| Conclusion Summary |
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On May 28, 2024, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received a report alleging that on May 28, 2024, at 11:32 a.m., Child A (4 years old) was left outside alone on the playground for two to three minutes. After conducting the investigation, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins finds the allegation is substantiated. This conclusion is based on the following evidence of licensing rule violations which occurred at the facility:
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent 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 May 29, 2024, CI Eddins conducted an unannounced inspection and interviewed Director Jennifer Dodd, Caregiver Mya Smith, and Caregiver Sophia Buck. Jenifer, Mya, and Sophia provided consistent information. They all stated that Child A was left outside on the playground alone anywhere between one to three minutes on May 28, 2024. Child A slipped out of line during their transition back inside the facility from the outside playground. Mya observed Child A wandering alone outside through her classroom window. Mya opened her door and brought Child A into her classroom and took him to his room through the connecting classroom door. Child A was not harmed in any way while he was outside.
On June 20, 2024, Compliance Inspector (CI) Cole Eddins reviewed footage from May 28, 2024. Videos one and two show the same angle overlooking the playground and video three is another angle that looks under the facility overhang. Video one began at 11:31:14 a.m. where Child A's classroom can be observed lining up by the wall and getting ready to head inside. Sophia can be observed supervising the children before she heads inside at 11:31:33 a.m. Vanessa walks outside with the children at 11:31:34 a.m. from within her classroom. Child A was squatting on the ground and playing with something on the sidewalk during the entire time his class was lined up and walking inside. Video two shows Child A's classmate walking inside at the beginning of the video with Child A remaining in the same squatting position playing with something on the ground. Child A is facing away from his classmates as they walk inside the facility. Vanessa closes the outside door at 11:32:35 a.m. leaving Child A outside by himself. Child A stands up from his squatting position at 11:32:48 a.m. and begins to walk around the playground. Child A can be observed walking by his classroom door when his neighboring classroom door opens. Child A walks back inside through the opened door. Child A was left outside for a little over one minute.
On June 25, 2024, CI Eddins interviewed Parent A and she stated that Jennifer had called her on May 28, 2024, and told her that Child A was left outside for a few minutes. She was told that Child A was lining up with his classmates to come into the building after working on an art project outside. Child A was kneeling down on the ground and his caregivers must have missed him as they were guiding their children back inside the facility.
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