The Goddard School

591-1-1-.03(9) · Rule 591-1-1-.03(9) requires that staff shall not engage in, or allow children or other adults to engage in, activities that could be detrimental to a child’s health or well-being, such as but not limited to, horse play, rough play, wrestling, and picking up a child in a manner that could cause injury.

During an investigation, it was determined that a piece of playground equipment, a slide, was not used in an appropriate manner as required on August 8, 2023, when a two-year-old child injured their right leg. At approximately 3:30 p.m., two staff members and 14 toddlers were present on the playground. One staff member placed a two-year-old on their lap and went down the slide. As they were going down the slide one of the two-year- old child’s legs got caught between the staff member’s leg and the slide. The child began crying, and when the child got to the bottom of the slide, the two-year-old child was unable to stand up or walk on their own. The two-year-old child was taken to the front office where an ice pack was applied to the child’s injured leg. The child’s parent was contacted, and the parent transported the child to the hospital where the child received professional medical attention.

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591-1-1-.12(1) · Rule 591-1-1-.12(1) requires that all indoor and outdoor furniture, activity materials, and equipment shall be used: in a safe and appropriate manner by each Employee and child in attendance; and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, recommendations, and intended use. All equipment and furniture shall be used only by the age-appropriate group of children.

During an investigation, it was determined that the playground equipment was not used in a safe and appropriate manner on August 8, 2023, when a two-year-old child’s right leg was stuck between the slide and the staff member’s leg. The staff member placed the two-year-old child on their lap and went down the slide. While going down the slide the child started crying. When the staff member and the two-year-old child were at the bottom of the slide, the staff member put the child down. The two-year-old child was unable to stand up or walk on their own. As a result, the child sustained an injury to the shaft of the right tibia that required professional medical attention. The manufacturer’s instructions recommend that the equipment should only be used for intended use and by the age- appropriate group of children.

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591-1-1-.29(3) · Rule 591-1-1-.29(3) requires that the Director or designated person-in-charge shall report or cause to be reported to the Department within twenty-four (24) hours or the next work day: any death of a child while in the care of the Center; any serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization or professional medical attention other than first aid of a child while in the care of the Center; any situation when a child in care becomes missing, such as, but not limited to, a child who is left on a vehicle, a child who leaves the building, playground, or property, or a child who is left behind on any trip; any fire; any structural disaster; any emergency situation that requires temporarily relocating children; and any time the program’s operating status changes (i.e., open to closed or temporarily closed and temporarily closed to open).

During an investigation, it was determined that on August 8, 2023, at approximately 3:30 p.m., a two-year-old child sustained an injury to their right leg as they went down a slide with a staff member. The child was taken to the hospital where they received professional medical attention and was diagnosed with a fracture to the shaft of the right tibia. The center failed to report to the Department a serious injury that required professional medical attention within twenty-four (24 hours) or the next work day as required.

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591-1-1-.03(9) · Rule 591-1-1-.03(9) requires that staff shall not engage in, or allow children or other adults to engage in, activities that could be detrimental to a child’s health or well-being, such as but not limited to, horse play, rough play, wrestling, and picking up a child in a manner that could cause injury.

During an investigation, it was determined that a staff member engaged in a manner that could be detrimental to a child’s health or well-being on December 19, 2022, when a staff member used scissors to cut the hair from the front of a two-year-old child’s head. Staff stated that hair was in the face of the two-year-old child throughout the day causing the child discomfort during mealtimes and play times. At approximately 4:40 p.m., a staff member used scissors to cut the child's hair to relieve any discomfort and to prevent the hair from hanging in the face. There was no reported injury or medical attention received.

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