• Violation

  R 400.8140 · R 400.8140 Discipline. (2) All of the following means of punishment are prohibited: (a) Hitting, spanking, shaking, biting, pinching, or inflicting other forms of corporal punishment.

  On 11/15/2022 , I completed a scheduled on-site i accom anted by Licensee aesignee Lee Anna nassey met us at the center. S. Massey said Child A's Mother sent her a "very vague" e-mail about the incident. Ms. Massey followed up with a telephone call to Child A's Mother. Ms. Massey said originally Child A's Mother could not give her a specific date she believes child care 7 staff member allegedly slapped Child A on the hand. The only information availablee was the incident occurred two or three weeks ago. Child A's Mother has since verified to Ms. Massey that the incident occurred during a half-day of school. This narrows the incident down to two potential dates of 10/21/2022 or 10/26/2022. Child A's Mother also noted Child A said the incident occurred when the children were playing with Orbeez, which are small squishy type balls. Ms. Massey said the classroom had a sensory table that contained Orbeez during the identified time frame. Ms. Massey said she was "super surprised' to hear of the allegations. Ms. Massey has never had any concerns with in the past. Ms. Massey said was also very surprised to hear of the ailegations_ _'told Ms. Massey, not only is Child A very well-mannered and requires very little re- direction, but she believes would not interact with any children b slapping them. Ms. Massey also spoke to child care staff member ,who often works with told Ms. Massey she could not recall an incidents between and Child or any other children, where used physical discipline. Ms. Massey saic is on leave during the investigation so she is not currently on site to participate in an interview. Ms. Massey said the classrooms contain cameras, but there is not currently anyone available on site who can access the camera footage. and I interviewed child care staff member said she cannot recall any situations during the two half-days in Octoberthat were inappropriate. She said Child A seemed upbeat and engaged in activities both days. described Child A as a child who likes to do the same routine and rarely requires re-direction. - said if the children start to get out of control during activities, the child care staff members, including stop the activity and speak individually to the children who require redirection. said she has never seen .or any of the child care staff members yell at, or use physical discipline with any of the children, including Child A. said during one of the half-days she recalls checking on the group of children who were playing at the sensory table with the Orbeez, then walking away briefly. When she returned, she found that some of the children had squished some of the balls causing them to break and get smashed into the flooring, said she explained to the children that the Orbeez should be kept intact nsi a the table and not be broken up and smashed into the floor. She does not remember if Child A was a part of that group of children. That is the only incident she recalls regarding the Orbeez during the half-days did not observe Child A to act as if he was upset about anything or interact any differently around " Ri and I interviewed child care staff member said eas, never had any concerns with , or any of the care staff members interactions with children. said the center's discipline policy is that child care staff members should only verbally redirect children if they have inappropriate behaviors, said she explains to children which behavior is wrong, why the behavior is wrong and suggestions for more appropriate behaviors. said all the child care staff members she has worked with, including ■ _______0 ow the same discipline policy, described Child A as quiet, and he keeps to his group. She observes Child A interact with all child care staff members including without concern or said if she observed fri,e onria noyy cch ild care staff members slfaep aa rc.hWild iW uld address it"anmMake her supervisor aware of her concerns. ~ could not recall any incidents during the half-days that stand out as concerni

Child Care Staff Member slapped Child A on his hand.

Disposition: Substantiated