The Merit School of Quantico (#66)

The center’s written playground safety procedures shall include provision for active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities, and circulating among children

“On the playground there were three teachers with 28 children, ages three to five-years-old. The teachers were observed in a group under the shaded area of the playground, they were not in strategic locations, scanning play activities and circulating among the children for six minutes.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-N.

There shall be at least 12 inches of space between occupied cots, beds, and rest mats.

“In the Toddler Explorer room, ages 16 to 24 months, occupied cots were observed with one inch of spacing between them and in the Preschool A class, ages two to three-years-old, occupied cots were observed with only four inches of space between them.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-440-E.

Tables and high chair trays shall be sanitized before and after each use for feeding.

“In the Infant A room, ages six weeks- 12 months, the high chair tray table had not been sanitized after being used for feeding.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-J.

Repeat Violation

“For each group of children, the center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. In the Jr. Kindergartener class there were nine children in attendance, the written record reflected there eight.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-80-A.

All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall include an in-person competency demonstration.

“Evidence: Staff #2, did not have current CPR certification. It was overdue by nine days.”

Rule 8VAC20-790-600-D-1.

All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in first aid appropriate to the ages of children in care.

“Evidence: Staff #2, did not have current first aid certification. It was overdue by nine days.”

Rule 8VAC20-790-600-D-2.

Infants, who cannot turn themselves over and are awake, shall be placed on their stomachs a total of 30 minutes each day to facilitate upper body strength and to address misshapen head concerns.

“Evidence: The daily records for Child #1, three-months-old, did not contain documentation that tummy time had occurred for three days.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-370-5.

The center shall notify the parent by the end of the day for any known minor injuries.

“Evidence: On 5/14/2025 while the Junior Kindergarten class, ages five-years-old, were on the playground, Child #1 had notified Staff #1 that they had injured their back while playing on the stairs of the composite play structure. Staff #1 reported that they had failed to write an injury report or notify administration of the injury before they left for the day.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-O.

The required ratio for children ages three-years-old up to school-age eligible is 1 staff per 10 children.

“Evidence: At 9:20 a.m. in the Prep classroom, 22 children were observed, ranging in age from three years to five years old, with two staff supervising. Staff stated that they had been over ratio by two children for five minutes.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-350-B-4.

For each group of children, the center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs.

“Evidence: In the Prep classroom, ages three to five-years-old, there were 22 children present, the written record reflected there were 21. In the Two-year class there were 10 children present, the written record reflected there were nine.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-80-A.

Repeat Violation

“When staff are supervising children, they shall always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. A seven-month-old infant was observed sleeping in their crib in an arms up swaddle.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-A.

Repeat Violation

“The center is required to keep a current list of all known allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions in each room or area where children are present. In the toddler room a child with a documented diary intolerance was not included on the current allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions list.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-M.

When a child is placed in an infant seat or highchair, the protective belt shall be fastened securely.

“In the infant room a nine-month-old was observed sitting in a highchair without the protective belt fastened.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-570-A.

Based on interviews and review of documentation it was determined that staff did not always ensure children’s care, protection, and guidance.

“Evidence: At approximately 11:00 a.m. on June 6, 2024, during water play, staff reported, they heard a cry and found Child #1, two-years-old, lying face down on a ramp of a play structure, bleeding from the mouth and missing a tooth. Staff reported they were unaware that Child #1 had walked behind them to play on the climbing equipment until they heard the child crying.”

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

Based on interviews with staff, the center failed to follow required playground safety procedures including active supervision by staff to include positioning of staff in strategic locations, scanning play activities and circulating among children.

“Evidence: On June 6, 2024, at approximately 11:00 a.m. staff reported that they were grouped together supervising three wading pools that were along the fence close to the building, had their backs to the play equipment, and that they did not position themselves in a way where they could view the entire playground.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-N. From a complaint.

Based on documentation and interviews, the center did not ensure that behavioral guidance was constructive in nature and redirected children to appropriate behavior and resolve conflicts.

“Evidence: Staff reported that on the afternoon of March 27th, Child #1, 22 months old, was removed from the group and placed in a crib because Child #1 was pushing and hitting children in the group and would not listen to the teachers verbal commands to stop.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-400-B. From a complaint.

Based on observation the center did not ensure that portable wading pools were not used for children that are not toilet trained.

“Evidence: Interviews with staff reveled that the Preschool A and Preschool B classes, two-years-old, participated in wading pool activities during water days and that not all of the children in the groups were toilet trained.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-470-E. From a complaint.

Based on review of six staff records, the center did not ensure that each staff member submitted documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children, and that documentation was completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment.

“Evidence: The TB screening on record for Staff #5, with an employment date of 5/13/24, was dated 3/4/24.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-160-A.

Repeat Violation

“Based on observation, not all areas of the center were maintained in a clean, safe, and operable condition. Evidence: 1. On the playground, there is an area where the artificial grass has several 2? round holes and grass was lifting posing a trip hazard. 2. There was a ? inch gap in the seam of the pour and play posing a trip hazard.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

Based on observation and interview, the center did not ensure all staff who work with children have a current written list of all children with allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions.

“Evidence: In the toddler classroom, a child with a milk sensitivity was not included on the classroom allergy, sensitivity, and dietary restriction list.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-M.

Repeat Violation

“Based on observation and interview; the center did not ensure soiled linens are stored in a leakproof covered receptacle. Evidence: In the bathroom of the Montessori class, there was no lid and no liner for the laundry basket used to store soiled linens.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-500-B.

8VAC20-790-600-D-1

“Based on review of four staff records it was determined that not all staff obtained CPR training within the first 90 days of employment. Evidence: The record for staff B (start date: 01/23/23) did not contain documentation of completing the in-person competency demonstration portion of CPR training.”

Rule 8VAC20-790-600-D-1.

8VAC20-790-600-D-2

“Based on review of four staff records it was determined that not all staff obtained First Aid training within the first 90 days of employment. Evidence: The record for staff B (start date: 01/23/23) did not contain documentation of completing the in-person competency demonstration portion of First Aid training.”

Rule 8VAC20-790-600-D-2.

8VAC20-770-60-C-2

“Based on review of four staff records it was determined that not all records contained documentation of a central registry check within the first 30 days of employment. Evidence: The record for staff A (start date: 03/28/2023) and the record for staff B (start date: 01/23/23) did not have documentation of a central registry check on file.”

Rule 8VAC20-770-60-C-2.

8VAC20-780-270-A

“Based on observation of the playground it was determined that not all equipment was in safe and operable condition. Evidence: Three tricycles on the playground were observed to have cracks on the seats with sharp edges exposed.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

8VAC20-780-500-B

“Based on observation of the infant room it was determined that not all procedures for diapering were followed. Evidence: The changing pad in the Baby Steps B classroom has a small rip on the surface making the changing pad no longer nonabsorbent as required.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-500-B.

8VAC20-780-80-A

“Based on review of attendance in two infant classrooms it was determined that the attendance was not documented with the arrival of each child. Evidence: Child A was not marked present on the attendance in Baby Steps A classroom and child B was not marked present on the attendance in Baby Steps B classroom.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-80-A.

8VAC20-780-510-P

“Based on review of medication it was determined that not all medication was picked up by the parent within 14 days when an authorization for medication has expired. Evidence: The authorization form for the emergency medication for child A expired on 10/18/2022.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-P.

8VAC20-780-340-A

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