VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

LeafSpring School Charter Colony
825 Charter Colony Parkway
Midlothian, VA 23114
(804) 594-0561

Current Inspector: Molly Muscat (804) 588-2367

Inspection Date: Jan. 6, 2025

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.

Comments:

An unannounced monitoring inspection was initiated on 01/06/2025 and completed on 01/17/2025 in response to a self-report received by the licensing office on 12/10/2024 relating to supervision of children and behavioral guidance. The inspector reviewed 8 children?s records and 1 staff record electronically on 01/06/25, 01/09/25, and 01/17/25. 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 violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within five business days from today, which will be the close of business on 02/13/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Repeat Violation The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring that the center?s activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by the standards. 1. The center?s policy titled "Behavior Guidance Policy Agreement", signed by staff #1, states: "Teachers are prohibited from using harsh and cruel treatment involving physical punishment, including but not limited to spanking, restraining movement, shaking/rough handling, ...all faculty/staff must assume a hands-off approach when disciplining children, refraining from physical intervention with the child unless absolutely necessary to safeguard all children. 2. Staff #1 was observed on multiple occasions hitting 2-year-old children with books and pillows. 3. Staff #1 was observed forcefully pulling child #3 and child #5, both 2 years of age, on two separate occasions causing the children to fall. Staff #1 continued to drag the children across the room. 4. Staff #1 was observed forcefully sitting a 2-year-old child down. 5. Staff #1 was observed throwing a toy across the room which hit child #4, age 2 years, in the head.
Plan of Correction:	Our screening, hiring, and training processes are rigorous. They include all required screenings, background checks, and reference checks. All faculty and staff must complete initial on-boarding including state required training. In addition, all faculty and staff must complete on-going training as required by state licensing and our own internal policies. It is in keeping with our ethics that we will uphold licensing requirements, and when we find that we are out of compliance, we do self-report when appropriate. It is our belief that holding ourselves accountable through self-governance (including self-reporting when warranted) is paramount in our preschool operations. The actions demonstrated by Staff #1 were not in alignment with the school?s policies and practices, and they were terminated immediately. We have a zero tolerance policy regarding this type of behavior. Upon learning of Staff # 1?s actions, employment was immediately terminated. Staff # 1 was then escorted from the premises. As is our on-going practice, a thorough investigation was initiated immediately and was on-going after the incident. Once the internal investigation was concluded, a self-report was initiated with licensing by the school owner. Based on the findings of the internal investigation, CPS was also contacted by the Executive Director for their follow up if they deemed warranted. A mandatory meeting was held with the whole faculty team, and they were retrained on our behavior guidance policies and procedures. Further, the staff also completed a mandatory online training course called ?Child Abuse and Neglect: VA Mandated Reporting.? Completion certificates were required to be reviewed by the Program Director. (Meeting held on December 13, 2024; Faculty were provided with a timeframe to complete the on-line training. All staff completed the training as required.) All families directly involved, were contacted individually by a member of the administration team on December 10, 2024, and spoken to regarding any incident that involved their child. Our policy is explicit that we do not tolerate this type of behavior. Further, we are explicit that certain types of behavior will result in immediate termination. As such, we did uphold our policy regarding our requirements of faculty and staff to abide by our policies and practices.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Repeat Violation When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. 1. Staff #1 was observed hitting child #1, age 2 years, with a book causing the child to cry. 2. Staff #1 was observed forcefully pulling child #3, age 2 years, and child #5, age 2 years, on two separate occasions by the arm to another area of the classroom causing the children to fall. Staff #1 continued to drag the children across the room. 3. Staff #1 was observed throwing a toy across the room which hit child #4, age 2 years, in the head.
Plan of Correction:	Our screening, hiring, and training processes are rigorous. They include all required screenings, background checks, and reference checks. All faculty and staff must complete initial on-boarding including state required training. In addition, all faculty and staff must complete on-going training as required by state licensing and our own internal policies. It is in keeping with our ethics that we will uphold licensing requirements, and when we find that we are out of compliance, we do self-report when appropriate. It is our belief that holding ourselves accountable through self-governance (including self-reporting when warranted) is paramount in our preschool operations. The actions demonstrated by Staff #1 were not in alignment with the school?s policies and practices, and they were terminated immediately. We have a zero tolerance policy regarding this type of behavior. Upon learning of Staff # 1?s actions, employment was immediately terminated. Staff # 1 was then escorted from the premises. As is our on-going practice, a thorough investigation was initiated immediately and was on-going after the incident. Once the internal investigation was concluded, a self-report was initiated with licensing by the school owner. Based on the findings of the internal investigation, CPS was also contacted by the Executive Director for their follow up if they deemed warranted. A mandatory meeting was held with the whole faculty team, and they were retrained on our behavior guidance policies and procedures. Further, the staff also completed a mandatory online training course called ?Child Abuse and Neglect: VA Mandated Reporting.? Completion certificates were required to be reviewed by the Program Director. (Meeting held on December 13, 2024; Faculty were provided with a timeframe to complete the on-line training. All staff completed the training as required.) All families directly involved, were contacted individually by a member of the administration team on December 10, 2024, and spoken to regarding any incident that involved their child.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-B
Description:	Repeat Violation Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. 1. Staff #1 was observed on multiple occasions hitting 2-year-old children with pillows and books when the children would not listen. 2. Staff #1 was observed forcefully pulling child #3, age 2 years, and child #5, age 2 years, on two separate occasions by the arm to re-direct them to another area of the classroom causing the children to fall. Staff #1 continued to drag the children across the room. 3. Staff #1 was observed by several staff members on multiple occasions yelling at children, age 2 years, and screaming in the children's faces. 4. Staff #1 taped the shoes of child #2, age 2 years, to prevent the child from taking their shoes off. 5. Staff #1 was observed forcefully sitting a 2-year-old child down.
Plan of Correction:	Our screening, hiring, and training processes are rigorous. They include all required screenings, background checks, and reference checks. All faculty and staff must complete initial on-boarding including state required training. In addition, all faculty and staff must complete on-going training as required by state licensing and our own internal policies. It is in keeping with our ethics that we will uphold licensing requirements, and when we find that we are out of compliance, we do self-report when appropriate. It is our belief that holding ourselves accountable through self-governance (including self-reporting when warranted) is paramount in our preschool operations. The actions demonstrated by Staff #1 were not in alignment with the school?s policies and practices, and they were terminated immediately. We have a zero tolerance policy regarding this type of behavior. Upon learning of Staff # 1?s actions, employment was immediately terminated. Staff # 1 was then escorted from the premises. As is our on-going practice, a thorough investigation was initiated immediately and was on-going after the incident. Once the internal investigation was concluded, a self-report was initiated with licensing by the school owner. Based on the findings of the internal investigation, CPS was also contacted by the Executive Director for their follow up if they deemed warranted. A mandatory meeting was held with the whole faculty team, and they were retrained on our behavior guidance policies and procedures. Further, the staff also completed a mandatory online training course called ?Child Abuse and Neglect: VA Mandated Reporting.? Completion certificates were required to be reviewed by the Program Director. (Meeting held on December 13, 2024; Faculty were provided with a timeframe to complete the on-line training. All staff completed the training as required.) All families directly involved, were contacted individually by a member of the administration team on December 10, 2024, and spoken to regarding any incident that involved their child.