The Merit School of Leeland Station (#31)

Children under 10 years of age always shall be within actual sight and sound supervision of staff.

“Two children (Ages 3 and 4) were observed playing in an area of the playground that was not within sight and sound supervision of the staff on the playground.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-F.

(REPEAT VIOLATION) The staff-to-child ratio for children ages birth to 16 months whenever children are in care is one staff for every 4 children.

“In the Infant A classroom (youngest child 4 months), there were 9 children present with 2 staff.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-350-B-1.

In each group of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present.

“There is no lead teacher assigned to the Toddler classroom. Previous lead teacher left in September 2025.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-340-D.

When time out is used as a behavior guidance technique, it shall not be used with infants and toddlers.

“On 4/1/2026 in the Toddler Classroom, Staff A used time out as a behavior guidance technique for Child A (23 Months) who is a toddler for approximately 4 minutes.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-400-C.

The following actions or threats thereof are forbidden: Roughly handling.

“Based on staff interview, on 4/1/2026, in the Toddler Classroom, Staff A used their hands to hold the sides of Child A’s (23 Months) head in an attempt to redirect the child to fix a chair that the child flipped. Additionally, while the child resisted, Staff A used their knees and body to nudge the child in order to prompt the child to walk.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-410-1.

Staff shall wash hands with soap and running water before and after a diaper change.

“Staff B in the Toddler classroom did not wash three children’s after changing their diapers.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-500-A.

The diapering surface shall be sanitized after each use.

“Staff B in the Toddler Classroom cleaned the diaper changing surface with disinfectant only but did not sanitize the surface after each use.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-500-B.

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

“1. The immunization records for Child A (Age 3) indicated the child’s most recent immunizations were administered over 2 years 11 months.”

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

Records and reports on staff required by this chapter must be maintained and made accessible for two years after termination of services.

“Center was unable to access documentation that was previously in the record for Child A that previously attended less than one month ago.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-50-B. From a complaint.

(REPEAT VIOLATION) Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.

“1. In the Preschool A classroom, there was an unlocked upper cabinet with a spray bottle of disinfectant. 2. In the Prep-B classroom, there was an unlocked upper cabinet with a spray bottle of disinfectant and a spray bottle of sanitizer. 3. In the Prep A classroom, there was a wet jet mop with all-purpose cleaner attached and accessible to children.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

The staff-to-child ratio for children ages birth to 16 months whenever children are in care is one staff for every 5 children.

“From approximately 8:28am to 8:32am in the Infant 1 classroom, there was 1 staff observed with 6 children. The youngest child was age 5 months.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-350-B-1.

Medication, except for those prescriptions designated otherwise by written physician’s order, shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.

“On 11/10/2025 at approximately 6:30am, the lock box containing the centers medication for multiple children was left unlatched/unlocked behind the employee desk. The employee desk is open and has no lock or barrier preventing access.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-L. From a complaint.

All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care.

“Staff #1, employed for 7 months, did not have a current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).”

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

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

“Staff #1, employed for 7 months, did not have a current certification in first aid.”

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

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

“1. In the Prep-B classroom there was an unlocked upper cabinet with a spray bottle of disinfectant and a spray bottle of sanitizer. 2. In the JK classroom there was an unlocked upper cabinet with a spray bottle of disinfectant and a spray bottle of sanitizer.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

Medication, including refrigerated medication and staff’s personal medication, shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.

“In the Preschool A classroom, there was a bottle of Tylenol belonging to staff in an unlocked upper cabinet.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-L.

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.

“Out of 15 injury reports reviewed, 3 of them were missing the times when parents were notified.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-P.

A menu listing foods to be served for meals and snacks during the current one-week period shall: Be posted in a location conspicuous to parents or given to parents.

“The menu for the week was not posted in a location conspicuous for parents.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-F.

When food is brought from home, the following shall apply: The food container shall be sealed and clearly dated and labeled in a way that identifies the owner.

“Child A brought food from home in two containers that were not dated.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-560-G.

Staff shall complete orientation training prior to the staff member working alone with children and no later than seven days of the date of assuming job responsibilities.

“Staff A, employed for 2 months, did not have documentation showing the staff completed orientation training.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-240-B.

Documentation shall be maintained of emergency evacuation drills.

“There was no emergency drills documented for the months of October, November and December of 2024.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-550-G.

Prepared infant formula shall be refrigerated, dated and labeled with the child’s name.

“1. In the Infant 2 Classroom, Child A had 2 bottles in the refrigerator without dates. 2. In the Infant 1 Classroom, Child B had 3 bottles in the refrigerator without dates.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-570-E.

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 Infant 2 Classroom, there were 7 children present but only 6 on both the written and electronic attendance.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-80-A.

Hazardous substances must be in a locked place that prevents access by children.

“In the school-age classroom, there were 2 cans of spray paint labeled ?Keep out of reach of children? unlocked on an upper shelf.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

8VAC20-780-270-A

“The center shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. The Licensing Inspector observed the cords to wall mounted phones in reach of children in classroom # 2 and #8. The phone cords present a strangulation risk.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

8VAC20-780-510-P

“When authorization for medication expires, the medication shall be picked up by the parent within 14 days or the medication must be disposed of by the center or the authorization must be renewed. The duration of the physician authorization expired on 1/5/24 and the Inhaler for child #1 was not picked up within 14 days nor did the parent renew the authorization nor did the center dispose of the medication.”

Rule 8VAC20-780-510-P.

8VAC20-780-40-M

“Based on interview and a review of recordkeeping it was determined that a child with a diagnosed food allergy was not listed on the current written allergy list. Evidence: Child #1 has a diagnosed milk allergy that was not listed on the written allergy list”

Rule 8VAC20-780-40-M.