complaint·August 18, 2022

Allegations: Daycare children hit another daycare child/staff do not prevent daycare children from bullying other daycare children/staff did not report incidents to appropriate parties. During the course of the investigation, LPA Torrence conducted in-person interviews with Administrator and four staff members. Administrator stated children play games/sport activities that are competitive, and play a little rough at times, including alleged victim child. Administrator stated when they notice the children getting too rough, they intervene by talking to the children about rough housing and to calm down. Administrator stated staff is always present on the playground with the children. Staff 1(S1) stated children play sports, like basketball or soccer and can get very competitive and rough at times. S1 stated a parent called complaining that the children at the daycare are bullying parent's children. S1 stated it was explained to the parent that when they notice the children are getting rough, they step in, stop the game, talk to the children, and let them know if they do not stop playing so rough, they were going to take away the sport. S1 stated the complaining parent was informed all children play rough including the complaining parent’s children. Staff 2(S2) stated a parent complained to S2 about parent’s children being bullied. S2 witnessed two children crying, which were the complaining parent’s children, and overheard the children’s conversation, as to why they were crying. S2 stated it was overhead by the children that they were playing soccer and one kid was being rough with them. S2 stated it was explained to the parent how the children play a little rough when they play sport activities. S2 stated it’s not one child playing rough it’s all the children. S2 denied witnessing children being bullied to each other and they let the children know to keep their hands to themselves. Allegation: Staff did not prevent daycare children from being threatened with dangerous object During the course of the investigation, LPA Torrence conducted a phone interview with Adult 1(A1). A1 stated a parent informed A1 of children from Circle View Elementary School threaten the daycare children with a knife. A1 stated children were searched and there was no knife found. There was no disclosure made by A1. During the course of the investigation, LPA Torrence conducted in-person interviews with Administrator and four staff members. Administrator stated the children were on the playground, while the children from Circle View Elementary School was walking, on the sidewalk, located on the opposite side of the fence, started yelling at their children. Administrator stated the next day some of their children said the other children had a knife. Administrator stated the teachers who were on the playground was asked did they see the other children with a knife, and they denied seeing a knife. Administrator stated all the children were gather together and was asked who saw the knife. Per Administrator, none of the children admit to seeing a knife. Administrator stated the police was called and talked to the children, made them empty their back packs, searched them and didn’t find anything, no knife. Staff 2(S1) stated their children told S1 that the other children were cussing at them and had a knife. S1 stated the children were asked if they saw the knife, and none of the children say anything. S1 stated they gathered the children to talk to them about pushing, shoveling, the other kids cussing at them and the alleged knife. S1 stated Administrator asked the children, “did anyone see the knife”, and all the children said “no”. Per S1 no one said they saw the knife; each child was asked individually, and no one admitted to seeing the knife. During the course of the investigation, LPA interviewed five children. Interviewed children made no disclosure. LPA was unable to interview alleged victims, as they attend a new daycare and was unable to obtain the children’s new daycare information. LPA interviewed four parents. Interviewed parents had no issues or concerns. On 06/23/2022 LPA received an Incident/Investigation Report from the Huntington Beach Police Department, regarding the allegation of staff did not prevent daycare children from being threatening with dangerous object. According to the report, a search was conducted and there was no dangerous object (knife) located on the alleged suspects, and there was no further investigation conducted. Based on LPA’s interviews and record reviews, there was insufficient evidence to corroborate the allegations. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations did or did not occur; therefore, the allegations are unsubstantiated. Exit interview was conducted. The Notice of Site Visit was posted. Appeal Rights was explained. A copy of appeal rights (LIC 9058 1/16) will be provided through email and their signatures on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. First level appeal is to Regional Manager, address is above on the report.