Waxhaw · Licensed center
Spanish For Fun! Waxhaw
- Large Creative Curriculum center, licensed for 199 children.
- Run by a for-profit business, which holds the license.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 5 of its 6 licensing inspections since August 2025.
Of the 81 Charlotte-area centers with 6 licensing inspections, 15% had rules cited at 5 of them, as this center did. 11% had rules cited at all 6, 10% at none.
Licensing inspections
Jun 16, 202614 citations
“Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. There were no monthly playground inspections on site to review.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
“Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One (1) child did not have a medical exam or health assessment on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
“Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Upon arrival, a staff member opened a door to check who I was, and a child left the room as the teacher was shutting the door to allow me entrance. The child was in my sight and I did attempt to alert the teacher but she was to far away to hear me. The child was in a fenced area and this was for about thirty (30) seconds.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 6/16/2026
“Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. Staff files for S.B and L.M. did not reflected training completed in the time frame required.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
10 more from this inspection
“Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In space #6 (six) there is a hole in the wall, by the restroom and an electrical outlet that is being held to the wall with masking tape.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
“On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. Staf member's D.O, and K.C. files did not reflect completed TB testing or screenings.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
“All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. Staff members D.O, S.B, and K.C. did not have a completed health questionnaire on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
“Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. Staff D.O. and K.C's file did not reflect completed Emergency Information forms on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
“New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Staff members S.B, and L.M's file did not reflect the required training hours.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
“One staff member had not completed training in playground safety. After the initial license date, one on-site staff member has not completed playground safety training.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/22/2026
“Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years. Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. Staff member L.M's file did not reflect ITS/SIDS training completed within 90 days of employment.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
“Children's records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child. One child dod not have an application for enrollment on file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
“Application for enrollment did not include all required information. One (1) child's emrollment application did not include all required information.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
“The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Staff member S.B. did not have verification of completion in the file.”
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
Feb 13, 20261 citation
“A violation was found for which there is no item number. 15A NCAC 18A .2815 WATER SUPPLY (e) Hot water used for cleaning and sanitizing utensils and laundry shall be provided at a minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit at the point of use. Water in areas accessible to children shall be tempered between 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot water that exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit is a burn hazard and shall not be provided in areas accessible to children. For handwash lavatories used exclusively by school-age children, the requirement to provide water tempered between 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees Fahrenheit shall not apply. In the event of the loss of hot water at the child care center, the operator shall immediately notify the local health department that serves the county in which the child care center is located. The hot water temperature that launders bedding was not within the appropriate range for sanitation, and dishwashing temperatures was not within in the appropriate range for sanitation and cleaning. Water sources accessible to children was lower than the approved ranges. Handwashing water temperature for infant, toddler and preschool aged children was under the approved range approved by Sanitation requirements. The local agency was not contacted immediately when the heating source for the water stopped working.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/4/2026
Dec 3, 20252 citations
“Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. In space #6 the previous day's attendance was not maintained.”
Violation corrected during visit
“The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One new staff member hired 11/18/25 did not have a signed document acknowledging receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy.”
Violation corrected during visit
Oct 16, 20255 citations
“Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff. A new staff hired on 9/22/25 did not have an application on file during today's visit.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. One new staff member hired on 9/22/205 completed a medical report on 9/29/2025.”
Violation corrected during visit
“On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One new staff hired on 8/17/2025 did not complete the TB test prior to her hire date. The TB test is dated 8/25/2025.”
Violation corrected during visit
“Four of the five activity area(s): art/creative play, children’s books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play was not available daily. In space #4, dramatic play and library/area and manipulatives and #6 did not have materials for d blocks, and library area.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/30/2025
1 more from this inspection
“All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. The new staff member hired on 9/22/25 did not have a completed health questionnaire on file during today's visit.”
Violation corrected during visit
Aug 5, 20258 citations
“Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. Menus were not current and dated for July 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled over 30 days (from previous owner) did not have a completed medical exam or health assessment on file during today's visit”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. During today's visit, I did not observe any classrooms postage of the Staff/Child Ratio sheets.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“A current schedule was not posted for each group of children for reference. All classrooms did not have a posted schedule for easy reference during today's visit.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
4 more from this inspection
“A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. A current lesson plan was not made available for space #2 and space #8 during the walk-through of today's visit.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room were parents and caregivers are able to view daily.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Orientation was not documented or made available for review during today's visit for several staff members.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
“Individual applications were not on file for each child. One enrolled child did not have a completed application on file during today's visit.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- July 6, 2026
- On file
- 6 visits since August 2025 — 1 cited nothing, 1 of those unannounced
- Fixed?
- All 30 record a correction, in the licensor’s own words.
- Most serious
- North Carolina DCDEE does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
North Carolina DCDEE describes every citation in the licensor’s own words and records the correction in that same text — the only one of the six states that publishes whether a violation was fixed. It attaches no rule number and no report document.
Jun 2026 Unannounced visit 14 findings
Unannounced visit · June 16, 2026
Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. There were no monthly playground inspections on site to review.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One (1) child did not have a medical exam or health assessment on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
Children were not adequately supervised at all times. Upon arrival, a staff member opened a door to check who I was, and a child left the room as the teacher was shutting the door to allow me entrance. The child was in my sight and I did attempt to alert the teacher but she was to far away to hear me. The child was in a fenced area and this was for about thirty (30) seconds.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 6/16/2026
Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. Staff files for S.B and L.M. did not reflected training completed in the time frame required.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. In space #6 (six) there is a hole in the wall, by the restroom and an electrical outlet that is being held to the wall with masking tape.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. Staf member's D.O, and K.C. files did not reflect completed TB testing or screenings.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. Staff members D.O, S.B, and K.C. did not have a completed health questionnaire on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. Staff D.O. and K.C's file did not reflect completed Emergency Information forms on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Staff members S.B, and L.M's file did not reflect the required training hours.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
One staff member had not completed training in playground safety. After the initial license date, one on-site staff member has not completed playground safety training.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/22/2026
Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years. Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. Staff member L.M's file did not reflect ITS/SIDS training completed within 90 days of employment.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/23/2026
Children's records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child. One child dod not have an application for enrollment on file.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
Application for enrollment did not include all required information. One (1) child's emrollment application did not include all required information.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/24/2026
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Staff member S.B. did not have verification of completion in the file.
Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 7/6/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 90000555 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Feb 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · February 13, 2026
A violation was found for which there is no item number. 15A NCAC 18A .2815 WATER SUPPLY (e) Hot water used for cleaning and sanitizing utensils and laundry shall be provided at a minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit at the point of use. Water in areas accessible to children shall be tempered between 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot water that exceeds 120 degrees Fahrenheit is a burn hazard and shall not be provided in areas accessible to children. For handwash lavatories used exclusively by school-age children, the requirement to provide water tempered between 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 110 degrees Fahrenheit shall not apply. In the event of the loss of hot water at the child care center, the operator shall immediately notify the local health department that serves the county in which the child care center is located. The hot water temperature that launders bedding was not within the appropriate range for sanitation, and dishwashing temperatures was not within in the appropriate range for sanitation and cleaning. Water sources accessible to children was lower than the approved ranges. Handwashing water temperature for infant, toddler and preschool aged children was under the approved range approved by Sanitation requirements. The local agency was not contacted immediately when the heating source for the water stopped working.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/4/2026
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 90000555 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Dec 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · December 3, 2025
Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance. In space #6 the previous day's attendance was not maintained.
Violation corrected during visit
The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One new staff member hired 11/18/25 did not have a signed document acknowledging receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 90000555 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Oct 2025 Unannounced visit 5 findings
Unannounced visit · October 16, 2025
Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff. A new staff hired on 9/22/25 did not have an application on file during today's visit.
Violation corrected during visit
Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. One new staff member hired on 9/22/205 completed a medical report on 9/29/2025.
Violation corrected during visit
On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One new staff hired on 8/17/2025 did not complete the TB test prior to her hire date. The TB test is dated 8/25/2025.
Violation corrected during visit
Four of the five activity area(s): art/creative play, children’s books, blocks/block building, manipulatives, family living/dramatic play was not available daily. In space #4, dramatic play and library/area and manipulatives and #6 did not have materials for d blocks, and library area.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/30/2025
All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement. The new staff member hired on 9/22/25 did not have a completed health questionnaire on file during today's visit.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 90000555 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2025 Unannounced visit 8 findings
Unannounced visit · August 5, 2025
Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. Menus were not current and dated for July 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled over 30 days (from previous owner) did not have a completed medical exam or health assessment on file during today's visit
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
Staff/child ratios applicable to a classroom, were not posted in each classroom. During today's visit, I did not observe any classrooms postage of the Staff/Child Ratio sheets.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
A current schedule was not posted for each group of children for reference. All classrooms did not have a posted schedule for easy reference during today's visit.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. A current lesson plan was not made available for space #2 and space #8 during the walk-through of today's visit.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room were parents and caregivers are able to view daily.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Orientation was not documented or made available for review during today's visit for several staff members.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
Individual applications were not on file for each child. One enrolled child did not have a completed application on file during today's visit.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/18/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 90000555 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
Openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, and sick and biting policies aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Creative Curriculum, play-based and bilingual
“This has been developed around a play-based philosophy as well as paying close attention to each child's social emotional state”
Who cares for your child
Gabriela Lowry (President/ Founder) since 2000, Cristina Marin (HR Generalist) eighteen years there, Karina Martinez (CEO) since 2011, Carol Marin (Executive Director) since 2011 and Carla Lozano (Office Manager) since 2019.
Of 745 Charlotte-area providers, 30 publish how long a named staff member has been there; the longest tenure at each of those has a median of 22 years.
A day here
- Updates for parents
- Face-to-face at drop-off/pick-up, conferences, newsletters, and real-time updates via a daily app
Details
- Website
- spanishforfun.com
- Address
- 9917 Rea Road
- License
- 90000555, active
- Quality program
- Five Star License
Run Spanish For Fun! Waxhaw? Correct or add anything here, free.
Add what is missingSources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked July 2026 spanishforfun.com/about-us
- Approach — Checked July 2026 spanishforfun.com/programs-curriculum
Who cares for your child
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Updates for parents — Checked July 2026 spanishforfun.com
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program — Checked July 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 90000555 under License Number, and open the result.
- Website — Checked July 2026 spanishforfun.com
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 90000555 under License Number, open the result and expand Owner Information: the licensee is listed as Primary Owner.
Large means the biggest quarter of Charlotte-area’s 591 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 163 to 528 children. Small is 11 to 50; medium is 51 to 162.