forcefully to sit the child on the carpet. 3. The Staff Handbook states, ?We take a proactive approach versus a reactive approach that solely seeks to apply guidance to unwanted behaviors.?
Plan of Correction:	The staff in question is pregnant and due to being more sensitive to stress she was sent to maternity leave sooner and is no longer at the center. Additional training on how to manage stress and how to seek management help was provided. We are also sending teacher to Cynthia Padilla to perform classroom observations and she will record checklist to identify if any additional training is needed.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Description:	Based on observation, the staff did not wash children or their hands with soap and running water or disposable wipes after contact with urine. 1. Staff 1 changed 7 children?s diapers. Staff #1 did not wash her hands or wash the hands of the children before they left out the bathroom.
Plan of Correction:	Teacher Cynthia Padilla will perform classroom observations and training on the spot if she identifies that teachers are not washing hands using the bathroom. Additional verbal reminders and guidance has already been provide teachers.