197494904-4-29-2026-30-CC-MNEL-DWLRAE-20260803125102

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197494904
Report Date: 04/29/2026
Date Signed: 04/29/2026 01:48:38 PM

Substantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 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
04/24/2026 and conducted by Evaluator Devon Carus

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 30-CC-20260424171612

FACILITY NAME:	SEASIDE RANCHOS PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	197494904
ADMINISTRATOR:	MELANIE HEPNER		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	4565 SHARYNNE LANE		TELEPHONE:	(310) 487-0474
CITY:	TORRANCE	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90505
CAPACITY:	46	CENSUS: 33	DATE:	04/29/2026
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:00 AM
MET WITH:	Melanie Hepner, Director		TIME COMPLETED:	01:55 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff left daycare child unattended.

Staff did not notify responsible party of incident.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On 4/29/2026, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Devon Carus conducted a complaint initial visit/ delivery of findings regarding the above-mentioned allegations. LPA met with Melanie Hepner, Director and toured the facility indoors and outdoors. LPA Carus conducted an interview with the Director, and 1 additional staff member. At this time, 33 enrolled children were observed being supervised by 4 staff members.

During the investigation, LPA Carus observed/ collected additional information to show that the center director self reported what is being alleged here as an unusual incident to CDSS on 4/23/2026 prior to this complaint being filed.

Information revealed that one enrolled child was left on the playground area of the pre school unsupervised on 4/22/2026 during pick up time. Additionally, all parties interviewed by LPA Carus corroborated that this incident did take place on 4/22/2026 at pick up. This poses an immediate health, safety, or care and supervision risk to persons in care.

Substantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Devon Carus
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/29/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/29/2026

This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 30-CC-20260424171612

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: SEASIDE RANCHOS PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 197494904
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:	VISIT DATE: 04/29/2026

Deficiency Type POC Due Date / Section Number	DEFICIENCIES		PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A 04/30/2026 Section Cited CCR 101229(a)(1)	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	101229 Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children's needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, except as specified in Sections 101216.2(e)(1) and 101230(c)(1). Supervision shall include visual observation.	1 2 3 4 5 6 7	LPA was informed that the school has implemented a plan of action to not allow the parents/ guardians to enter the playground, and will hand the sign out sheet to the parents over the fence and will release each child individually to their parent/ guardian as soon as they have signed the sign out sheet and returned it to the center staff. Additionally, center staff will be recording a count of the children present when a group of children are transitioning to any new area of the school grounds.
	8 9 10 11 12 13 14	This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on interviews and pertinent statements, an enrolled daycare child was left on the playground on 4/22/2026 at approximately 3pm without supervision by a staff member. Director, center staff, and licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.	8 9 10 11 12 13 14
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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.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Devon Carus
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/29/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/29/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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Control Number 30-CC-20260424171612

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC RO, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: SEASIDE RANCHOS PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 197494904
	VISIT DATE: 04/29/2026

NARRATIVE

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LPA Carus was informed prior to their visit that the school has already instituted a policy/plan of action to prevent an incident of this nature in the future.

Additionally, information revealed that the center director reported this incident to CDSS within the timeframe required, and was advised to report all incidents that occur to the parent or representative of the child or children affected as soon as they have a full understanding of the entirety of the incident that took place, and preferably on the date that they occur if possible.

Based on the evidence & information obtained during the investigation, which included interviews with relevant parties, & relevant documentation the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegations are found to be substantiated.

1 Type-A Violation will be cited today.

LPA Carus informed director, Melanie Hepner that this report dated 4/29/2026 documents 1 Type-A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is/was an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care.

Also, LPA Carus informed the director to provide a copy of this licensing report dated 4/29/2026 that documents any Type-A citation(s) to parents/guardians of all children currently enrolled by the next business day or the next day the children are in care, and to any newly enrolled parents/guardians for 12 months from the date of this report. A signed Acknowledgement of Receipt of Licensing Report (LIC 9224), or other written statement, must be placed in the child's file for verification.

Exit interview was conducted and a copy of the report was provided. Appeal rights were reviewed and provided.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Devon Carus
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/29/2026

I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/29/2026

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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