complaint·September 24, 2024

Reporting Party (RP) stated, \342\200\234Staff #3 (S3) in charge of the school age. S3\342\200\231s attitude towards the kids and Child #1 (C1) is unacceptable. S3 treats them like the children are beneath S3, S3 is belittling and talks to them with attitude. S3 will threaten children with things like "Children, you will not be allowed to go to out to eat if you keep acting like that." S3 doesn\342\200\231t allow children to play together and always has them do sit down activities. S3 rolls S3\342\200\231s eyes at C1 and makes a grunt noise with the voice. C1 does not want to go to school because of this staff. S3 does not allow kids to play. T he issues were brought up to the owner\342\200\231s attention and they do not do anything. S3 is always on the phone when S3 is supposed to be supervising children. RP stated a preschool child could not go on a field trip because they are not in 1st grade yet S3 brought a child who is preschool age and not enrolled in the school-age program to their field trip. During the course of investigation, LPA interviewed 3 staff members, 4 parents and 5 children. During the staff interviews, Staff 1 (S1), denied any of the staff threaten, belittles children. When asked if a parent has complained about any of the staff, S1 disclosed a parent complained about S3. They said S3 isn\342\200\231t nice, but S1 hasn\342\200\231t observed that, sometimes kids don\342\200\231t like certain teachers. The children have told S1 how they feel about S3; they say S3 is mean but S1 thinks it\342\200\231s because S3 makes them do work like reading and the kids don\342\200\231t like that. S1 thinks they like S3, but they don\342\200\231t like that S3 makes them work. S1 stated \342\200\234The discipline policy for school-age children is normally we talk to the children, we give them 3 warnings and then they have to write lines, like \342\200\234I will not\342\200\246\342\200\235 only like 10 or 3 lines. The school\342\200\231s cell phone policy is that the phones are only for research and music other than that only for their personal time. The staff are not allowed to use them for personal use during working hours.\342\200\235 S1 stated that S1 has sent out memos because S1 has seen staff using their phones when they should be supervising the children and have given them warnings. S1 disclosed having to talk to S3 about using phone while supervising children. S1 also disclosed allowing S3\342\200\231s relative who is 5 years old to attend the school-age field trip with S3. Staff #2 (S2) stated S2 has not been working the with the school-age children very long. S2 denied that S2 or any other staff speak inappropriately, belittle, or threaten the children. S2 said sometimes the school-age children complain that S3 is mean. S2 doesn\342\200\231t know if it\342\200\231s because S3 is different from their previous teacher who was so nice. The children sometimes took advantage of their previous teacher so S2 doesn\342\200\231t know if it\342\200\231s because S3 follows through with rules. S2 stated the school\342\200\231s phone policy is that the staff are not allowed to be on phones when the staff are supervising the children. The staff can use the phone on their own time. S2 denied using S2\342\200\231s phone during working hours and has not seen any other staff either. S2 stated S2 is alone with the children so S2 doesn\342\200\231t know if other staff use their phones. S2 denied knowing of a preschooler joining the school-age field trip and said S2 only helped with driving. Page 2 of 4 Staff #3 (S3) denied ever speaking inappropriately, belittling, or threatening children. The discipline policy for school-age children is they must follow the routine, stay on schedule. Staff talk to the child two times, then talk to the Director, and then to the parents. The school\342\200\231s phone policy does not allow staff to receive personal calls unless it\342\200\231s an emergency. Most of the teachers carry their phones and use them for music. Since S3 floats and pick up kids, S3 has to carry a phone. S3 denied using the phone for personal use while supervising children. In the past, S3 has used S3\342\200\231s phone to search activities. The director has given a memo to everyone as a reminder not to use it personally while supervising children. S3 stated in addition to overseeing the school-age, S3 also drives and picks up the kids and took them to field trips during the summer. When asked if preschool-age children are allowed to attend school-age field trips, S3 responded \342\200\234no\342\200\235. S3 then admitted that in the past, S3\342\200\231s preschool age relative attended a field trip with the school-age children and that it was S3\342\200\231s mistake. 4 of 6 parents were interviewed, 1 out 6 parents stated their child complains about S3. 3 of 6 parents interviewed had no issues or concerns with the daycare. LPA interviewed 5 children. 4 out of 5 children made disclosures about S3. Child #1 (C1) stated S3 has changed and has been nicer, before S3 was more mean and would not say things nicely. S3 would talk to the children with attitude and disrespect. If a kid is not listening S3 would tell the Director or have them write lines. S3 would talk to the children like S3 is mad and with a lot of disrespect. S3 yells at the kids, S3\342\200\231s facial expressions are mad and doesn\342\200\231t say it nicely the first time S3 talks to the kids, S3 first goes to angry. Child #2 (C2) stated S3 is so-so. In the summertime, there was a lot of problems with the girls. S3 was just really unfair. S3 doesn\342\200\231t like it when the kids talk back. S3 wouldn\342\200\231t do much with the kids. S3 repeated a lot of crafts activities. C2 said if a kid is not listening S3 would warn them and take the activity away or separate them and sometimes yells at them. C2 said S3 would always be on S3\342\200\231s phone. When asked about S2, C2 said no S2 is not always on the phone, S2 is always helping and doing activities with the kids. If S2 did use the phone it was to check answers for homework. S3 can be nice and other times, S3 can be really unfair. Child #4 (C4) disclosed S3 can be so-so. Sometimes S3 can be really mean and sometimes S3 is really nice. If a kid is not listening, S3 would yell at them or not let them play outside. S3 is not fair. S3 uses S3\342\200\231s phone when watching the kids and S2 just uses the phone for activities. Some days S3 is really mean and other days nice. Sometimes the kids tell the Director about S3 and S3 acts like S3 doesn\342\200\231t know what they are talking about. Page 3 of 4 C4 said S3 makes C4 feel, sometimes sensitive and C4 wants to break down inside. Other kids have cried. S3 would give the children a look as if the children are disappointing S3, but the children aren\342\200\231t doing anything. Child #5 (C5) disclosed when kids are not listening, S3 is literally yelling at the little kids. Based on LPA\342\200\231s interviews and record review, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegations are found to be SUBSTANTIATED . California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1 Section 101223(a)(3) Personal Rights and 101161 (a) Limitations on Capacity, and 101229(a)(1) Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision ; two Type Bs and one Type A are being cited on the attached LIC LIC9099D. Please refer to attached LIC9099D for documentation of deficiencies. LPA Valdez Santana informed Director, Deepika Wijegunaratne , that this report dated 09/24/24 documents one Type A citation shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there are immediate risks to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. Also, LPA Valdez Santana informed the Director to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 09/24/24 that documents any Type A citation to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification. Exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. Appeal Rights was explained. A copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 1/16) was provided and their signatures on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. First level appeal is to Regional Manager, address is above on the report. Page 4 of 4. End of Report.