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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197417644
Report Date: 09/29/2025
Date Signed: 09/29/2025 12:55:11 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
08/04/2025 and conducted by Evaluator Tatiana Bickham
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 58-CC-20250804144228
FACILITY NAME:BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THEFACILITY NUMBER:
197417644
ADMINISTRATOR:IPALAWATTEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:7475 FALLBROOK AVENUETELEPHONE:
(818) 992-5341
CITY:WEST HILLSSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
91307
CAPACITY:108CENSUS: 25DATE:
09/29/2025
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:20 AM
MET WITH:SUNETHRA IPALAWATTETIME COMPLETED:
01:10 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff did not keep facility free of vermin.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Tatiana Bickham conducted an unannounced site visit on 09/29/2025 at 10:20 AM to this facility to deliver findings on the above-mentioned allegations. Upon arrival, LPA met with Director/Licensee Sunethra Ipalawatte and explained the purpose of the visit. There were 25 children being supervised by 3 staff at the time of the visit.

During the course of the investigation, interviews were conducted with the Director, staff, and parents. Copies of the children's and staff rosters were also obtained and reviewed.

Per reporting party, staff did not keep facility free of vermin.

Per interview with the Director, it was stated that a mouse had entered the facility from outside, likely through a rose bush. The Director reported that traps were placed inside the kitchen to catch the mouse,
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Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
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 3
Control Number 58-CC-20250804144228
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: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197417644
VISIT DATE: 09/29/2025
NARRATIVE
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and the mouse was successfully caught. Per Director, the rose bush has been cut and the Church had pest control come and spray the outside and inside of the facility as well as place traps around the facility.

Per interviews with staff, they confirmed that a mouse had been present the previous month. Staff interviewed stated that the Director placed traps at that time, and the mouse was caught. Staff reported that no rodents or mice have been observed since.

Per interviews with parents, no concerns were expressed regarding the above-mentioned allegations.

LPA observed during visit conducted on 8/5/25 7 mouse traps with pepperoni on them located in the kitchen under the stove. No traps were observed in other areas of the facility. LPA did not observe any mice, rodents, droppings, or feces anywhere in the facility. LPA did not observe any rose bushes in front of the facility.

Based on the LPA observations and interview with Director, the preponderance of evidence standard has been met, therefore the above allegation is found to be Substantiated. California Code of Regulations, Title 22 (code) is being cited on the attached LIC 9099D.

Exit interview was conducted with Licensee/Director Sunethra Ipalawatte. Appeals Rights and the Notice of Site visit were provided.

The Notice of Site Visit must remain posted for 30 days during the hours of operation. Failure to maintain posting as required will result in a civil penalty of $100.00.

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SUPERVISORS NAME: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 58-CC-20250804144228
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: BEGINNING MONTESSORI CHILDREN'S HOUSE, THE
FACILITY NUMBER: 197417644
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 09/29/2025
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type B
10/10/2025
Section Cited
CCR
101238(a)(1)
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(a)The child care center shall be clean, safe, sanitary and in good repair at all times...
(1) The licensee shall take measures to keep the center free of flies, other insects, and rodents.
This requirement was not met as evidenced by
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Licensee shall provide proof of receipt for pest control spray conducted in September to LPA by date listed.
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Director and staff statements stating the facility had a rodent. This poses an potential health and safety risk to children 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: Raul Navarro
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Tatiana Bickham
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 09/29/2025
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3