Cadence Academy Ballantyne

Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On September 25, 2026, a child four (4) years of age was left unsupervised inside for approximately twenty minutes while two teachers took the group of children outside.

Violation corrected during visit

All children were not held or placed in feeding chairs or other appropriate apparatus to be fed. In space #1, there was an infant in a bouncy seat with a bottle.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 8/11/2026

Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. In space #1, there were six children less than twelve months of age with one staff member for approximately five minutes.

Violation corrected during visit

The activity plan was not designed to stimulate emotional and social, health and physical, approaches to play and learning, language development and communication, and cognitive development for each group of children in care. The activity plans for each classroom did not include goals from Foundations for Early Learning and Development. T

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

Each child's bed, cot, or 2" mat was not individually assigned and identified. In space #2, one cot was not individually labeled for a child.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. Spaces #6, #7 and #10 had several areas of the wall that paints was peeling.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child did not have an immunization record on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The EPR plan had not been updated to reflect the current name and contact information for the facility's Child Care Consultants name and Child Care Health Consultant.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last approved fire inspection on file is dated July 12, 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025

A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #1, one child's authorization form to administer diaper cream was not signed by the parent. Two children had diaper cream authorization forms for diaper cream however, the instructions to administer was for sunscreen.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2025

Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One infant was placed in a crib for napping however, documentation had not been completed with information regarding date, time and position of infant.

Violation corrected during visit

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. In spaces #5, #6, #7 and #8, there was chipping paint on the walls throughout the classrooms. In space #8, the baseboard near the direct exit had several places that the paint was peeling.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/14/2025

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In space #3, diapers creams were located in an unlocked bottom cabinet of the changing table.

Violation corrected during visit

Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use. In space #4, there were three cots spaced 12" apart, two cots 10" apart and two cots 14" apart. In space #6, two cots were touching and two cots 12" apart.

Violation corrected during visit

Toys and other mouth-contact surfaces were not cleaned and sanitized daily when used or cleaned more frequently if visibly dirty. I observed serval toys with dust and dirt build up in space 5 and 6.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. In Space 5 I observed puzzles pieces stored in a container; the photo of the puzzle was not present to help guide children as they put the puzzle together. Battery operated interactive toys did not work properly, batteries were either missing or dead in Space 5 and Space 6.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024

Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The fencing between outdoor play areas, which is four feet is a chain linked fence that is not flush at the top and is considered a protrusion. I also observed areas where the fencing is unraveling leaving sharp edges and protruding into the play areas.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/9/2024

Parent participation plan did not include a procedure for parents who need information or who have complaints about the program. The current family handbook does not provide procedures on when parents need information or have a complaint about the program listed as part of their parent participation plan.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff hired 7/17/23 does not have proof of completing the required trainings. One staff hired 8/18/22 but left a few months, had until 10/18/23 to complete them and did not complete the trainings until 8/14/24.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/30/2024

A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Staff failed to provided a safe environment when two staff members engaged in a physical altercation in the presence of two year old children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/2/2024

Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. Staff did not provide a nurturing environment when two staff members engaged in a verbal and physical altercation in the presence of two year old children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/2/2024

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean and in good repair. In several classroom spaces I observed the walls chipped with drywall exposed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/18/2024

All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Four (4) staff's First Aid certification expired in February 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/18/2024

All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Four staff's CPR certification expired in February 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/18/2024

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. Three (3) staff do not have proof of completing all required topic areas of the health and safety training requirement within the first year of hire.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/18/2024

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. Four (4) staff do not have proof of completing all health and safety topics within the last 5 years of completion. Most did not complete the required training in Medication in Child Care and Recognizing and Response to Suspicions of Maltreatment training.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/18/2024