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A preschool teacher's assistant at VINCI School Alexandria North in Virginia was fired after being caught on surveillance footage tying a 21-month-old child to a chair with a blanket. The incident occurred on August 13 during lunchtime in the junior toddler classroom. According to the Virginia Department of Social Services (DSS), the assistant restrained the child for 22 minutes after the toddler threw food and moved from the table. The assistant claimed the blanket was not tied tightly around the child.
The school's administration reported the incident to the state licensing office and child protective services. The DSS conducted an unannounced inspection on August 21 and confirmed the violation of the school's zero-tolerance policy against inappropriate conduct. The assistant was terminated immediately, and a teacher present during the incident received a formal write-up for failing to intervene and report the behavior.
VINCI School's Founding Principal, Dr. Dan Yan, emphasized the importance of adhering to regulations, stating, "We are a very firm believer that the regulations and rules must be followed regardless of our feelings." The school has since required all staff to complete additional training on recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect, as well as reviewing behavior management policies.
The Alexandria Police Department reviewed the incident and determined it to be a policy violation without criminal intent. As a result, no criminal charges were filed, and there is no active investigation.