The Virginia Department of Social Services recently conducted unannounced monitoring inspections at eight local child care facilities, all which yielded no violations.
The day care centers that the agency considered in compliance in October and November included:
In her Nov. 2 report, Inspector Stephanie Reed observed Piney Branch Elementary School SACC program’s staff facilitating a project and ensuring students were on-task.
An unannounced monitoring inspection was conducted beginning at 1:00 p.m. and ending at 2:15 p.m. with the director and four staff. There were 59 children in care ranging in age from five years to ten years of age. Today is a teacher work day and there is no school, so there are two sites combined. Children were observed in two groups. One group was working on a fall-themed art project while the other group of children played a group game. Children were observed during transition time, cleaning up from the art activity, preparing for a bathroom break and switching groups.
Inspector Linda Reynolds also observed Linton Hall Preschool and Extended Day Program, located at 9535 Linton Hall Road, Nov. 4.
Her comments included:
There were 70 children present ages 2-4. All classes were in appropriate ratio. Children were observed doing small group activities, going to the playground, at circle time, doing art activities. The activities observed were all age and stage appropriate and were being enjoyed by the children.
This was the facility's eighth straight inpsection without a violation.
Full reports of each provider are located online and available for public viewing.
The Virginia Department of Social Services inspects all licensed child-welfare agencies at least twice a year, with at least one unannounced inspection each year.
“In order to determine continued compliance with standards during the effective dates of the license, the department’s licensing representative will make announced and unannounced inspections of the facility or agency during the hours of its operation,” the agency states on their website. “The licensee is responsible for correcting any areas of noncompliance found during renewal or monitoring inspections.”
VDSS cautions that a compliance history is in no way a rating for a facility and online compliance reports do not include consideration that some information regarding “adverse actions” may be the subject of pending appeals.
According to the agency: “Through the administration of the licensing program, the Department of Social Services assumes responsibility to ensure that licensed facilities and agencies provide children and adults with at least a minimum level of care in accordance with regulations prescribed by the State Board of Social Services and Child Day-Care Council.”
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