Happy Feet Early Learning and Child Center

22.1-289.035-A · Based on discussion with staff, the center failed to ensure that no person shall be hired for compensated employment prior to the facility obtaining an employment eligibility letter upon the completion of a fingerprint background check as required by the Code of Virginia.

Evidence: Staff 3 stated that there was not a staff record available for Staff 1 therefore there was not an employment eligibility letter available for review for Staff 1. Staff 1 was working in the role of a staff member on 09/30/2021.

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8VAC20-780-400-B · Behavioral guidance shall be constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate, and shall be intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.

As Class 1 walked to the playground on 02/25/2026, Child 1 (age 3 years) broke out of the line, passed the other children, and moved to the front of the line. Staff 1 tapped Child 1 on the forehead twice, hard enough to make the child?s head move backwards, and sent the child to the back of the line.

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8VAC20-780-60-A · The center shall maintain a separate record for each enrolled child that contains the elements required by the standards.

The records for Child 4 and Child 5 did not contain all of the required information.

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8VAC20-780-550-P · The center shall maintain a written record of all children?s serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence and the record shall include all of the components required by the standards.

Injury Record 3 did not contain a staff and parent signature or two staff signatures; the injury record was only signed by one staff member.

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8VAC20-780-270-A · Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.

There was a sharp edge on the fence of the toddler playground. There was an active wasp nest inside of the plastic treehouse on the toddler playground. The paint was peeling on the wall of Classroom 1 and Classroom 3; the peeling paint was accessible to the children. There was a broken 5-gallon bucket on the playground that had sharp edges and was accessible to the children.

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22.1-289.035-A · The center is required to have employees undergo a background check every five years.

The most recent central registry search for Staff 1 was overdue by 12 months.

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8VAC20-780-160-A · Based on record review, the center failed to obtain documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment, that shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment.

Evidence: The record for Staff 1 contained a documented hire date of 02/09/2024; the tuberculosis screening was dated 02/16/2024.

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8VAC20-780-350-B-1 · Based on observation, the center failed to maintain the required staff-to-child ratio whenever children are in care.

Evidence: There were 9 children and 2 staff members observed in the infant classroom. Child 6, the youngest child in the group, was determined to be 4 months old. The required staff-to-child ratio for children birth up to 16 months is 1:4. Three staff would be required for this group of children.

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8VAC20-780-130-A · Based on record review, the center failed to obtain documentation that each child has received the immunizations required by the State Board of Health before the child can attend the center.

Evidence: Staff 7 verified that the first day of attendance for Child 2 was 03/13/2023. The date on the immunization record was 03/20/2023. The immunization record was not obtained before the child attended the center.

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8VAC20-780-70 · Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that staff records contain all of the elements as required by the standards.

Evidence: 1. The record for Staff 3 contained a documented job position of program leader. The record for Staff 3 did not contain documentation that the individual possesses the education, certification and experience required by the job position. 2. The record for Staff 4 did not contain the following information: job title; and date of employment.

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8VAC20-770-60-C-2 · Based on record review and discussion with staff, the center failed to obtain the findings from a search of the central registry within 30 days of employment.

Evidence: 1. The record for Staff 4 contained a documented hire date of 03/01/2022. The central registry search was dated 04/18/2022. 2. The record for Staff 5 contained a documented hire date of 02/14/2022. The central registry search was dated 04/10/2022.

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