VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Itty Bitties Academy & Study Hall Kidz Club
104 W. Glade Street
Glade spring, VA 24340
(276) 429-1323

Current Inspector: Angela Farmer (276) 608-2283

Inspection Date: March 3, 2023

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

8VAC20-780 Administration 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision

Comments:

A self report monitoring inspection was initiated on 3/3/2023 and concluded on 4/6/2023. The inspector reviewed compliance in the areas of administration, staffing and supervision. Interviews were conducted with staff, witnesses and parents. A total of one child records and two staff records were reviewed. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standards or law and violations were documented on the violation notice issued to the program.

Violations:

Standard #:	8VAC20-780-40-E
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that the operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring that the center?s activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with these standards, the center?s own policies and procedures that are required by these standards, and the terms of the current license issued by the department. Evidence: 1. The centers Parent Handbook states that, ?? no leaving the center or playground without permission of a staff member. No children are allowed outside alone without adult supervision unless they have been checked out by the parent?. 2. Child #1 was found outside on the playground by witness #1. The child was alone and there was no adult supervision.
Plan of Correction:	1. Reviewed the Parent Handbook, VDOE, and our policy on staffing and supervision of children at all times with ALL staff on the dates listed in the first paragraph. [sic] 2. Same as above. [sic]
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-A
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that when staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: On 2/16/23 a child (2yrs 10 mos.) left the classroom following nap and went outside to the playground, alone and unsupervised. The child was outside approximately five minutes when a parent pulled into the parking lot and saw the child on the playground. The playground gate, that was open while the child was on the playground, is approximately three feet from the parking lot and approximately 56 feet away from a road that forks in front of the center, with a speed limit of 25 mph.
Plan of Correction:	1. Reviewed the VDOE & Itty Bitties Academy's policies and procedures with ALL staff, on the dates state above, concerning the Staffing and Supervision of children. The staff believes the child was outside for not more than 2 min. The child knows how to unlock and open doors and gates. The child opened the gate to the playground before entering as this gate stays closed when the playground is not in use. [sic]
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-F
Description:	Based on interviews, the center failed to ensure that children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff. Evidence: 1. On 2/16/23 child #1 (2yrs 10mos) woke up from nap at approximately 3:10 pm. Child #1 exited the classroom and walked approximately 19 feet to the back door closest to the playground. Child #1 left the center and went approximately five feet to the fenced in playground. The playground gate was open. 2. Witness #1 pulled into the parking lot and saw child #1 on the playground near the slide. Witness #1 got out of the car and proceeded to the daycare door. Staff #1 was inside the building at the cubby area. Witness #1 told staff #1 that a child was on the playground. Staff #1 went out the front door and met Child #1 coming up the sidewalk, approximately 42? away. Staff #1 picked up child #1 and took the child upstairs to the director?s office. 3. Staff #2 reported that she realized child #1 was not in the classroom and began searching for said child in the center. Staff #2 came back into the classroom and asked if staff # 3 & 4 knew were child #1 was. Staff #3 & 4 did not know child #1 was missing from the classroom. Staff #2 then proceeded to the cubby area and followed staff #1 outside and found child #1 on the sidewalk. 4. According to the center?s records, Witness #1 signed child #2 out of care at 3:15pm. Child #1 was out of sight and sound supervision approximately five minutes. 5. During the investigation of the self-report on 4/6/23, two inspectors were inside the center. The inspectors were standing in the hallway near the bathrooms. Child #3 was in the hallway for approximately one minute with no adult supervision and was out of sight and sound of any staff. Two more children came out of the preschool classroom unsupervised to use the bathroom and were also out of sight and sound supervision for approximately less than a minute.
Plan of Correction:	1. We installed an alarm on the playground door to alert us when the door is opened or closed on 2/18/2023, the weekend after the 2/16/2023 incident. Had staff training on 2/20/2023 and 2/28/2023 on the new door alarm and what is expected when they hear it with all staff members. If the alarm goes off, a staff member is to find out who went in or out the door and do a head count of students. Also had more training on VDOE and our policy on staff supervision of children and knowing where children are at all times with all staff members. [sic] 2. Reviewed VDOE and our procedures for when a child is missing from the classroom with ALL staff members as stated above. 3. Reviewed VDOE and our procedures for when a child is missing from the classroom with ALL staff members as stated above. Staff members #1 & #3 let the Director know that staff #2 was not being honest when she said she went looking for child #1 and asked staff #3 if she had seen him. Staff #1 & #3 were never asked anything about child #1 by staff #2. Staff #2 was not paying attention to the kids she was in charge of and has since been terminated from employment. [sic] 4. Reviewed VDOE and our procedures for when a child is missing from the classroom with ALL staff members as stated above. Child #1 got up from nap at approximately 3:10 and Child #2 was signed out at 3:15. Child #1 sat on his cot and got woke up for a few min before he went for his "walk". Staff #1 & #3 think he was out less than 2 min at the most. [sic] 5. Reviewed VDOE and our policy on children going to the bathroom and being in sight and sound at all time and communicating with each other. On 4/6/2023 child #3 was left waiting in the hallway, at the boy's bathroom door, to use the bathroom. Another teacher was inside the boy's bathroom attending to another student. The bathroom door was not open, due to privacy for the child using the bathroom. The child waiting was not out of sound but was out of sight of the teacher in the bathroom attending to another child. It was the first day of work for the teacher in the bathroom at the time of the incident. That day, I went over our policy on having a staff member in the hallway at all time during bathroom breaks and communication with each other. [sic]