HAPPYLAND DAY SCHOOL

09. (09-02)

2.8(A-B), and (F)(1-9), Handbook: The child care facility shall adopt a discipline policy consistent with Section 402.305(12), F.S., including standards that prohibit children from being subjected to discipline which is severe, humiliating, frightening, or associated with food, rest, or toileting. Spanking or any other form of physical punishment is prohibited. The child care facility operators, employees, and volunteers must comply with written disciplinary and expulsion policies. The following discipline techniques shall be prohibited in the child care facility: the use of corporal punishment/including, but not limited to: hitting, spanking, shaking, slapping, twisting, pulling, squeezing, or biting; demanding excessive physical exercise, excessive rest, or strenuous or bizarre postures; compelling a child to eat or have in his/her mouth soap, food, spices, or foreign substances; exposing a child to extremes temperature; rough or harsh handling of children, including but not limited to: lifting or jerking by one or both arms; pushing; forcing or restricting movement; lifting or moving by grasping clothing; covering a childs head; isolating a child in an adjacent room, hallway, closet, darkened area, play area, or any other area where the child cannot be seen or supervised; binding, tying or restrict movement, or taping the mouth; using or withholding food or beverages as a punishment; toilet learning/training methods that punish, demean, or humiliate a child; any form of emotional abuse, including rejecting, terrorizing, extended ignoring, isolating, or corrupting a child; any abuse or maltreatment of a child; abusive, profane, or sarcastic language or verbal abuse, threats, or derogatory remarks in front of the child or about the child or childs family; placing a child in a crib/portable crib for a time-out or for disciplinary reasons. A method of discipline was used that was inappropriate in that [see below]. Comments: Complaint alleges that a child in the classroom was being bad, and Ms. V.C. took her belt off of her pants and told the child that she was going to hit him with it. Then she took a chair, threw it in the middle of the room and then strapped the child to the chair with her belt. The child was crying. FINDINGS: A complaint inspection was conducted on 5/15/2026 and statements from the teacher, assistant teacher and assistant director was received. Per the teacher, On Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, at around noon the class had lunch in the classroom. The teacher had a class of ten, two- year-olds sitting at the table. L.B. was very restless and would not sit still in his chair. He kept getting up and tipped over lunchboxes, nearly falling. Since Happyland Day School is not equipped with highchairs or bucket seats for two-year-old classes, the teacher took it upon herself and used her belt as a safety buckle. L.B. sat still and finished his lunch in 3 - 4 minutes. The teacher stated that there was never any harm intended, nor did she abuse or neglect L.B. in any way. L.B. was not injured at all. She stated that her action was only to help a two-year-old sit still and be able to eat lunch, by improvising a highchair. Per the assistant teacher, she has observed the teacher use her belt to help children remain safely seated on their chairs. She believes that no harm was done to the children and that some people appreciate her assistance in helping the children stay calm and regulated. Per the assistant director, the teacher informed DCF and law enforcement that she only intended to create a high chair by using her belt to keep the child seated. The assistant director stated that the teacher (V.C.) is on leave pending the investigation. Cameras were observed in the hallway and entry point of the school but no cameras were observed in the classrooms. This complaint is deemed partly substantiated. Although the statements regarding the reasons for using a personal belt are different than the alleged complaint, the action itself goes against our minimum discipline standards that prohibit tying or restricting movement of a child. FACILITY/STORAGE 10. General Facility Requirements Group: Sec. 7-35, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored 11. Toxins/Hazardous Materials Group: Sec. 7-42, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored 12. Facility Storage Group: Sec. 7-35, Ordinance Not Monitored 13. Inside Temperature/Ventilation Group: Sec. 7-35, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored 14. Drinking Fountains/Water Coolers Group: Sec. 7-35, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored 15. Phone/Emergency Numbers Posted Group: Sec. 7-35, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored INDOOR/OUTDOOR SPACE 16. Useable Indoor Play Space Group: Secs. 7-37 and 7-48, Ordinance and DCF Handbook Not Monitored Source: FL DCF CARES inspection 2026-05-14. View official inspection document (report dbc8517d-cc1e-4b56-9075-2535fd96aa34)

01. (01-08)

5.1(I)(1), Handbook: An individual may be hired if all components are complete with an eligible screening and documented in the employees file. The personnel record for the individual indicated the person had been arrested for and are awaiting final disposition of, have been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to any offense noted in Section 435.04, Florida Statute, which disqualifies the person from employment and the owner/operator failed to take appropriate action. Comments: The personnel record for the individual indicated the person had been arrested for and are awaiting final disposition of, have been found guilty of, regardless of adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to any offense noted in Section 435.04, Florida Statute, which disqualifies the person from employment and the owner/operator failed to take appropriate action. A notice of violation will be issued. (See supplemental page) Source: FL DCF CARES inspection 2025-10-17. View official inspection document (report 7b0f0e56-675e-427b-bfb9-9a6f07bd2ec7)

03. Personnel Training Group: Sec. 7-30, Ordinance and DCF Handbook (03-01)

4.1, Handbook: Child care personnel including volunteers who work 10 hours or more per month must begin training within 90 days of employment in the child care industry. The facility did not have documentation to show child care personnel had begun the introductory training within 90 days of employment in the child care industry. Comments: The facility did not have documentation to show child care personnel had begun the introductory training within 90 days of employment in the child care industry. Child care personnel completed 45 hr training on 6/14/25 bringing the violation into compliance. Due: Completed at time of inspection Source: FL DCF CARES inspection 2025-10-17. View official inspection document (report 7b0f0e56-675e-427b-bfb9-9a6f07bd2ec7)

06. (06-02)

7.4(A), Handbook: Records must be maintained and kept current on all child care personnel. These records shall be on-site, available for review by the licensing authority and must include a complete employment application. Child care personnel did not have an employment application on file. Comments: At the time of inspection, the child care personnel did not have a complete employment application/file for [6] staff personnel. See supplemental sheet for additional information. RATIOS/DISCIPLINE Compliance Comments The following ratios were observed: 2-3's 1:5, 1:9 4-6's 1:6 07. Ratios of Personnel to Children Group: Sec. 7-33, Ordinance, DCF Handbook, and Sec. 402.305(4), Florida Statutes Compliance Source: FL DCF CARES inspection 2025-06-13. View official inspection document (report 091f0f0c-5420-49ac-9902-8bb72978d0e9)

50. Daily Attendance Group: DCF Handbook (50-02)

Sec. 7-44(f), Ordinance: The childs arrival and departure must be recorded by child care personnel at the time the child enters and departs the child care facility. The attendance sheet/class roster must accompany the child care personnel and the group of children throughout the day should they leave the classroom. In order to account for childrens whereabouts, children who are reassigned to different classrooms throughout the day should be signed in and/or out of the rosters for those respective classrooms each time. The facility failed to maintain an accurate attendance roster for the children in care. Comments: The facility failed to maintain an accurate attendance roster for the children in care. Counselor Comments FOR GOLD SEAL PROVIDERS: Be advised that if this inspection includes the issuance of a Class I violation, the issuance of three or more Class II violations, andor issuance of a third Class III for a repeated violation within a two (2) year period, the violation may affect the status of your Gold Seal designation pursuant to s. 1002.945, Florida Statutes. ____________________________________________ Inspected by: Tiffany Ward Date: 06/13/2025 ____________________________________________ Received by: Susan Kennedy / Emily Owen Date: 06/13/2025 Source: FL DCF CARES inspection 2025-06-13. View official inspection document (report 091f0f0c-5420-49ac-9902-8bb72978d0e9)