complaint·April 1, 2025

Page 2 On 02/07/2025, the Orange County Child Care Office received a complaint alleging: 1) Staff yells at daycare children. 2) Staff handles day care children in a rough manner) Staff did not report injuries to child's authorized representative. 4) Staff do not ensure the center is free of hazards. Reporting Party (RP) stated they have witnessed a staff yelling at Child #1 (C1) and on 2/3 C1 was observed to have a small bruise on right arm and scratch on left, and report was not given to at pick up time. RP stated during observation of video footage RP had witnessed teachers handling day-care children in a rough manner. A pin was observed inside a child shoes. During the investigation, LPA toured the facility on 02/13/2025, 2/20/2025, conducted parent and 6 staff (S1-S6) interviews, and attempted to interview 4 children (C1-C4). 3 of the 4 children did not qualify to interview, however 1 child C4 qualified but did not divulge any information pertaining to the allegations. LPA obtained a copy of Kiddie Academy Personnel Roster, Maintenance Contract, In Service Training Plan, Completed Accident/Injury Reports, Daily Health Checks, and reviewed live classroom video footage. During LPA’s classroom observation on 2/13/25 of teacher/child interactions staff #1 (S1) was sitting in the carpet area reading books to children. Staff #2 (S2) was supporting children who were walking around the classroom with redirection to the area where S1 and children were reading books. On 2/13/25 LPA observed live video footage and staff were supervising children and supporting children at the tables as they were participating in different table activities and 1 staff was supervising children walking around the table area. During classroom observations on 2/20/2025 staff were supporting/supervising and engaged with children in the carpet/tile areas of the classroom. Regarding allegation, “Staff yells at daycare children.” During facility inspections, LPA toured facility and inspected classrooms and live video footage. 6 of 6 staff interviewed defined yelling as an aggressive loud tone. 6 of 6 staff interviewed stated that they have not yelled or witnessed a staff yell at a child/children. 4 of 6 staff stated they have raised their voice a little louder in a non-aggressive way to get a child/children’s attention to protect them from something that can potentially lead to a risk for a child or to get the groups attention. Continue to page 3. Page 3 Regarding allegation “Staff handles children in a rough manner”: During facility inspections, LPA toured facility and inspected classrooms and live video footage. 5 of 6 staff interviewed stated that personal rights of a child is to treat the child with respect, to be courteous, not to withhold or yell, and to give them space. 6 of 6 staff interviewed stated they have never handled a child in a rough manner or witnessed a staff handle a child in a rough manner. 6 of 6 staff stated that they will use redirection as a guidance to support children who need it. Regarding allegation “Staff did not report injuries to child's authorized representative.” 6 of 6 staff (S1-S6) interviews staff stated that when children are dropped off at school that there is a Daily Health Checklist that is completed by staff for each child. 6 of 6 staff stated these health checks document any incoming unusual marks or sicknesses that are observable at the time of drop off at the classroom. 6 of 6 staff stated that if a child has an accident/injury while in care that a Kiddie Academy Accident/Injury Report is completed. 6 of 6 staff stated if they witness an accident/injury later in the day and are unsure how it has happened that they will communicate with staff/administration, go back and watch video cameras if needed, and document a general Kiddie Academy Accident/ Injury Report that staff/parent/guardian will need to sign. S5 stated that the Kiddie Academy Accident/ Injury form will then cover the basic information reporting that there was not a witness on what happened but what was noticed and who treated the accident/injury. Regarding allegation “Staff did not ensure the center is free of hazards” LPA conducted inspections on 2/13/2025 and 2/20/2025. During facility inspection, LPA inspected classrooms, hallways leading to classrooms, and playground area. Areas inspected floors were clean and free of hazards. 5 of 6 staff stated that they have heard of an incident of a push pin in a shoe. 6 of 6 staff stated that classrooms do not use push pins and that the office is the only area that uses push pins. 2 staff S5 and S6 stated that they had received a call from P6 and a picture of a push pin in a shoe. P6 was concerned that the push pin came from school. LPA reviewed a picture of a silver push pin in the picture provided by S5. LPA and S5 toured the office area and observed black push pins in the office area bulletin boards, areas where parents/children/or guardians walk were free of hazardous items on the day of inspections. 2 of 6 staff stated that there is a cleaning crew that comes every night and S6 provided the Maintenance Contract for the facility to the LPA. During parent interviews. LPA called five parents and left messages to call LPA back. LPA was not able to interview parents. Continue to page 4. Page 4 Based on LPA observations, interviews, and records review, the preponderance of evidence standard has not been met. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violations of 1) Staff yells at day-care children. 2) Staff handles day-care children in a rough manner. 3) Staff did not report injuries to child's authorized representative. 4)Staff did not ensure the center is free of hazards; therefore, the allegations are UNSUBSTANTIATED. Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Assistant Director Mariah Pilmer. The Director was informed that the “Notice of Site Visit” must be posted on or adjacent to the door for 30 days. Failure to post will result in a Civil Penalty of a $100.00. End of Report.