The Merit School of Arlington (#69)

Staff shall be capable of communicating effectively both orally and in writing as applicable to the job responsibility.

“Staff A cannot communicate orally as applicable to the job responsibility.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-180-A. From a complaint.

8VAC20-780-240-B

“Based on record review, there was no documentation of orientation training prior to staff members working alone with children and no later than seven days of assuming job responsibilities. Evidence: Staff A, hire date June 10, 2024, had no documentation of orientation in the record. Staff B, hire date October 24, 2023, had no documentation of orientation in the record.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-240-B.

8VAC20-780-510-E

“Based on record review, there was no documentation of the parent’s and physician’s authorization for medication administration. Evidence: Child C had no documentation of current authorization of medication from the parent or the physician.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-E.

8VAC20-780-510-G

“Based on observation, there was no correct labeling for a medication in the facility. Evidence: Child C had no specific instruction for administration on the Epinephrine and the allergy medication. Child C had no name on the allergy medication.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-G.

8VAC20-780-550-D

“Based on record review, the program did not implement a monthly practice evacuation drill. Evidence: There was no documentation of an evacuation drill for February 2024.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-D.

8VAC20-780-560-F

“Based on observation, there was no menu listing meals and snacks to the current week. Evidence: The menu posted was for July 22-26, 2024. There was no current menu posted for July 29-August 2, 2024.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-F.

8VAC20-780-570-E

“Based on observation, there were bottles with no dates in the refrigerator. Evidence: Child A and Child B had no dates for two bottles in the refrigerator at the time of inspection.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-570-E.

8VAC20-780-80-A

“Based on record review, there was no documentation of a written record of daily attendance. Evidence: The attendance record documentation did not accurately reflect the numbers of children in the center in four rooms (Infant, Stepping Stones, Montessori A and B) at the time of inspection.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-80-A.

8VAC20-790-600-F

“Based on a review of staff records, the director did not ensure all staff received all required training annually. Evidence: Staff #1 had the 10 hour preservice course dated 2/22/22. Staff #5 had the 10 hour preservice course dated 1/23/2022. They did not have the 3 hour health and safety update on file during the inspection.”

Rule 8VAC20-790-600-F.

8VAC20-780-240-B

“Based on a review of staff records, the director did not ensure that all staff completed the orientation training in subsection C no later than seven days of he date of assuming job responsibilities. Evidence: Staff #2 (date of hire 11/14/2022) and Staff #4 (date of hire 6/23/2021) did not have documentation of the VA orientation training on file during the inspection.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-240-B.

8VAC20-780-570-E

“Based on observation, the director did not ensure that prepared infant formula was dated and labeled with the child’s name. Evidence 1 of 3 sets of bottles did not have a name and date on the bottle.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-570-E.

8VAC20-780-270-A

“Based on observation of the playground, areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were not maintained in a clean, safe, and operable condition. Evidence: There were several large cracks in the blue and yellow rubber flooring on the playground. Under the basketball court there were cracks (shoe width) on the yellow outline of the basketball court.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

8VAC20-780-280-B

“Based on observation, hazardous substances such as cleaning materials were not kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. Evidence: 1. There was unlocked chlorox, lysol, and a bleach spray in an upper unlocked cabinet by the bathroom in the Montessori B classroom. 2. There was unlocked disinfectant in an upper unlocked cabinet by the sink in the Montessori A classroom. 3. There was swifter wet mopping wipes unlocked in a lower cabinet under the sink in the toddler classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

8VAC20-780-400-B

“Based on staff interviews, and staff statement, behavioral guidance was not constructive in nature, age and stage appropriate and was not intended to redirect children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflict. Evidence: Staff #1 stated “I put my pointer and middle fingers together and tapped his forehead. I lightly pushed back to tilt his forehead back so his eyes could meet mine and sternly told him to let go.””

Rule 8VAC20-780-400-B.

8VAC20-780-60-A

“Based on a review of child records(1 of 6), the center did not maintain a separate record for each child containing the required information. Evidence: Child # 1 did not have documented proof of identification. Child # 1 was missing 1 emergency contacts address.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A.

8VAC20-780-280-B

“Based on observation, hazardous substances such as cleaning materials were not kept in a locked place. Evidence: Sanitizer and Windex were in a lower unlocked cabinet under the diaper station in the older side of the infant classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

8VAC20-780-500-A

“Based on observation, children’s hands were not washed after diapering. Evidence: After a diaper change the teacher did not wash the infants hands before returning them to play.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-500-A.

8VAC20-780-550-A

“Based on observation, the emergency preparedness plan was not updated annually. Evidence: The current emergency preparedness plan was dated 8/31/2022.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-A.

8VAC20-780-560-G

“Based on observation, food and bottles brought from home did not have the date labeled on them. Evidence: 1 of 4 bottles checked did not have the date and 1 of 1 baby food checked did not have the date.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-G.

8VAC20-780-570-B

“Based on observation, bottle fed infants who cannot hold their own bottles were not being held while fed. Evidence: A baby in the younger side of the infant classroom was in a rocker seat with a bottle propped up for eating. The baby was unable to hold the bottle to feed themselves.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-570-B.

8VAC20-780-270-A

“An area of the center was not maintained in a clean, safe or operable manner. Evidence: An area of peeling paint was visible in the Toddler classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

8VAC20-780-550-P

“Based on record review, injury forms are not complete. Evidence: 10 injury forms were reviewed and 1 was missing the time the parent was notified.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-P.

8VAC20-780-60-A

“Based on record review, 1 of 5 children’s records was incomplete. Evidence: Child #1 was missing proof of identity verified within 7 days of attendance (date of attendance 4/4/2022).”

Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A.

8VAC20-820-120-E-2

“Based on observation, the most recent inspection findings of the facility were not posted. Evidence: The last inspection dated September 2021 were not posted for parents.”

Rule 8VAC20-820-120-E-2.