Stepping Stones Preschool/Childcare INC

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A physical site review was conducted. Regulation requires medication to be stored either in a locked area of the facility or an area that is out of reach of children. In the lower-level right room, a black bag was observed on a shelf that contained a bottle of pain reliever that indicated the need to be stored out of reach of children. This bag was accessible to children and children were observed receiving are in the child care space during this inspection.

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. Regulation requires staff to update their health assessments at least every 24 months. The following staff did not update their health assessments at least every 24 months: Staff #1 (previous 1/26/23, current 2/20/25), Staff #3 (previous 9/14/21, current 11/15/23), Staff #4 (previous 7/8/22, current 11/14/24) and Staff #6 (previous 3/7/22, current 10/21/24) Regulation also requires staff to have a health assessment on file prior to providing child child care. See the code sheet for the date of hire. The following staff did not have on file a health assessment prior to providing child care: Staff #2.

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of hire. Regulation requires staff to have a tuberculosis screening on file prior to initial employment. The following staff did not have a tuberculosis screening on file prior to providing child care: Staff #2 and Staff #9.

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of hire. Staff #8 has not completed the mandated reporter training within 90 days of their date of hire. Staff #8 completed mandated reporter training on 1/25/23.

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of child files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of enrollment. Regulation requires staff to track the growth and development of children on an approved child assessment form every 6 months. The following children were enrolled more than 6 months and did not have an approved assessment form completed to track their growth and development: Child #1 and Child #4.

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of child files was conducted. See the code sheet for the date of enrollment. Regulation requires children's agreement forms to be updated at least every 6 months. The agreement form for Child #4 was not updated at least every 6 months (previous 3/4/24, current 1/2/25).

A renewal inspection occurred at the facility. A review of staff files was conducted. Regulation requires two written, nonfamily references attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person. Staff #2 was missing these two letters of reference in their file.

An incident occurred on 11/26/24 and roughly a 5-minute video clip of the incident was viewed. On the video, Staff #1 was observed forcefully pulling Child #1 by the arm on several occasions, forcefully pushing Child #1's legs away several times, forcing Child #1 and another child down on to their matt at nap time and forcefully moving Child #1 as they lay on their back to laying on their stomach. Staff #1 was also observed picking Child #1 up by the arms and legs and dropping the child to the ground. Staff #1 was also observed restraining, using their leg, Child #1 to their nap matt. The Child #1 is viewed on several occasions, without success, attempting to get away from Staff #1 and out from under the leg of Staff #1.

See SIN 00256046

See SIN 00256046

On 11/21/24, an incident occurred where Child #1 received 3rd degree burns on 40% of their body. Child #1 was in a pack and play located behind a mini refrigerator, which had a microwave stacked on top of it, and a crock pot, which contained hot water, on top of that. The cord for the crock pot ran down the rear of the refrigerator/microwave, accessible to Child #1 in the pack and play. Child #1 was able to pull the crock pot down on themselves. Child #1 was burned by the hot water that was contained within the crock pot. Staff #3, #4 and #5 were on the front side of the refrigerator/microwave/crock-pot stack. Based on the location of the pack and play behind this stack, and the physical location of the staff at the time of the incident, staff were unable to properly supervise Child #1.

Staff #1, #2 and #3 have been named as perpetrators in indicated reports of child abuse.

See SIN 00256046

See SIN 00256046

See SIN 00256046

See SIN 00256046

On 11/21/24, an incident occurred where Child #1 received 3rd degree burns on 40% of their body. Child #1 was in a pack and play located behind a mini refrigerator, which had a microwave stacked on top of it, and a crock pot, which contained hot water, on top of that. The cord for the crock pot ran down the rear of the refrigerator/microwave, accessible to Child #1 in the pack and play. Child #1 was able to pull the crock pot down on themselves. Child #1 was burned by the hot water that was contained within the crock pot.

On 11/21/24, an incident occurred where Child #1 received 3rd degree burns on 40% of their body. Child #1 was in a pack and play located behind a mini refrigerator, which had a microwave stacked on top of it, and a crock pot, which contained hot water, on top of that. The cord for the crock pot ran down the rear of the refrigerator/microwave, accessible to Child #1 in the pack and play. Child #1 was able to pull the crock pot down on themselves. Child #1 was burned by the hot water that was contained within the crock pot.

On 11/21/24, an incident occurred where Child #1 received 3rd degree burns on 40% of their body. Child #1 was in a pack and play located behind a mini refrigerator, which had a microwave stacked on top of it, and a crock pot, which contained hot water, on top of that. The cord for the crock pot ran down the rear of the refrigerator/microwave, accessible to Child #1 in the pack and play. Child #1 was able to pull the crock pot down on themselves. Child #1 was burned by the hot water that was contained within the crock pot. Emergency medical care was never obtained for Child #1.

The emergency plan was reviewed 1/17/23 and then not again until 2/20/24.

In the toddler 2 room, there was an area of the baseboard heating unit that was separated creating a pinch point.

On both outdoor play grounds, there were several bolts that were exposed. In the 3s room there was a play kitchen that had a small hole in the plastic.

There was spill in the infant room refrigerator that hadn't been cleaned up.

Per the fire drill and detection log, there were more than 30 days between tests of the fire detection system 12/11/23-1/17/24 and 1/17/24-2/22/24.

Child #1's emergency contact information was missing the parents work address and telephone numbers.

Child #1 did not have signed parental consent for emergency medical care.

Child #1 did not have signed parental consent for administration of minor first-aid procedures.

On 5/3/23, 2 young toddlers were observed sitting in highchairs to watch TV from 10:15 am to 10:55 am. They did not have any food or other activity. They were watching TV.

On 5/3/23 at 10:15 am, a 10-month-old was observed sleeping in a Pack N Play. There was a bottle in the child's mouth and a blanket in the Pack N Play.

On 5/3/23, there were 9 gallon-size cans of paint in two open boxes in the main entry area of the facility. All of the children present walked through this area to get to their respective classrooms.

On 5/3/23, a few faint mildew spots were observed on a ceiling tile in the older toddler room.

On 5/3/23, a preschool child was observed blowing their nose and throwing the tissue into a trash can with no lid.

On 5/3/23, a damaged ceiling was observed in the office. The children were observed going through the office to exit the building during a fire drill at 11:11 am. Staff admitted that children go through the office to go out to the play areas.

On 5/3/23 chipped/damaged paint was observed on the blue/black table in the preschool room.

On 5/3/23, there was some water on the floor around the base of the toilet in the first-floor bathroom.

On 5/3/23, the fence on the infant toddler playground and the fence on the PS playground had numerous exposed bolts.

On 5/3/23, owner verified that there is an embedded swing set and an embedded wooden ship climber/slide on the preschool playground. The loose-fill surfacing that is on the playground is recycled rubber. The required depth of shredded/recycled rubber is six inches. At the inspection on 5/3/23 there was less than one inch of loose-fill impact absorbing material underneath the swings and wooden ship structure.

On 5/3/23, a Fisher Price Rock N Play was observed in the infant/young toddler room. This item was recalled by the CPSC on 1/9/23.

On 5/3/23 the fire drill log and fire alarm test log were reviewed. The fire drill log was compliant. The last documented manual alarm test was done on 3/7/23. Manual alarm testing has not been done since 3/7/23. It has been more than 30 days since the manual alarm testing was done.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep observed pipe/drainage work being done around the side and back of building. There are wide trenches. The children have to walk around these trenches and under pine trees to get to the playground in the back. There are no barricades or fencing around the open trenches.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep observed Lysol Disinfectant spray, 7th Generation disinfectant spray, Microban Sanitizing spray, disinfecting solution for tables, bug spray and olive oil lotion in the Pre-K room. all were accessible to children. Cert rep observed Microban sanitizing spray and Lysol Disinfectant spray on top of the hand dryer in the main level bathroom. There was a stepstool in the bathroom. Children could use the stepstool and access the sprays. Cert rep observed Lysol cleaner, Windex, Bleach & water solution, and Glade Air freshener spray in the cabinet in the main level bathroom. The child proof latch could not be used because there was a broken knob on the cabinet. These items were accessible to children.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep observed damaged paint in the bathroom on the main floor by the light switch.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep observed the bathroom vanity cabinet on the main floor is missing a knob and there is a screw protruding from the inside of the cabinet to the outside.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep reviewed several children's files. CHILD # 1 health assessment form was not signed and dated by a physician, physician's assistant or a CRNP. CHILD #1 (see code sheet for start date) has been enrolled at the facility more than 60 days.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep reviewed several children's files. CHILD # 1 emergency contact form did not include enrolling parent's work address and phone number. CHILD #2 emergency contact form did not include enrolling parent's work address and phone number.

During renewal inspection on 3/27/23 cert rep reviewed several children's files. CHILD #2 emergency contact form did not include information on disability.

RS stated that their child was injured at the center and RS signed an incident report. RS did not remember the date of the incident. RS was not given a copy of the incident report. When interviewed, director stated that they put the reports in the children's files and only give it to the parent if the parent requests it. TA was provided regarding incident reports.

During unannounced complaint investigation on 2/9/23, I checked the sink vanity cabinet in the baby room. The cabinet had doors on it, but the doors did not have any type of lock on them. There was a bottle of Odo-Ban, a bottle of peroxide, a sanitizing spray, and 8 containers of sunscreen under the cabinet. These items were accessible to children.

During unannounced complaint investigation on 2/9/23, I reviewed all staff files. STAFF #2 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see code sheet for date of hire): Pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR.

During renewal inspection on 3/1/22 CR observed damaged paint in the PS/T3 room under the coats and by the air purifier.

During renewal inspection on 3/1/22 CR reviewed several staff files. STAFF # 1 (start date 10/20/21) health assessment was dated 8/6/20 which was more than 12 months prior to employee's start date. STAFF # 1 TB screening was dated 9/2/20 which was 13 months prior to initial hire date.

During renewal inspection on 3/1/22 CR reviewed several staff files. STAFF # 2 Mandated Reporter training was dated 9/14/16. MR training is valid for 60 months.

During renewal inspection on 3/1/22 CR reviewed several children's files. CHILD # 1 emergency contact form did not include signed parental consent for emergency medical care and signed parental consent for administration of minor first-aid procedures by facility staff.