Appletree School of Fairfax

22.1-289.035-B-1

“The center is required to obtain a completed sworn statement prior to the employee’s first day of employment. The sworn statements on file for staff A and B were not obtained prior to the first day of employment.”

Rule 22.1-289.035-B-1.

22.1-289.035-B-4

“The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. The center did not request a search of the child abuse and neglect registry, or request a criminal history check from one state for Staff #C, prior to the first day of employment. There are no criminal history results on file for one residence out of state in the past five years.”

Rule 22.1-289.035-B-4.

8VAC20-780-510-I

“The center may administer prescription medication that would normally be administered by a parent or guardian to a child provided the center administers only those drugs that were dispensed from a pharmacy and maintained in the original, labeled container. Child #6 had a prescribed medication on site that did not have a prescription label attached.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-I.

8VAC20-780-60-A-8

“Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain a written care plan for a child with a diagnosed food allergy, to include instructions from a physician regarding the food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Child #7 has a diagnosed food allergy with no written care plan on file.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A-8.

When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection and guidance.

“On 6/22/2026 while transitioning inside from the school’s courtyard, a 2-year-old child was left outside for less than 30 seconds after the class was inside. When Child A was heard crying, the door was opened for the child.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-A.

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 the following: date and time when parents were notified; any future action to prevent recurrence of the injury; and documentation on how parent was notified.

“Child A’s record contained two injury reports from 5/07/2026 and 5/8/2026 that did not document the date and time when parents were notified, any future action to prevent recurrence of the injury, and how the parents were notified.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-P.

The center shall obtain documentation that each child has received the immunizations required by the State Board of Health before the child can attend the center.

“Child 2, (in attendance for 9 months) has an initial immunization record dated 28 days after first day of attendance.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-130-A. From a complaint.

The center shall obtain documentation of additional immunizations once every six months for children under the age of two years.

“Child 1 (enrolled 8 months) had no documentation of updated immunizations after the age of 6 months.. Child 2 (enrolled 9 months) had no documentation of updated immunizations after the age of 17 months.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-130-E. From a complaint.

COMPLAINT RELATED When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance.

“As written on the incident report from October 2024, in the child file and confirmed in interview, Staff A gave Child 1 food which potentially contained an allergen as listed on the allergy plan of the child. The child ate a bite of the food.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-A. From a complaint.

COMPLAINT RELATED A child with a diagnosed food allergy shall not be served any food identified in the written care plan.

“The file of Child 1 states that child is allergic to eggs. Written incident report from October 2024, states that child ate a bite of the doughnut hole and Staff A was unaware if the food contained eggs, as she had forgotten which of them the child should have received.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-P. From a complaint.

Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.

“Mops with cleaning solution attached, were noted to be accessible to children in the Butterflies and Sunny Bunnies classrooms.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

Fans shall be out of reach of children and cords shall be secured so as not to create a tripping hazard.

“Small fans were noted in several classrooms and accessible to children.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-290-A-2.

Electrical outlets shall have protective covers that are of a size that cannot be swallowed by children.

“Outlets were noted to be uncovered in the Bouncing Bunnies.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-290-A-3.

When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care and protection.

“A Keurig coffee maker was observed plugged in, on the counter within reach of the children in the classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-A.

The center shall maintain a current written list of all children’s allergies. This list shall be dated and kept confidential in each room or area where children are present.

“~Allergy List for Child A was posted in the hallway outside of the classroom with no cover. ~Allergy list in the Sunny Bunnies classroom was not kept confidential, it is posted with no cover.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-M.

Based on observation, hazardous substances were not kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.

“Evidence: A plug-in air freshener was within reach of the children in a classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

Based on observation electrical outlets did not have protective covers.

“Evidence: Outlets were uncovered in the Fireflies, Multi-purpose, and the Duck Pond rooms.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-290-A-3.

Based on observation, nonprescription over-the-counter skin products were kept beyond the expiration date of the product.

“Evidence: 1. Diaper cream for Child# 8 expired on 6/2023. 2. Child #8’s diaper cream was kept in the classroom’s diaper changing table cabinet.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-520-A.

Repeat violation

“Based on record review and interview, 3 of 5 staff files indicated that the center did not ensure all staff records had all the required documentation. Evidence: 1. Staff #2’s (DOH:10/11/2022) record is missing documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment. 2. There was no documentation that Staff #2, Staff #3, and Staff #4 had completed annually a minimum of 16 hours of training appropriate to the age of children in care for 2022-2023.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-70.

Based on review of attendance records and staff interviews, the center failed to ensure that staff-to-child ratios are required whenever children are in care.

Rule 8VAC20-780-350-B-5. From a complaint.

Based on medication review and interview, 1 of 4 medications was not labeled with the child’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage amount, and the time or times to be given.

“Evidence: Child #11 has emergency medication that is missing a prescription medication label that includes the child’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage amount, and the time or times to be given.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-G.

Based on record review and interview, 2 of 5 staff records are missing documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment

“Evidence: 1. Staff #2 (DOH: 8/8/2017) is missing 1 out of 2 references. 2. Staff #3 (DOH: 11/27/2017) is missing 1 out of 2 references.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-70.

Based on interview, the center did not ensure there that a building built before 2015 and serving preschool-age children is equipped with at least one carbon monoxide detector.

“Evidence: 1. The building was built prior to 2015 and the center currently provides care for children who are preschool-age. 2. The Director contacted a facilities administrator to confirm whether the center had a carbon monoxide detector, and it was discovered that the center did not have one.”

Rule 22.1-289.058.

Based on record review and interview, lockdown procedures were not practiced at least annually.

“Evidence: The center did not have documentation of the lockdown drill procedure being practiced in 2022.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-F.

Based on record review and interview, the center did not obtain all the required information for each child’s record.

“Evidence: Child #3 and child #5 are missing proof of identity.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A.

Based on record review and interview, the center did not obtain a written care plan for each child with a diagnosed food allergy, to include instructions from a physician regarding the food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction.

“Evidence: There was no documentation of a written care plan for child #3 and child #4, who both have a diagnosed food allergy.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A-8.

Based on observation, areas of the center, outside, were not maintained in a clean, safe, and operable condition.

“Evidence: 1. 3 out of 3 sand tables located on the backyard playground were not covered and drained to prevent stagnant water from accumulating. 2. One of the wooden logs used to border the playground equipment was deteriorating and splintered.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.