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Department of
SOCIAL SERVICES

Community Care Licensing


COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT

Facility Number: 334845456
Report Date: 03/05/2024
Date Signed: 03/05/2024 02:04:46 PM

Unsubstantiated


STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
This is an official report of an unannounced visit/investigation of a complaint received in our office on
02/16/2024 and conducted by Evaluator William M Chancellor Jr.
PUBLIC
COMPLAINT CONTROL NUMBER: 10-CC-20240216153614
FACILITY NAME:GROWING TREE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLFACILITY NUMBER:
334845456
ADMINISTRATOR:DENG, QIFACILITY TYPE:
850
ADDRESS:31935 VIA RIO TEMECULA ROADTELEPHONE:
(951) 900-8999
CITY:TEMECULASTATE: CAZIP CODE:
92592
CAPACITY:106CENSUS: 52DATE:
03/05/2024
UNANNOUNCEDTIME BEGAN:
10:40 AM
MET WITH:Julia Fletes, DirectorTIME COMPLETED:
01:00 PM
ALLEGATION(S):
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Due to lack of supervision daycare children engaged in physical altercations while in care

Staff did not prevent daycare child from being harmed by other daycare children

Staff did not provide a safe and comfortable environment for daycare children

Staff did not meet daycare child’s hygiene needs
INVESTIGATION FINDINGS:
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On March 5, 2024, Licensing Program Analyst’s (LPA’s) William Chancellor and Kelli Waters arrived unannounced to Growing Tree Montessori (CCC) and met with Director (DIR) Julia Fletes to deliver the investigative finding’s regarding the allegations listed above. On February 22, 2024, at 2PM, LPA Chancellor initiated a complaint investigation, collected copies of pertinent evidence, and conducted interviews with six staff. (S1-S6) During a tour of the facility to conduct census, it was observed that staff were out of ratio with children awake during nap. This deficiency will be cited on a separate case management visit.

On February 16, 2024, Community Care Licensing (CCL) received a complaint alleging that due to lack of supervision daycare children engaged in physical altercations while in care, staff did not prevent daycare child from being harmed by other daycare children, staff did not provide a safe and comfortable environment for daycare children and staff did not meet daycare child’s hygiene needs.
Unsubstantiated
Estimated Days of Completion:
SUPERVISORS NAME: Pauline Beschorner
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: William M Chancellor Jr.
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/05/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/05/2024
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 2
Control Number 10-CC-20240216153614
STATE OF CALIFORNIA - HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY

COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION REPORT (Cont)		CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
COMMUNITY CARE LICENSING DIVISION
RIVERSIDE SE CC RO, 3737 MAIN STREET, STE 700
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501
FACILITY NAME: GROWING TREE MONTESSORI PRESCHOOL
FACILITY NUMBER: 334845456
VISIT DATE: 03/05/2024
NARRATIVE
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 It was reported that due to lack of supervision children would engage in physical altercations and staff would not intervene or separate children. Four of four interviews with staff who interacted with C1, could not recall specific instances where C1 was involved in hair pulling. While children who are 2–3-year-old sometimes engage in hair pulling when frustrated due to lack of language development, LPA observed staff to separate children or redirect them to a more engaging activity to avoid physical altercation.

Regarding the allegation, staff did not provide a safe and comfortable environment for daycare children. It was stated that C1 could not nap at school due to the classroom being too loud on numerous occasions. During a tour of the classroom, LPA observed staff redirecting children to remain quiet on their cots while calming music was played and the window shades were pulled down to darken the classroom. Regarding the final allegation, staff did not meet daycare child’s hygiene needs. It was disclosed that CCC staff must not have aided children with basic hygiene needs because C1 would come home with snack or lunch still on the child’s face or hands and C1 would come home in soiled pants. LPA observed staff to be conducting diaper changes when children awoke from nap and changes of clothes to be in children’s individual cubbies. LPA also observed, children to be instructed to wash hands after snack. Additionally, four of four interviews with staff from classroom 4, could not remember an instance where C1 went home with food on their face or soiled clothing as it is standard practice to assist the children in cleaning up after snacks and meals.
Based on conflicting statements, LPA is unable to corroborate the allegations that due to lack of supervision daycare children engaged in physical altercations while in care, staff did not prevent daycare child from being harmed by other daycare children, staff did not provide a safe and comfortable environment for daycare children and staff did not meet daycare child’s hygiene needs. Although the allegations may have happened or are valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove the allegations did or did not occur, therefore the allegations are unsubstantiated.
An exit interview was conducted and a copy of this report along with the appeal rights were provided to DIR Julia Fletes. A notice of site visit was handed to licensee and must remain posted for 30 days.
SUPERVISORS NAME: Pauline Beschorner
LICENSING EVALUATOR NAME: William M Chancellor Jr.
LICENSING EVALUATOR SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/05/2024
I acknowledge receipt of this form and understand my licensing appeal rights as explained and received.
FACILITY REPRESENTATIVE SIGNATURE:

DATE: 03/05/2024
LIC9099 (FAS) - (06/04)
Page: 2 of 2