6.2.7.5 · No punitive action shall be taken with children for not going to sleep, for toileting accidents, for failure to eat all or part of a meal or for failure to complete a prescribed activity.

Child X alleged that their blanket and stuffed animal was taken away during rest time becuase they would not go to sleep.Based on information gathered in interviews and an observation made of Staff A during nap time on 5/12/2023, there is evidence to support that it has been a practice to take blankets and other items away from children as a consequence for not going to sleep. On 5/12/2023 Staff A went to a child who was sitting on his cot quietly but not lying down, took his blanket and told him that since he was not lying down, he did not need his blanket for rest time. As soon as he laid down, she returned the blanket to him.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

5.4.3.2 · Children shall not be required to sleep. Children who do not nap shall be provided space and equipment for quiet play.

Based on information gathered during visits on 5/10/2023, 5/12/2023 and video footage from 5/2/2023 the program/staff require children to stay on their cots even if they did not need a nap. The video footage shows that Child Y was directed to go on her cot at 11:40, Child Y did not take on nap but was made to stay on her cot until 1:36. During this time no activities were provided to Child Y.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

6.2.7.3 · Staff shall use positive methods of guidance and behavior management that encourage self-control, self-direction, self-esteem, and cooperation.

Video footage from 5/2/2023 show Staff A and Staff B repeatedly trying to make Child Y stay on their cot. Based on the video's timestamp Staff A and B took turns for 28 minutes trying to get Child Y to go to sleep. During this time Staff B can be seen pulling Child Y up off the cot into their lap and then moving Child Y back onto the cot and wrapping them tightly in their blanket which hindered their movement. Child Y can be seen continuing to try to wiggle and move their feet. Staff B then leans over Child Y and one of Staff B's hands is on Child Y's leg, keeping the child from moving around. Staff B then sits back down next to the child and contines to re-adjust Child Y to try to get them to lie down. Staff B gets up and leave the room and Child Y sits up. Staff A goes over to Child Y and physically moves Child Y's body so that they are laying back down. Child Y continues to wiggle and Staff A gets up and starts to sweep the room. As Staff A is sweeping she can be seen using her foot to kick Child Y's cot out the way. The three kicks cause the cot to move about 3 feet across the floor. Child Y was on the cot when Staff A kicked it. Staff A was not seen kicking any of the other cots as she swept, just the cot with Child Y on it. In video footage from 05/04/2023 Staff B can be seen crossing the classroom and abruptly picking up 3 year old Child Z, who was laying on his cot. Staff B picks the child up into the air at her waist level, spins Child Z's body around and places them back onto the cot. Staff B stated that she called across the room to Child Z and asked that they move their head to the other end of the cot. When Child Z did not follow the direction Staff B physically moved him. Child Z was not being unsafe and the manner in which Staff B unexpectedly picked the child up from a resting position for not moving his head could have caused injury.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

7.3.1.4 · The program director of a CBCCPP licensed to care for sixty (60) or more children shall be qualified as a teacher, shall have at least an additional twenty-four (24) months of experience working with groups of children from grade three (3) or younger, and shall have completed either: * A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step Two (2) Certificate or Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Credential, Step Three (3); or * Successful completion of a three (3) college credit course in curriculum, and an additional nine (9) college credits in program management, staff supervision, administration, or human resource management.

After review of BFIS Quality and Credential account and discussion with the Program Director it was determined the Director does not have the additional nine (9) College Credits in program management, staff supervision, administration, and resource management. It was also noted that the program does not have a Business Manager on the associated party list and a course in financial management is also missing for compliance with 7.3.1.5. The Program Director stated she had no other college credits and was not able to complete courses to meet this requirement, due to work schedule. This is a repeat violation previously cited on 08/06/2021.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

7.3.1.4 · The program director of a CBCCPP licensed to care for sixty (60) or more children shall be qualified as a teacher, shall have at least an additional twenty-four (24) months of experience working with groups of children from grade three (3) or younger, and shall have completed either: * A Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Step Two (2) Certificate or Vermont Early Childhood and Afterschool Program Director Credential, Step Three (3); or * Successful completion of a three (3) college credit course in curriculum, and an additional nine (9) college credits in program management, staff supervision, administration, or human resource management.

It was determined that the Director of the program does not meet qualifications as the additional nine (9) college credits in program management, staff supervision, administration and resource management are missing. It was also reviewed that the program does not have an approved business manager on the associated parties list, and compliance with rule 7.3.1.5, for a course in financial management is also missing.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

3.4.7.3 · Within six (6) months of the initial date of employment; staff and auxiliary staff left alone with children and/or counted in staff/child ratio as specified in the rule 6.2.1.8 of these regulations, and the program director shall maintain an up-to-date BFIS Quality and Credential Account. Documentation, verification of qualifications, and all annual professional development activities as specified in the rules in sections 7.3 and 7.4 of these regulations shall be submitted to Northern Lights at CCV to be verified and maintained in BFIS.

It was reviewed that eight (8) staff employed longer than six (6) months did not have up to date BFIS accounts that reflected required trainings, annual professional development, or documentation of qualifications after a review of staff files and staff BFIS accounts was conducted. For the eight (8) staff identified, there was no additional documentaion available that these items had been previously sent to Northern Lights.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.

3.4.6.1 · The licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each evacuation drill as required in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations that includes the number of children and staff evacuated, time taken to evacuate, and notation of the drill conducted while children were sleeping or resting. Evacuation records shall be kept for two (2) years. When the CBCCPP counts lock-down drills as allowed in the rules in section 3.7.2 of these regulations, the licensee shall maintain a record of the date of each lock-down drill, the number of CBCCPP children and staff who participated, and note that the drill performed was a lock-down drill.

It was determined that the program did not conduct or document evacuation drills for the months of February 2021, March 2021, May 2021 or July 2021. Additionally, the evacuation drill records for all the months of 2020 except for August, September, June and February had been shredded. This is a violation because a monthly evacuation drill is required, and must be documented, and all evacuation records must be kept for two (2) years.

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Open / not marked corrected.