Seattle · Licensed center
Bright Horizons at West Seattle
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- Large play-based center, licensed for 159 children.
- Run by a for-profit business.
- Ages on the license: 1 month to 6 years 11 months.
What the state has found
Someone reported concerns to the state, and it found all 3 valid, most recently in October 2026. The state also cited rules at all 3 of its licensing inspections since August 2023.
Of the 406 Seattle-area centers with 3 licensing inspections, 33% had rules cited at all 3, as this center did. 11% had none cited.
Complaints the state found valid
Someone reported a concern. The state investigated and found reasonable cause to believe a licensing rule was broken.
“Toxic mold found in the washer machine”
The state’s description of the complaint
“Licensor observed black mold in washer machine.”
WAC 110-300-0410(4)
“Assistant Director said the staff member in question during the time of the incident did admit to falling asleep on both occations. Therefore, the staff member was terminated from the site.”
WAC 110-300-0291(1)(a)
Of the 215 Seattle-area centers licensed for 115 to 323 children, 105 (49%) have no valid complaint in the last three years; 34 (16%) have three or more, as this center does.
Licensing inspections
Apr 22, 20261 citation
“Plastic grocery bags observed in the Early Preschool 2 classroom near the diapering station inside the bottom drawer. During visit H. removed plastic bags. Violation corrected.”
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d)
May 6, 20251 citation
“At the time of inspection, it was observed that one fridge in Toddler classroom was 50 degree and missing updatde temperature log.”
WAC 110-300-0197(3)
Aug 16, 20233 citations
“At the time of the onsite monitor visit, the following classrooms had their emergency exit door locked with a deadbolt while children were present: Toddler 2, Infant 1, Infant 2, Waddler 1.”
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a)
“At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there was diaper cream (Desitin, Aquafor, etc.) in three baskets that were on the floor of the adjoining bathroom between early preschool classrooms one and two. Diaper cream products were labeled keep out of reach of children and were accessible to kids in the bathroom. There was also a basket of sunscreen in the preschool 3 classroom on the teacher sesk that was within reach of children present. The sunscreen products were marked with keep out of reach of children.”
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a)
“At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there were four staff present, that were employed for longer than three months, and did not have childcare basics completed. At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there were three staff that were in the classrooms working with children, who did not have their CPR/First Aid trainings completed, available onsite, or in MERIT.”
WAC 110-300-0106(3)
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Washington DCYF
- Last visit
- September 1, 2026
- On file
- 3 visits since August 2023 — all of them cited findings · 3 complaint investigations
- Most serious
- Serious —
Licensor observed black mold in washer machine.
· September 1, 2026
Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.
Jun 2026 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received June 25, 2026 · Resolved October 8, 2026
“Toxic mold found in the washer machine”
The state’s description of the complaint
WAC 110-300-0410(4) · Serious
Licensor observed black mold in washer machine.
Apr 2026 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · April 22, 2026
WAC 110-300-0165(2)(d) · Serious
Plastic grocery bags observed in the Early Preschool 2 classroom near the diapering station inside the bottom drawer. During visit H. removed plastic bags. Violation corrected.
May 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · May 6, 2025
WAC 110-300-0197(3) · Short Term
At the time of inspection, it was observed that one fridge in Toddler classroom was 50 degree and missing updatde temperature log.
Aug 2024 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received August 30, 2024 · Resolved October 3, 2024
WAC 110-300-0291(1)(a) · Serious
Assistant Director said the staff member in question during the time of the incident did admit to falling asleep on both occations. Therefore, the staff member was terminated from the site.
Jan 2024 Complaint 1 valid issue
Complaint · Received January 12, 2024 · Resolved February 18, 2024
Aug 2023 Licensing visit 3 findings
Licensing visit · August 16, 2023
Emergency preparation and exiting
WAC 110-300-0166(3)(a) · Serious · No longer on the state’s site as of October 10, 2026
At the time of the onsite monitor visit, the following classrooms had their emergency exit door locked with a deadbolt while children were present: Toddler 2, Infant 1, Infant 2, Waddler 1.
WAC 110-300-0106(3) · Short Term · No longer on the state’s site as of October 10, 2026
At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there were four staff present, that were employed for longer than three months, and did not have childcare basics completed. At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there were three staff that were in the classrooms working with children, who did not have their CPR/First Aid trainings completed, available onsite, or in MERIT.
Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies
WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious · No longer on the state’s site as of October 10, 2026
At the time of the onsite monitor visit, there was diaper cream (Desitin, Aquafor, etc.) in three baskets that were on the floor of the adjoining bathroom between early preschool classrooms one and two. Diaper cream products were labeled keep out of reach of children and were accessible to kids in the bathroom. There was also a basket of sunscreen in the preschool 3 classroom on the teacher sesk that was within reach of children present. The sunscreen products were marked with keep out of reach of children.
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, Working Connections subsidy and cost aren’t on this page.
How they teach
Play-based
“Project & Play Based Immersive learning experiences that foster a joyful childhood, encourage relationship-building, and develop a foundation for future success.”
Who cares for your child
Vanessa since 2003, Heather since 2011, Galina since 2015, Charo since 2017, Rosa since 2017, Tula since 2018 and Fatiha since 2019.
Of 2,387 Seattle-area providers, 74 publish how long a named staff member has been there; the longest tenure at each of those has a median of thirteen years.
A day here
- Hours
- 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM, 5 days a week, year round
- Updates for parents
- My Bright Day mobile app for photos, real-time updates, and notifications
Policies
- Enrollment
- Waitlist with priority; families can register at up to 3 centers; registration does not guarantee immediate enrollment
Details
- Website
- brighthorizons.com
- Address
- 4530 38th Ave SW
- License
- PL-19514, active
- Quality program
- Early Achievers Enrolled
- Ages they serve
- 1 month - 5 years
- Chain
- Bright Horizons
- Owner
- Public shareholders (NYSE: BFAM)
Nearby
- Bellevue Montessori SchoolSmall center · under 0.1 miLast state visit Jul 8, 2025 · nothing cited
- Providence Mt. St. Vincent Intergenerational Learning CenterMedium center · 0.3 miLast state visit Aug 21, 2026 · nothing cited
- Neighborhood House BurienMedium center · 1.2 miLast state visit May 27, 2026 · nothing cited
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Early Learning CenterSmall center · 1.6 miLast state visit Feb 2, 2026 · nothing cited
- West Seattle YMCA Preschool at Hallows ChurchSmall center · 2.4 miLast state visit Feb 2, 2026 · 1 citation
- WorldKids School - Upper FauntleroyMedium center · 2.8 miLast state visit Jul 14, 2025 · nothing cited
- Little Trailblazers - West SeattleSmall center · 3.1 miLast state visit Mar 10, 2026 · 1 citation
Run Bright Horizons at West Seattle? 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 September 2026 brighthorizons.com
Who cares for your child
- Staff brighthorizons.com
State record
From Washington DCYF’s published reports, last checked October 10, 2026.
A day here
- Updates for parents, Hours — Checked September 2026 brighthorizons.com
- Calendar — Checked September 2026 brighthorizons.com
Policies
- Enrollment — Checked September 2026 brighthorizons.com
Details
- Phone, Ages on the license — Checked September 2026 findchildcarewa.org
- Website — Checked September 2026 brighthorizons.com
- Address — Checked June 2026 data.wa.gov
- License, Quality program — Checked March 2026 data.wa.gov
- Ages they serve — Checked September 2026 brighthorizons.com
- Who runs it — Checked September 2026 data.seattle.gov
- Chain — Checked October 2026 brighthorizons.com
- Owner — Checked October 2026 sec.gov/…/bfam-20251231.htm
Bright Horizons is a public company. Its annual report to the SEC for 2025 (Form 10-K, filed February 2026) lists its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BFAM. sec.gov
Large means the biggest quarter of Seattle-area’s 859 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 115 to 323 children. Small is 6 to 40; medium is 41 to 114.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.
Nearby
The other centers’ visit lines are from Washington DCYF’s published reports as Shortlist read them on October 10, 2026.