VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Little Bear Daycare & Learning Center
2416 4th Ave. E.
Big stone gap, VA 24219
(276) 524-4407

Current Inspector: Angela Farmer (276) 608-2283

Inspection Date: Feb. 10, 2026

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration. 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. 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 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Early Childhood Care and Education 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 8VAC20-790 Introduction 8VAC20-790 Administration 8VAC20-790 Staff Qualifications & Training 8VAC20-790 Physical Plant 8VAC20-790 Staffing & Supervision 8VAC20-790 Programs 8VAC20-790 Special Care Provisions & Emergencies 8VAC20-790 Special Services 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:

Beginning February 1, 2026, licensed child day programs, licensed family day systems, and voluntarily registered family day homes shall refer to Chapter 8VAC20-821, General Procedures for the Licensure of Child Day Programs and Family Day Systems and Background Checks. This chapter replaces 8VAC20-770, Background Checks for Child Day Programs and Family Day Systems; 8VAC20-820, General Procedures and Information for Licensure; and 8VAC20-830, Fee Requirements for Processing Applications. For information and resources related to 8VAC20-821, please visit: https://www.childcare.virginia.gov/providers/what-s-new.

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site renewal inspection was initiated on 2/10/2026 and completed on 2/10/2026. The on-site inspection began at 10:55 am and ended at 1:25 pm. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 12 children present and three staff. The inspector reviewed five children?s records and four staff records on-site. This inspection included: ? document review, ? tour of the facility, ? interviews, A subsidy health and safety inspection (SHSI) was conducted in conjunction with the licensing inspection. Subsidy standards that are not covered in licensing standards were reviewed during this SHSI, and this single inspection report reflects findings related to licensing standards and subsidy standards. Information gathered during the inspection determined noncompliance 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 2/23/26. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-1
Description:	The center is required to obtain a completed sworn statement prior to the employee's first day of employment. Staff #4, who has been employed five months, does not have a sworn statement on file.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-3
Description:	The center must request a search of the central registry prior to the employee's first day of employment. Staff #4, who had been employed for five months, did not have a central registry search on file. Staff #4 was working alone with children.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	22.1-289.057-B
Description:	The program is required to submit results of potable water testing to VDH. The program did not have evidence of submitting test results to VDH.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-140-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Physical examinations completed by a physician shall be obtained prior to the first day of attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance. There was no physical examination in the record of child #3, who had been enrolled for 10 months
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-C
Description:	A tuberculosis (TB) screening is required every two years from the last screening. Staff #2 updated screening was due 3 years ago.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Children's records did not contain all the required information. Child #4, who had been in care for two months, did not have parents names, addresses, work information, doctors office, emergency contacts, allergies school previously attended and authorized to pick up child
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-210-A
Description:	Program leaders shall be at least 18 years of age, have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent. Staff #1, 3, 4 did not have documentation on file showing that they have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Staff #3 & #4 were working as program leaders during the inspection.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-245-A
Description:	Staff shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of training annually, appropriate to the age of children in care. Staff #3 obtained three of the 16 required hours in 2025. Staff #2 & #4 did not have training documentation on file.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-270-A
Description:	The center shall ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, are maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. There is a tall (approximately 4 feet) bookshelf located in the preschool room. The bookshelf is not secured to the wall and could tip over on a child.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-330-B
Description:	Where playground equipment is provided, resilient surfacing shall be under equipment with moving parts or climbing apparatus to create a fall zone. The resilient surfacing under the slides measured two inches. Six inches are required.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-440-A
Description:	Cribs shall be provided for children during the designated rest period and not be occupied by more than one child at a time. Child #4 (4 months) and child #6 (3 months) do not have a crib provided during rest period.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-A
Description:	Children's hands shall be washed with soap and running water or disposable wipes before and after eating meals or snacks. Children did not wash hands or use disposable wipes before or after eating lunch.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-500-B
Description:	500.B.3.c- A nonabsorbent surface for diapering or changing shall be used. The diapering surface was torn exposing the absorbent material inside. 500.B.5-Disposable diapers shall be disposed in a leakproof or plastic-lined storage system that is either foot-operated or used on a way that staff do not touch the exterior of the storage system. Staff # 1 changed several diapers and disposed of them in a container that was on the wall above the changing table. This container did not have a lid, was not foot operated and the exterior could be touched by staff and child.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-790-600-D-1
Description:	All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care. Staff #3 and Staff #4, who have been employed five months, do not have CPR certification.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-790-600-D-2
Description:	All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of employment current certification in first aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. Staff #3 and Staff #4, who have been employed for five months, do not have first aid certification.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.