Littlest Lambs at Grace

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that of the fifteen (15) hours of professional development required annually, Staff A had only completed 12.25 hours and Staff B had only completed twelve (12) hours during the last full year based on their individual employment start dates. This is a repeat violation. Corrective Action: Ensure that Staff A completes 2.75 hours of professional development and Staff B completes three (3) hours of professional development by 03/20/2026. Develop a system to ensure that professional development is completed in a timely manner moving forward. In the corrective action email provide certificates of completion for completed professional development, and details of the system developed to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2026

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios 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 shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential account sand on-site staff files it was identified that Staff A had been employed at the program for more than three (3) months had not obtained certification in pediatric First Aid and Infant and Child CPR. In addition, Staff B's certification in First Aid and CPR had expired. Both Staff A and B count in staff/child ratio. Corrective Action: Immediately plan for Staff A and B to obtain certifications in Pediatric First Aid and Infant and Child CPR. By 04/18/2025 submit the certificates of completion to Northern Lights at CCV with cover sheets. Copy Licensor [name] on the submission email(s). Develop a system to ensure that staff who count in staff/child ratio or are left alone with children obtain these certifications within three (3) months of beginning work and remain currently certified moving forward. In the corrective action email provide details of the system developed to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2025

Regulation 5.4.2.5: Soft objects, toys or loose bedding shall not be used in infants' sleep areas. Soft or loose bedding includes: bumper pads, pillows, quilts, comforters, sheepskins, blankets, flat sheets, cloth diapers, and bibs. Infants shall not be swaddled for sleep.

“Upon entering the infant room a young infant was observed sleeping while swaddled. Staff statements reflected that two (2) infants in the room are typically swaddled for sleep. Corrective Action: Immediately discontinue use of swaddles during infant sleep. In the corrective action email identify how the program has come back into compliance with this rule and will maintain compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2025

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.

“Upon review of program background check and fingerprint information it was identified that a Record Check Authorization form had not been submitted for Staff C, who began working at the program on 03/17/2025. In addition, Staff D has been employed at the program since 12/13/2023 and has not submitted to fingerprinting as required. The program was notified of this requirement in a letter on 12/27/2023. Corrective Action: Immediately submit a Record Check Authorization form to the Division for Staff C. Staff statements reflect that Staff D will no longer be working at the program moving forward. Develop a system to ensure that Record Check Authorization forms are submitted to the Division for new staff prior to them working with children moving forward and that staff submit to fingerprinting as required. In the corrective action email include details of the system developed to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2025

Regulation 7.4.4: All staff shall complete fifteen (15) clock hours of annual professional development activities as required in the rule 7.4.2 of these regulations. Substitutes filling a staff position for less than thirty (30) consecutive days within a 365 day period shall be exempt.

“Upon review of staff BFIS Quality and Credential accounts and on-site staff files it was identified that of the fifteen (15) required annual hours of professional development, Staff B and Staff E had each only completed twelve (12) hours, and Staff F had only completed twelve and one half (12.5) hours. Corrective Action: Ensure that between 03/18/25 and 03/18/26 Staff B completes eighteen (18) clock hours of professional development activities; Between 12/22/24 anad 12/22/25 Staff E completes eighteen (18) clock hours of professional development activities; and between 01/19/25 and 01/19/26 Staff F completes eighteen and one half (18.5) hours of professional development activities. Develop a system to ensure that staff complete professional development activities as required by rule 7.4.2 moving forward. In the corrective action email include details of the system developed to ensure compliance moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 18, 2025

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.

“During the visit, Staff A worked with the group of three (3) older infants by themselves with the exception of a twenty-minute period of time when Staff B accompanied her in the classroom. Staff A is qualified as teacher assistant. Staff B is qualified as teacher associate. During an interview, Staff A stated that Staff B is in the classroom with them for about one (1) hour each day. Staff A works at the program for six hours each day. The program is open for ten hours a day. A review of staff schedules for the month of July reflected inconsistencies in staff sign in and sign out processes which prevented a full assessment of staff attendance and assignments in classrooms. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to ensure each group of children is led by a staff member who is qualified as at least teacher associate for at least 75% of the hours of operation. Plan to develop a system which complies with rule 3.4.6.5 for tracking staff attendance in each classroom moving forward. In the corrective action email, provide details of: 1. the system that will be used, 2. who will be responsible for training staff and implementing the system, and 3. who will ensure proper implementation of the system moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Nov 5, 2024

Regulation 5.10.1.8: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention The licensee shall comply with the requirements of 18 V.S.A. Chapter 38 Vermont Lead Law and shall ensure that Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) is performed. This includes but is not limited to protecting children from peeling or chipping paint, and dust build up from the friction of moving doors or windows.

“While the building was inspected upon licensure in 2023, many paint chips, measuring centimeters to several inches were found on the ground in the outdoor play space utilized by children. These paintchips appeared to be coming from the windows of the building and were found in multiple places around the playground. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to discontinue use of the playground until such a time when all paint on the building has been secured or made inaccessible to children and all paint chips have been properly removed from the playground in accordance with the requirements of 18 VSA Chapter 38 Vermont Lead Law. Include in the corrective action email, how the program has consulted with a certified IRC compliance technician and remediated the issue of paint chips on the playground, a plan for alternate outdoor play as required by rule 6.1.2.1, and how the program will routinely check the playground for any signs of deterioriated paint in areas used by children and ensure proper removal and disposal of potential lead paint hazards moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 16, 2024

Regulation 7.1.2.2: Staff who are counted in the staff/child ratios 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 shall obtain training in pediatric first aid and in infant and child CPR within three (3) months of beginning work in the CBCCPP and remain currently certified.

“A review of staff BFIS credential accounts and onsite staff files reflected that a total of five (5) staff had not maintained current pediatric first aid and infant and child CPR certifications. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have the five staff members complete an approved infant and child CPR and pediatric first aid certification course and submit the documentation of completion with cover sheets to Northern Lights at CCV no later than 05/17/2024. If you need assistance locating approved CPR and first aid trainings, you may visit the Northern Lights at CCV website at www.northernlightsccv.org or contact the Northern Lights at CCV resource advisor, Ammie Collins, ammie.collins@ccv.edu or 802-828-2953. In the corrective action email, provide details of how the staff have come back into compliance and a system for tracking due dates and ensuring staff complete recertifications prior to the expiry listed on their documents moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 24, 2024

Regulation 2.3.9.3: The licensee shall ensure that all staff have met ongoing background check requirements by submitting at least once every five (5) years a Records Check Authorization form to the Division and as required shall submit to fingerprinting.

“A review of staff BFIS credential accounts and staff files refected that Staff A, B and C, had not yet completed the fingerprinting piece of the background check requirements. Staff A and B received notification of this requirement in December of 2023 and Staff C recevied notice of this requirement in February of 2024. The director confirmed that all three of the listed staff are actively working with the program. Corrective Action: Immediately plan to have staff A, B and C submit to fingerprinting and develop a plan which ensures that staff A, B and C are within ear and eye shot of an approved staff member until such a time when they and the program receive confirmation from the Division that they have final clearance to be left alone with children. Develop a system which will track the initial and five year background check due dates and receipt of final clearance letters for all current and newly hired staff members to ensure that these requirements are met in a timely manner moving forward.”

Correction date in the state record: May 24, 2024