A Step Above Early Learning, LLC

1240-04-01-.03 Requirements for Licensure as a Child Care Agency

Change report not completed. — Visit: Complaint Investigation,Safety Plan Monitoring,Safety Plan Served,Technical Assistance — Action taken: N/A

1240-04-01-.15 Program Language and Literacy Development

Inappriopriate discipline used at the agency. — Visit: QRIS Monitoring visit,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Educator will completed TDHS required trainings in the topics of Handle With Care/Behavior Mangament with Child Care Resource and Referral, and Rules Review Training on rules section 1240-04-01-.15 Program, Language, and Literacy Development with TDHS Pre-Licensure Unit. Child care agency is offering additional breaks for staff to help with stress management, and monitoring cameras footage more. Child Care Licensing Consultant dicussed readdressing agency policies, such as adding additional policies regarding behavior management, as well as following through when staff do not follow agency policies.

1240-04-01-.10 Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect

Agency delayed reporting suspected child abuse to the DCS. — Visit: Incident or Injury Investigation,Safety Plan Served,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Agency stated they plan to report immediately moving forward. Child Care Licensing reviewed the required reporting timelines for suspected child abuse, which is immediately. Licensing rules in 1240-04-01-.10 Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect were reviewed with the director. Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) will be conducting a training with the entire agency on Mandated Reporting.

1240-04-01-.09 Incident Reporting

Agency did not report an incident on same day of occurence. — Visit: Incident or Injury Investigation,Safety Plan Served,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Agency stated they plan to report immediately moving forward. Child Care Licensing reviewed the required reporting timeslines for incidents, which are the same day of the incident occuring. Licensing rules in 1240-04-01-.09 INCIDENT REPORTING. were reviewed with the director.

1240-04-01-.15 Program Language and Literacy Development

Inappropriate discipline occured at the agency. — Visit: Incident or Injury Investigation,Safety Plan Served,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Action taken by the agency was: held an emergency employee meeting to go over our policies, informed parent, reported it to DHS and DCS, supplied documentation and video of incident, and requested training. To prevent the violation from happening again, agency will watch the cameras more often, and get trainings on child abuse and correct discipline. Child Care Licensing reviewed licensing rules regarding Behavior Management and Guidance, and reviewed training procedures for staff.

1240-04-01-.12 Health and Safety

Agency allowed a child to return to the center less than 2 days after having a fever at the center, as their policy states. — Visit: QRIS Monitoring visit,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Agency has put guidelines in place on who is to inform the parents and how they are to inform them. Setting up better communication. Set new guidelines and following them. Making sure parent is informed on pick up and not let the child stay if parents bring in the next day. Sending parents updated handbooks through Brightwheel. Agency has changed sick policy to: If your child has a fever of 100.4 or above, is coughing, has a snotty nose, is vomiting or has diarrhea please keep your child at home. If your child is sent home, with a fever 100.4 or above, diarrhea, throwing up, or any other concerning issue, they will not be able to come the next day and must be symptom free for 24 hours before returning. In some cases, we may require a doctor's note to return. When called you have 1 hour to have your child picked up. This is to give you ample time to coordinate pick up and lower contact with the other children and employees in case your child is contagious.

1240-04-01-.11 Supervision

One (1) infant seven (7) months old observed asleep in floor for one (1) minute. Safe sleep procedures were not followed as required. — Visit: QRIS Monitoring visit,Safety Plan Monitoring,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: DHS Child Care Licensing is requiring educators involved to be supervised while working with infants until Safe Sleep Training has been completed with Child Care Resource and Referral. Agency removed Educator Ward from working in the infant room and ent over the rules and regulation for safe sleep with all teachers. Office personal will be visiting rooms more. Agency will seek out more trainings for the infant room teachers on safe sleep. Owner, director, and assistant director will be visiting the rooms every thirty minutes to observe the teachers. Have advised teachers if they need help at any time to let someone in the office know and they will come help.

1240-04-01-.11 Supervision

One child walked away from the classroom while waiting at the bathrooms and was unsupervised for 47 seconds. — Visit: Complaint Investigation,Safety Plan Served,Technical Assistance — Action taken: Admin rules were went over with the teacher. Teacher completed one on one training with Child Care Resource & Referral. Agency is revising how bathroom breaks are done, including more help for bathroom breaks.

1240-04-01-.11 Supervision

One (1) infant was observed sleeping in a bouncer instead of in an approved crib as required. — Visit: Safety Plan Monitoring,Technical Assistance — Action taken: The child was immediately moved from the bouncer. Admin informed the teachers that they have to remove the infants out of the bouncier as soon as the child goes to sleep. Admin are going over rules with the teachers and making sure they understand the rules. Admin will be watching the monitors more and entering the room more throughout the day for observation.

1240-04-01-.09 Incident Reporting

Agency failed to report a serious incident involving a child to DHS Child Care Licensing as required. — Visit: Follow-up visit,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: TDHS Licensing is conducting a High Risk Training with entire agency. Child Care Resource and Referral will be doing on-going coaching with all staff. More trainings on what needs to be reported and going over it monthly at the monthly meetings. Active supervision trainings.

1240-04-01-.10 Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect

Agency did not report Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect to Department of Children's Services (DCS). — Visit: Follow-up visit,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: TDHS Licensing is conducting a High Risk Training with entire agency. Licensing reviewed what needs to be reported to the parents/guardians. Child Care Resource and Referral will be doing on-going coaching with all staff. More trainings on what needs to be reported and going over it monthly at the monthly meetings. Active supervision trainings.

1240-04-01-.09 Incident Reporting

Agency did not report an incident where an infant was dropped to the parents/guardians of the child. — Visit: Follow-up visit,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: DHS Child Care Licensing required a training in all High Risk Licensure Areas. Educator was placed on Safety Plan that required supervision; then terminated by agency. Agency is going over reporting at every meeting. Office staff visiting rooms and watching cameras more.

1240-04-01-.10 Duty to Report Child Abuse and Neglect

Educator did not report suspeced child abuse to Department of Children's Services as required. — Visit: Follow-up visit,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: TDHS Licensing is conducting a High Risk Training with entire agency. Child Care Resource and Referral will be doing on-going coaching with all staff. TDHS Licensing will review Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse during high risk training. The director and owner are going over recognizing and reporting child abuse, training on knowing how to report Child Abuse and recognizing the signs of child abuse.

1240-04-01-.11 Supervision

An educator fell asleep while caring for children and did not provide appropriate supervision as required for their protection. — Visit: Follow-up visit,Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: TDHS Licensing is conducting a High Risk Training with entire agency. Child Care Resource and Referral will be doing on-going coaching with all staff regaurding active supervision. Agency is reviecing trainings for all staff on active supervision and safety. Check in to classroom at least every hour. Watch cameras more throughout the day.

1240-04-01-.11 Supervision

On November 27, 2024 Child Care Licensing staff observed video footage from Monday, November 25, 2027 and confirmed that an educator was asleep while caring for four children, failing to provide them with appropriate supervision as required. — Visit: Complaint Investigation,Technical Assistance — Action taken: The educator was terminated, and remaining educators have been reminded of their duties. We will have trainings on active supervision, more visits to the classroom and watching cameras more. Guide the educators in their daily duties and actions.