Suzys Little Peanuts Day School, LLC II

Regulation 5.10.3.3: Safe Use Zones For all play equipment that is thirty (30) inches or higher from the ground, including climbing equipment, slides, swings and other similar equipment, the licensee shall ensure that the surface under and around the equipment, including recommended use zones, is of approved resilient material that protects children if they fall. * Materials in the use zone shall consist of wood chips, pea stone, mulch, engineered wood fibers, sand, safety-tested shredded or rubber like material or rubber mats designed for protective cushioning; * Materials used in the use zone shall follow the recommendations listed in the most recent publication of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's Public Playground Safety Handbook regarding critical depth of tested materials determined by the height of the highest climbing surface of the equipment; * Materials used in the use zone shall be installed and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions; * If the loose material such as sand, mulch, or shredded rubber is used in use zones, the licensee shall ensure that the material is raked regularly and replenished to maintain depth and resilience; and * If the resilient material in use zones freezes, staff shall ensure that children will not play on the equipment until the resilient material has thawed and is once again resilient.

“Three (3) children were observed using the swings on the pre-school playground. Ground underneath pre-school swing set and infant bucket swing were observed to not have any cushioning material. Large sections of dirt were visable and ground was hard. Corrective Action: Bar use of swings until appropriate cushioing material required by this rule has been put in place.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 17, 2022

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to 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 during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Review of BFIS identified Staff A has not completed the required Vermont Orientation training. Staff A was determined to be counted in ratio. This is a repeat violation. Corrective Action: Have Staff A complete Orientation immediately. Create a system for new hires to ensure all required trainings are completed.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 17, 2022

Regulation 3.3.5: The licensee, staff, and auxiliary staff shall be trained in prevention, identification and mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect.

“Review of BFIS determined three (3) staff members (A, B, D) have not completed the required Mandatory Reporter training. Staff A started with the program 5/31/22. Staff B started with program 4/15/22. Staff D started with the program 6/3/2020. Corrective Action: Have Staff members A, B, and D complete Protecting Vermont's Children: Reporting Abuse & Neglect training immediately. Develop a system to ensure all new staff complete required training upon hire.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 17, 2022

Regulation 5.2.6.4: Cleaning of the following items shall be done on the following schedule: After each use: * Countertops; * Food preparation appliances; * Plastic mouthed toys; * Changing tables; and * Cribs, cots, mats, and bedding, if used by different children. When it touches another surface: * Pacifiers Every Day: * Uncarpeted floors Every week: * Cribs, cots, mats, and bedding if used by the same child every day. Every month: * Machine washable toys; * Dress-up clothes including hats; * Play activity centers; and * Refrigerator.

“Two (2) separate incidents were observed in which a toy was mouthed by a child, discarded on the floow, then picked up and mouthed by another child. Neither toy was washed or put out of use once mouthed. On another incident occurred in which a discarded pacifier on the floor was picked up and handled by another child. Staff C took the pacifier from the child and replaced the pacifier on its designated hook without washing it. Corrective Action: Ensure all objects and surfaces identified by this rule are cleaned after each use as required. Develop a system to monitor mouthed toys and discarded pacifiers to ensure they are wahed in compliance with this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 10, 2022

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.

“Review of BFIS and staff files on site determined that three (3) staff members (A, B, and C) have been employed with the program for more than three (3) months and have not yet completed CPR and First Aid. After discussion with [name] these three (3) staff members were determined to count in ration. This is a repeat violation. Corrective Action: Ensure all indicated staff members complete CPR and First Aid immediately. Until such time as this is completed these staff may not be counted in ratio. Create a system to ensure staff complete CPR and First Aid within the required time frame indentified by this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 17, 2022

Regulation 5.10.2.3.3: All food shall be stored in containers that are dated. Food items used by or intended for specific children shall be plainly labeled.

“In the infant room refrigerator, eight (8) plastic containers of food were confirmed to be leftovers that had been served to children. The containers were not labeled or dated. Corrective Action: Ensure food is labeled as required by this rule. Develop a daily system to check the contents of the refrigerators to ensure this is done.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 11, 2021

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.

“Staff person A has been employed more than 3 months and had not completed nor been enrolled to start a CPR/1st Aid training as of the date of this visit. Staff Person A has been counted in staff to child ratio and left alone with a group of children in the 3 + months employment. Corrective Action: Enroll Staff Person A in CPR/1st aid training. Develop a system that will ensure all future employs complete the required trainign within the 3 months as required by federal mandate. Programs were notified of this requirement via newletter, email, and updated website information when the requirement was enacted.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 15, 2021

Regulation 7.1.3: The licensee, in consultation with the program director, shall establish written program policies and procedures and provide these to staff and to 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 during an orientation training session approved by the Division prior to being left alone with children. Trainees under eighteen (18) years of age and other staff not left alone with children shall complete the orientation training within at least one (1) month of their first date of working with children. Complete written information and the orientation training session shall include: Basic knowledge of child growth and development; Routine and emergency health protection of children including health related exclusions; Safety and sanitation requirements including handling and storage of hazardous materials and disposal of bio contaminants; Positive behavior management; Supervision of children; Child accident and injury procedures including building and physical premises safety; Safe sleep practices; Administration of medication requirements; Emergency and evacuation requirements; Nutrition and food safety including prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Recordkeeping; Transportation and child passenger safety; Release of children; Respectful engagement of families; Preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect; including information about the signs and symptoms of sexual abuse, sexual violence, grooming processes, recognizing the dangers of child sexual abuse, and other predatory behaviors of sex offenders; Recognition of and response to the symptoms of common childhood illnesses; Preventing the spread of infectious disease; Providing developmentally appropriate activities and experiences for children; Inclusion of children with special needs; Guidelines for volunteers, partner staff, auxiliary staff, and business managers; Responsibility to comply with current applicable licensing regulations; Staffing requirements to include opening and closing; and Ensuring children have extra clothes and diapers available.

“Staff person A who is counted in staff to child ratio during this visit and per staff statements and staff summer schedules has worked alone with a group of children was confirmed to have not completed orientation training. Corrective Action: Have this staff person complete the orientation training.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 15, 2021

Regulation 3.4.6.1: The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years. When the CBCCPP counts lock-down drills as allowed in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations, the licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each lock-down drill, the number of CBCCPP children and staff who participated, and note that the drill performed was a lock-down drill.

“The records for the June, July, and August evacuation drills are missing the number of children and staff present, time taken to evacuate, and notation of whether children were awake or sleeping. Corrective Action: Review and enhance the record keeping system for evacuation drill to ensure all information is maintained as required.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 20, 2021

Regulation 6.2.8.4.3: When a child is expelled from the program, a full copy of the child's file must be provided to the child's parent(s) on or before the child's last day in the program. The CBCCPP shall retain documentation that the file was provided to the parent.

“A child was expelled from care and the child's parents did not receive a copy of the child's file. Corrective Action: Send a copy of the child's file to the parents. Create a system that will ensure a copy of a child's file will be given to parents as required by this regulation as part of the expulsion process.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 17, 2020

Regulation 6.2.7.7: The program director shall consult with parents and professionals to design an effective behavior management plan and adapt behavior management practices for a child who exhibits a pattern of challenging behaviors.

“It was acknowledged that the program director did not consult with nor suggest that additional professionals consult about a behavioral plans for a child exhibiting challenging behaviors and that the only interventions tailored to the child's needs had been suggested by the child's parent. Corrective Action: Create a corrective action plan that establish when, how, and in relation to what challenging behaviors a child's parent and professionals will be consulted to create a child's behavorial plan. Include in this corrective action, what the responsibilities of the director will be, how the child's primary staff will be involved, and how monitoring of the effectiveness of the child's plan will be handled.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 17, 2020

Regulation 6.2.8.4.2: In the event that the concerns cannot be resolved, written notice to the child's parent(s) is required with at least five (5) days' notice prior to expulsion.

“A parent arrived at the program one morning to bring his/her child into care for the day and was told the child was no longer attending the program. The parent stated that s/he was not aware before that morning that the child had been expelled. Statements made by program personnel indicate that the program believed the family had been told the child was expelled on the afternoon pick up of the day before. Corrective Action: Establish and document a procedure for parental communication regarding child explusion that meets the requirements of this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 17, 2020

Regulation 6.2.8.4.1: The program director shall consult with the child's parent(s) and professionals, as appropriate, to develop and implement a plan to address concerns, with the goal of continuing the child's enrollment.

“A child was expelled from care without a plan created with the child's parents or any outside professionals about what might be needed for the child's continued care in the program. By all staff statements, the behaviors resulting in expulsion were two incidents that occurred over a two week period of time. Corrective Action: Create a program improvement plan that outlines the behaviors that may put a child's enrollment at risk, guidance tehniques and supports the program may provide to children experiencing challenging behaviors, what outside guidance or resources the program may utilize for supports with challenging behaviors, and how such plan development and implementation will include parents.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 17, 2020

Regulation 6.2.1.6: Classroom aides shall not be counted in staff/child ratios when they are performing the job responsibilities of a classroom aide. A classroom aide may be left alone with the child or children to whom he/she is assigned.

“Staff statements and a review of staff scheduling confirm that a person assigned as a one on one aide for a child in the preschool II classroom has been counted in staff to child ratio for coverage of the daily one hour breaks for the lead teacher and assistant teacher and for the lead teacher's weekly two hour planning session for the weeks of March 20th and March 27th. On March 30, the aide and the assistant for the classroom were on the playground with 13 children. A child received a serious injury within the first 20 minutes of outside play and transitioned inside to be with the lead teacher who was having a planning session within the kitchen/office space. The classroom assistant and one on one aide remained outside with 12 children. This is a violation of staff to child ratios requirements. Corrective Action: As required during the visit, a classroom aide shall not count in staff to child ratio while he/she is providing support to an assigned child. Submit a program improvement plan for approval to elaine.crawford@vermont.gov that addresses the role and responsibility of classroom aides, the program's plan for coverage for staff breaks and documentation that this information has been reviewed with program staff. This plan shall be received by 06/10/2017”

Correction date in the state record: Mar 30, 2017