Tierra Encantada Ford dba Alexandria Day Care

“On July 1, 2026, Staff #1 roughly handled Child #1, age 12 months, after Child #1 had crawled away from where Staff #1 and 3 other infants were seated on the carpet. Video footage showed Child #1 had stopped by the edge of the carpet and sat up. Staff #1 then grabbed Child #1’s leg and yanked the child across the floor and caused Child #1 to fall backwards and hit their head on the carpet. Staff #1 then grabbed, lifted and dropped child #1 down onto the carpet in a corner behind an infant seated in a bouncy seat. Child #1 was visibly upset.”

“On April 30, 2026, Child #1 (Age13 months) was left unsupervised in the infant classroom for approximately three minutes during an evacuation drill. Staff #1 and Staff #2 evacuated five children from the classroom to the playground, leaving Child #1 asleep on a cot with a blanket covering the child’s head and body. After arriving at the playground, Staff #1 did a name-to-face check and realized that Child#1 was not evacuated with the rest of the class. Staff #3 stated that they did not see the child asleep on the cot when they performed the classroom check during the evacuation drill. Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #3 did not ensure care, protection, and guidance of Child #1 when the child was left alone and unsupervised in the classroom during the evacuation drill.”

“The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include the emergency preparedness plan ensuring the center assembly points, methods to account for all children at the assembly point and relocation site, primary and secondary means of egress, and complete evacuation of the building. On April 30, 2026, before leaving the building, Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #3 did not follow the center’s own evacuation policies and procedures which resulted Child 1 being left alone and asleep in the classroom for approximately 3 minutes. The center’s evacuation procedures require teachers follow face to name procedure to account for all children before leaving the building to arrive at the relocation site. Staff #1 and #2 did not account for all children in their group before leaving the classroom. It was after they were outside at the assembly point that they realized they left a child inside.”

“When an authorization for medication expires, the facility shall notify parents that the medication must be picked up within 14 days of the authorization expiring or that a new authorization should be completed. Medication for Child A was onsite, but the medication authorization had expired over 10 months ago. Medication for Child B was onsite, but the medication authorization had expired three years ago. Medication for Child C was onsite, but the medication authorization had expired over 10 days. The medication was administered five times during the expired period. The authorization for Child A, B and C had not been renewed and the medication was not returned or disposed of as required.”

“A child was left out of sight and sound supervision in the classroom of two-year-olds for approximately four minutes. Evidence: 1. .On June 10, 2024, two children were in the bathroom with Staff 1. Staff 2 went in the bathroom to cover for Staff 1. Staff 2 was standing in front of the bathroom stall. One child leaves out of the bathroom. Staff 2 leaves out the bathroom leaving, cut the light off and closes the door. 2. Staff 3 found Child #3 inside the bathroom stall with the lights off. 3. Child #3 was left in the bathroom approximately four minutes with the lights off and door closed. 4. Staff 3 acknowledged she did not they did check the bathroom stalls to ensure there were no children in the bathroom stalls before cutting the lights off and closing the door.”

“Based on observation, interviews and documentation review the center has failed to demonstrate operational responsibilities including but not limited to ensuring the center’s activities, services and facilities are maintained in compliance with these standards the center’s own policies and procedures that are required by these standards, and the terms of the current license issued by the department when staff left a child unattended for approximately four minutes. Evidence: 1. On June 10, 2024, Staff 1 snatched Child #1?s by the arm to sit the child on the carpet. Staff #1 grabbed 9 other children by the arm to forcefully sit them on the carpet. 2. Staff 1 grabbed Child #2 by the arm forcefully to sit the child on the carpet. 3. The center’s policy regarding supervision and playground safety of children were not followed when a child was left unattended in the bathroom with the door closed ad lights off on June 10, 2024, for approximately four minutes. 4. Child #3 was left in the bathroom because Staff 2 acknowledged she did not check the bathroom stalls before turning the light off and closing the door. 5. Child #3 was pulled by the arm forcefully to sit down on bathroom bench.”

“Based on staff interview and documentation, the center failed to report a suspected incident of child abuse or neglect to Child Protective Services ( CPS ) immediately as required. Evidence: 1. On March 15, 2024, at approximately 11:10 am, Staff 2 and Staff 3 were in the Preschool A classroom when Child #1(two-year-old) was rough handled by a Staff 1, and neither staff reported the incident to management. Staff 3 and 4 were in the Preschool A classroom with Staff 1 who rough handled Child #1 and they did not report the incidents to Administration. 2. The video camera footage for Preschool A classroom was reviewed by the center Administration on March 18, 2024, and staff administration stated they saw Staff 1?s rough handling with Child #1. Administration staff stated, after viewing footage, Staff #1 was moved out of the Preschool A classroom, and an internal investigation was conducted. 3. Based on staff interviews, the center staff did not immediately report the incident to Child Protective Services. The center reported the incident to CPS on April 5, 2024. 4. Staff Handbook states ?All stated at Tierra Encantada are mandated reporters and all are trained on the prevention, recognition, and reporting of child abuse situations.? ?If any staff, volunteers, or representative of Tierra Encantada have reason to believe or suspect maltreatment has occurred, a report will be made, as soon as possible.?”

“Based on review of records and video camera footage, the center did not ensure the center’s own policies and procedures of discipline were maintained in compliance with required standards. Evidence: 1. Staff Handbook states ?Staff are expected to follow all policies and procedures to maintain the reputation of Tierra Encantada and to ensure the safety and well-being of the children in our care.? ?We take a proactive approach that solely seeks to apply guidance to unwanted behaviors.? Staff Handbook states ?A child will be separated if the wellbeing of the child or another child is threatened.? ?Child will return to the group as soon as the behavior is corrected. Anytime a child is removed from the group a separation report will be completed and signed by the teacher and parent/guardian. All separation from groups must be noted on a daily log that must include the following: the child’s name, staff person’s name, date, time, information indicating what less-intrusive methods were used to guide the child’s behavior, how the child’s behavior continued to threaten the well-being of the child or other children.? 2. Staff Handbooks states ?Children will only be separated from the group if other less instructive methods of guiding the child’s behavior have been tried and were ineffective?. 3. Staff 1 did not follow the center’s policies and procedures as determined by video. On March 15, 2024, Staff 1 was observed rough handling Child #1(two-year-old) by the left arm after Child #1 took a puzzle from another child. Staff 1 grabbed Child #1 the arm and placed their chair in front of the diaper changing area. Staff 1 forcefully sat Child 1 in the chair. 4. The video camera footage showed Staff 1 kept Child #1 in timeout by Child #1 sitting in a chair for approximately 15 minutes.”

“Based on staff interviews, observation of video camera footage, and documentation reviewed a staff member used forbidden actions on a child. Evidence: 1. On March 15, 2024, Staff 1 snatched a puzzle out of Child #1?s (two-year-old) hand and grabbed child by the hand. 2. Staff 1 grabbed Child #1 by the left arm to move closer toward them. Staff 1 dumbs Child 1 out of a chair, picks up the chair and held Child #1 by the arm to walk to the diaper changing table area. Staff 1 forcefully sat Child #1 in the chair in front of the diaper changing table. 3. Staff 1 squatted down to Child #1?s level and turns Child #1 face toward them. Child #1 tried to stand up from the chair. Staff 1 grabbed Child #1 by the hand to forcefully sit Child #1 back in the chair. Staff 2 and 3 interacted in a verbal conversation with Staff 1 after this incident. 4. Staff 1 forcefully moved Child # 3?s chair away from table two times while Child #3 was sitting in the chair. Child #3 scooted away from the table while sitting in a chair at least four times before Staff 1 pointed to floor for Child#3 to pick up puzzles from the floor. Staff 1 grabbed Child #3 by the arm forcefully to pick up puzzles from the floor.”

“Based on interviews, documentation, and video recordings, staff supervising children did not always ensure their care, protection, and guidance. Evidence: 1.On January 5, 2023, there were four staff members in the indoor gym with approximately 14 three-year-old children. 2. A child walked up slide. Staff did not come over to the child and provide redirection. 3. Another child was observed sliding down the slide, hit another child in the back who was sitting at the end of the slide. Staff did not come over to the children and provide redirection. 4. The four staff did not intervene or redirect to ensure children safety using the indoor play equipment.”

“Based on interviews and video camera footage, the center did not ensure staff interact with child to provided needed health, comfort and support. Evidence: 1. On July 19, 2022, a child in the toddler classroom was grabbed by the arm by Staff #1. Staff #1 held the child’s arm and moved the child toward the bookshelf away from the table. Staff #2 in the same classroom spoke with the child after the incident and addressed the concern with the Staff #1. Staff #2 spoke with Staff #1 about appropriate ways to address the child’s behavior and allow the child to hold the staff hand instead of staff holding the arm. 2. Staff #2 informed Administration about the incident. 3. Administration addressed the incident and disciplinary actions were taken for Staff #1. 4. Center notified Licensing about the incident on July 20, 2022. Licensing advised center to notify the parent of the child of the incident. Parent was notified on July 21, 2022 and center completed an incident report on this day. 5. Staff #1 did not comply policy which states to record the behavior of the child and staff’s response to the behavior using the Behavior Incident Report. 6. Staff #1 did not comply with behavioral guidance policy which states redirect children away from problems toward constructive activity in order to reduce conflict and teach children how to use problem solving strategies.”