Greater Mt Vernon Com Head Start - Gum Springs Children’s Center
A child day center in Alexandria, Virginia 22306
8100 Fordson Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22306. (703) 799-5760.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov.
The short answer
- 13 deficiencies in the last three years
- Sep 292026 the latest visit on record
- 158 children, its licensed capacity
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean4
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
14 inspections on record, the latest on Sep 29, 2026.
13 violations cited in the last three years.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
When those deficiencies happened
11 deficiencies in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each deficiency, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Mar 12, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
“A grate in the girls bathroom #2( hallway next to room 8/9) has exposed sharp edges.”
Sep 23, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
-
Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
“Bench cushion in child bathroom had tears along the edge.”
-
The center shall maintain a written record of children’s serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence.
“The method of parent notification was missing on 3 of 4 accident reports.”
Mar 11, 2025: inspection4 deficiencies
-
Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
“Room 2 had a broken blind and exposed rusted pipe on back of child toilet.”
-
Rest mats are used, and shall have cushioning and be sanitized on all sides weekly or before use by another child.
“Three rest mats in room 5 had visible tears preventing them from being sanitized as required.”
-
Staff and children’s records shall be treated confidentially.
“Menu with child name and allergy were hanging outside the door with out a cover in classroom 9”
-
The center shall maintain a written record of children’s serious and minor injuries in which entries are made the day of occurrence. The record shall include required information.
“6 of 6 accident reports did not have method of notification on report.”
Apr 9, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
-
Based on record review and interview, a child under 10 years of age was not within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.
“Evidence: 1. Child A remained in classroom #9 in the dome area for approximately 2 minutes while the class left the room to use the restrooms approximately 10 feet away from the classroom in the hallway with Staff A and Staff B.”
Feb 23, 2024: inspection3 deficiencies
-
Based on record review, documentation of child immunization was not obtained before the child attended the center.
“Evidence: Child A’s record did not have immunization record by first date of attendance ( )”
-
Based on record review, one staff record did not contain documentation of a negative Tuberculosis ( TB) screening at least every two years.
“Evidence: Staff A’s record contained documentation of a negative TB result dated 6/21 ( Expired 6/23)”
-
Based on interview, the center did not inform the department’s representative as soon as practicable, but not to exceed two business days , of any injury that occurs while child is under the supervision of the center and requires outside medical attention.
“Evidence: Incident occurred on 1/29/2024requiring outside medical attention. Inspector was notified 2/15/2024.”
Nov 13, 2023: inspection2 deficiencies
-
Based on observation, the center was not maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
“Evidence: Classroom 6- toilet broken in attachment to tile and wall. Classroom 2- peeling paint under the art board.”
-
8VAC20-780-290-A-3
“Based on observation electrical outlets did not have protective covers. Evidence: Room 2- outlet s were missing protective covers under art board.”
Apr 19, 2023: inspection1 deficiency
-
8VAC20-780-280-B
“Based upon observation, hazardous materials were not kept in a locked place preventing access by children. Evidence: Classroom #2 hand sanitizer was located on shelf by classroom door next to ipad.”
Oct 6, 2022: inspection2 deficiencies
-
8VAC20-780-270-A
“Based on observation, areas and equipment were not maintained. Evidence: Nap mat in classroom #5 was ripped.”
-
Based on observation, rest mats did not have correct spacing.
“Evidence: Cots in room #5 did not have 12 inches of space in-between.”
Apr 20, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies
-
Based upon record review, required background searches were not completed prior to 1st date of employment .
“Evidence: Staff #1 ( hire date 1/18/2022) did not have a clearance letter from OBI dated before hire date. Staff #1 National Criminal History record is dated 3/28/2022.”
-
Based upon record review, background checks for new employees were not available to inspector at the time of the inspection.
“Evidence: Staff #1 did not have documentation on site for review.”
-
Based upon record review, each staff member did not submit documentation of Tuberculosis screening at the time of employment and prior to coming in contact with children.
“Evidence: Staff #1 ( hire date 1/18/2022) did not have a TB screen on record the date of inspection ( 4/20/2022)”
All 14 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 29, 2026 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Mar 12, 2026 | Inspection | 1 violation cited |
| Sep 23, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Mar 11, 2025 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Oct 10, 2024 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Sep 5, 2024 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 9, 2024 | Inspection | 1 violation cited |
| Feb 23, 2024 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Nov 13, 2023 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Apr 19, 2023 | Inspection | 1 violation cited |
| Oct 6, 2022 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Apr 20, 2022 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Dec 1, 2021 | Inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Apr 28, 2027.
- Ages: 3 years - 5 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 158 children.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Has Virginia acted against it?
- 0 complaint inspections on record.
- No complaint allegations published with findings.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations and Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
Who does the caring?
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t show a quality rating.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 1353 child care providers in Fairfax County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 7; this one had 13.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Frances Mills | 0 |
| SACC at Hollin Meadows | 2 |
| Yenny Gutierrez-Reyes | 2 |
| Bethany Lutheran Church | 3 |
| Sherry Brown | 41 |
| Greater Mt Vernon Com Head Start - Gum Springs Children’s Center This child care provider | 13 |
| Frog Pond Early Learning Center | 29 |
| Shaista Mirza | 22 |
| Greater Mt. Vernon Community Head Start-Gum Springs Glen | 4 |
| Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church | 3 |
| Elizabeth Appiah | 27 |
| Mercy Chavez | 4 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Virginia doesn’t grade how serious a violation is, so no severity is shown.
- Virginia publishes a complaint’s allegations and findings only when its inspection found a violation and the records are linked.
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- A plan of correction sent late, or not at all, isn’t online: Virginia says to ask the inspector.
- Virginia’s pages show about the last five years of inspections; for older ones, Virginia says to contact the licensing inspector.
- Virginia says this information may not be accurate, up to date or complete, and shouldn’t be the only source in choosing care.
Sources
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings.
Checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Virginia Department of Education. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 5, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.