complaint·January 8, 2025

RP stated that staff were either looking at their phones or had their backs to the children. RP stated they have observed that there is a pet tortoise and that staff leave the tortoise supplies out where the children can access them, including the fecal matter scoop, which is unsanitary. During the course of investigation, LPA interviewed 4 staff members, 3 children and 4 parents, and reviewed records. Regarding allegations (1) Staff did not provide visual observation of the children. LPA interviewed 4 staff members, 4 out of 4 staff did not witness staff not providing visual observation of the children. Staff #1 (S1) stated, staff have zoning areas staff are responsible for, the areas include play structure, swings, block, and sand area, art, gross motor. Staff spread out throughout the yard, to supervise the children. If some children don't want to be in a specific area, staff will move to the area where children are playing. Staff sometimes need to close the play structure area if there are less staff for example at the end of the day so staff can observe and supervise all the children. S1 stated, staff’s personal phones are asked to be put away while working with the children. Management are flexible towards staff if they have a child sick or are waiting for a doctor to call. And the staff will step away, they will inform the staff they are working with, and let them know they need to take the phone call, or staff wait until another staff member returns from their break before they step out to ensure they are in ratio. The staff’s personal phones are stored in their cubby's during the day or in a closed cabinet, in a high shelf and are not accessible to children.Staff #2 (S2) stated, every week staff get assigned an area for outside time. The areas are the sand box, art area, the climbing structure, and the dramatic play area, if there are no kids in a center or an area, the staff will scan the yard, to make sure where everyone is located they are aware of their surroundings and the staff will go where the children are playing and will supervise the children as they play. S2 stated, staff interact and engage with the children and are always supervising their center or area. S2 stated, personal phone use is not permitted, staff will be written up if they are using their personal phones. Personal phones are stored in staff’s personal cubby. Each staff do have a work phone, and it's used to take pictures of the children throughout the day and staff post the photos on bright wheel while the children are napping. Page 2 of 3 Regarding allegations (2) Staff did not ensure center was kept sanitary. LPA interviewed 4 staff members, 4 out of 4 staff did not witness staff not ensuring center is kept sanitary. Staff #1 (S1) stated facility has a tortoise in the tree top classroom, Staff 2 (S2) and staff #3 (S3) care for the tortoise. The children observe, they are not allowed to touch the tortoise and if they do they wash their hands immediately. Staff #4 (S4) stated, staff clean up throughout the day, the children help clean and put their toys and materials away and staff sanitize their room with water and bleach bottle when children are not present and staff use soap and water to the clean tables, and staff and children wash our hands often and staff wear gloves when assisting with injuries or potty training. S4 stated, S2 and S3 care for the tortoise, the children can grab the lettuce to place in the tortoise’s bowl, but they are not allowed to touch the tortoise, if they do touch the tortoise they are to wash their hands right away. The children are always supervised by staff, the staff are able to carry the tortoise. Staff will place food into bowel and place the tortoise into the aquarium. Staff wear gloves and always wash their hands after handling the tortoise or food or after cleaning the aquarium. The fecal scooper is stored on the top of the tortoise aquarium and is inaccessible to the children. During the inspection dated 11/25/2024, LPA observed a tortoise in an aquarium in the classroom. LPA observed the supplies used for the tortoise stored on the top of the tortoise’s aquarium and stored in a locked cabinet in the classroom which was made inaccessible to the children in care. LPA Duron interviewed 4 children. All 4 interviewed children did not reveal any staff violating their rights. LPA Duron interviewed 4 parents. All interviewed parents stated they did not have any concern with facility. Based on the information gathered from LPAs’ interviews, observation, and the reviewing of records, the preponderance of evidence has not been met. Although the allegation may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegations of Staff did not provide visual observation of the children and Staff did not ensure center was kept sanitary, did or did not occur in the day care facility; therefore, the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED. An exit interview was conducted. The report was reviewed and discussed. Appeal Rights were provided. The facility representative was provided a copy of their appeal rights and their signature on this form acknowledges receipt of these rights. All appeals must be in writing and received by the Licensing office within 15 business days. The facility representative was informed that the “Notice of Site Visit” must be posted for 30 consecutive days. Failure to post will result in Civil Penalties of $100.00. The “Notice of Site Visit” must be posted on or adjacent to the door. Page 3 of 3. End of Report.