Laguna Niguel Montessori Center

ARTICLE 2. Administration of Child Day Care Licensing

Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in seven counts out of 12 counts of staffs files finding expired certificates of mandated reporter training which poses potential health, and safety risk to persons in care. Staff # 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, and 12 missing renewed certificates.

PERSONAL RIGHTS

Personal Rights-The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a ..............This requirement was not met as evidenced by A1 witnessing S1 and S1 admitting they pinched C1 on the right side of the C1's neck due to C1 not listening. This is an immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Upon the occurrence, during the operation of the child care center of any of the events specified in (d)(1) below, a report shall be made to the Department by telephone or fax within the Department's next working day and during its normal business hours. In addition, a written report containing the information specified in (d)(2) below shall be submitted to the Department within seven days following the occurrence of such event. This requirement was not met as evidenced by the alleged incident of staff # 3 hit child # 1 was not reported to our office by the facility. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.

101239 Fixtures, Furniture, Equipment and Supplies (i)There shall be one toilet and one hand washing fixture, separate from and in addition to the number of toilets and hand washing fixtures required in (h) above, designated for use by staff, and for emergency use. This requirement was not met as evidenced by staff # 1 admitting using children’s bathroom in one of the preschool classrooms and not the designated staff’s bathroom. Staff # 1 stated staff # 2 would watch the door for them. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.

PERSONAL RIGHTS

(a)The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (3)To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with functions of daily living including eating, sleeping or toileting... This requirement was not met as evidenced by: LPA’s observation of Staff #3 use inappropriate restraining methods on a child to remain on their sleeping mat. This poses a potential risk to the personal rights of children in care.

TEACHER-CHILD RATIO

Teacher-Child Ratio. There shall be a ratio of one teacher supervising no more than 12 children in attendance except as specified in (b) and (c). This requirement was not met as evidenced by: LPA observations on 10/26/2022, interviews with Staff #1, #2, #3 and #4, documentation written by former director stating facility was out of ratio. This is an immediate risk of health and safety to the children in care.

PERSONAL RIGHTS

Personal Rights(a)The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:(3)To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive nature... This requirement was not met as evidenced by: LPA interviews with Staff #1, Parent #1/Reporting Party, and Child #1 disclosing Staff #1 pinched one or more children in Classroom #4. This is an immediate risk of personal rights to the children in care.

101700.3 California Lead Action Level at Child Care Centers (b) Testing results with fractional ppb readings of 0.5 ppb or greater shall be rounded up to the nearest whole number, before comparing to the Action Level. (1) A result with values of 5.5 ppb or greater shall be deemed an Action Level Exceedance. Based on lab report analysis water from Site ID D faucet (7.940 parts per billion). The faucet samples taken on 08/24/2022 indicate levels of lead in exceedance.