The Goddard School Ballantyne

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection on file is from March 25, 2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/4/2026

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #7, one electrical outlet was not protected by a safety cover.

Violation corrected during visit

Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In space #4, authorization for one child's diaper cream did not time to be applied listed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/8/2026

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In space #5, there was an aerosol can of shaving cream stored in a unlocked cabinet. There was also a container of glitter and a container of wiggle eyes that read "not for children under three years of age.

Violation corrected during visit

When children 3 years and older were in care, screen time was not used to stimulate a developmental domain; was not limited to 30 minutes a day and no more than a total of two and a half hours per week, per child; and/or was not documented on a cumulative log or the activity plan that is available for review. Screen time was not documented on a log or activity plan in the Transitional Kindergarten classroom.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/7/2025

Screen time was offered to children under three years of age. In space #5, the children two years of age were observed participating in screen time.

Violation corrected during visit

A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Two water hoses were connected to portable sprinkles outside of three of the classrooms causing potential tripping hazards.

Violation corrected during visit

The EMC plan did not name the person responsible, and at least one alternate, for choosing and carrying out the plan of action to obtain appropriate medical care. The EMC plan had not been updated to reflect the correct name of persons responsible for choosing and carrying out the plan of action for medical care.

Violation corrected during visit

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In the classroom for the children two years of age (space #5), there were two containers of glitter located in a cabinet. A warning on the containers stated not for children under three years of age.

Violation corrected during visit

The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The EPR plan had not been updated since 2023.

Violation corrected during visit

All children were not held or placed in feeding chairs or other appropriate apparatus to be fed. In space #1, an infant was observed laying on the carpet drinking a bottle.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2024

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One new staff member's TB test wasn't signed by a doctor or healthcare professional.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2024

Refrigerator(s) did not maintain a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below. The thermometer in the refrigerator in Space 2 and two thermometers in the kitchen refrigerators were not functioning accurately, and could not determine the temperature of the refrigerators.

Violation corrected during visit

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. While in Space 3 I observed the pretend stove in the dramatic play area with a knob removed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/22/2024

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. While in Space 9, I observed an essential oil mister on in the classroom.

Violation corrected during visit

Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision. In Space 3, I observed two foam blocks on a low shelf accessible to the one and two year old's in care.

Violation corrected during visit

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. One staff has not updated her health questionnaire since February 2023.

Violation corrected during visit

Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff's emergency information had not been updated since February 2023.

Violation corrected during visit

Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. One staff hired 4/25/22 received her last annual review on 3/24/23.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/22/2024

Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. A staff member spoke to children in an unkind manner, such as statements including, "Get out of my face" and "I don't want you in my life."

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/6/2024

Children were disciplined by leaving them alone in a room separated from staff. On multiple occasions, a staff member placed three-year-old children in a restroom with the lights off as a form of discipline and, at times, prevented the children from exiting by blocking the door with her foot for unknown periods of time.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/6/2024

There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. Pursuant to its investigation, the Division of Child Development and Early Education substantiated child maltreatment.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 11/18/2024

A child was yelled at, shamed, humiliated, frightened, threatened or bullied. On multiple occasions, a staff member used a harsh, raised voice tone across a classroom to direct children's behaviors. At other times, the staff member implied children would be sent to a younger classroom if they did not act as desired. On one occasion, the staff member told three-year-old children, "Babies poop in their pants" after the child had a toileting accident. In addition, the staff member threatened children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/6/2024

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Space 9 did not have a current activity plan posted.

Violation corrected during visit

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. One outlet was observed in Space 7 and one outlet in Space 8 were observed uncovered.

Violation corrected during visit

Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. Two children's emergency medication did not have current written permission to administer. One Epi Pen permission was last provided 2/2023 and one Auvi Q permission was last provided 1/2023.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. While in Space 1 four infants were observed in their cribs resting or starting to fall asleep, the visual safe sleep documentation had not been completed for these infants stating what time they were placed in the crib, position and by whom.

Violation corrected during visit

Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. One staff hired 11-1-23 does not have a medical report on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One staff hired on 11-1-23 does not have TB screening or results on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Four staff employed more than 6 weeks do not have the orientation documentation completed and signed proving they received 16 hours of required orientation on the topic areas within the first 6 weeks of employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Two staff did not have proof of completing recognizing and responding to suspicions of maltreatment and have been employed more 90 days.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Three staff do not have proof of completing the required health and safety trainings within their first year of employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. Four staff did not have proof of completing health and safety trainings within 5 years of last completion.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/22/2023

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. An incident log was not maintained. The last incident entered on an incident log was on 05/22/2019.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/29/2023