VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Great Beginnings Early Learning Center
618 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 520-9966

Current Inspector: Alyssa Simons (571) 423-6392

Inspection Date: March 26, 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, on-site focused inspection was initiated on March 26, 2025, and completed on April 23, 2025. The Department issued a Notice of Intent to require the licensee to contact parents, guardians or other responsible persons regarding health and safety violations and place the licensee on probation as a result of high-risk violations. The on-site inspection began at 10:00am and ended at 12:30pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. The inspector reviewed 4 children?s records and 4 staff records on-site. This inspection included documentation review, tour of the facility, interviews, observations and measurements. 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 April 30, 2025. 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 background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Staff #5, employed for 3 days, did not have documentation of requesting a criminal history check from one state.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	Repeat Violation and Systemic Deficiency The center shall ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside, are maintained in a safe and operable condition. In classroom #3, located on the 2nd story, an open window had a tear in the screen. Child #4 (age: 3 years) was observed lifting one leg up on to the windowsill of the open window. The opening of the window measured approximately 2ft 3in in length, approximately 2ft 3in in width and the open window was approximately 2ft 1.5in from the ground to windowsill.
Plan of Correction:	Windows in all upper-level classrooms were opened to dispel an unpleasant odor resulting from overnight HVAC system cleaning. These windows have since been returned to their standard safety-restricted opening positions, and the damaged screen was replaced.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Repeat Violation When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. On 03/26/2025, video footage of a classroom transition showed staff #2 shove child #1 (age: 5 years) from behind, staff #2 grabbed child #1 by the left lower arm and pulled child #1 towards the children lining up at the classroom door. Child #1 pulled away from staff #2, staff #2 grabbed child #1 from behind by grabbing both the childs upper arms and held the child by their upper arms until the child exited the classroom. Staff # 2 did not ensure the care, protection and guidance of child #1.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #2 failed to follow the training recently provided to all center staff, which emphasized appropriate child-staff interactions and outlined strategies for managing situations where a child refuses to follow group instructions. The staff member's actions were inconsistent with the expectations set forth in the training. As a result, their employment was immediately terminated.
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. On 03/26/2025, video footage of classroom #3s transition to classroom #4, showed child #1 (age: 5 years) playing, cleaning up toys and then sitting back down when the class was to line up. Staff #2 approaches the child; the child stands up and staff #2 shoved child #1 from behind. Staff #2 grabbed child #1 by the lower left arm and pulled child #1 towards the children lining up at the classroom door. Child #1 pulled away from staff #2 and then staff #2 grabbed child #1 from behind by grabbing both the child?s upper arms and held their upper arms until the child exited the classroom. This behavioral guidance is neither constructive in nature nor age and stage appropriate.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #2 failed to follow the training recently provided to all center staff, which emphasized appropriate child-staff interactions and outlined strategies for managing situations where a child refuses to follow group instructions. The staff member's actions were inconsistent with the expectations set forth in the training. As a result, their employment was immediately terminated.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-1
Description:	Repeat Violation The following actions thereof are forbidden: roughly handling a child. On 03/26/2025, video footage of a classroom transition showed staff #2 shove child #1 (age: 5 years). Staff #2 roughly grabbed child #1 by the left lower arm and pulled child #1 towards the children lining up at the classroom door. Staff #2 roughly grabbed child #1 from behind by grabbing both the child?s upper arms and held the child by their upper arms until the child exited the classroom.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #2 failed to follow the training recently provided to all center staff, which emphasized appropriate child-staff interactions and outlined strategies for managing situations where a child refuses to follow group instructions. The staff member's actions were inconsistent with the expectations set forth in the training. As a result, their employment was immediately terminated.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Description:	Children?s hands shall be washed with soap and running water or disposable wipes before eating meals and children?s hands shall be washed with soap and running water after toileting. Staff shall wash their hands with soap and running water before and after a diaper change and before preparing or serving food or beverages. In classroom #1, the children were playing with toys then sat down to eat lunch and did not wash hands. In classroom #1, staff #3 and staff #4 did not wash their hands before serving food. Video footage on 03/26/2025 of classroom #2 showed staff #1 not wash the hands of child #2 (age: 22 months) and child #3 (age: 23 months) hands after changing their diapers and returning the children to their group. Video footage on 03/26/2025 of classroom #2 showed staff #1 not wash their hands before diapering child #3.
Plan of Correction:	Staff members were reminded and retrained on the importance of consistently following handwashing protocols - even during the busiest parts of the day - to ensure proper hygiene and uphold the health and safety standards of our program.