La Petite Academy-Springfield

8VAC20-780-40-E

“1. Video footage from 8/10/2023, at approximately 12:00pm, showed Staff A inappropriately grabbing Child A's right arm and lifting Child A forcefully when attempting to redirect Child A back to their seat at the lunch table. 2. The Learning Care Group's " Managing Challenging Behavior" policy states the following: "Procedure Section 6: Inappropriate Redirection. The use of physical, mental, or emotional punishment on or demeaning behavior toward any child is prohibited. No staff member is permitted to utilize the following means of punishment or redirection on any child, including his/her own or a relative’s child, while on company property. Hitting, shaking, biting, pinching, pulling, pushing, physical force or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment to hurt a child."”

8VAC20-780-400-B

“Based on observation, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and was not intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts. Evidence: 1. On 8/10/2023, at approximately 12:00pm, during lunch time Child A was standing up by a shelf in the classroom and holding an object in their hand. Staff A came from a few feet away to forcefully grab Child A by the right arm and lifted Child A with both hands to put Child A back in their seat at the lunch table. Child A was observed crying into both hands and Staff A was observed speaking to Child A, very close to their face after placing Child A into the chair. 2. Witnesses stated that Staff A was telling Child A to stop crying.”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“Based on a review of video footage, staff did not always ensure the care, protection, and guidance of children in their care. Evidence: 1. Based on a review of video footage on 8/14/2023, at approximately 12:00pm, Staff A in the Pre-K classroom was observed grabbing Child A by the right arm, forcefully lifting Child A off the ground and placing a second hand under Child A's left arm to place the child into a chair at the lunch table. Child A was observed crying into both hands after being placed in the chair.”

8VAC20-780-560-I Complaint related: Yes

“Based on staff interview, spoiled food was served to children. Evidence: 1. On 4/18/2023, at approximately 4:00pm, Child #1 was served a spoiled banana muffin by Staff #1 in the school-age classroom. 2. Staff #1 stated "I took the muffin out from the cabinet and gave it to Child #1 because there was nothing else there. Child #1 couldn't have the yogurt that was served. Child #1 took a bite and told me it has something green on it. I looked at it and I saw something green like mold on it, so I told Child #1 to throw it out and wash your mouth. I got a different snack from the kitchen and gave it to Child #1."”

8VAC20-780-40-E Complaint related: Yes

“Based on staff interview and policy review, the center did not maintain compliance with the center's own policies and procedures. Evidence: 1. On 4/18/2023, at approximately 4:00pm, Staff #1 stated "I got a muffin from the cabinet (from the day before when we had it for snack) and gave it to Child #1 because there was nothing else there and she couldn't have the yogurt that was being served." 2. The center's "Toddler, Preschool, and School Age Feeding Procedure" document states "Leftover food must be disposed of in the classroom trash or taken to the kitchen using the bus tub for disposal. If food is disposed of in the classroom the trash must be emptied after the meal." 3. Staff #1 confirmed that a leftover muffin from snack the day before was saved in the classroom cabinet instead of being disposed of as the center's policy requires.”

8VAC20-780-560-I Complaint related: Yes

“Based on staff interview, spoiled food was served to children. Evidence: 1. On 4/18/2023, at approximately 4:00pm, Child #1 was served a spoiled banana muffin by Staff #1 in the school-age classroom. 2. Staff #1 stated "I took the muffin out from the cabinet and gave it to Child #1 because there was nothing else there. Child #1 couldn't have the yogurt that was served. Child #1 took a bite and told me it has something green on it. I looked at it and I saw something green like mold on it, so I told Child #1 to throw it out and wash your mouth. I got a different snack from the kitchen and gave it to Child #1."”

8VAC20-780-40-E Complaint related: Yes

“Based on staff interview and policy review, the center did not maintain compliance with the center's own policies and procedures. Evidence: 1. On 4/18/2023, at approximately 4:00pm, Staff #1 stated "I got a muffin from the cabinet (from the day before when we had it for snack) and gave it to Child #1 because there was nothing else there and she couldn't have the yogurt that was being served." 2. The center's "Toddler, Preschool, and School Age Feeding Procedure" document states "Leftover food must be disposed of in the classroom trash or taken to the kitchen using the bus tub for disposal. If food is disposed of in the classroom the trash must be emptied after the meal." 3. Staff #1 confirmed that a leftover muffin from snack the day before was saved in the classroom cabinet instead of being disposed of as the center's policy requires.”

8VAC20-780-270-A

“Based on observation, areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. In the Toddler 1 classroom, the lock was broken on the cabinets underneath the changing table. 2. In the Two's classroom, the metal panel on the wall that covers a filter was missing broken and missing one metal slat.”

8VAC20-780-270-A

“Based on observation, Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. Peeling paint was observed in the Two's, Jr. Toddler, Toddlers, Preschool, Pre-K classrooms on various walls. 2. Pre-K has two wooden cabinets underneath the handwashing sinks that both have broken/damaged wood. 3. In the Toddler classroom, there is a tile on the floor next to the handwashing sink that is broken.”

8VAC20-780-270-A

“Based on observation, Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1. Peeling paint was observed in the Two's, Jr. Toddler, Toddlers, Preschool, Pre-K classrooms on various walls. 2. Pre-K has two wooden cabinets underneath the handwashing sinks that both have broken/damaged wood. 3. In the Toddler classroom, there is a tile on the floor next to the handwashing sink that is broken.”

8VAC20-780-40-E

“Based on a review of video footage, the licensee did not ensure that staff followed the center's own policies and procedures on redirection, including appropriate and inappropriate redirection. 1. Video footage from 4/28/2022, at approximately 9:30am, showed Staff A inappropriately pulling Child A's right arm multiple times. 2. The Learning Care Group's " Managing Challenging Behavior" policy states the following: "Procedure Section 6: Inappropriate Redirection. The use of physical, mental, or emotional punishment on or demeaning behavior toward any child is prohibited. No staff member is permitted to utilize the following means of punishment or redirection on any child, including his/her own or a relative’s child, while on company property. Hitting, shaking, biting, pinching, pulling, pushing, physical force or inflicting any other form of corporal punishment to hurt a child."”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“Based on a review of video footage, staff did not always ensure care, protection, and guidance of children they are supervising. Evidence: 1. Video footage from 4/28/2022 shows Staff A pulling Child A's right arm multiple times while the child was seated on the ground, attempting to bring the child to a standing position, resulting in Child A's elbow being dislocated.”

8VAC20-780-550-P

“Based on a review of records, the center did not maintain a written record of children's serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence. Evidence: 1. Child A's right arm was injured on 4/28/2022 while at the facility and the written record of Child A's serious injury was not written and issued to the parents until 4/29/2022.”

8VAC20-780-400-B

“Based on a review of video footage and staff interview, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. Evidence: 1. Video footage from the preschool classroom on 4/28/2022 at approximately 9:30am showed Child A sitting on the carpet facing Staff A who was sitting in a chair. Staff A was observed pulling Child A up by the right arm to attempt to get Child A to resume a standing position. Child A did not stand up after the first attempt and Staff A pulled Child A's right arm again to attempt to get Child A to stand up. After multiple attempts to pull Child A to a standing position, Staff A lifts Child A up into a standing position by placing both hands on each of Child A's shoulders and lifting Child A up into a standing position. Child A is then observed immediately sitting back down and less than a minute later, Child A is observed cradling Child A's right arm and Staff A is looking down at Child A's cradled arm. 2. In an interview on 5/10/2022, Staff A stated that "Child A was moving around and not listening so the other teacher wanted Child A to come to their circle, so I lifted Child A under both arms to take Child A and Child A did not want to go and laid down. I grabbed Child A's arm (not sure if left or right). I didn't think I grabbed it too hard. Later Child A said their arm hurt, but we checked it every 10 minutes and Child A said there was no pain and was acting normal."”

8VAC20-780-550-N

“Based on staff interview and records review, the center did not notify the parent immediately when a child sustained a serious injury requiring emergency medical treatment. Evidence: 1. In an interview on 5/10/2022, Staff A stated that Child A's arm hurt after repeatedly pulling Child A's arm to attempt to bring Child A to a standing position from the floor at approximately 9:30am on 4/28/2022. Staff A stated that Staff A checked Child A's arm every 10 minutes throughout the day, but did not notify management of the incident. 2. Child A was signed out and picked up at approximately 5:20pm, approximately 8 hours after the serious injury to Child A's right arm occurred, and was not informed of the serious injury. 3. Staff A stated, "I did not talk to the parents about what happened to Child A's arm because I left early that day." 4. Staff A stated, "I believe Child A's parents found out later that night when Child A's arm was hanging, so they took Child A to the hospital to find out that it was dislocated. I believe they talked to management in the morning."”

8VAC20-780-340-A

“Based on a review of video footage, staff did not always ensure care, protection, and guidance of children they are supervising. Evidence 1. Video footage from 9/29/2021 around noontime showed Staff A lifting Child A off of a cot by the right arm only. Child A was lifted completely off of the cot with Child A's feet off of the ground and then placed onto the floor. Child A was then observed holding and rubbing Child A's right arm. 2. Staff A stated "I grabbed Child A by the arm and I guess it looked rough on camera. I was moving Child A from another kid's cot and I was rushing."”

8VAC20-780-400-B

“Based on a review of video footage and staff interview, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. Evidence: 1. Video footage from the Toddler classroom on 9/29/2021 around noontime showed Child A sitting on a cot. Staff A was observed lifting the Child A off of the cot by the right arm. Staff A lifted Child A with one hand, grasping Child A between the elbow and shoulder, and placing Child A onto the floor. Child A was then observed walking around holding and rubbing Child A's right arm. 2. Staff A stated "I grabbed Child A by Child A's one arm and I guess I should have grabbed Child A by both arms. I tried to get Child A as gentle as I could, but sometimes it doesn't happen that way."”

22VAC40-185-400-B

“Based on a review of video footage and staff interview, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, or intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior. Evidence: 1. Video footage from 8/3/2021 showed Staff A approaching Child A and attempting to direct Child A to go to the table. When Child A resists, Teacher A picks up Child A under both arms and firmly puts the child in a chair at the table and pushes the chair in. Child A begins to cry. 2. Staff B (who witnessed the incident) stated that "Staff A grabbed Child A by two arms and the way Staff A sat Child A down was a bit rough. Staff A had Child A by both arms and sat Child A down pretty hard."”