The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on December 5, 2022, regarding concerns about lack of supervision, improper staff-to-child ratios, inappropriate discipline, and improper use of screen-time. The Reporter also stated there was an incident where a child was left alone in the center while the rest of the children were outside. An investigation was conducted on December 7, 2022. This complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision, improper staff-to-child ratios, and improper use of screen-time. At the time of the visit, staff members without DEEDS Early Learning qualifications were alone with children in two classrooms. Two staff members were present that have not been fingerprinted, one of which was alone with children. Attendance documentation showed the center was over-ratio on two occasions. It was stated staff sometimes will monitor two rooms to give staff a bathroom break. A staff member was observed walking out of a classroom to get supplies, leaving children alone in the room. During this visit, a television was being used in the one-year-old room, where infants were also present. There was no evidence to substantiate the use of improper discipline, and staff denied a child was left alone in the center at any time. Additional concerns noted during this visit were lack of security procedures, staffing requirements, staff were not truthful when providing information to OCCL, comprehensive background checks were not complete, infant feeding, infant care, and inaccurate documentation of staff and children s attendance records. Both doors to the center were unlocked and there was no answer at the door. The administrator is currently functioning as a full-time teacher in the center instead of functioning as an administrator. Staff members that provide care for children were given other duties such as preparing meals. Two staff members did not have a comprehensive background check complete. A staff member stated the infant room was not in operation at this visit and no infants were present. Two infants were in the infant room when OCCL was told the room was not in operation. These infants were moved to the one-year-old room with the staff member when OCCL was in another part of the building. Two sets of bottles were present in the refrigerator with no labels. Ms. Hayward stated the infants do not go outside. Attendance documentation does not clearly document the location of staff and children in the center.

Disposition: Substantiated