Heartworks STEAMworks & Loveworks Schools, LLC-Shelburne Rd, S.Burlington

Regulation 6.2.7.4.2: No form of inappropriate discipline or corporal punishment shall be used with children such as but not limited to: Restricting a child's movements or actions through use of physical force, binding, tying, use of any other mechanical restraint, or using medication without written parental permission, without following the medicine's label, and/or without following medical prescription;

“Staff X held four (4) year old Child A in their lap for about thirty (30) minutes as a consequence for hitting another child. Staff that were present at the time stated that Staff X was seated, Child A was in their lap facing out and Staff X had their arms around Child A's torso to keep them from getting up. There is no indication that Child A was injured as a result of the restraint. Staff X was terminated as a result of this incident, this was Staff X's second day of employment at the program. Corrective Action: Please review this regulation with all staff and ensure the requirements are understood. Status: Appeal Period.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 6, 2026

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“A violation for this regulation has been cited three (3) times since 03/08/2024. During this licensing investigation it was noted that staff BFIS quality and credential accounts for staff who have been employed for more than six (6) months remain incomplete. Corrective Action: The program will review all staff BFIS quality and credential accounts and ensure they are complete regardless of whether they have been employed for six (6) months. By the corrective action due date submit missing documentation to Northern Lights at CCV. Once all documents are submitted notify Licensor [name] Pratt and provide her with a program improvement plan that identifies the steps the program will take moving forward to ensure compliance with this regulation. Status: Appeal Period.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 13, 2026

Regulation 3.4.6.5: Staffing Schedule: A licensee shall maintain a written record of the daily schedule for at least 365 days of all staff including exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned.

“The name to face sheets which are reported to be the only daily record of staff assignment to groups were incomplete on 04/09/2026. It was not possible to determine who worked in a group and for what time of the day. This is a repeat violation. Failing to maintain records of staff hours and groups worked with was cited during a visit on 09/29/2025. Corrective Action: Staff schedules/assignments to groups are to be maintained up to date. Submit a plan that includes set times of the day and assigned person/role who will be responsible to check the name to face sheets for accuracy.”

Correction date in the state record: May 5, 2026

Regulation 6.2.1.3: The program director shall ensure that the number of staff present meets requirements described in the chart below for ages of children, maximum group size, and staff/child ratios at any time of day.

“On 04/08/2026, The preschool group was in violation of group size from 8:44 a.m. to 9:53 a.m.. The group had eleven (11) children at 8:44 a.m. and sixteen (16) children by 9:53 a.m. and five (5) of those children were confirmed to be two years of age. The maximum number of children that may be in a group that includes a two year old child is ten children. On 04/09/2026, the preschool group operated with a two year old in a group of eleven (11) children from 9:50 a.m. to 3:44 p.m. This is a repeat violation. Failing to maintain group size was cited on 03/25/2026. This is a serious violation requiring a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: Group size and child to staff ratios are to be maintained at all times. This is a repeat violation. Failing to maintain group size was cited on 03/25/2026. The program is to submit a program improvement plan that outlines how and to which person staff are to report concerns about staff to child ratio and/or group size. Staff are to be given the names and contact information for the individuals within the organization identified in addition to the Program Director or the on site person designated in the Director's absence for notification. Program shall submit a detailed plan of what actions are to be taken to ensure staff to child ratios and group size are maintained if/when daily group assignments change. Such changes to child or staff group assignment are to be documented and maintained in a single document available for review during licensing visit. This documentation is to include how the decision was made, and how parents of any children who moved groups were notified. Send a copy of this site visit letter either by U.S. mail or electronic mail to all parents of children who have been enrolled in the past 30 days. Send the contact information for each parent to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford. All corrective action requirements are to be completed by 05/05/2026.”

Correction date in the state record: May 5, 2026

Regulation 6.2.1.3: The program director shall ensure that the number of staff present meets requirements described in the chart below for ages of children, maximum group size, and staff/child ratios at any time of day.

“It was acknowledged that the program operated a group of nine (9) infants with three (3) staff on 03/18/2026. The maximum number of children in a mixed group of infants and one year olds is eight (8) children. The program was out of compliance to this requirement from 8:55 a.m. to approximately 9:30 a.m. This is a Serious Violation of group size . Corrective Action: Group size requirements are to the maintained at all times. Review group size requirements with all staff persons. Develop and submit for review a plan for staff responsiblities and actions to be taken to maintain staff to child ratio and/or group size requirements during routine and unexpected staffing patterns. Send a copy of this site visit report either by U.S. mail or electronic mail to all parents of children who have been enrolled in the past 30 days. Send the contact information for each parent to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford. The required plan, letters to parents, and contact information for parents are to be sent to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford by the identified corrective due date.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 9, 2026

Regulation 6.2.4.3: The program director shall ensure that each group of children is led by a staff member who is at least qualified as a teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation.

“Five (5) of the six (6) classrooms do not have a staff member who is at least qualified as a Teacher Associate or higher leading the classroom at least 75% of the time. Corrective Action: Develop a plan on how the Director will meet the intention of this requirement while unqualified staff become qualified or until qualified staff are hired. Include in the plan who will be in each classroom and how the intent of the rule will be met. Describe what supervision will look like for unqualified staff, including frequency of observations, oversight of curriculum, classroom management and feedback given to staff.”

Correction date in the state record: May 14, 2026

Regulation 7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that all new staff and auxiliary staff, prior to working with children in the CBCCPP; and any new individual designated as the representative of the licensee shall submit a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and shall submit to fingerprinting at a location designated by the Division after having received the Fingerprinting Authorization Certificate by the Division.

“An individual was working in a classroom and had been working at the program for several months without having submitted a background record check form. A record check form was collected during this visit and sent to be processed by the Child Development Division. Corrective Action: Have the identified individual submit to fingerprinting as required and ensure they are not left alone until fingerprints have been processed. Develop a plan to ensure that any new individual who will be present in the classroom and working with children submits a record check authorization form and completes fingerprinting if that it is required for their position.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2026

Regulation 5.2.1.8: Staff shall wash the hands of children who are unable to wash their own hands and provide developmentally appropriate guidance and supervision to help children learn and practice healthy hand washing.

“It was observed in the Infant 1 classroom that staff did not wash an infant's hands after having their diaper changed. It was observed in the Toddler 2 classroom that two (2) children did not wash their hands after having their diapers changed. In the Infant 3 classroom, it was observed that two (2) children did not wash hands after their diapers were changed and then all the children sat down to eat lunch without having washed hands first or having the table washed. Corrective Action: Immediately instruct staff to always wash hands of children after having their diapers changed and before they eat. Submit an email on how staff have been instructed to wash hands of children when required and how staff will be supervised to ensure handwashing is occurring when necessary.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2026

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“Eight (8) staff who have been employed for over six (6) months do not have up to date BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts. Corrective Action: Submit a plan on how all missing documents will be sent to Northern Lights at CCV to be entered into BFIS Quality and Credential accounts. Send confirmation to this licensor when missing items are submitted.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2026

Regulation 3.7.2.2: The licensee shall ensure that evacuation drills are conducted at least once a month, and children and staff are evacuated in under three (3) minutes. Licensees of a CBCCPP located within a public or independent school building may count a lock-down drill performed while the CBCCPP is in operation in place of a monthly evacuation drill with the CBCCPP children and staff and at least three (3) of the monthly drills conducted within 365 days shall be evacuation drills.

“A review of the evacuation drill log reflected that drills were not practiced in the months of November and December of 2025. Corrective Action: In the months of February and March complete two (2) drills per month to make up missed evacuation drills. Submit a plan on when drills will occur and confirmation that evacuation drills will be completed monthly moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2026

Regulation 5.1.4: The licensee shall submit a Vermont Child Care Immunization Report at least once every 365 days to the Vermont Department of Health, Immunization Office as required by 18 V.S.A. SS 1120 - 1129.

“The required annual immunization survey was not submitted to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 12/31/25. Initial notification of this requirement was sent the beginning of November, with reminders provided weekly, then daily, closer to the due date. Corrective Action: You must submit the past due 2025 annual immunization survey to Vermont Department of Health by midnight on 1/14/26. Failure to submit this survey will result in further regulatory action. Additionally, submit a statement to Kristy.Haapala@vermont.gov indicating who will be responsible for submitting this survey in the future.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 20, 2026

Regulation 3.4.6.5: Staffing Schedule: A licensee shall maintain a written record of the daily schedule for at least 365 days of all staff including exact days and hours worked and the group of children to whom they are assigned.

“During a complaint investigation, the staff schedule was reviewed to assess for staff fingerprinting compliance. The staff schedule did not document the group of children the staff worked with and the exact times they were with a group of children as required. It could not be determined if staff were left alone without fingerprint clearance due to the staff schedule not being in compliance. Corrective Action: As discussed, the program will update the staff schedule to document the exact days and hours worked of each staff, including break coverage, for each group of children. Email confirmation of new staff schedule to this licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 28, 2025

Regulation 5.10.1.5.1: Any room in the CBCCPP used by the children shall be maintained at a minimum temperature of 65*F and a maximum of 85*F at one (1) foot above floor level. Areas used by infants shall be kept at least 68*F at floor level.

“In the Infant room 1, the air temperature gauge in the classroom read 63 degrees. The floor near the eating area felt icy cold to this licensors stocking feet. This rule requires that the air temperature one foot off the floor be at least 68 degrees. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, the classroom where infants are cared for must be at least 68 degrees. Submit an email to this licensor describing the plan to move the infants to a new space or how the classroom will be made warmer with modifications as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 3, 2025

Regulation 3.4.7.3: Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

“An audit of staff BFIS accounts show that staff who have been employed for more than 6 months do not have up to date BFIS accounts as required. This violation was previously cited on 3/8/2025. Corrective Action: Review staff BFIS accounts and submit documentation to Northern Lights at CCV. Copy this licensor on emails submitted.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 3, 2025

Regulation 6.2.5.5: At least one (1) staff member shall sit with children during meals and snacks.

“Staff were observed to be in the teacher area of the classroom while children sat and ate a morning snack. One staff worked on an iPad during snack. Neither staff sat with the children while they ate. Corrective Action: Staff must sit with children during meal and snack times. Submit confirmation that staff have been trained in this requirement and ensure compliance.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 25, 2024

Regulation 6.1.1: The program director shall manage the programming of educational and developmental activities to ensure curriculum is developmentally appropriate as required in the rules in section 6.1 of these regulations.

“Observations in the preschool classroom resulted in concerns with curriculum implementation and staff engagement with children. Staff focused on administrative tasks on an iPad and did not engage with children as required. Children were observed walking around the classroom without engaging in any activity. Children were outside from approximately at 9:45 am to 11:30 am. While outside there were minimal toys and activities available. Two children were observed arguing behind a staff who did not intervene. A project was listed on the curriculum sheet and occured right before lunch after being asked by this licensor when it would be completed. One staff tried completing the science project with the children while another watched and ate a snack. Corrective Action: As discussed the program is participating in new professional development and has opportunities for coaching at this location. Submit a plan on how the preschool staff will be supported in implementing curriculum and how to succesfully engage with children and help facilitate play.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 25, 2024