Walnut Creek Academy

The most recent health inspection was not available for review at the time of inspection.

It was determined that a child was not properly cleaned during a diaper change.

It was determined that the permit holder failed to provide notification when the center director left their position.

It was determined that caregivers have been using their cell phones while being in direct care of children.

It was determined that a child sustained an injury while in care that required medical treatment, and the operation failed to report the incident to Child Care Regulation.

The tile flooring is still visibly stained and dirty in one of the classrooms. The foam insulation around the toilet water valve is accessible to a child to ingest.

There were two electrical outlets in the Discovery classroom and one electrical outlet in the Achievers classroom that did not have child proof covers. (Note: This was corrected during the inspection when outlet covers were added).

It was determined that the director failed to ensure that the center?s daily operation is administered in compliance with the minimum standards. The director did not ensure the pre-k class had a written activity plan for several weeks and the caregiver had to run the class without the required plan of activity. The director did not ensure the caregiver had a plan of structured activities for the children. The director also failed to ensure parents were being notified of incidents with their child.

It was determined that the written activity plan was not being followed by the caregiver.

The tile flooring in two of the restrooms (Achievers & Adventurers) were in need of cleaning. The flooring is visibly stained and dirty. In the Adventurer's restroom, the foam insulation around the toilet water valve is accessible to a child to ingest. The caulking around the base of the toilet needs to be replaced as the caulking is cracked and has turned brown. The baseboards also need to be cleaned.

During a DFPS investigation, it was determined that a caregiver did not use good judgement when the caregiver failed to properly account for children. The caregiver did not follow the operations procedures for transitioning children which resulted in the caregiver leaving a child unattended.

During a DFPS investigation, it was determined that the director did not ensure the center?s daily operation is administered in compliance with the minimum standards as the director failed to ensure ratios were being maintained and in compliance as required. The director also failed to ensure that procedures for transitioning children were being followed by operation staff.

Based on a DFPS investigation, it was determined that the caregiver was over ratio. There were 47 children ages 4 - 12 years old with one caregiver.

During a DFPS investigation, it was determined that a child was left unsupervised as a child wandered away from the playground and was found in an empty classroom.

The operation did not have a current health inspection on file. The last health inspection was completed 12/2022.

An emergency evacuation and relocation diagram was not posted in one of the infant classrooms. (Note: This was corrected during the inspection when the diagram was posted.)

During the inspection, washable bibs were observed in the handwashing sink. Bibs are being washed in the hand washing sink.

A list of food allergies was not posted in the Discovery classroom. (Note: This was corrected during the inspection when the director posted the food allergies.)

A caregiver did not wash their hands between diapering.

A caregiver did not wash two children's hands after having their diaper changed.

A caregiver with direct access to children was present at the operation before receiving notice from the Centralized Background Check Unit regarding the person's eligibility status. (Note: The person left the operation during the inspection.)

Three groups were observed out of ratio during the inspection. In the Imagineers classroom, there was one caregiver with 12 children. The SAG group was 2 years. The group was over ratio by 1 child. (Note: A child was moved during the inspection.) In the Discoverers classroom, there was one caregiver with 13 children. The SAG group was 18 - 23 months. The group was over ratio by 4 children. (Note: A member of management came into the classroom during the inspection.) In the Creators classroom, there was one caregiver with 16 children. The SAG group was 3 years. The group was over ratio by 1 child. (Note: A caregiver was placed in the classroom.)

A child's food allergy plan was not signed and dated by the parent.

One caregiver only had 16 of the required 24 clock hours of training available for review at the time of inspection for the previous training year (9/1/21 - 8/31/22).

Seven staff files lacked a notarized affidavit.

The director and two staff members that transport children did not have current transportation safety training on file.

There were two classrooms that did not have the emergency evacuation and relocation diagram posted (2 year old & 3 year old). This was corrected during the inspection when the emergency diagrams were posted in each of the classrooms.

One child did not have a current immunization record on file.

One employee had access to children in care prior to the operation receiving a background check result of eligible, eligible with conditions, or provisionally eligible. The caregiver was observed in the infant room.

A caregiver did not place a child's soiled clothes in a sealed plastic bag to be sent home. The caregiver did not notify the parent that the soiled clothes were in the child's backpack.

A caregiver did not demonstrate good competency by not assisting a child who needed help with soiled clothes after the child did not make it to the restroom on time.

It was determined that a parent was not notified at pick up time, of an injury the child had sustained that day.

Infant feeding instructions were not updated in both infant classrooms.

It was determined through the DFPS investigation that a caregiver physically abused two children in care on two separate occasions.

It was observed on video that a caregiver did not use good judgement, or self control when the caregiver pulled several children by one arm in an aggressive manor and forcefully place children in chairs.

It was determined through a video that children were placed on time out without any activity for more than 15 minutes.

During the course of this investigation it was determined the operation did not report when a child had wax spilt on them or when a child was injured in care which resulted in marks on the child's neck.

It was determined through a video that children were out of control when the children were running around and hitting each other without caregiver intervention.