Northeast Kingdom Preschool and Childcare

Regulation 5.2.3.11: Each diaper changing procedure shall include: * Preparation: assemble supplies, staff member washes hands, prepares changing surface with either a disposable covering or ensure that the surface was recently cleaned and disinfected and bring the child to the diaper changing area. * Dirty Phase: remove soiled diaper, dispose of diaper, and cleanse diaper area of the child. * Clean Phase: put on clean diaper, dress child, and wash the child's hands. * Clean up: clean and disinfect the diaper changing surface, and staff member washes their own hands. * Record diaper change.

“A staff member in the toddler room changed two (2) children's diaper without washing their own hands before and after the diapering. Corrective Action: Immediately inform staff to wash their hands with soap and warm running water before and after diapering. By 4/7/23, submit a program improvement plan on how you will ensure that staff wash their own hands prior and after diaper changes.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 5, 2023

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.

“Worn, chipping, and peeling paint was observed around several of the bay windows, with some strips two (2) to three (3) feet long and up to three (3) inches wide. No barriers were present to prevent children from being under or near the areas. Corrective Action: Immediately block the areas of the building where the peeling and chipping paint are located and submit a picture of the barrier to your licensor. By 8/12/22, have the areas fixed and submit a picture of the completed work to your licensor.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 18, 2022

Regulation 6.2.7.2: Staff's expectations of children's behavior and responses to children's behavior shall be appropriate to each child's level of development and understanding. Guidance shall be designed to meet the individual needs of each child.

“Staff A picked up a child and put them in an area of the classroom that is referred to as a calm down or break space after the child went ahead of a classmate in line and then refused to go to the calm down space. Staff A reports that the child would not stay in that space in the classroom and picked them up and returned them to that space three (3) to four (4) times, and the child was described as hitting, biting, and scratching. Staff did not utilize strategies consistent with positive guidance practices and the child is known to escalate with touch. Staff response to the situation did not reflect developmentally appropriate expectations or guidance practices to meet the individual needs of the child. This is a repeat violation, cited on 8/2/2021. Corrective Action: It is required to develop and implement a program improvement plan that identifies and outlines a plan for staff to review and receive training on developmentally appropriate positive guidance techniques and strategies. The plan shall detail how staff will be trained and review these topics and how they will receive feedback, support and supervision as they continue to implement and utilize positive guidance techniques. The plan shall also identify and detail the oversight that the board of the program will have to ensure the implementation of the program improvement plan.”

Correction date in the state record: Jul 27, 2022

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.

“After a review of BFIS Quality and Credential accounts, it was determined that a staff employed longer than six (6) months, did not have educational documentation in their BFIS Quality and Credential Accounts as required. Corrective Action: By 4/18/2022, submit missing educational documentation to Northern Lights at CCV with the required cover sheet.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

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.

“A review of the provider's BFIS Quality and Credentialing account and discussion with the program director confirmed that one staff member was missing nine (9) hours of Professional Development hours from December 2020 to December 2021. Corrective Action: Staff must complete nine (9) hours of professional development for the 12/2020-12/2021 year and fifteen (15) hours for the 12/2021-12/2022 year. Submit documentation of completed training hours to Northern Lights at CCV so that it may be entered into their BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Submit confirmation email of plan to complete all hours of required professional development.”

Correction date in the state record: Apr 7, 2022

Regulation 3.3.2: The licensee, staff, auxiliary staff, and partner staff working with children are mandated reporters of child abuse and neglect pursuant to 33 V.S.A. S4913 and are required to report to the Child Abuse Hotline when they reasonably suspect abuse or neglect of a child. This report must be made within twenty-four (24) hours of the time information regarding the suspected abuse or neglect was first received or observed.

“When Staff X had a concern regarding potential child sexual abuse related to Child A, Staff X also talked to Staff Y. Staff X and Staff Y examined child A during a diaper change because of their concerns. When staff W and Staff V learned of Staff X and Staff Y's concern and attempt to examine the child, Staff W and V intervened to stop Staff X and Y. Of the 4 staff that were aware of the concerns regarding Child A, none made a mandated report about the suspected child abuse as required by Vermont Statute. Corrective Action: It is required to instruct staff that when a suspicion around child abuse or neglect arises, that a report must be made without delay, and the report applies to all staff aware or involved in the situation or concern. The Directors of the program and Board of Directors shall review and edit any policies or procedures regarding the reporting requirements of child abuse and neglect to ensure they align with the requirements of Vermont Statute. It is required to review the program's policies and procedures regarding reporting requirements with staff so staff may apply these going forward.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 2, 2022

Regulation 6.2.7.2: Staff's expectations of children's behavior and responses to children's behavior shall be appropriate to each child's level of development and understanding. Guidance shall be designed to meet the individual needs of each child.

“It was determined that staff did not have developmentally appropriate expectations for childrens behaviors, which escalated to a point of Child Y being injured at the program during an activity transition. Based on observations and staff statements, it was determined that staff didn't set up alternative safe and appropriate activities for children during the transition. Due to the size of the room, the lack of staff support, and that staff were not in proximity to intervene to protect or prevent the injury, this is a violation. Corrective Action: It is required to send a program improvement plan that identifies and outlines a plan for supervision of staff at the program. This plan shall include how staff will be supported and coached in their individual roles as related to their needs and IPDP. The plan shall also identify the oversight that the board will have to ensure that appropriate and consistent staff supervision is ocurring at the program. This plan shall be sent to this licensor for review and approval.”

Correction date in the state record: Aug 31, 2021

Regulation 6.2.6.2: Staff shall know the whereabouts and activities of all school age children at all times and shall be able to physically respond immediately.

“It was confirmed through staff statements that on 01/29/2021 a group of school age children were not supervised for 5-10 minutes while staff were in a meeting in another room with the door cracked, regarding a personnel issue. During this time, children were utilizing screen devices and were in a portion of the classroom out of sight of staff, with direct access to an exit door. This is a violation because of the potential for children to leave the room/building, as well as the inability for staff to respond immediately to any potential risk to children. This is a serious violation. Corrective Action: This is a serious violation requiring parental notification letter. Effective immediately, ensure all children cared for at the child care program are supervised. By 02/26/2021, mail the parental notification letter as outlined above and submit the list of parents, their contact information, and who received the parent notification letter to this licensor. It is also required to review and train staff on the regulations that outline required supervision of children. Create a plan that addresses how all staff will review supervision regulations and particularly how that will apply to the school age group going foward. Send the plan to licensor for review by 02/26/2021.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 24, 2021

Regulation 6.1.4.4.4: Screen time shall be supervised by staff.

“During an unannounced visit on 02/03/2021, a child was observed using TikTok and the school age group was observed to use screen devices for approximately 15 minutes without staff visually supervising the activities of children on the devices. Based on staff statements, it was determined that school age children are allowed to utilize phones and tablets from home, unrelated to completing school work, without direct supervision. Staff statements confirm that school age children are able to access applications such as Facebook and Youtube. Corrective Action: By 02/26/2021, it is required to review the licensing regulations in section 6.1.4.4 about screen time, and utilize those to review and update a screen time policy at the program. Send a statement to this licensor, outlining how the regulations were used to inform any new procedures at the program. The statement should also describe how any new procedures will be implemented, including how staff were trained.”

Correction date in the state record: Feb 24, 2021