Hearth Record

Precious Years Learning Center Inc.

A child care center in Spring Lake, North Carolina 28390

1317 North Bragg Blvd, Spring Lake, North Carolina 28390. (910) 922-4379.

North Carolina’s own record, on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.

The short answer

The last 24 months 12 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. Every month

Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.

What these words mean5
Inspection (survey)
A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
Deficiency, citation, violation
What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
Quality rating
Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
Licence status
Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
Capacity
The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.

What did inspectors find?

7 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Oct 7, 2026.

12 violations cited in the last three years, 12 of them marked corrected.

Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

When those violations happened

12 violations in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.

12 violations by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each violation, in its source’s words

Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.

Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Mar 12, 2026: unannounced4 violations
  • A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.

    “One new staff member, A. Word (DOE 1/28/26), did not have a valid qualification letter on file.”

    Rule A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 25, 2026. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

  • 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 staff member did not have a medical report on file prior to employment. A medical report was on file during the visit with a later date than the employee’s hired date.”

    Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.

    “A medical exam was not on file for one child within 30 days of enrollment. The child’s medical exam was on file during the visit, dated more than 30 days of the child’s enrollment date.”

    Rule Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.

    “One new staff member, A. Word (DOE 1/28/26), did not complete a criminal background check prior to employment.”

    Rule Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 19, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Mar 27, 2025: unannounced3 violations
  • 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.

    “Two staff members did not have medical reports on file prior to employment. This is a Repeat Violation from 9/10/24.”

    Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 10, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • The child care operator did not comply with all State laws, federal laws and/or local ordinances that pertain to child health, safety, and welfare, as required by General Statute 110-91.

    “The facility’s last sanitation inspection was conducted on 2/26/24.”

    Rule The child care operator did not comply with all State laws, federal laws and/or local ordinances that pertain to child health, safety, and welfare, as required by General Statute 110-91.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 25, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction.

    “One child’s file did not have a parent’s signed acknowledgment form of the smoking and tobacco restriction.”

    Rule The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 10, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Sep 10, 2024: unannounced5 violations
  • All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair.

    “There was peeling paint on the wall in space #1, under the clock, next to the light switch.”

    Rule All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • 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 staff member did not have a medical report on file.”

    Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.

    “One staff member did not have six clock hours of training in required topic areas on file.”

    Rule Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 13, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks.

    “One staff member did not have at least sixteen hours of orientation on file.”

    Rule New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 13, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

  • Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.

    “There is an opening on the fencing gate on the left rear of the playground, facing the cleaners, measuring 4”. This is a potential entrapment for children.”

    Rule Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All 7 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Oct 7, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Mar 25, 2026Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Mar 12, 2026Unannounced visit4 violations cited
Oct 3, 2025Unannounced visitNo violations cited
Mar 27, 2025Unannounced visit3 violations cited
Sep 10, 2024Unannounced visit5 violations cited
Apr 2, 2024Unannounced visitNo violations cited

Is it licensed?

  • Child Care Center, holding a Three Star Center License since Jul 24, 2024.
  • Licensed for 34 children, ages 0 through 5.
  • Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
  • North Carolina’s licence number: 26002402.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Has North Carolina acted against it?

  • DCDEE says it has taken no action against this facility, for its current licence and location, in the last three years.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

Who does the caring?

  • North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.

Who owns it?

  • Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Precious Years Learning Center Inc..
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

How is it rated?

  • Star Rated License: 3 stars of five.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 260 child care providers in Cumberland County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 9; this one had 12.
Source:

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
  • DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
  • North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.

Sources

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 3, 2026.

From the provider

The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.

Replies

None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.

Paid listing

None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.