George Mason University Child Development Center

22VAC40-185-400-A · Based on observation of the center's video recordings and documentation review, it was determined that staff failed to interact with the children to provide needed help and support and encourage independence and self-direction.

Evidence: 1) The center's video recording of 07/14/2021 of the Elephant's (4 year-olds) classroom showed the following: At approximately 12:53 pm, Child #1 (4 years old) was moving around on their assigned sleeping cot. Child #1 crawled out of their cot and onto the floor. Staff #1 came out from behind a wooden piece of furniture, grabbed Child #1 by their forearms, picked them up off the floor by their forearms to move them approximately 5 feet back to the cot and placed them forcefully on their sleeping cot. The video recording showed that Staff #1 pushed Child #1's head down once, patted them down on his back, covered them with the blanket and then sat next to them while patting them. 3) The center's video recording of 07/16/2021 of the Elephant's (4 year-olds) classroom showed the children on their sleeping cots. Child #1 was standing, talking to Child #2 on the left side of the classroom's camera view and then ran back to their cot and laid down. The following then transpired: At approximately 1:40 pm, Staff #1 walked to Child #1, who was laying down on the cot, held Child #1 by their arms and shook them while talking to them. Staff #1 then released Child #1 and pushed them by the shoulder to lay on their right side while talking to them. Staff #1 did this 3 times. Staff #1 then covered Child #1 with a blanket, said something to them and walked away. Child #1 covered their head with the blanket. At approximately 1:41 pm, Staff #1 walked to the other side of the room to Child #2 (4 years old), who was sitting on the floor next to their cot and abruptly pushed them by their back to the side and then fixed the sheets on Child #2's cot. Staff #1 then turned, picked up Child #2 by his forearms and abruptly dragged them, approximately 3 feet, to the bathroom floor. Staff #1 was standing between the bathroom door and Child #2 while talking to them, for approximately 45 seconds. Staff #1 then pointed to Child #2's cot and Child #2 dragged himself out of the bathroom and laid on their cot. At approximately 1:42 pm Staff #1 walked to Child #1 (4 years old), who was kneeling on the floor next to their cot. Staff #1 lifted Child #1 up by their left arm and pulled them to their cot. Staff #1 then pushed Child #1 by his arms to lay on their side, covered them with a blanket and walked away. After tending to another child, Staff #1 walked back to Child #1, whose legs were out of the cot, grabbed their legs abruptly, lifted Child #1 approximately 5 inches from the floor and moved them to the cot. Staff #1 then forcefully moved Child #1 into a laying position inside the cot, put the blanket on Child #1?s head and walked away. 4) A "Notice of Workplace Investigation" for Staff #1 dated 08/02/2021 and provided by the center states that "This investigation is being conducted due to complaints brought to your Director that you were engaging in behavior that was emotionally damaging, intimidating, and harmful to children in your class."

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8VAC20-780-240-A · Staff are to complete the VDOE sponsored online orientation course within 90 days of hire.

Certificates of completion were unavailable for review for Staff #4, and Staff #7. Both staff were currently on leave, but had been working with children prior to their departure. Both were also past this 90-day window.

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8VAC20-780-270-A · The center shall ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, are maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.

Ceiling tiles in both the Panda & Elephant rooms show signs of moderate dust (dirt). Signs of wear on the resilient surfacing (poured-in-place) for the playground, to include areas where holes have developed over time.

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8VAC20-780-550-B · The operational responsibilities of the licensee include ensuring that the center's activities, are maintained in compliance with the center's own policies and procedures.

The center's emergency plan states that the plan will be reviewed annually. The most recent emergency plan documented was dated August 2023.

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8VAC20-780-60-A · Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled that contains all of the required information.

The record for Child #1, enrolled for fourteen months, was missing work phone number of each parent who has custody.

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8VAC20-780-270-A · Based on observation, the cdc did not keep areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, maintained in a safe condition.

Evidence: 1. In the monkeys classroom there was a broken upper cabinet door hanging by the top hinge on one door. 2. In the pandas classroom there were 2 allegator toys that had a pull string attached approximately 2 ft in length accessible to children posing a strangulation hazard. 3. On the two year old playground there were 2 spoons with strings approximately 4 ft in length and 1 spoon with a string approximately 2 ft in length attaching them to the fence within reach of children posing a strangulation hazard. 4. On the preschool playground there were 5 colorful belts hanging from the fence that were approximately 3 1/2 ft in length within reach of children. There were 4 buckets with ropes attached approximately 1 1/2 to 2 ft in length within reach of children. There was a ribbon approximately 2 1/2 ft in length tied to a metal ball basket within reach of children. All posing a strangulation hazard.

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22.1-289.035-B-4 · Based on record review, the center did not ensure that employees that had lived out of the state of VA within the last 5 years have in their files the results of an out-of-state Sex Offender Registry search request and out-of-state Criminal History Name Check that were to be obtained prior to the first day of employment; and the results of an out-of-state Central Registry search request within 30 days of employment.

Evidence : 1) On the date of inspection the record for Staff #2 (start date 08/28/2023) did not have available for review the following out-of-state background checks: Child Abuse and Neglect, Sex Offender Registry search, Criminal History name check. Staff #2 had declared in their sworn statement dated 08/29/2023 having lived out of the state of VA within the last 5 years.

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8VAC20-780-240-A · Based on record review, one staff person did not complete the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored orientation course within 90 calendar days of employment.

Evidence: 1) On the date of inspection, the record for Staff #1 (start date 04/26/2022) did not contain documentation of having completed the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored orientation course.

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8VAC20-780-40-M · Based on observation, a written list of all children's allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions was not kept confidential

Evidence: 1) The inspector observed a copy of the center's list of all children's allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions on top of a counter in the Froggy's room. The list was not covered.

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