Early Start Academy

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

“A garden hose was spread on the ground across the area used by the children in classroom space #6 to enter and exit the outdoor play area.”

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

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.

“Incident reports needed to be recorded in the incident log.”

Rule Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 5, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance).

“Criminal Record Check clearance for one staff had expired on 6/18/26.”

Rule Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance).. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 5, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

When medication was administered, documentation was not completed or maintained for 6 months and/or the documentation did not include the required information.

“There was no medical authorization form for a child in classroom space #2 on site today to go along with the medical action plan.”

Rule When medication was administered, documentation was not completed or maintained for 6 months and/or the documentation did not include the required information.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 5, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.

“The posted activity plans in classroom space #4 were not current.”

Rule A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.. Corrected during the inspection.

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. The staff person, who began employment on 3/31/25, needed to complete First Aid training.”

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: Aug 7, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child’s parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted.

“One child, under the age of 15 months, in classroom space #3 did not have a feeding schedule.”

Rule An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 7, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“It could not be verified today that the staff person, who began employment on 3/31/25, had completed the training.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 7, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“The safe sleep visual monitor charts were last completed mid-March 2025 for the infants in classroom space #1 and #2.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 23, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Child was handled roughly.

“On November 25, 2024 , a staff member roughly grabbed a 10-month-old child with their right arm, forcing the child to lie down and causing their face to hit the mattress. There were no marks or bruises observed.”

Rule Child was handled roughly.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Dec 18, 2024. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.

“The activity plan posted in space #1 was dated January-2024.”

Rule A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.. Corrected during the inspection.