AlphaBest at Mullen Elementary

8VAC20-780-80-B-2 Complaint related: No

“The center is required to inform the department's representative as soon as practicable, but not to exceed two business days, of any injury to a child that occurs while the child is under the supervision of the center and requires outside medical attention. Evidence: The center did not inform the licensing inspector within 2 business days after an incident requiring medical treatment.”

8VAC20-780-340-F Complaint related: No

“(Repeat Violation) The Center is required to ensure that children under 10 years of age always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: On the day of inspection, at approximately 5:30pm, Child #2 (age 8) was found alone in the cafeteria behind a closed door. Staff stated they were not aware the child had left the gym.”

8VAC20-780-550-P Complaint related: No

“The Center is required to ensure that the written record of children’s injuries contained the date when parents were notified; any future action to prevent recurrence of the injury; and Staff and parent signatures or two staff signatures. Evidence: The injury report written for Child #1 was missing the date the parents were notified, future action to prevent recurrence of the injury, and two signatures.”

8VAC20-780-340-J

“The Center is required to ensure that staff do not allow a child to leave the center unsupervised. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/24 during outdoor play time, Child #1 put on their backpack and told Staff #1 that they wanted to go home and get more juice. Staff #1 told the child that snack would be given shortly and to set their backpack aside and go play until that time. Staff #1 then went back to interaction with other students and parents and did not maintain sight and sound supervision of Child #1 as the child moved with their backpack to the edge of the outdoor play area. 2)Child #1 sat for several minutes on the hill at the edge of the outdoor play area without any sight and sound supervision from the staff. The child then got up and walked away from the facility towards home. The child was gone and unsupervised for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-340-F

“The Center is required to ensure that children under 10 years of age always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/2024, Staff did not have actual sight and sound supervision of all children on the playground during the outdoor time. Staff #2 and Staff #3 who were posted on the playground were both observed leaving their posts on the playground area and walking over to the blacktop area for approximately 11-14 minutes before returning to the playground area. This left the children on the playground area without sight and sound supervision for that duration. When the 2 staff returned, they were observed clustering in one area and talking to each other. 2)Staff stated that Staff #1 was standing close to the facility on the blacktop area instead of their usual post on the grassy hill next to the blacktop area. Staff #1 was engaging in one-on-one interactions with children and parents. Staff #1 did not maintain sight and sound supervision of children. During this period, one of the children left the playground and began walking through the neighborhood to go home. The child was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-40-E

“The Center is required to ensure that the centers activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with their own policies that are required by the standards. Evidence: 1)The center did not follow their written playground safety procedures that included active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities, and circulation among the children. On 9/11/24, 2 staff positioned themselves on the playground in such a way that they stood next to each other with their backs to some of the children while talking and dribbling a ball. The third staff member was positioned by the facility conducting one on one interaction with children and parents. During this time, a child left the playground and began walking home. 2)The center did not follow their written attendance policy that includes documenting arrival and departure of each child in their care.”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“The Center is required to ensure the care, protection and guidance of all children in care. Evidence: On 9/11/2024, Child #1 (age 5) left the playground, walked across 3 streets, passed by a neighborhood pond, and continued down the sidewalk away from the facility approximately .3 miles away where a stranger noticed the child walking alone and brought them back to the facility. Staff were unaware the child had been missing when the child was returned to the facility.”

8VAC20-780-40-M

“The Provider is required to maintain a current and dated written list of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions that is accessible to all staff in each group or area where children are present. Evidence: The allergy list did not contain one of Child #1`s diagnosed food allergies so the list was not current.”

8VAC20-780-340-J

“The Center is required to ensure that staff do not allow a child to leave the center unsupervised. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/24 during outdoor play time, Child #1 put on their backpack and told Staff #1 that they wanted to go home and get more juice. Staff #1 told the child that snack would be given shortly and to set their backpack aside and go play until that time. Staff #1 then went back to interaction with other students and parents and did not maintain sight and sound supervision of Child #1 as the child moved with their backpack to the edge of the outdoor play area. 2)Child #1 sat for several minutes on the hill at the edge of the outdoor play area without any sight and sound supervision from the staff. The child then got up and walked away from the facility towards home. The child was gone and unsupervised for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-340-F

“The Center is required to ensure that children under 10 years of age always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/2024, Staff did not have actual sight and sound supervision of all children on the playground during the outdoor time. Staff #2 and Staff #3 who were posted on the playground were both observed leaving their posts on the playground area and walking over to the blacktop area for approximately 11-14 minutes before returning to the playground area. This left the children on the playground area without sight and sound supervision for that duration. When the 2 staff returned, they were observed clustering in one area and talking to each other. 2)Staff stated that Staff #1 was standing close to the facility on the blacktop area instead of their usual post on the grassy hill next to the blacktop area. Staff #1 was engaging in one-on-one interactions with children and parents. Staff #1 did not maintain sight and sound supervision of children. During this period, one of the children left the playground and began walking through the neighborhood to go home. The child was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-40-E

“The Center is required to ensure that the centers activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with their own policies that are required by the standards. Evidence: 1)The center did not follow their written playground safety procedures that included active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities, and circulation among the children. On 9/11/24, 2 staff positioned themselves on the playground in such a way that they stood next to each other with their backs to some of the children while talking and dribbling a ball. The third staff member was positioned by the facility conducting one on one interaction with children and parents. During this time, a child left the playground and began walking home. 2)The center did not follow their written attendance policy that includes documenting arrival and departure of each child in their care.”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“The Center is required to ensure the care, protection and guidance of all children in care. Evidence: On 9/11/2024, Child #1 (age 5) left the playground, walked across 3 streets, passed by a neighborhood pond, and continued down the sidewalk away from the facility approximately .3 miles away where a stranger noticed the child walking alone and brought them back to the facility. Staff were unaware the child had been missing when the child was returned to the facility.”

8VAC20-780-40-M

“The Provider is required to maintain a current and dated written list of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions that is accessible to all staff in each group or area where children are present. Evidence: The allergy list did not contain one of Child #1`s diagnosed food allergies so the list was not current.”

8VAC20-780-340-J

“The Center is required to ensure that staff do not allow a child to leave the center unsupervised. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/24 during outdoor play time, Child #1 put on their backpack and told Staff #1 that they wanted to go home and get more juice. Staff #1 told the child that snack would be given shortly and to set their backpack aside and go play until that time. Staff #1 then went back to interaction with other students and parents and did not maintain sight and sound supervision of Child #1 as the child moved with their backpack to the edge of the outdoor play area. 2)Child #1 sat for several minutes on the hill at the edge of the outdoor play area without any sight and sound supervision from the staff. The child then got up and walked away from the facility towards home. The child was gone and unsupervised for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-340-F

“The Center is required to ensure that children under 10 years of age always be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1)On 9/11/2024, Staff did not have actual sight and sound supervision of all children on the playground during the outdoor time. Staff #2 and Staff #3 who were posted on the playground were both observed leaving their posts on the playground area and walking over to the blacktop area for approximately 11-14 minutes before returning to the playground area. This left the children on the playground area without sight and sound supervision for that duration. When the 2 staff returned, they were observed clustering in one area and talking to each other. 2)Staff stated that Staff #1 was standing close to the facility on the blacktop area instead of their usual post on the grassy hill next to the blacktop area. Staff #1 was engaging in one-on-one interactions with children and parents. Staff #1 did not maintain sight and sound supervision of children. During this period, one of the children left the playground and began walking through the neighborhood to go home. The child was out of sight and sound supervision of staff for approximately 13 minutes.”

8VAC20-780-40-E

“The Center is required to ensure that the centers activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with their own policies that are required by the standards. Evidence: 1)The center did not follow their written playground safety procedures that included active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities, and circulation among the children. On 9/11/24, 2 staff positioned themselves on the playground in such a way that they stood next to each other with their backs to some of the children while talking and dribbling a ball. The third staff member was positioned by the facility conducting one on one interaction with children and parents. During this time, a child left the playground and began walking home. 2)The center did not follow their written attendance policy that includes documenting arrival and departure of each child in their care.”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“The Center is required to ensure the care, protection and guidance of all children in care. Evidence: On 9/11/2024, Child #1 (age 5) left the playground, walked across 3 streets, passed by a neighborhood pond, and continued down the sidewalk away from the facility approximately .3 miles away where a stranger noticed the child walking alone and brought them back to the facility. Staff were unaware the child had been missing when the child was returned to the facility.”

8VAC20-780-40-M

“The Provider is required to maintain a current and dated written list of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions that is accessible to all staff in each group or area where children are present. Evidence: The allergy list did not contain one of Child #1`s diagnosed food allergies so the list was not current.”

8VAC20-780-60-A

“Based on review of 5 child records, the Center did not ensure they obtain all of the required documentation for child records. Evidence: The record for Child #1 did not contain the name, address and phone number of 2 designated people to call in an emergency if a parent cannot be reached. The record for Child #1 did not contain the father’s work place and work phone number.”

8VAC20-780-160-C

“Based on review of 3 staff records, the center did not obtain documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test or screening for staff every 2 years from the date of the initial screening or testing. Evidence: The record for Staff #1 did not have documentation of a negative TB test or screening withing 2 years of the last TB test. The most recent TB test on file was dated 8/17/21.”

8VAC20-780-560-J

“Based on observation, the center did not ensure that tables were sanitized before and after each use for feeding. Evidence: The table where 2 children were eating their snack was not sanitized prior to the children eating as required.”

8VAC20-780-510-E

“Based on review of 13 medications and medication authorizations, the center did not ensure they follow the policy for administration of medication. Evidence: The medications for Child #4 and Child #5 did not contain parent authorization or authorization from the child’s physician.”

8VAC20-780-60-A

“Based on review of 5 child records, the Center did not ensure they obtain all of the required documentation for child records. Evidence: The record for Child #1 did not contain the name, address and phone number of 2 designated people to call in an emergency if a parent cannot be reached. The record for Child #1 did not contain the father’s work place and work phone number.”

8VAC20-780-160-C

“Based on review of 3 staff records, the center did not obtain documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) test or screening for staff every 2 years from the date of the initial screening or testing. Evidence: The record for Staff #1 did not have documentation of a negative TB test or screening withing 2 years of the last TB test. The most recent TB test on file was dated 8/17/21.”

8VAC20-780-560-J

“Based on observation, the center did not ensure that tables were sanitized before and after each use for feeding. Evidence: The table where 2 children were eating their snack was not sanitized prior to the children eating as required.”

8VAC20-780-510-E

“Based on review of 13 medications and medication authorizations, the center did not ensure they follow the policy for administration of medication. Evidence: The medications for Child #4 and Child #5 did not contain parent authorization or authorization from the child’s physician.”

8VAC20-780-510-I

“Based on review of 7 medications, the center did not ensure that they administer only those drugs that were dispensed from a pharmacy and maintained in the original, labeled container. Evidence: The medication for Child #1 was not maintained in the original, labeled container from a pharmacy.”

8VAC20-780-60-A-8

“Based on review of 3 child records, the provider did not ensure they had a written care plan for each child with a diagnosed food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Evidence: The record for Child #1 did not contain an allergy care plan for their physician diagnosed food allergy.”

8VAC20-780-510-I

“Based on review of 7 medications, the center did not ensure that they administer only those drugs that were dispensed from a pharmacy and maintained in the original, labeled container. Evidence: The medication for Child #1 was not maintained in the original, labeled container from a pharmacy.”

8VAC20-780-60-A-8

“Based on review of 3 child records, the provider did not ensure they had a written care plan for each child with a diagnosed food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Evidence: The record for Child #1 did not contain an allergy care plan for their physician diagnosed food allergy.”