complaint·April 17, 2026

Page 2 During the course of the investigation, LPA interviewed 10 staff members, including the director. LPA reviewed the timesheet for 01/16/2026 for 8 staff members. LPA reviewed the school roster (updated 01/2026). LPA contacted 12 parents/authorized representatives but only 4 responded. Children interviews were attempted but children did not qualify with the Ten Step Investigative Interview. During the staff interviews, 7 out of 9 staff did not witness staff holding down a child. S1 stated the following: On 01/16/2026, at 12:30 PM, C1 was still awake. At 1:30 PM, Staff 9 (S9) left the classroom for their break. S1 was alone for approximately 10 minutes with napping children and C1 who was awake. When Adult 1 (A1) arrived, S1 was rocking and patting C1 and saying “shhh.” S1 was not shaking C1. S1 was trying to rock and pat C1, on C1’s mat. C1 was screaming and A1 picked up C1. A1 was visibly disturbed. S1 and the director asked Parent 1 (P1) to pick up C1 by 12:00 PM due to C1 having difficulty with the facility nap time. P1 did not change the schedule to a 12:00 PM pick up and kept the schedule with a 3:00 PM pick up time. The director stated the following: S1 was rocking C1 to sleep. C1 did not like it. It was not the Montessori way. Staff should help children go to sleep by sitting with children, playing music, and patting their back. Staff normally do not rock children. There are no cameras in the classrooms. Staff 2 (S2) stated the following: S2 witnessed S1 pin down Child 2 (C2) on their mat at naptime, using S1’s arms for about 30 minutes. S2 said S1 will hold down C2 until C2 got tired. S1 was holding C2’s wrists and S1 was sitting to C2’s right side, C2 was laying on C2’s back. S1 used S1’s knees to pin down C2’s legs. S1’s face was approximately 15 inches away from C2’s face. S1 was saying things like, “lay down, it’s nap time, it’s time to sleep, you gotta stay here, and you have to sleep.” C2 was resisting and screamed “let me go, you are hurting me, and no.” S1 eased up a bit, after C2 said it was hurting. The interaction lasted about 30 minutes, including holding C2 by the wrists. This event occurred 09/2025, exact date unknown, within the first week of C2’s enrollment at the facility. S2 said S1 said C2 is only trying to manipulate and get C2’s way. S2 witnessed S1 take Child 10 (C10) by the arm and roughly pulled C10 by the arm while C10 was having a temper tantrum. S2 stated Staff 4 (S4) saw Staff 5 (S5) pinch Child 11 (C11). S2 has observed S1 patting children on the back. S1 has a heavy hand. On one occasion, S2 could hear S1 patting a child from approximately 2 yards away. S1 wraps children in a blanket, with their arms in. Children may get out of it, Page 3 with a little struggle. S1 had told Child 13 (C13) that the reason C13 was at the school was due to C13’s behavior. Staff 3 (S3) stated the following: S3 overheard a child was being forced to sleep from other staff (names unknown). A lot of teachers talked about C1 being held down a couple of days after it happened. S3 considers rough handling as grabbing children by force to remove them from one classroom to another. S3 witnessed S1 and Staff 6 (S6) handled C2 roughly when staff picked up C2 who was screaming and resisting and staff held C2 stronger. S3 witnessed S1 holding Child 12 (C12) by the arm in a way that C12’s shoulder was touching C12’s cheek because of how high S1 was holding C12’s arm. S1 was also pulling or tugging C12 in a way that made C12 jerk a step forward and was crying. S1 was about 5-6 inches in front of C12. Staff 4 (S4) stated the following: S4 was working in a different classroom on 01/16/2026 and heard C1 crying before S4 left the classroom around 1:00 PM. A1 stated the following: On 01/16/2026 at 1:40 PM, A1 arrived at the facility and when A1 opened the door to Classroom 1, most children were sleeping, 3 or 4 children were awake and it was very quiet. When A1 opened the door there was the sound of a lot of crying. A1 saw C1 in an enclosed, square space (approximately 1 meter high) and realized C1 was crying. S1’s left hand was over C1 and the other hand on C1’s head, shaking it, very hard. S1 put 2 hands up when S1 saw A1. LPA contacted 12 parents/authorized representatives but only 4 responded. 3 out of 4 interviewed parents/authorized representatives did not make any disclosure regarding the above allegations. Based on LPA’s interviews, observations, and record review, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the allegations of staff handles children in a rough manner and staff forces children to take naps are found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Chapter 1 Title 22, Division 12 Section 101223(a)(3) Personal Rights is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D form. Please refer to LIC 9099D for documentation of deficiency. Facility representative was informed of the following: 1. Provide a copy of this report to the parents/authorized representatives currently enrolled by the next business day or immediately upon return. Page 4 2. A copy of this report shall also be provided to the parents/authorized representatives of any newly enrolled children for the next 12 months (1 year). 3. Obtain signature and date from the child's parents/authorized representatives on the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Reports (LIC9224). 4. Keep a record immediately upon receipt of the completed and signed LIC9224 acknowledging receipt of this report in the child's file. The exit interview was conducted with the facility representative, Priyangani Ediriwira. The Notice of Site Visit was posted during the visit. The facility representative was reminded that the Notice of Site Visit must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Appeal Rights were discussed and provided to the facility representative and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. Facility representative must file an appeal, in writing, to the Regional Manager within 15 business days from the date of receiving the penalty assessment or notice of deficiency. First level appeals should be sent to the Regional Manager at the address listed above. End of report