Taproot Montessori Preschool · El Cajon

… 1 Owner stated they are no longer using the straps on the transitional chairs. Owner provided training to staff and will provide LPA with staff agenda and sign-in sheet via e-mail. Owner also stated they will walk the children up to the door upon pickup. Based upon interviews with reporting party, staff member S1, director and owner, on 10/22/24 a child (C1) was restrained in a transitional chair with a safety belt while S1 went to answer the door which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

… 1 Owner stated herself and Director Margarita Carmargo will cover until a new staff member has been hired. Owner stated that she understands that unqualified staff must be supervised by a fully qualified staff member. Deficiency was cleared at visit. Based upon record review and interviews with S1 and Owner, S1 is not a fully qualified teacher and was left alone with two enrolled children which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

Based on LPA observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in one bottle of Lysol being accessible to children in the toddler bathroom, which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.

Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 7 staff files, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.

Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 1 out of 7 staff files which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.

... Facility representative stated she would immediately call a fully qualfied teacher to the facility so that the facility will be within ratio. Based upon record review and LPA observation, there were 21 preschool children in Palm room supervised by two qualified teachers and one unqualified aide with no plan on how to relieve a teacher for a morning or afternoon break without going out of ratio which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... Licensee/Owner Nicole Hall stated that one of her qualified teachers called in sick today. Owner stated that she would fill in for any qualified teacher that calls out until another fully qualified teacher can be hired. LPA requested written statement regarding the above information to be emailed to: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov by 6/20/24. Based upon record review and LPA observation, there were 26 preschool children in Palm room supervised by one qualified teacher (Director) and two aides without any ECE units/experience which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... 1 Licensee/owner stated she would increase the frequency of the pest control visits to twice monthly and advise what other treatments may be necessary in addition to glue traps and bait stations. Licensee/owner will send the next pest control report to: keturah.lane@dss.ca.gov by 7/8/24. Based upon LPA observation and staff interviews, there has been a recent issue with cockroaches and LPA observed traps with dead roaches - trap was dated 6/11/24 which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... 1 Licensee/Owner stated she would make sure there are enough qualified teachers in the classroom at all times and when a qualified teacher calls out sick, will come in to replace the teacher. Licensee/Owner will provide a written statement regarding this to: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov by 6/21/24. Based upon LPA observation, there were 26 preschool children in the Palm room with one qualified teacher (director) and two aides (S1 & S2) without any completed ECE units or experience which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... 1 Director stated they will notify the parents and update admission agreements to move two toddlers to the preschool classroom classroom, effective tomorrow 6/2/23 which will leave 12 toddlers enrolled. There will be two qualified staff members for the toddler classroom. Based upon LPA observation and sign in/out sheets, there were 32 preschool children with only two staff members (a third staff member was on site but in the bathroom) which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care. 8 In the preschool classroom there will be 3 teachers supervising no more than 36 preschool age children. Owner Nicole Hall will be at the facility to give breaks to teachers during operating hours. If anyone calls in sick, a teacher from the Jamul location will substitute. After 6/12/23 there will be two new teachers starting at the facility.

... 1 Director stated they will notify the parents and update admission agreements to move two toddlers to the preschool classroom classroom, effective tomorrow 6/2/23 which will leave 12 toddlers enrolled. There will be two qualified staff members for the toddler classroom. Based upon LPA observation and sign/in out sheets, there were 14 toddlers with only 2 staff members transitioning to the playground area which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care. 8 In the preschool classroom there will be 3 teachers supervising no more than 36 preschool age children. Owner Nicole Hall will be at the facility to give breaks to teachers during operating hours. If anyone calls in sick, a teacher from the Jamul location will substitute. After 6/12/23 there will be two new teachers starting at the facility.

... 1 Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide a written plan to LPA Lane by 5/23/23 that will ensure that ratios are met. E-mail: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov Based upon LPA observation and sign in/out sheets, there were 33 preschool children with only two staff members which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... 1 Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide a written plan to LPA Lane by 5/23/23 that will ensure that ratios are met. E-mail: Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov Based upon LPA observation and sign/in out sheets, there were 16 toddlers with only 1 staff member in the playground area which is an immediate health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

... 1 Owner Nicole Hall stated she will provide written plan or correction 6/5/23 via e-mail which will ensure that infant/toddler qualifications are met. Keturah.Lane@dss.ca.gov Based upon LPA observation and staff record review, none of the three teachers present at time of inspection have completed units related to care of infants or toddlers which is a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care.

Personal Rights: Staff inappropriately restrained a day care child.

1. Facility staff are not properly addressing cockroaches in the facility

2. Teachers do not have the required ECE units

1. Facility is operating out of ratio

2. Facility is allowing unqualified staff to provide care and supervision to day-care children.