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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197415644
Report Date: 10/28/2025
Date Signed: 10/28/2025 12:26:20 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 NORTH, 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
10/02/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Angela Luz
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20251002165956
FACILITY NAME:GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.FACILITY NUMBER:
197415644
ADMINISTRATOR:BELTRAN, MARTINAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:12052 EMELITA ST.TELEPHONE:
(818) 763-5859
CITY:VALLEY VILLAGESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91607
CAPACITY:64CENSUS: 20DATE:
10/28/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:30 AM
MET WITH:Jeanne BurleyTIME COMPLETED:
11:30 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff force children to eat.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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At 10:30AM on 10/28/25, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Angela Luz arrived to the facility and met with Facility Representative (FR) Jeanne Burley to conduct an unannounced visit to deliver complaint findings. LPA toured the facility and observed 20 preschool children with four teachers. Per Licensee Svetlana (Lana) Costache's request, LPA called them for exit interview and report review. FR signed the report as the facility representative.

Throughout the investigation, LPA obtained the facility roster, personnel report, employee handbook, and parent handbook. LPA conducted interviews with staff, parents, and children. LPA reviewed personnel files and made observations.

Reporting Party (RP) alleged staff force children to eat their lunch.
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 1 of 7
Control Number 58-CC-20251002165956
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.
FACILITY NUMBER: 197415644
VISIT DATE: 10/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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Based on staff interviews, lunch period at the facility typically starts at 11:30AM and ends 12:00PM-12:15PM depending on when the children are finished eating. Staff 3 (S3) reports language used includes telling children that the food was made with love and asking the children why don't they trust them, meaning the person who made it. Adult 1 (A1) and S3 stated if a child is not eating, S4 will have them sit with them instead of with their peers so they can focus on eating. S3 stated S4 tells children that if they do not take a bite, they will sit with them the entire time. A1 stated S4 uses a harsh tone when reminding children to eat their main dish. Sometimes S4 puts the main dish in front of the child and takes away the side dishes until they eat the main dish. S4 stated no children are forced fed food, meaning forcing food into children's mouths. Sometimes younger children need help to eat.

During observation of lunch time, LPA observed S4 continuously reminding children to take a bite of their food, to sit down, and to eat. Around 12:05PM, LPA observed children in care to be talking amongst themselves when S4 walked over to a child and spoke to them in a loud, stern tone. The group of children stopped talking. S4 told the child to put their container in a certain area, asked the child "why" they were doing something, and spoke to them about sitting down nicely, having personal space, and having nice hands. When S4 was done talking with the child, they looked around and commented "Wow you guys get so quiet when I talk."

Based on LPAs observations and interviews which were conducted and record reviews, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be SUBSTANTIATED. California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 12, Chapter 1, is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 7
Control Number 58-CC-20251002165956
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.
FACILITY NUMBER: 197415644
VISIT DATE: 10/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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LPA Angela Luz informed FR and Licensee that this report dated 10/28/25 documents one Type A citation which shall be posted for 30 consecutive days as there is an immediate risk to the health, safety, or personal rights of children in care. LPA informed the licensee to provide a copy of this licensing report that documents this Type A citation 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.

Notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Appeal rights provided.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Licensee Svetlana (Lana) Costache via telephone and is signed by Facility Representative Jeanne Burley.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 7
Control Number 58-CC-20251002165956
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245

FACILITY NAME: GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.
FACILITY NUMBER: 197415644
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/28/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
10/29/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(3)
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(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:(3) To be free from...intimidation...or other actions of a punitive nature including but not limited to: interference with... eating...
This requirement was not met as evidenced by:
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By plan of correction due date 10/29/25, Licensee will submit staff declarations about what was learned after watching the video on personal rights found at https://ccld.childcarevideos.org/child-care-center-operators/childrens-personal-rights-in-child-care/
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Based on interviews and observation, staff interferes with children's eating by using intimidation and other actions of a punitive nature. The licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
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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.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 4 of 7
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 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
10/02/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Angela Luz
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20251002165956

FACILITY NAME:GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.FACILITY NUMBER:
197415644
ADMINISTRATOR:BELTRAN, MARTINAFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:12052 EMELITA ST.TELEPHONE:
(818) 763-5859
CITY:VALLEY VILLAGESTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91607
CAPACITY:32CENSUS: 20DATE:
10/28/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:30 AM
MET WITH:Jeanne BurleyTIME COMPLETED:
11:30 AM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff inappropriately mishandled daycare child.
Staff yell at daycare children.
Staff discards daycare children's meals.
Staff are not meeting daycare children's toileting needs.
Daycare children are left unattended.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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At 8:30AM on 10/28/25, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Angela Luz arrived to the facility and met with Facility Representative (FR) Jeanne Burley to conduct an unannounced visit to deliver complaint findings. LPA toured the facility and observed 20 preschool children with four teachers. Per Licensee Svetlana (Lana) Costache's request, LPA called them for exit interview and report review. FR signed the report as the facility representative.

Throughout the investigation, LPA obtained the facility roster, personnel report, employee handbook, parent handbook, and a sample toileting log. LPA conducted interviews with staff, parents, and children. LPA reviewed personnel files and made observations.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
This report must be available at Child Care and Group Home facilities for public review for 3 years.
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 5 of 7
Control Number 58-CC-20251002165956
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.
FACILITY NUMBER: 197415644
VISIT DATE: 10/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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Pertaining to the allegation: Staff inappropriately mishandled daycare child.

Reporting Party (RP) alleged staff mishandle daycare children.

Adult 1 (A1) stated during an interview that staff grab children's arms and pull on them. During staff and parent interviews, none of the staff or parents shared knowledge of staff inappropriately mishandling children. Parent interviews revealed families are comfortable with the staff. Children interviewed typically had a good relationship with their main teacher. Child 5 (C5) stated they do not like their main teacher but did not give a specific reason. LPA did not observe any staff mishandling children.

Pertaining to the allegation: Staff yell at daycare children.

RP alleged staff yell/scream at children.

During an interview, A1 stated staff yell/scream in children's faces, saying things like "you need to listen", "you need to sit down", and "I'm going to tell your mommy". Children would cry then then staff would scream even louder. During staff interviews, staff stated they use a stern voice but they do not yell nor have they observed other staff yelling. Staff 5 stated that sometimes staff speak loudly to be heard over the volume of children but the tone is not meant to induce fear. LPA observed loud staff voices to get attention sometimes.

Parent interviews revealed families are comfortable with the staff. Children interviewed typically had a good relationship with their main teacher. Child 5 (C5) stated they do not like their main teacher but did not give a specific reason.

Pertaining to the allegation: Staff discards daycare children's meals.

RP alleged staff take away food from the children.

During interview, Adult 1 (A1) stated when a child is not eating, staff throw the food in the trash. When the staff returns, they remind the child to be quiet and wait for their peers to finish eating. Staff 1-3 stated children throw away any leftovers of school lunch. Unfinished food from home gets sent home in the child's lunch box. During observations, LPA observed children throwing their own school leftovers away. Parent interviews confirmed leftover food from home goes home with the child.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 6 of 7
Control Number 58-CC-20251002165956
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
EL SEGUNDO CC NORTH, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: GREAT BEGINNINGS PRESCHOOL, INC.
FACILITY NUMBER: 197415644
VISIT DATE: 10/28/2025
NARRATIVE
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Pertaining to the allegation: Staff are not meeting daycare children's toileting needs.

RP alleged many children have gone home with soiled underwear.

During staff interviews, all staff stated they remind the children in their class to use the bathroom throughout the day. The obtained sample potty log reflects scheduled times to offer the bathroom, most of them being one hour apart. The longest time a child is not reminded to use the bathroom is 11:45-2:30, which is the typical napping period at the facility. Staff stated that if children need to use the restroom more often, they can. Child interviews revealed that children know to tell staff if they need to use the bathroom. LPA observed children using the bathroom outside of the scheduled times. Parent 1 (P1) stated Staff 2 (S2) told them they do not wipe butts and they are not supposed to. P1 stated their child was sent home with soiled underwear one time. Staff in the younger classroom assist with wiping as children learn to use the toilet by themselves. Staff in the older classrooms do not assist unless asked by the child.

Pertaining to the allegation: Daycare children are left unattended.

RP alleged staff go into the kitchen and leave children in care unattended.

LPA observed the kitchen is directly connected to the three-year-old classroom. Staff 4 (S4) stated when they are in the kitchen, they sometimes talk with S2, who continues to supervise the children in care. Staff 5 (S5) stated they sometimes go into the kitchen and chat when they are not responsible for supervising children.

Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the alleged violation(s) did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is Unsubstantiated.

Notice of site visit was given and must remain posted for 30 days. Appeal rights provided.

Exit interview conducted and report was reviewed with Licensee Svetlana (Lana) Costache via telephone and is signed by Facility Representative Jeanne Burley.

SUPERVISORS NAME: Betty Bell
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Angela Luz
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/28/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 7 of 7