The Winston L Prouty Center for Child Development

Regulation 6.2.6.1: Staff shall be able to hear all children of pre-kindergarten age and younger at all times, shall be able to see the children with a quick glance, and shall be able to physically respond immediately.

“The licensee notified the Division that a preschool age child was unattended and the child's whereabouts unknown to staff persons for approximately twenty (20) minutes on 08/05/2025. At the time of a transition to another classroom, staff did not identify that this child was not with the group and the child remained in the classroom. When the child was found sitting upon a bench in the classroom, the child was reportedly crying. This is a serious violation which requires notification letters to be sent to all families enrolled at the program at the time of the incident. Corrective Action: Continue to employ the practices reportedly put in place because of this incident: 1.) having staff persons conducted head counts including comparing names of children on the attendance to the children waiting to transition to and from a space and 2.) conducting program director observations of transitions including inside and outside spaces. In the program improvement plan, include the following: 1.) plan for how and by whom observations of transitions monitoring will be assessed, feedback given, and documented and 2.) plan for mixed group/multiple group together time that includes how staff will document and confirm which children they are responsible for and how that information will be documented at the time.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 29, 2026

Regulation 6.2.6.4: When children are outside playing, staff shall be outside visually supervising the children.

“On 09/05/2024, a child in care left their group at the bridge near the entry to the campus, walked up the campus property past multiple public use buildings, through at least one parking lot, and presented themselves to a staff person at the front door of the program. Information presented about the incident and walking the property indicates the child was alone and out of staff supervision for approximately five (5) minutes. This is a serious violation of supervision warranting a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: Send a copy of this site visit report to the parent of each child in care either by electronic or U.S. postal mail by 01/21/2025. Provide the names and contact information for the parents to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford. As required during the visit, supervision is to be maintained at all times. Confirm via email to Licensing Field Specialist Crawford, that the implemented program changes since the incident of ongoing use of walkie-talkies, counting children before/during/after walking field trips, reviewing supervision requirements at staff meetings, and monitoring of supervision practices by program leadership are still occurring.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 9, 2025

Regulation 5.3.2: Daily Health Check Upon arrival into the CBCCPP staff shall observe each child for symptoms of communicable disease and signs of injuries. Any obvious injuries shall be documented along with any comments from the parent pertaining to the child's condition. This documentation shall be maintained in the child's file for a minimum of 365 days.

“Interviews with staff identified multiple incidents observed in regards to a particular child, however staff identified being unsure if all observations had been documented as required. Review of the log confirmed only one (1) entry was made in regards to only one (1) of the incidents. It was confirmed during interviews that conversations with the child's parents were had, however those parental comments were also missing from the log. Corrective Action: Review the requirement of the Daily Health Check will all staff, particular what information is required to be documented. Obtain confirmation from staff they understand and acknowledge this rule.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 6, 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.

“Based on interviews conducted with staff on 7/31/24 and 8/14/24, it was identified that not all staff are signing into or out of classrooms as required therefore not providing an accurate depiction of staff in each classroom at any given time. Program has a master schedule however it was confirmed during interviews that the master schedule does not reflect call outs or any other last minute adjustements or changes to classroom staff on any given day. Corrective Action: Create a system for ensuring that all staff are signing in to each classroom they are assigned to as soon as they enter the room. The system should enclude a system for also ensuring that staff are signing out upon leaving the classroom.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 6, 2024

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.

“Two diaper changes were observed in the infant room. In each instance, staff persons did not wash the children's hands as required by this rule. Corrective Action: Review the required steps of handwashing with the staff persons of the infant classroom. On at least two ocassions, observe diaper changes in the rooms to ensure all steps are followed.”

Correction date in the state record: Oct 31, 2023

Regulation 6.2.7.4.4: No form of inappropriate discipline or corporal punishment shall be used with children such as but not limited to: Confining a child in an enclosed or darkened area, such as a closet or a locked room;

“It was confirmed that on multiple occasions in the past 3 months, that program staff have required an upset child to be in the classroom cozy cube with the only entrance to the cube blocked by a solid item forcing the child to remain in the cube because the child was being physically aggressive to staff and screaming. The rectangular board put in place across the opening left access to light of approximately 3-6 inches of the top of the circular opening of the cube. On multiple occasions between June and August, Child A was carried by staff, put into the cube, the classroom felt board put in front of the only opening, and staff either sat against the board, pushed on the board with their feet, or stood next to the board holding it in place against the opening of the cube. Staff reported this intervention lasted 30 seconds to 2 minutes and was ended when the child could be heard crying or whimpering. This is a serious violation requiring a parental notification letter. Corrective Action: As required during the visit on 08/22/2023, blocking children in a darkened enclosed space will not be used for any reason. As explained during the telephone call on 09/05/2023, a Program Improvement Plan is required to be submitted for approval by 09/15/2023 and needs to include the following: written information regarding appropriate and acceptable guidance practices that may be used in the program and what techniques are not acceptable in the program; how, when, what resources (AOE, NL, etc.,) will be accessed to provide training for all preschool staff regarding acceptable guidance practices; how staff persons are to address in the moment and also how to report to leadership if/when another staff person engages in inappropriate or corporal punishment; how management of the program will ensure classroom staff have appropriate supports in place if/when children demonstrate aggressive or physically unsafe behaviors; and how, how often, and by whom the preschool classroom will be monitored and those observations documented to confirm acceptable guidance techniques are used. This plan needs to include the dates of planned staff meetings, what is discussed in relation to these required changes, dates of trainings on guidance, and dates and notes of observations of the classroom. When the program improvement plan has been reviewed and accepted, the documentation of the required steps is to be kept on site and will be reviewed in the licensing compliance visits to be conducted to monitor compliance to this rule and the program improvement plan. Send via electronic or U.S. postal mail, a copy of this site visit to letter to all parents of children enrolled in the program as of 08/22/2023. Send the names and contact information for these parents to elaine.crawford@vermont.gov by 09/15/2023.”

Correction date in the state record: Sep 15, 2023

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.

“There are six (6) persons listed as auxilliary staff who have been employed more than six (6) months and their BFIS accounts do not contain documentation confirming completion of mandatory reporter training. Corrective Action: Review staff position titles and ensure the required trainings are completed and documentation submitted to NL@CCV. Send confirmation to this licenser that position titles have been reviewed for all staff and the plan with timelines to ensure each person will complete the required training for their position.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 8, 2021

Regulation 5.6.5: All prescription medication administered by staff shall be in its original container, properly labeled for the child, and administered prior to the expiration date on the container.

“The program has an emergency medication stored within a clear plastic sandwich bag labeled with the child's name on the plastic bag. This does not meet the requirements of this rule. Medication is appropriately labeled when it has the prescription label and original packaging present. Corrective Action: Ensure the emergency medication is appropriately labeled and stored on site. Review the appropriate storage of medications with staff persons.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 22, 2021

Regulation 5.10.1.5.7: The licensee shall ensure that air conditioners, electric fans and heaters, including all floor or window fans are inaccessible to children when they pose a health or safety hazard. If they are mounted indoors or outdoors they shall be securely attached.

“A twin window fan was placed upon the floor leaning against a corner of a child sized piece of equipment and blowing air onto a sleeping child in the Willow room. Access to the fan was unblocked and a sleeping child was within 4 feet of the accessible fan. Corrective Action: Effective immediately, the program is to remove the fan from child access and mount in compliance with this rule. Notify this licenser of the steps taken to secure the fan and what alternatives to generate white noise are being used.”

Correction date in the state record: Dec 8, 2021

Regulation 3.7.1.1: The licensee shall develop and maintain a written Emergency Response Plan to respond to a full range of emergencies both natural and man-made. A complete plan shall include how the licensee will address and manage the following situations and responsibilities: Evacuations or other emergencies such as leaving the premise and lockdown situations; Specific concerns related to the location of the program, such as proximity to a nuclear reactor, an area prone to flooding or power loss; Notifying the local authorities of the emergency; A system for notifying the parents of the emergency; Notifying the local emergency planning committee regarding the location of the CBCCPP and using the committee as a resource in emergency planning for the program; A system of identifying the children and staff present at the time of the emergency and maintaining knowledge of their whereabouts; A system for handling infants, toddlers, and children with special needs; An established evacuation meeting location within walking distance of the CBCCPP; A system to account for all children and staff at the evacuation meeting place; A process for relocation if necessary, including safe transportation; A system for shelter in place if the staff and children present need to remain in the CBCCPP for an extended period; and Staff chain of command and individual staff roles and responsibilities, (if applicable) during emergencies.

“The following seven (7) of the required twelve (12) elements of the Emergency Response Plan were missing: how the program would address lockdowns, specific concerns related to the location of the program, how the program will notify location authorities of an emergency, a system for notifying parents of an emergency, system for handling infants, toddlers or children with special needs, process for relocation if necessary, including safe transportation, system for shelter in place if required to remain for extended period of time, and staff chain of command. Corrective Action: Review and update the Emergency Response Plan to address all required items. Send the revised plan to this licensor for review.”

Correction date in the state record: Jan 13, 2022