Stepping Stones Learning Academy #5, LLC

A copy of the Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not given to or explained to parents of newly enrolled children up to five years of age on or before the first day the child receives care at the center.

“A copy of the facility’s prevention of shaken baby and abusive head trauma policy was not signed by a parent of a child enrolled on May 25, 2025. The violation was corrected during the visit when the parent signed the receipt copy of the policy and administrators placed it in the child’s file.”

Rule A copy of the Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not given to or explained to parents of newly enrolled children up to five years of age on or before the first day the child receives care at the center.. Corrected during the inspection.

A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.

“In space #1, a shelf lined with plastic contact paper was peeling. In space #6, a cabinet with staff members’ personal belonging was not secured with an approved lock. The violation was corrected when the administrator removed the contact paper from the shelf and placed a magnetic lock on the cabinet.”

Rule A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.. Corrected during the inspection.

Each adult and child was not restrained by appropriate individual belt/device.

“A booster seat dated March 29, 2016 was being used to transport children expired after 10 years after the manufactured date. The violation was corrected when the administrator removed the booster seat from the vehicle.”

Rule Each adult and child was not restrained by appropriate individual belt/device.. Corrected during the inspection.

The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests.

“In the outdoor play area, two (2) metal dump trucks and three (3) tricycles had exposed rust spots. The climbing composite structure had chipping paint and areas of rust on posts and spiral pole.”

Rule The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 20, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“Accessible to children in space #7, two (2) containers of disinfectant wipes were stored in an unlocked cabinet. The violation was corrected when the administrator removed the containers of disinfectant wipes and placed them in a locked cabinet.”

Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

Program operating for more than 3 hours per day did not make 4 activities available daily.

“In space #2 used for school-aged children, at least 4 activities were not available daily for children based on the posted activity plan.”

Rule Program operating for more than 3 hours per day did not make 4 activities available daily.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 26, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of.

“In the outdoor area used for toddlers, the steps of a portable resin Little Tykes climber with slide was broken.”

Rule The indoor and/or outdoor premises was not checked once a day, prior to initial use, ensuring debris, and broken equipment was removed and disposed of.. Corrected during the inspection.

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. CPR certification for five (5) staff members was not from an approved training organization.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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. First Aid certification for five (5) staff members was not from an approved training organization.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.

“In the outdoor play area, an electrical security pole from the electric company had a metal cover attached to the pole that was not secured and exposed black pipes and wires.”

Rule A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All stationary equipment, more than 18 inches high, was not installed over protective surfacing.

“On the playground used by infants and toddlers, a resin climber measuring 24 inches, was not installed over protective surfacing. The violation was corrected when the administrator moved the climber inside of the sandpit where the surfacing measured 6 inches.”

Rule All stationary equipment, more than 18 inches high, was not installed over protective surfacing.. Corrected during the inspection.

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.

“Two staff members, N.S. and J.M., did not completed the required Recognizing and Responding the Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topic.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container.

“Accessible to children in space #7, containers of Desitin cream, Aquaphor, sunblock cream, and a bottle of insect repellent was stored in an unlocked cabinet near the diapering changing area. The violation was corrected when the administrator removed all medications and placed them into the locked medication storage box that was inside the same cabinet. This is a repeat violation cited on September 12, 2023.”

Rule Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container.. Corrected during the inspection.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

Rule Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below). Corrected during the inspection.

A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.

“Staff members placed a twenty-month-old child in an unsafe environment when they fed the child a known allergen and the child had an allergic reaction. In addition, staff members failed to follow the child’s medical action plan, further placing the child at risk for harm and/or injury.”

Rule A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 9, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“The application had a medical action plan attached for a known allergy; however, staff members failed to follow the action plan.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 19, 2024. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas.

“The Children’s Allergy and Medical Notice form was posted in the kitchen and classroom where the meal was prepared and the child was eating; however, staff members failed to review the form prior to serving a child a food item with a known allergy ingredient.”

Rule Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 2, 2024. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

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

“Documentation was not on file verifying that three (3) new staff members received six clock hours of training in required topic areas within the first two weeks of employment.”

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: Apr 23, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Food required for any special diet was not provided by parent or center.

“Based on an incident report that was received from the administrator, a child with a know food allergy was served peanut butter crackers for snack on April 4, 2024. Food required for the child’s special diet or food substitution was not provided by the parent or the center.”

Rule Food required for any special diet was not provided by parent or center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 23, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.

“The current menu posted in the food preparation area stated children were served cheese crackers for snack on April 4, 2024. Based on an incident report submitted by the administrator, it was confirmed that peanut butter crackers were served for snack on April 4, 2024. The violation was corrected when the administrator corrected the menu in the food prep area to reflect the snack that was served on April 4, 2024.”

Rule Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.. Corrected during the inspection.

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. One staff member did not have a current CPR Training certification on file, the staff member date of employment was on August 22, 2023 and should have completed the training by November 22, 2023. During today’s visit, the staff member scheduled the CPR training for February 24, 2024.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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. One staff member whose start date was August 22, 2023 did not have a current First Aid certification on file that should have been completed by November 27, 2023. During today’s visit the staff member scheduled to renew the First Aid Training on February 24, 2024.”

Rule All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.