VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Metta Montessori School
1022 1026 & 1030 South Highland St
Arlington, VA 22204
(703) 920-0021

Current Inspector: Anansa Archer-Hicks (703) 537-6757

Inspection Date: Nov. 18, 2024

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 20 Access to minor?s records 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks During the inspection, the inspector reviewed the areas listed above to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.

Technical Assistance:

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.

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site monitoring inspection was initiated on 11/18/2024 and completed on 11/18/2024. The on-site inspection began at 10:50 am and ended at 12:50 pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 64 children present and 10 staff. The inspector reviewed 5 children?s records and 5 staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, a tour of the facility, 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 violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five (5) business days from today, which will be the close of business on 11/25/2024. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-4
Description:	The center is required to obtain out of state background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Staff #5, employed for 28 days, did not have documentation of requesting an out of state central registry check and state sex offender registry search from the state that they resided in the preceding five years.
Plan of Correction:	The new requirement for checks will be satisfied asap.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Description:	Documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening shall be completed within the last 30 days of the date of employment. Staff #5 TB was dated 9 months prior to the date of employment and Staff #5 has been employed for 28 days.
Plan of Correction:	A new TB test will be acquired for said staff within 2 weeks.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-260-B
Description:	The center shall obtain annual approval from the health department for meeting requirements for water supply and sewage disposal system. The center's environmental sanitation inspection is overdue by 12 days.
Plan of Correction:	The approval which expired on 11/6/2024 was renewed on 11/20/2024.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. During the inspection, of outdoor play, Staff #3 was observed pulling up Child A (3 years old) by the right upper forearm from the child?s knees to a standing position. Staff #3 then took the child down a few steps to the mulched playground area, where Child A dropped to the ground, and Staff #3 walked away. It was reported that Child A was told "no" three times by Staff #3 because the child wanted to get on a bike.
Plan of Correction:	The staff will be instructed to always try to obtain cooperation and in cases such as this when a child does not cooperate to lift from under the armpits. Staff is instructed not to assume that the child's teacher (even if in proximity) will redirect and comfort but to do it immediately.