• Violation

  R 400.8125 · R 400.8125 Staff; volunteer; requirements. (1) All staff and volunteers shall provide appropriate care and supervision of children at all times. ................ ............. ............................... ..............................................................................................................

  I conducted an unannounced onsite inspection at the center on 10/12/2022. I spoke with the Patrick Hamilton Elementary School Principal, Nicole Conlin. She was present the day Child A was left in the classroom. She was able to review video footage of the incident. There were six children that got ready in the hallway and went outside with program director, Mariah Green. Child Care Staff Member, Elizabeth "Beth"Layman had another six children when she went outside. When Ms. Layman's preschool children were getting ready in the hallway and walking outside, they got mixed with another group of children at the doorway before getting outside of the building. When Ms. Conlin reviewed the footage, she said it was approximately four minutes after Ms. Layman went outside with the other children that Child A stuck her head out of the classroom door. The school secretary, Ms. Ruff, said she heard crying. When she checked the hallway, the school's utility aid, Mr. Anthony, was bent down talking to Child A. They brought Child A into the office. The office has a window that 2 opens toward the preschool children's outdoor play area. They opened the window and asked the child care staff members (CCSM) if they were missing a child. Child A was then reunited with her classmates. Ms. Conlin said the whole incident lasted approximately five minutes. I interviewed CCSM, Elizabeth "Beth" Layman while onsite on 10/12/2022. She is a "floater" and works in both classrooms during the day. She was the second CCSM in Child A's classroom on the day of the incident. They were doing small groups. The children were split into two groups. She had seven children in her group, including Child A. The children practiced their names and then picked a task to work on until recess. Ms. Layman was following the program director, Ms. Green's lead, and began calling the children back to their tables after "work time." The children all sit down at the table, and then take turns using a wand to show the work they have done. Ms. Layman was running behind with her group, so Ms. Green got the children in her group ready and took them out for recess about five minutes before Ms. Layman's group was ready. When Ms. Layman had checked each child's work, she told the children to go to the hallway and get their coats on to go outside. She also went into the hallway to help the children. She had the children hold hands and they went through the doorway. She counted the children as they went through the door. She counted six children and thought she had everyone. She didn't realize that she had missed Child A. Her group went straight to the outdoor play area. Approximately five minutes later, the school secretary asked them through the window if they were missing any children because they had a little girl inside crying. Ms. Green went and got Child A from the office and brought her to the outdoor play area. Child A seemed timid or unsure at first. She was not sure if Child A knows the classroom or outdoor routines. Ms. Layman apologized to Child A as soon as she came into the fenced outdoor play area and explained she did not mean to leave her inside. I spoke with program director, Mirah Green, while onsite on 10/12/2022. They had the children split into two groups. They had the children sit at their tables after small group and before recess. Ms. Green went outside with the six children in her group before Ms. Layman. Ms. Green said she did not count the children at this time. When Ms. Layman came outside, she only brought six children with her. About five minutes later, the secretary yelled out the window asking if they were missing a child. She asked Ms. Layman who said she had forgotten Child A. When Ms. Green went inside, the office staff said Child A was crying. Ms. Green only observed Child A to be sniffling and not actually crying. Both Ms. Green and Ms. Layman apologized to Child A when she got to the outdoor play area. Ms. Green talked with Child A later the day of the i

Child A was left unsupervised in the classroom for approximately five minutes.

Disposition: Substantiated