The Growing Years

Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. On September 28, 2026, the director was alone with seventeen (17) pre-K aged children, sixteen (16) four year-olds, and one (1) five (5) year-old in space 10, a classroom for Meck. Pre-K; The fourteenth (14th) child arrived at 8:35 a.m., and space 10 was out of ratio from 8:35 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

Violation corrected during visit

Outdoor play area did not provide an area that is shaded. No shade available for the four (4) year-old outdoor play area.

Violation pending provider response

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. Mulch needed the outdoor play areas; four (4) year-old play area and the two (2) to three (3) year-old play area.

Violation pending provider response

The written feeding plan did not include the child's name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center. A child's infant feeding plan did not include the parent's signature and date.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/26/2026

Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches. An opening in the fencing was greater than three (3) and a half inches in the outdoor play area for four (4) year-old children.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/3/2026

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. An outlet cover was not covered in space 3, and an outlet was uncovered in the hallway.

Violation corrected during visit

A violation was found for which there is no item number. Pests shall be excluded from the child care center. Traps set for pests shall only be placed in areas that are inaccessible to children (NCAC 15A NCAC 18A .2831(b). There were gnats observed during the visit, and staff stated that they have experienced gnats in the center.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 11/7/2025

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. The gate latch to the two (2) year-old outdoor play area was broken.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/25/2025

Children's records were not made available for review. A child is space 1 record was not available for review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/25/2025

Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An Incident Report that was completed on September 11, 2025, did not include all the required information in rule; the report did not include the child's last name, the report was not signed by the person completing it; did not include Medical Treatment Received: First Aid Onsite (ice pack provided).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/25/2025

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. No medical report on file for staff (B.H.).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/13/2025

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three (3) months; were practiced October 28, 2024, February 25, 2025, and March 4, 2025; a drill should have been practiced January 2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/13/2025

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 Fire Inspection Report was not submitted within one (1) week of the inspection.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/13/2025

Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. The parent did not sign and date the Permission to Administer Medication form for (W.T.).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/13/2025

Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services. A medical action plan was not completed after a doctor's note was provided, regarding a medical condition requiring specialized health services.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 5/16/2025

Center administrators and staff did not use the information provided in the application to ensure that each individual child's needs are met. The center received a medical note on April 2, 2025, due to a child's pollen allergy, and needing to restrict outdoor play time. An email was sent to teachers by the director that the request could not be accommodated because outdoor play was required. The child did have outdoor play on April 3, 2025, which was a medium-high pollen count day.

Violation corrected during visit

Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. The Incident Report did not include the time that the parent was notified of the incident.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 3/27/2025

Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches. The outdoor play area gate that has an entrance to the parking area (front gate near the pond) was not less than 3 1/2 inches.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/15/2024

Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. A child in space 8 emergency medication expired.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 9/19/2024

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. There was not adequate surfacing under outdoor play equipment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/15/2024

Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. A child in space 8 Permission to Administer Medication form expired April 10, 2024, and one (1) child did not have a Permission to Administer Medication form; a child in space 9 permission to administer medication expired March 10, 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/2/2024

A violation was found for which there is no item number. here was a small frog in an aquarium in the child care space. The frog was removed out of the child care area. Refer to Sanitation Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2831 ANIMAL AND VERMIN CONTROL Turtles, iguanas, frogs, salamanders, and other reptiles or amphibians are not allowed to be kept as pets on the premises.

Violation corrected during visit

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. Prior to working with children, the center did not verify if a CBC was completed for an occupational therapist (C.U.)

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/2/2024

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. An occupational therapist (C.U.) did not have a CBC letter on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 5/2/2024

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. An incident log for March 2024 was not completed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 4/3/2024

Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served. The apple sauce that was substituted for oranges was not recorded on the menu.

Violation corrected during visit

Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. Arrival times were not documented for 10/24/23 in Space 7.

Violation corrected during visit

All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. A bottle of pesticide was stored on a shelf above five feet in the unlocked closet used to store car seats. The door was opened today.

Violation corrected during visit

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

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 fire inspection was completed 9/14/22 and had not been completed as of the visit today.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/23/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

For children under three years of age, materials were not offered in sufficient quantity to allow all children to use them at some time during the day and to allow for a range of choices. In Spaces 3,4, and 5 for toddlers, materials were not available for children to use. Materials were stored in closets and cabinets.

Violation corrected during visit

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Lavatories were not kept clean, in good repair and kept free of storage. Classroom materials were stored in the bathroom in Space 3 and cots were observed stored in Space 10.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One (1) child, Z.W., has an incomplete permission form for Benadryl. The permission form did not indicate the dosage and when the child should take the medication. One (1) child, Z.G, did not have a permission form for Benadryl that was listed on the Medical Action Plan (MAP).

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services. A child, Z.W., with a food allergy did not have a completed medical action plan (MAP) completed.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. Mulch underneath the climbing structure on the preschool playground measured less than six (6) inches.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. One (1) child, P.D., did not have a signed Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

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. Safe sleep checks were not completed in Space 2.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. A Speech Therapist from the company SpeechTactics was observed working independently with a child in the resource room did not have a CBC completed prior to employment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Two (2) children, R.S. and E.G., enrolled 9/19/22 did not have EMC information completed annually.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available. Three (3) children had expired off-premise permissions on file.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement. Three (3) children's signed discipline policy did not list the date of enrollment.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023

No longer on the state’s site as of October 9, 2026

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. A Speech Therapist from the company SpeechTactics was observed working independently with a child in the resource room and did not have a CBC letter onsite for review.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 10/9/2023