198020818-2-13-2023-33-CC-BVON-CPVPXN-20230313114235

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 198020818
Report Date: 02/13/2023
Date Signed: 02/13/2023 01:09:12 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
12/12/2022 and conducted by Evaluator Lilli Babcock

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 33-CC-20221212122348

FACILITY NAME:	GATEWAY MONTESSORI & PRESCHOOL LLC		FACILITY NUMBER:	198020818
ADMINISTRATOR:	KARALLIYADDE, PUBUDU		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	14121 COTEAU DR.		TELEPHONE:	(562) 331-4221
CITY:	WHITTIER	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	90604
CAPACITY:	22	CENSUS: 14	DATE:	02/13/2023
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	09:15 AM
MET WITH:	Hewa De Silva		TIME COMPLETED:	01:30 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Facility does not provide a safe environment for day care children.

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Lilli Babcock conducted an unannounced complaint inspection to investigate and deliver findings for the above allegations. A COVID risk assessment was conducted upon entry and appropriate PPE was used. LPA met with facility co-owner Hewa De Silva, to whom the reason for
the visit was explained. Co-owner guided LPA on a tour of the facility. LPA observed fourteen (14) children and three (3) staff present at the facility during this inspection.

During this investigation LPA conducted interviews with both owners, four (4) staff, and three (3) day care parents, and attempted to interview five (5) additional parents. LPA Babcock also obtained several documents related to the complaint allegation, including but not limited to, a copy of the Facility Roster (LIC 9040), Personnel Report (LIC 500), staff sign in/out sheets from 12/1/22 – 12/14/22, Weekly Supply List form, and copies of incident reports from the file of Child #1.
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Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISORS NAME: Brandi VanOosten
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/13/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/13/2023

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 33-CC-20221212122348

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 1000 CORPORATE CNTR DR. 200-B
MONTEREY PARK, CA 91754

FACILITY NAME: GATEWAY MONTESSORI & PRESCHOOL LLC	FACILITY NUMBER: 198020818
	VISIT DATE: 02/13/2023

NARRATIVE

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Allegation #3: Facility does not provide a safe environment for daycare children

Complaint alleges the facility has no plan of action when dealing with aggressive or violent children. Staff #2, #3 and #4 stated there have been no issues with children being aggressive. The licensee, Pubudu Karalliyadde stated if there is a pattern of a child that is hurting other children, “we would have to terminate eventually, but we try to work with the children and the parents”. LPA observed the file for Child #1 (C1) contained an incident reports of C1 “punching a child in the stomach” on 10/26/22 and the file for Child #2 (C2) contained an incident report dated 11/2/22 of C2 “hit two children with closed fist". Co-Owner Hewa De Silva stated C1 and C2 have not had any incidents harming other children since the incidents and none were observed in the file of C1 or C2 by LPA. Hewa De Silva stated staff have been watching C1 and C2 very closely. Hewa De Silva stated the parents of C1 and C2 were notified of the hitting/punching incidents the day they occurred, and the facility is working with parents to improve the behavior of C1 and C2. Hewa De Silva stated there is no written documentation of the discussions with parents of C1 and C2, but going forward if there is a child with a pattern of hitting or hurting other children; all parent meetings and discussions regarding a child’s behavior will be documented, a behavior plan will be implemented and signed by the parent, and the behavior plan and meeting notes will be kept in the child’s file. Parents interviewed stated they are happy with the care being provided to their children and do not have any concerns regarding the facility.

Based on the information gathered and interviews conducted, at this time the above allegation is unsubstantiated, meaning although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur.

There were no deficiencies cited on the above-mentioned allegations per California Code of Regulations Title 22.

A notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days.
Failure to comply with posting requirements shall result in an immediate civil penalty of $100.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Licensee, Pubudu Karalliyadde.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Brandi VanOosten
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Lilli Babcock
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 02/13/2023

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 02/13/2023

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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