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On November 27, 2023, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation that: On November 20, 2023, a child was left unattended in the classroom for approximately 3 minutes while the rest of the class was out on the playground. After conducting an investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Michelle Honea has found this allegation to be substantiated based on the following evidence:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1., which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent adult supervision."
AND
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)3., which states: "Caregivers shall provide frequent, direct contact so children are not left unobserved on the premises."
On November 30, 2023, CI Michelle Honea conducted an unannounced inspection to the facility and interviewed director Deniece Moore, caregiver Jessica Spurgeon, caregiver Heather Sayre, and cook Bailey Schoolnover. All staff interviewed stated that name to face head counts were not completed. All caregivers stated that they did not look to make sure all the children were in line before leaving the classroom. They did not check the room for any children before going outside. Child A was left alone for one to three minutes in the classroom before Bailey found Child A. Director Deniece Moore contacted Parent A immediately and stated that both teachers were placed on probation and required to do supervision trainings and more effective name to face procedures and hourly and transition checks are being implemented.
Parent A stated that she was informed of the incident and cannot understand how the teachers were able to forget about Child A inside the classroom for almost ten minutes.
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