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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 197419681
Report Date: 10/12/2021
Date Signed: 10/12/2021 12:42:35 PM

Substantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 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
07/30/2021 and conducted by Evaluator Miriam Cohen
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 30-CC-20210730095708
FACILITY NAME:PALOS VERDES MONTESSORI ACADEMYFACILITY NUMBER:
197419681
ADMINISTRATOR:OFELIA WATANABEFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:28451 INDIAN PEAK ROADTELEPHONE:
(310) 541-2405
CITY:RANCHOS PALOS VERDESSTATE: CAZIP CODE:
90274
CAPACITY:98CENSUS: 63DATE:
10/12/2021
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
11:00 AM
MET WITH:Ofelia Watanabe, Preschool DirectorTIME COMPLETED:
01:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Staff yelled at day care child.
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On 08/02/2021 @ 12:00 PM, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) Miriam Cohen conducted an unannounced complaint visit and met with Fathima Nazarkhan, designated personnel. During the visit, LPA interviewed children and staff members and obtained required documentation. However, further detail supportive information were required to conclude the investigation. On 10/12/2021 at 11:00 AM, LPA Miriam Cohen conducted an unannounced visit and met and informed preschool director, Ofelia Watanabe, of the reason for the visit: Delivery of report finding against the alleged complaint. After conducting four staff members and four children interviews, the following conclusion has been reached: Facts revealed that there is a preponderance of the evidence to support that facility staff practices pose a risk to daycare children while in care:
1. Interviews – verbal statement and written declarative of admission from adults were expressed concerning a staff member yelling at a daycare child
2. Interviews – verbal statement of admission from children were expressed concerning staff members yelling at daycare children
Substantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Miriam Cohen
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
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 30-CC-20210730095708
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
CCLD Regional Office, 300 CONTINENTAL BLVD. STE 290A
EL SEGUNDO, CA 90245
FACILITY NAME: PALOS VERDES MONTESSORI ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197419681
VISIT DATE: 10/12/2021
NARRATIVE
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Therefore, the following conclusion has been reached concerning the above allegation: Substantiated
SUBSTANTIATED- A finding that a complaint is substantiated means that the allegation is valid because the preponderance of the evidence standard has been met.

An exit interview and a copy of this report was provided to preschool director, Ofelia Watanabe. The investigation regarding staff yelled at a day care child has been completed. It has been determined that the facility is in violation of children’s Personal Rights. The facility shall be cited a Type A deficiency according to California Code of Regulations Title 22 (See LIC 9099D report for deficiency). Licensee is to post notice of Site Visit for 30 Days, failure to do so will result in $100 immediate civil penalty.

This report must be copied and given to all parents and to the parents of any child enrolling within the next 12 months. An exit interview and a copy of this report along with Appeal Rights were explained and provided to Ofelia Watanabe, preschool director.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Miriam Cohen
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 3
Control Number 30-CC-20210730095708
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

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

FACILITY NAME: PALOS VERDES MONTESSORI ACADEMY
FACILITY NUMBER: 197419681
DEFICIENCY INFORMATION FOR THIS PAGE:
VISIT DATE: 10/12/2021
Deficiency Type
POC Due Date /
Section Number
DEFICIENCIES
PLAN OF CORRECTIONS(POCs)
Type A
10/29/2021
Section Cited
CCR
101223(a)(3)
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Personal Rights
(a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights:
(3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation, intimidation, ridicule, coercion, threat, mental abuse or other actions of a punitive
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1. Director agrees to provide staff development courses with specific topic related to appropriate children disciplinary action when dealing with challenging behaviors or children with disabilities or other special needs.
2. Director agrees to conduct a research about the above courses/topics and email
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nature including but not limited to…
The requirement is not met as evidenced of admission concerning staff members yelling at children in care. Verbal and written declarative statements were provided by staff members while spoken affirmation were expressed by children during the interviews. This poses an immediate risk to the health and safety of the children in care.
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to LPA Cohen for approval.
3. Director agrees to provide LPA, via email on/or before 10/29/2021, the actual date conducting the staff development classes.
4. Director agrees to provide LPA Cohen the agenda for staff development courses and staff attendance with signatures.

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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: Maureen Neal
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: Miriam Cohen
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 10/12/2021
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 3 of 3