334845456-4-17-2024-10-CC-PBER-D4PR2L-20240426123830

Community Care Licensing

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 334845456
Report Date: 04/17/2024
Date Signed: 04/17/2024 02:12:11 PM

Unsubstantiated

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/26/2024 and conducted by Evaluator William M Chancellor Jr.

PUBLIC

COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20240226144427

FACILITY NAME:	GROWING TREE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL		FACILITY NUMBER:	334845456
ADMINISTRATOR:	DENG, QI		FACILITY TYPE:	850
ADDRESS:	31935 VIA RIO TEMECULA ROAD		TELEPHONE:	(951) 900-8999
CITY:	TEMECULA	STATE: CA	ZIP CODE:	92592
CAPACITY:	106	CENSUS: 55	DATE:	04/17/2024
		UNANNOUNCED	TIME BEGAN:	02:01 PM
MET WITH:	Julia Fletes, Director		TIME COMPLETED:	02:35 PM

ALLEGATION(S):

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Staff did not prevent daycare child from being bit while in care
Staff did not ensure daycare child had access to drinking water
Facility is operating out of ratio

INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:

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On date and time listed, Licensing Program Analyst’s (LPA’s) William Chancellor and Courtnee Peebles arrived unannounced to Growing Tree Montessori (CCC) and met with Director (DIR) Julia Fletes to deliver the investigative finding’s regarding the allegations listed above. On March 5, 2024, at 1:30PM, LPA’s William Chancellor and Kelli Waters initiated a complaint investigation, collected copies of pertinent evidence, and conducted interviews with three staff. (S1-S3).
On February 26, 2024, Community Care Licensing (CCL) received a complaint alleging that staff did not prevent daycare child from being bit while in care, staff did not ensure daycare child had access to drinking water and facility is operating out of ratio. It was alleged that, due to operating out of ratio, staff had too many children in the classroom and C1 would come home with bite marks. Three of three interviews revealed that C1 often antagonizes other children and engaged in hair pulling, scratching faces, pushing, and hitting without any trigger. LPA also obtained incident reports, confirming that C1’s behaviors are neither provoked nor predictable, where C1 engaged in ten incidents of scratching peers faces over a four-day span. Due to the increase in incidents, the CCC could not accommodate one-on-one care and family was notified of developmental concerns and provided a probationary behavioral plan. On two separate visits, LPA observed children being redirected by teachers to calm down, join in on a walk or engage in more appropriate activities when frustrated or overwhelmed.

Unsubstantiated

Estimated Days of Completion:

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Pauline Beschorner	TELEPHONE: (951) 782-6641
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: William M Chancellor Jr.	TELEPHONE: 951-218-3214
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/17/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/17/2024

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 10-CC-20240226144427

STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501

FACILITY NAME: GROWING TREE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL	FACILITY NUMBER: 334845456
	VISIT DATE: 04/17/2024

NARRATIVE

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Regarding the second allegation, staff did not ensure daycare child had access to drinking water. LPA conducted interviews with staff and observed the operation of C1 classroom. It was alleged that on an unknown date because C1’s cup went missing for a day and was found in a different classroom, C1 must not have consumed any water that day. Three of three interviews confirmed and denied that C1 would have gone without drinking water because the CCC has replacement cups for children to utilize when water bottles are not provided. When children are without a water bottle regardless of reason, they are given a replacement cup with their name to be utilized for the day. LPA also observed children requesting their water bottles from a bin, due to the ages of the classroom, staff use this proactive strategy to prevent children from accessing others for hygienic purposes.

Regarding the third allegation, facility is operating out of ratio. It was alleged that staff are overwhelmed in the classrooms and operating over ratio, so staff aren’t preventing children from biting. During two separate inspections, LPA confirmed the facility is operating within ratio, where classroom three had two staff and less then sixteen children present. With a 1:12 ratio regulation standard, the CCC is operating below regulation requirement with a ratio of 1:6. LPA also reviewed relevant documents and verified classroom three has twenty children enrolled and two fully qualified teachers, the center also employs three aides and support staff to assist due to classrooms ages and development.

Based on conflicting statements, LPA is unable to corroborate the allegations that staff did not prevent daycare child from being bit while in care, staff did not ensure daycare child had access to drinking water and facility is operating out of ratio. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.

An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report along with the appeal rights were provided to DIR Julia Fletes. A notice of site visit was handed to licensee and must remain posted for 30 days.

SUPERVISOR'S NAME: Pauline Beschorner	TELEPHONE: (951) 782-6641
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: William M Chancellor Jr.	TELEPHONE: 951-218-3214
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:	DATE: 04/17/2024

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

FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 04/17/2024

LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)

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