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: May 28, 2025

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education 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 May 28, 2025, and completed on June 30, 2025, as a part of probation and an Intensive Plan of Correction (IPOC). The Department issued a Special Order on April 15, 2025, to place the licensee on probation for a period of six months; and contact parents, guardians, or other responsible persons regarding health and safety violations as a result of high-risk violations. The Department requested that the provider complete an IPOC as result of the inspection on March 26, 2025, related to building maintenance, supervision of children, behavioral guidance, forbidden actions, handwashing and toileting procedures and background checks. The on-site inspection began at 11:35am and ended at 1:35pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. The inspector reviewed 4 children?s records and 0 staff records on site. This inspection included document review, 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 July 7, 2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.023-A
Description:	The Licensee shall post the Notice of Intent dated March 24, 2025, any Violation Notice(s) attached to the Notice of lntent, and the Special Order in a prominent place at each public entrance. The violation notice dated January 13, 2025, was not posted in a prominent place at each public entrance. The violation notice dated January 13, 2025, was posted behind the inspection dated May 12, 2025, and was not attached to the Notice of Intent or the Special Order.
Plan of Correction:	The Notice of Intent, the originating violation notice as well as the subsequent Special Order were all prominently placed at the entry points on both levels of our facility, in a single stack based on the dates of issuance/receipt. During this inspection each of the 3 documents were seperated and placed side by side in the same locations.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-370-1
Description:	When an infant is able to easily turn over from the back (supine) to the belly (prone) position and he is placed in his crib, he shall still be put on his back (supine) but allowed to adopt whatever position he prefers. In classroom #2, child #3 (age: 13 months), was observed being laid to sleep on their belly by staff #2.
Plan of Correction:	Classroom #2 staff have been retrained on the risk for SIDS, when children are placed in a prone position and to be sure to place ALL sleeping children on their backs when placing them in their crib.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-400-A
Description:	In order to promote the child's physical, intellectual, emotional, and social well-being and growth, staff shall interact with children to provide needed help, comfort and support. During nap time in classroom #1, staff #1 did not provide needed comfort and support to child #1(age: 2 years). Staff #1 was observed telling child #1 "I can't pick you up" and walked away when child #1 was crying and reaching for staff #1. Video footage on May 28, 2025, shows staff #1 pushing child #1 away directing the child from them and to their cot.
Plan of Correction:	Staff #1 was retrained on the importance of providing comfort and support to all children in care at all times, including during naptime, as being of higher significance than her concern of creating a precedent-setting behavior for the other children who were already on their cots.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-410-5
Description:	The following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: forcing of rest; In classroom # 2, staff #2 was observed forcing child #4 (age: 11 months) to rest by pushing the child's head down to their crib mattress, forcing the child's legs out straight from under them and patting the child's back with force. When staff #2 walked away from the crib, child #4 stood up smiling. Video footage on May 28, 2025, in classroom #1, shows staff #1 pulling child #1 (age: 2 years) down towards their cot by their right arm and rapidly pick the child up and forcefully repositioning the child on their cot.
Plan of Correction:	Staff have been reminded that there is a fine line between following directive of a parent or guardian that wants their child to follow a specific nap schedule and forcing rest. Staff have been retrained to encourage rest and given toold to help with achieving this objective with the understanding that children will ultimately rest when they want to.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-L
Description:	Repeat Violation Pillows and filled comforters shall not be used by children under two years of age. Child #2 (age: 22 months) was observed sleeping on a pillow in classroom #1.
Plan of Correction:	The Urban Infant Company "TotCot" was provided by the child's parent for their child's nap time. Classroom #1 staff have been reminded to check and inform parents when sleeping supplies sent from home do not conform to Licensing Standards, and to not use the item.