• 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.

  On May 12, 2022, Ivy Bush, program director submitted an incident report. Ms. Bush reported leaving four children unattended in the classroom for approximately 30- 60 seconds. On May 16, 2022, I completed an unannounced on-site inspection. I individually interviewed program director, Ivy Bush and child care staff member, Quinn Quainton. Ms. Bush stated that on the morning of May 12, 2022, at approximately 8:05 a.m. as children arrived, she checked them in, and made sure their names were on the bottles of sunscreen and bug spray they brought into the child care center. When she went into the preschool classroom to put away paperwork, Ms. Quainton asked her to watch the children while she went to the restroom. There were four children, ages 3-year-old present in the classroom playing quietly on the 2 floor. Ms. Bush stated that once she finished checking the children in and putting the bug spray and sunscreen away, she "naturally" walked out of the classroom, as her normal routine was to go to her office to complete paperwork. She left out of the classroom door leading directly to the hallway where her office is located. When Ms. Quainton left the bathroom, she returned to the classroom though the kitchen, which is connected to the classroom. The kitchen is located the opposite direction of Ms. Bush's office, which did not allow them to pass each other in the hallway. The children were left unattended for approximately 30- 60 seconds. Ms. Quainton came to her office and asked if she was okay and informed her that she left the children unattended in the classroom. Ms. Bush stated that she was upset, as she has never done this before. She immediately called Child Care Licensing Bureau and submitted an incident report. She also notified Child A&B's Mother, Child C's Mother and Child D's Mother on Hi Momma. Hi Momma, is an electronic application system for parents to review. Ms. Quainton stated that on the morning of May 12, 2022, four children were in the preschool classroom playing when Ms. Bush came into the classroom to put away some paperwork. She asked Ms. Bush to watch the children while she went to the bathroom. After less than one minute Ms. Quainton returned to the classroom and observed the children quietly playing on the floor, and she did not see Ms. Bush. She then looked for Ms. Bush in the kitchen and did not see her. Ms. Quainton stated that after a few minutes another child care staff member arrived, and she went to Ms. Bush's, office to check on her, as Ms. Bush left the children unattended. She stated that Ms. Bush was very upset. Ms. Bush told her that she was focused on her normal routine of going to her office and completing her other tasks and forgot that she was supervising the children. Ms. Quainton stated that she was concerned that something was wrong with Ms. Bush when she did not see her in the classroom, as she had never left the child unsupervised. Ms. Bush notified Child Care Licensing Bureau and parents of the incident. I observed Ms. Bush's office to be located 13 feet away from the preschool classroom. I also observed the bathroom to be located 10 feet away from the preschool classroom. On May 20, 2022, I spoke to Child A&Bs Mother, Child C's Mother and Child D's Mother. They all stated they were notified by Ms. Bush on Hi Momma that she left the children unsupervised in the classroom. They stated that they did not have any concerns regarding the care and supervision provided child care staff members at the child care center. Technical assistance was given to Ms. Bush regarding providing total attention to children while in the classroom and completing paperwork later. Ms. Bush was able to complete an acceptable corrective action plan during my on-site inspection. Although the children were not harmed and unsupervised for a brief time, Ms. Bush understands that if this occurs again that disciplinary action will be taken that may result in the modification of the license to first provisional status.

Program director left children unattended in the classroom.

Disposition: Substantiated