VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Guidepost Montessori at Herndon
13251 Woodland Park Rd
Herndon, VA 20171
(571) 203-8686

Current Inspector: Kelly Patterson-Savittiere (703) 479-4746

Inspection Date: Oct. 26, 2022 and Oct. 27, 2022

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

X 8VAC20-780 Administration. X 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training. X 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant. X 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision. 8VAC20-780 Programs. 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies 8VAC20-780 Special Services. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSE. 8VAC20-820 THE LICENSING PROCESS. 8VAC20-820 HEARINGS PROCEDURES. 8VAC20-770 Background Checks (8VAC20-770) 20 Access to minor?s records 22.1 Background Checks Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse & Neglect 8VAC20-790 Subsidy Regulations

Technical Assistance:

Reviewed suggested improvements to the school's classroom transition policies. It was agreed all staff would be trained and these changes would be implemented immediately. Discussed additional training courses for all staff.

Comments:

After receiving information from a staff person an investigation regarding improper supervision of one child was conducted. The Inspector completed all necessary staff interviews. on 10/26/2022 and 10/27/2022. In addition a review of attendance records and administrative documents as well as observations of the classroom were completed. After careful review of all available information, areas of non-compliance have been documented on the Violation Notice. Thank you for meeting with me for this investigation. If you have any questions please email me at sandra.dimperio@doe.virginia.gov

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on staff interviews and a review of administrative documents, it was determined that staff did not ensure one child under 10 years of age was always within actual sight and sound supervision. Evidence: It was reported to the Inspector that on 10/21/2022 Child A, age 3 years, was left alone in the nap room from approximately 3:00-4:40pm. On this day there were 8 children in the nap room with one staff person. At 2:45pm Staff #1 began to wake the children and prepared to transition them from the nap room to their classroom. This process included the children putting away their bedding materials and lining up. Staff #1 reported to the Inspector that Child A was observed participating in the process of putting away the bedding materials. At 3:00pm Staff #1 transitioned the children to their classroom by sending them individually from the nap room to their classroom next door. Once the children had exited the nap room Staff #1 turned out the lights and left the room. In staff interviews it was determined that a visual sweep of the nap room was not conducted before Staff #1 left, at which point Child A was left alone beyond any staff person?s sight and sound supervision. It was not noticed that Child A was not with the class until approximately 4:30pm. In that span of time, the class had eaten snack, played on the playground, and enjoyed story time. At 4:30pm it was determined that Child A was not with the class and a search of the building was conducted. At 4:40pm Staff #3 found Child A standing alone in the nap room, with the lights off and the classroom door closed.
Plan of Correction:	1. All staff will be retrained on Active Supervision training, and it has been scheduled due on November 20 th , 2022. The guide involved will complete the training by November 7 th , 2022. The following topics will be reviewed during the training 1. Position staff 2. Set up the environment 3. Scan & count 4. Listen 5. Anticipate 6. Engage & redirect 2. From the date of the incident and prior, staff were expected to do Name to Face Counts in coloration to their attendance sheets. Since the incident, we now require all staff to not only complete a visual Name to Face count, but also perform one on paper every 30 mins. 3. Prior to the incident, shifts and changes were made to the routines for extended day activities that also played a role in the miscounting of the child. In which moving forward, all staff has been provided a finalized roster for those extended day enrichment programs (soccer and dance). In addition to this, a staff member on site will be assigned to make sure the children are handed off from one room to another and back to their original room. 4. All staff is to practice extra caution when leaving rooms. They will make sure to thoroughly sweeps the classrooms and or nap rooms before transitioning to the next classroom thus that a child is not left behind. 5. In addition to the above, administration will also go around and cross check attendance and headcounts in the building during the busiest transition times (12:45 P.M., 3:15 P.M., 4:45 P.M.). 6. Staff have been reminded to frequently count the children in their care so that they are cognizant of how many children they always have. They will count children before every transition, when leaving an area and arriving in another area. Guides will communicate with one another, especially when one child arrives or another leaves as well as when one guide leaves the room to hand-off. They will be sure to take particular care on days when there are schedule changes, making sure to always monitor the exits, and spread out throughout the classroom and playground. [SIC]