Ms. Brenda’s Child Care Services
A family child care home in Gastonia, North Carolina 28052
735 Queens Court, Gastonia, North Carolina 28052. (704) 864-8538.
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
- 19 violations in the last three years
- Jan 202026 the latest visit on record
- 8 children, its licensed capacity
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?
8 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Jan 20, 2026.
19 violations cited in the last three years, 19 of them marked corrected.
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
19 violations in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Nov 2025. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
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.
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.
Nov 20, 2025: unannounced5 violations
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All indoor and outdoor areas used by the children were not kept clean, orderly, and free of items which are potentially hazardous to children including removal of items a child can swallow; the removal of loose nails or screws and splinters on inside; and use of outdoor equipment that is too hot to touch.
“In the outdoor learning environment was one corroded car battery stored on the ground and accessible to children.”
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Electrical outlets not in use were not covered.
“In the living room was one electrical power strip with three electrical outlets not covered with a safety cover and accessible to children.”
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Operator and/or staff who work with children, did not complete health and safety training as part of on-going training so that every five years, all the topic areas were covered.
The inspectors’ words, 139 words
“There was no record of the provider completing eight of the ten required Health and Safety Trainings as part of on-going training. There was no receipt of completion of Prevention and control of infectious diseases, including immunizations; Administration of medication, with standards for parental consent; Prevention of and response to emergencies due to food and allergic reactions; Building and physical premises safety, including identification of and protection from hazards that can cause bodily injury such as electrical hazards, bodies of water, and vehicular traffic; Emergency preparedness and response planning for emergencies resulting from a natural disaster or a man-caused event; Handling and storage of hazardous materials and the appropriate disposal of biocontaminants; Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Abusive Head Trauma and child maltreatment; and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training on file and available for review.”
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Screen time was not limited to a maximum of thirty minutes per day, and no more than two and a half hours per week, per child.
“One child, three years of age, was observed watching Daniel Tiger on the television from 1:45pm to 3:59pm, and a screen time cumulative log or activity plan was not available for review.”
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Screen time was not prohibited for children under the age of three.
“The operator did not offer alternative activities for children under the age of three years. One child, one year of age, was offered screentime and observed watching Daniel Tiger on the television from 1:45pm to 3:59pm.”
Jun 25, 2025: unannounced1 violation
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A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.
“110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. One (1) current staff member was not entered into the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS) to notify the Division.”
Dec 10, 2024: unannounced2 violations
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Documentation of the operator’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was not completed and/or maintained on the template provided by the Division of Emergency Management.
“The Emergency Preparedness Plan was not available for review. This is a repeat violation.”
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Written record of up-to-date pet vaccinations as required by NC law and local ordinances, including rabies vaccination for dogs and cats, was not available.
“The vaccinations for Buddy (canine) expired on September 30, 2024. The vaccinations for Bailey (canine) expired on December 2, 2024.”
Jan 4, 2024: unannounced11 violations
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All medicines, including refrigerated and unrefrigerated, were not kept in locked storage.
“One tube of Neosporin was stored on the television stand located in the dining room area of the child care space, and used by children in care.”
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Copy of each child’s health assessment, including the operator’s own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment.
“One child with an enrollment of June 28, 2022, did not have a health assessment on file. One child with an enrollment date of June 6, 2023, did not have a health assessment on file.”
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Copy of each child’s immunization record, including the operator’s own preschool child(ren), was not on file.
“One child with an enrollment date of June 28, 2022, had an immunization record on file dated January 6, 2023. One child with an enrollment date of February 1, 2022, had an immunization record on file dated March 21, 2022. One child with an enrollment date of June 6, 2023, did not have an immunization record on file.”
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Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care.
The inspectors’ words, 109 words
“In the room the operator referred to as the “classroom,” one bottle of Pine Sol, one bottle of Windex, and two aerosol cans of Disinfectant spray were stored on a small white cabinet at the back of the space, near the door that exits to the rear of the family child care home. The hazardous chemicals were accessible to children in care. On the outdoor learning environment, one gallon jug of antifreeze, and one gallon jug of high mileage motor oil, was located on the porch and accessible to children in care. One aerosol can of Krylon Spray Paint was located on the ground and near the gas grill.”
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Developmentally appropriate activities for the ages of children in care, were not provided as planned on the written schedule and activity plan.
“The operator did not have an activity plan completed that listed developmentally appropriate activities for the ages of children in care.”
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Documentation of the operator’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was not completed and/or maintained on the template provided by the Division of Emergency Management.
“The Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was not available for review.”
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Operator did not maintain accurate daily attendance records including documentation of arrival and departure for all children in care, including the operator’s own preschool children.
“On January 4, 2024, the arrival time for three children in attendance was not maintained.”
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Potentially hazardous items, including but not limited to, power tools, nails, chemicals, propane stoves, lawn mowers, and gasoline or kerosene, whether or not intended for use by children were not stored in locked areas, removed from the premises, or otherwise inaccessible to children.
“On the outdoor learning environment, one propane tank was attached to the gas grill. One electric powered leaf blower was stored on the ground next to the riding toys used by children enrolled.”
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Record of monthly fire drills, giving the date, time of day and length of time to evacuate, and operator’s signature, were not available.
“The fire drill log for August 2023, did not list the date, time of day, length of time to evacuate or the operator’s signature.”
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Summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to each child’s parent, guardian, or full-time custodian before the child was enrolled in the home and/or signed statement was not on file.
“One child with an enrollment date of June 6, 2023, did not have a signed statement on file that the parent had received the Summary of the NC Child Care Law.”
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The signed statement regarding receipt of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy did not contain the required information.
“One child with an enrollment date of June 6, 2023, did not have a signed statement on file regarding receipt of the shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma policy.”
All 8 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 20, 2026 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Dec 10, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Dec 8, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Nov 20, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Nov 12, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jun 25, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Dec 10, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 2 violations cited |
| Jan 4, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 11 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Family Child Care Home, holding a Five Star Family CC Home License since Mar 24, 2023.
- Licensed for 8 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 36000202.
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.
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: Pagan, Brenda M..
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: 5 stars of five.
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 83 child care providers in Gaston County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 10; this one had 19.
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.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Rankin Head Start | 10 |
| Kingdomz School of Excellence | 23 |
| Rankin II Head Start | 8 |
| Ms. Brenda’s Child Care Services This child care provider | 19 |
| Lingerfeldt Elementary Pre-Kindergarten Program | 19 |
| Children of Excellence Christian Childcare | 0 |
| Precious Moments Childcare Center | 17 |
| Webb Street School | 21 |
| Chapel Grove Elementary Pre-Kindergarten | 6 |
| Tosha’s Tiny Tots | 3 |
| Highland Charter Head Start | 3 |
| 4 Kidz Only Inc. | 1 |
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
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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. nc.gov terms: copying and distribution for non-commercial use, without alteration, citing the source. Shown free and never sold; DCDEE’s own words are quoted.
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.
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.