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On May 28, 2025, the Office of Childhood (OOC) received an allegation of a young boy, Child A (age 3-years-old), was able to get out of the fenced-in playground and stood on a sidewalk in the parking lot alone, without adults realizing for an unknown amount of time. On May 29, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes conducted an unannounced inspection of the facility and found the allegations to be substantiated based on the following information.
5 CSR 25-500.182(1)(A)1. which states: "Caregivers shall not leave any child without competent supervision."
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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, 2025, (CI) Hughes conducted in person interviews with director Leslie Payne, assistant Carrie Spencer and caregivers Aundrea Lawler, Lauren Streeter and Sophie Cochrane.
Leslie Payne stated that she knew nothing about Child A (age 3-years-old) getting out of the playground and no parent came into the facility to alert her. Sophie never informed her. She contacted CI Hughes shortly after she left to report that she contacted the parents of Child A to inform them of what had happened.
Carrie Spencer stated that she knew nothing about a child getting out of the playground. No staff or parents brought it to their attention.
Lauren Steeler stated that she was outside on the playground with Child A's class but knew nothing about Child A or any children getting out of the playground. No staff or parents brought it to her attention.
Aundrea Lawler stated that she was out on the playground with Child A's class and heard about Child A getting out of the playground from Sophie, but she did not see it happen. She did not notify the managers or the parents once she became aware of the situation.
Sophie Cochrane stated that she was out on the playground with 2 other staff members. They were in ratio, so she went in to use the restroom. When she returned from the restroom, she saw Child A on the outside of the fence. She went over to him and lifted him back onto the playground. Child A then attempted to go back over the fence and climbed the stone portion of the gazebo to get over. She sat with him for the rest of the time while they were outside. She did not notify the management team or the parents but did tell her coworker, Aundrea.
On May 29, 2025, Compliance Inspector (CI) Christy Hughes observed the area where Child A was able to climb the stone footer of the gazebo and get out of the playground. The fence was over 42 inches high and there were no gaps over 3 and a half inches wide, however, the stone footer joining the fence and column of the gazebo together, staggered the stones causing some stones to stick out to become steps that a child could use to climb over, out of the playground, and onto the sidewalk. It is unknown how long Child A was out of the fenced playground area unsupervised.
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