La Petite Academy Mill Creek

“The referrer alleges that an infant was fed inadequately while under the care and supervision of Center staff.”

The state’s description of the complaint

Individual care plan

WAC 110-300-0300(1)(a) · Short Term

The Director did not know that she is to notify the Department when a child enrolls with special needs or is diagnosed.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(b) · Short Term

The door chime was off on the door to the Pre-K room and the door was not audible when opened. A provider stated that they turn it off because a child in care routinely tries to open and shut the door.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

The child with a severe, life threatening allergy does not have a Individual Care Plan in place.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

Providers M.H. does not have a current food worker card and was preparing lunch in the kitchen today. Providers D.J.S. and J.L. do not have food workers cards and served children food today.

Emergency preparation and exiting

WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a) · Serious

A toddler knob was in place on the toddler room classroom doorknob. This door was labeled as a fire exit. It was removed prior to my departure.

Safe food practices

WAC 110-300-0197(4) · Short Term

This licensor oberved seven plastic bins with food stored within them that were unlabeled and undated. This licensor observed what was clearly pasta in one bin labelled "graham crackers" and dated 10.2023. Several items in freezer were not labeled or dated and not in original packaging. Most food in refrigerator that were cooked or prepared yesterday, according to the provider who was cooking today, were not labeled or dated. There were 20 bottles/jars of spices in a cupboard. I checked the nine that I observed open. Eight had expiration dates from 2023 or further back. One had an expiration date of 09.01.2025. The provider cooking lunch today shared that she would not think to check expiration dates on the spices and would have used them if she had needed to if this licensor had not observed that they were expired. She said that she would serve any of the food in the unlabled containers and packaging, except the ones dated 10.2023, as she would have assumed that the cook, who has been on vacation for a month, would not have unexpired food in the kitchen.

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

The Director acknowledges that she does not have a process to keep immunization records current on an annual basis. The three files she reviewed, that she pulled randomly, did not have current immunization records.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious

One of the storage room closets in the Pre-K room was not latched or locked. This licensor observed grass seed mixed with fertilizer stored on a low shelf accessible to children. It was made inaccessible to the children immediately. The staff lounge/storage area is accessible from the Pre-K classroom. It has a half door that was not latched. In this space this licensor observed paint, hand sanitizer, and ice melt stored at child level on low shelves. The laundry/janitorial closet was not locked. In fact, the key was directly in the doorknob itself. The closet is accessible from the Pre-school classrooms. This room contained cleaning supplies, wet mop heads, vacuums, and dirty laundry at child level. It also contained an open washing machine.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

A drill was accessible to children on a children's table that was being stored in the staff lounge/storage area.

Emergency preparedness plan

WAC 110-300-0470(4)(a) · Short Term

Montly fire/evacuation drillls have not been recorded for October and November 2025.

“Referrer alleges a provider physically restrained a child.”

The state’s description of the complaint

Physical restraint

WAC 110-300-0335(2) · Serious

When interviewed, the provider alleged to restrain the child acknowledged she had done so. An additional interview with the Director led to knowledge that the provider had restrained the child a second time. Both the provider and Director acknowledged that there were not serious safety concerns at the time of the restraints.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(d) · Serious

When interviewed by this licensor, the providers acknowledged that they were not sitting or standing near to the infant during the duration of his tummy time on the date and time alleged by the referrer.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(b) · Short Term

At the time of my inspection, this licensor observed that the door between the Preschool 1 classroom and lobby/foyer did not chime, alarm or sound when opened. It was turned off. When interviewed, a provider acknowledged that the door alarm was not on at the time and date of the incident. The providers denied that the child was in the foyer/lobby for five minutes. They report that it was "no more than a minute".

Program and activities

WAC 110-300-0150(2) · Short Term

There is an insufficient quantity and variety of learning materials in the Pre-school classroom.

Emergency preparation and exiting

WAC 110-300-0166(3)(c) · Serious

Exit door in infant room was blocked by vinyl sitting cushions. Upon this licensor identifying the violation, the cushions were removed immediately.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(2)(a)(b) · Serious

Sanitizing spray was accessible to children at diaper changing areas in toddler, two's, and pre-school 2 classrooms. Upon identification of this as a violation, they were made inaccessible immediately. Shaving cream was accessible to children on a window sill in the Pre-school 2 classroom. It was removed immediately, upon identification of this as a violation. The fan or ventilation system in the janitor's closet did not appear to be functional. The room was warm and muggy and no sounds of a fan could be heard. S. rooms in the Pre-K room were accessible to children.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(b) · Short Term

Door chimes were not on and active in the twos and Pre-K rooms.

Staff records

WAC 110-300-0115(2) · Long Term

First date of employment was missing from four of five staff files reviewed.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

Individual Care Plans used by the company do not have an area/space in which to identify foods that can substitute for allergenic foods.

First-aid—CPR certification and supplies

WAC 110-300-0230(1) · Short Term

One of five staff files reviewed show that the staff person's First Aid and CPR expired in July 2024.

Providing for personal, professional, and health needs of staff

WAC 110-300-0120(2) · Serious

The Director was unable to locate two person's verification of MMR.

Outdoor early learning program space

WAC 110-300-0145(8) · Short Term

There is a hole in the fence between the toddler and preschool playground that is larger than three and one half inches. There are exposed roots in the toddler playground which are tripping hazards. There is an exposed root on the former school age playground. There is a hole in the school age playground which looks as if it is due to the presence of a gopher, mole or snake.

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) · Serious

There was not nine inches of loose play chips within six feet of slides, climbing walls and steps from climbers on toddler and pre-school playgrounds.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(5)(g) · Serious

There are several dangling cords accessible to children in the Pre-K classroom. A water pump is plugged into an outlet directly next to the sink in the Toddlers room.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(8) / 110-300-0106(12) · Short Term / Serious

Two staff persons do not have current Safe Sleep training. They were not working in the infant room. The Director could not locate one staff person's food handler's permit.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(3) · Short Term

When interviewed by this licensor, providers acknowledge that a four year old child was left unsupervised in the Center for 12 - 20 minutes.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

One child's Individual Care Plan does not identify foods that can subsitute for allergenic foods.

General staff qualifications

WAC 110-300-0100(2) · Long Term

Two persons who have been employed for longer than three months do not have verification of completion of Child Care Basics.

Providing for personal, professional, and health needs of staff

WAC 110-300-0120(2) · Serious

One provider does not have verification of MMR vaccination in her file and has been employed since April of 2023.

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) / 110-300-0215(3)(c) · Serious

Medication authorization forms do not accompany diaper creams and ointments in toddler and infant classrooms. Epi pen in a "Grab n Go" backpack was stored on a hook at child level/accessible in the Preschool 2 classroom. It was made inaccessible to children prior to my departure.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious

Plastic bags and gloves were observed to be accessible to children in Two's classroom at diaper changing station/table. These were removed upon this licensor's request.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) / 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

Clleaner and sanitizing spray were accessible to children on the diaper changing table in the Toddlers classroom. This was removed immediately upon the licensor's request. A toilet plunger was stored directly next to the toilet, and accessible to children in one of the Preschool 2 bathrooms. A toilet brush was also stored directly next to the toilet in one of the Preschool 2 bathrooms. These were removed immediately upon the licensor's request.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(1) / 110-300-0106(12) / 110-300-0106(3) / 110-300-0106(4) / 110-300-0106(8) · Long Term / Serious / Short Term

One provider's food handler's permit could not be verified and she engages in serving children food. Two provider do not have verification of Child Care Basics and have been employed longer than three months. One provider does not have verification of any training requirements and has been employed since April 2023. Five providers do not have verification of current Safe Sleep training.

Fire safety

WAC 110-300-0170(2) · Short Term

Provider was unable to verify if annual fire inspection has occurred or been requested.

Emergency preparedness plan

WAC 110-300-0470(1) / 110-300-0470(2) · Short Term

The Emergency Plan does not address what would happen if parents could not pick up their children for three days with regards to a three day supply of food, water and medication for children and staff. She does not have a three day supply of food and water. The plan does not describe HOW parents will be contacted after emergencies end. It does say that parents will be contacted. The plan does not list all items that are to be taken when evacuation occurs. There were multiple emergency plans on site and it is possible that the Center has a plan that meets requirements and that could not be verified today.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(3) · Short Term

Two children seated at a table waiting for lunch in the Preschool 2 classroom at a table were arguing. One child hit his peer with a toy. A provider intervened and appeared to tell the child to not hit his peer. She then turned her back to return to sanitizing a table for lunch. The child then hit his peer repeatedly with the toy. The other child exclaimed in surprise. She did not appear to notice, or was ignoring this, although she was less than 7 feet away. Acting Director B.E., who was accompanying this licensor, then asked her to have the children sit separately.