Little Lambs Academy at Grace

Regulation 6.2.7.3: Staff shall use positive methods of guidance and behavior management that encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation.

“Upon review of video footage, it was identified that Staff A used physical force to push a child off of a table causing the child to fall into a nearby table. This is a serious violation. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, instruct all staff to use positive methods of guidance when working with children and provide regular oversight to ensure follow-through. By 06/03/2025 submit a program improvement plan that states how the program will ensure that staff's expectations of and responses to children's behavior are developmentally appropriate, encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation. The plan shall include details about how the program's management team will: schedule and ensure all staff complete appropriate training in positive methods of guidance including the name(s) and dates of said trainings, the plan for the supervisory team to perform regular and ongoing observations of each staff member, providing feedback and mentoring to support staff in the positive guidance of children, and how these details will be documented and maintained onsite. The program was notified on 04/11/2025 that Staff A could not be left alone with children until further notice. The program was notified on 05/19/2025 that Staff A may no longer be employed on site. This is a serious violation which requires that a Parental Notification Letter (PNL) be sent to all families of children enrolled in your program by 05/27/2025. In addition, provide names and contact information of parents who will receive the PNL, to jessica.stannard@vermont.gov by 05/27/2025.”

Correction date in the state record: Jun 24, 2025

Regulation 5.10.3.1.5: Fencing installed after the effective date of these regulations shall: * Be a minimum of four (4) feet in height with openings no larger than 3.5 inches; * Equipped with gates with self-closing and self-latching mechanisms; and * Include at least two (2) exits with one (1) that does not lead into the CBCCPP.

“During the visit, it was noted that the fence inteded for the playground did not meet the requirements of this rule. There were gaps under the fence in multiple places that ranged between six (6) to fifteen (15) inches, and two areas where there were gaps in the fencing between seven (7) and nine (9) inches. Should a child or children escape through the fencing, they would have direct access to Center Street whihc was observed to have constant traffic during the visit. This does not meet the requirements of this rule. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to develop and implement a safety plan which ensures increased supervision and awareness near all areas of the fence identified in the factual basis. In the corrective action email, include details of a a plan to repair or replace the fencing in a manner which meets the requirements of this rule. Include a time frame for a meeting/conversation with the landlord, ordering materials, and fence repairs or replacement by August 31, 2024. If it is identified that the repairs or replacement will take a longer amount of time, identify the cause of that delay and a plan for temporary repairs until such a time when the fence will be completely repaired or replaced.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 10, 2024

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 program does not document actual arrival times, breaks, departures or who substitutes in a room in the absence of a regularly scheduled staff person. The program does not update the proposed schedule with any applicable changes as they occur, to include when a substitute is present, or if numbers allow shifting the staffing pattern. Provider A showed the staff schedule which doesn't reflect which group of children staff are assigned to. Provider A stated that staff are listed on the children's attendance form for the group they are assigned. Provider A stated they have a staff person that covers breaks, but the schedule doesn't show the breakdown of who has break at what time. Corrective Action: Develop a system that shows which staff cover which classroom, their actual arrival times, breaks and departures. Ensure within this system that substitutes and break coverage is documented for those individuals as well.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 6, 2023

Regulation 5.10.1.5.2: Adequate ventilation shall be provided indoors during hot weather. All rooms occupied by children shall have at least one (1) window that opens and is properly screened, unless artificial ventilation is used.

“Both second story classrooms, occupied by children, had the top portion of the windows open without screens in place. One (1) classroom had four (4) windows open, and the second classroom had one (1) window open. Corrective Action: Ensure adequate ventilation is maintained as required by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 18, 2022