Little Stars - Kirkwood Highway

“Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #4 needs an adult abuse check. Send to OCCL.”

“Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs one more reference, health appraisal with TB results, release of employment. Staff #4 needs service letters completed or two additional references. Staff #5 needs a health appraisal with TB results, job description and references. Send copies to OCCL.”

“Ensure all child files are complete. Child #4, 6, 7, 8, 9 need developmental plans in their files. Child #6 needs a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead results. Also needs hours and days of attendance. Child #7 needs a blood lead screening with results. Child #8 needs blood lead screening. Child #8 needs date of enrollment, hours, days, and an emergency card. Send all documents to OCCL.”

“Radon testing must be conducted every five years. Send radon testing results to OCCL.”

“The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on May 3, 2023, regarding lack of supervision, incorrect staff-to-child ratios, improper discipline, providing false information to OCCL, the qualified administrator not being present the required number of hours, not notifying a parent of child illness, children placed in confining equipment inappropriately, not following the required meal plan components, not documenting medication correctly on Medication Administration Records (MAR) forms, not following a posted menu, not following infant feeding plans, not following sanitation requirements regarding meal service and diapering, infant care violations including safe sleep, not having spare bedding if a parent does not provide it, not following diapering procedures requirements, and improper use of screen time. An investigation began on May 5, 2023, and concluded on May 18, 2023. This complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision, and incorrect staff-to-child ratios, based on observations and interviews during the visit. Two of the three classrooms were out of staff-to-child ratio upon arrival. During an additional visit from Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) field agents, two classrooms were observed to be out of staff-to-child ratio. One staff member was observed leaving a classroom unsupervised to throw something into the trash can. It was confirmed by staff that Child #1 has been sleeping unsupervised in a room separate from the rest of her class. This complaint is substantiated for a qualified administrator not being present for the required number of hours, as staff were not able to provide attendance records for the center administrator, nor was the administrator present during the OCCL or CACFP investigation visits. This complaint is substantiated for infant safe sleep violations, because one infant was observed being placed to sleep on their stomach. This complaint is substantiated for not following infant feeding schedules, because no infant feeding schedules were available for infants in care and it was confirmed one infant was receiving cereal in their bottle. This complaint is substantiated for not notifying a parent of a child s illness, as it was confirmed by a staff interview that Child #3, was excessively fussy and had a fever while in care, but Parent #1 was not contacted. This complaint is substantiated for not documenting medication correctly on Medication Administration Records (MAR). Multiple types of medication were observed in the center, including Tylenol, gas drops, an Epi-Pen, and diapering cream with no MARs. This complaint is substantiated for not having a current, dated menu posted and not following the posted menu. This complaint is substantiated for not following sanitation requirements during meal service and during diapering. No soap and water bottles were present in the building, which is required for proper sanitation. A food serving tray was observed being placed in the diaper changing area during lunch. [name withheld] stated to LS [name withheld] and Supervisor [name withheld] there is no spare bedding available at the center. This complaint is also substantiated for improper use of screen time, as more than one staff member stated over one hour of screen time occurs on a regular basis. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of providing false information to OCCL, as the center is approved to care for school-age children. There is also no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper discipline. All staff members present were interviewed and denied witnessing any improper discipline or using it themselves. The child who was alleged to be the victim is too young to be interviewed. An additional concern noted was sleep equipment was not being placed at least 18 inches apart. This was observed during the visit.”

“Training hours are required for all staff. If not received by 5/30/2023, this will be cited.”

“Staff attendance is needed for administrator. Send for weeks 5/15/23- 5/26/23. A designated teacher is needed when the administrator is not present with documented training in the file.”

“Toddler classroom was over ratio with 10 children and 1 staff member. Send attendance documentation to OCCL. Make sure classroom is in ratio daily.”

“Background check eligibility letters are needed for staff #3, 5, 6, and 7. Staff #6 and #7 do not work at the center anymore.”

“All staff files must be complete, and annual safe sleep and abuse and neglect are needed for staff #1,5, and 7. Service letters and release of employment for staff #6 and 7.”

“Job descriptions needed for #6 and # 7, references needed for staff #5 and 6, and employee declaration need for staff#5. Staff #6 and #7 no longer work at the center.”

“The owner's file must be complete if working more than 7 hours and providing care. Complete the owner's file with training hours, health and safety training, pd plan, and eligibility letter, also send a certificate for OCCL health and safety to OCCL.”

“Orientation for staff, subs, and volunteers must be provided and documented in staff files, for staff #5, 6, and staff #7.”

“All staff files must have current annual PD plan #1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 need PD plan.”

“Staff attendance documentation was inaccurate. Send staff attendance for 2 weeks.”

“Current health appraisal, immunization, and blood lead screening are needed for children #1, 2, 3 and 6. Blood lead screening is needed for child #5.”

“Documentation of children's progress or infant toddler development plans needed for child # 1, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, and 10.”

“Torn mats in the toddler room need to be replaced.”

“Toddler room needs a foot-activated diaper pail within arm's reach. Send a picture to OCCL.”

“MAR forms need to be completed for all children receiving medication. Send forms to OCCL.”

“Child #2 and # 3 need parent permission for transportation to and from school.”

“Posted menu, not dated, send a copy of the current dated menu.”

“Infants need a current monthly feeding schedule with parent signature. Send for all infants in care. All bottles must be labeled. Send a picture to OCCL. Little Stars Kirkwood closed their infant care program on May 30, 2023.”

“Toddler room did not have current lesson plans.”

“Toddler room does not have required activity areas. Send a picture of the room with areas defined.”

“Application not received 60 days in advance of license expiration. Please submit a renewal application and send to OCCL.”

“OCCL was not notified when the Administrator resigned in November 2022. This was corrected upon receipt of the application. A staff member was working alone without a DEEDS qualification. Submit proof of at least an EC Intern certificate being submitted.”

“The center did not have a functioning Administrator for several months upon completion of the visit. It was decided the Administrator from the other location will split time 50/50 going forward. Administrator must document their time.”

“The one's room was over-ratio at the beginning of the visit. This was corrected when one child was moved to another room. The staff member in the infant room is not qualified to be alone at this time. Write a plan to meet staffing needs until she is qualified. We were notified on 6-13-22 this staff member is no longer employed.”

“Staff files were missing the following: - Staff #1 and 3 need administration of medication certification. - Staff #3 needs an orientation, job description, and adult abuse registry check.”

“Child files were missing the following: - Child #1 and 6 need updated full health appraisals, including lead blood screening. - Child # 2 and 4 need lead blood screening.”

“Dates need to be written on food items that have been opened in the fridge and freezer. Send a picture of items to correct this.”

“Ensure children are going outdoors for gross motor when the weather allows. Children did not go outdoors as listed on the daily schedule during this visit. Review this with staff.”

“On January 13, 2022, OCCL received a complaint regarding the center being frequently out of staff-to-child ratio. An investigation was conducted on January 27, 2022. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratios because 14 children including an infant were napping in a class with only staff. The first concern noted was lack of supervision because the administrator left the room of napping children while holding the infant to admit the specialists into the center and a staff left an infant strapped in a highchair alone of the other side of the classroom. The second concern are safe sleep violations because an infant was sleeping on a bobby pillow, with a blanket wrapped around her, and a noise machine was also in the crib with her and an infant was reported to have slept in a highchair. Lastly, the infant in the highchair was not given anything to do while being awake in the confining equipment.”