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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197492864
Report Date: 10/10/2025
Date Signed: 10/10/2025 10:44:18 AM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
10/07/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Tatiana Bickham
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20251007084613
FACILITY NAME:BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE INC, THEFACILITY NUMBER:
197492864
ADMINISTRATOR:IPALAWATTE, SUNETHRAFACILITY TYPE:
830
ADDRESS:7475 FALLBROOKE AVETELEPHONE:
(818) 992-5341
CITY:WEST HILLSSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91307
CAPACITY:10CENSUS: 3DATE:
10/10/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
08:30 AM
MET WITH:Sunethra IpalawatteTIME COMPLETED:
11:05 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Licensee allowed unqualified staff to care for infants.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tatiana Bickham conducted an unannounced complaint inspection on 10/10/2025 at 8:30 AM. LPA met with Lead Teacher Nielendra Kuruppu to discuss the above allegation. At 9:20 AM Director/ Licensee Sunethra Ipalawatte arrived at the facility. At the time of arrival LPA observed 3 children in care with 1 staff.

During today's inspection LPA Bickham toured the facility, interviewed the Director and collected the children's and staff roster.

Per Reporting Party, Licensee allowed unqualified staff to care for infants.

Per interview with the Director, she stated that there are qualified staff assigned to care for the infants. According to the Director, there are two part-time infant teachers, and one volunteer.
Page 1.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 3
Control Number 58-CC-20251007084613
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE INC, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197492864
VISIT DATE: 10/10/2025
NARRATIVE
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Upon arrival, LPA observed one staff member (S1) caring for three infants. When asked if the staff present was qualified, the Director confirmed that S1 was not. The Director explained that S1 typically assists a qualified teacher and is not usually left alone with the infants. Per Director she had to step out and asked S1 to assist temporarily.

The Director reported that she is present in the infant room from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM, at which time the first qualified staff member (S2) arrives. S2 works from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, S3 works from 1:00 PM to 5:30 PM, and S1 works from 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The Director also stated that the last infant leaves at 5:00 PM.

LPA informed the Director that infants must not be left in the care with unqualified staff or volunteers under any circumstances. At approximately 9:20 AM, LPA observed staff member S2 in the infant room with the children. Upon reviewing S2’s personnel file, LPA confirmed that S2 is fully qualified to care for infants.

Based on the LPA observations and interview with Director, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 (code) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

Exit interview was conducted with Licensee/Director Sunethra Ipalawatte. Appeals Rights and the Notice of Site visit were provided.

The Notice of Site Visit must remain posted for 30 days during the hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting as required will result in a civil penalty of $100.00.

Page 2.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 58-CC-20251007084613
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE INC, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197492864
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/10/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
10/10/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101416.2(b)
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Prior to employment, an infant care teacher shall have completed, with passing grades, at least three postsecondary semesters or equivalent quarter units in early childhood education or child development, and three postsecondary semester or equivalent quarter units related to the care of infants,
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At 9:20 am LPA a fully qualified infant teacher in the classroom placing the facility back into compliance.
Director will write a declaration stating unqualified staff will not be left with infants.
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at an accredited or approved college or university.
This requirement was not met as evidenced by LPA observation, interview and record review that the staff present does not have any units. This poses an potential health and safety risk to children in care.
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Failure to correct the cited deficiency(ies), on or before the Plan of Correction (POC) due date, may result in a civil penalty assessment.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/10/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3