Tender Hearts Child Care Inc.

A Four- or Five- Star program serving four-year-old children was not implementing an approved curriculum.

“The curriculum guidebook was not presented nor was there visible signs of the approved a curriculum was implemented.”

Rule A Four- or Five- Star program serving four-year-old children was not implementing an approved curriculum.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 15, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A written statement from each child’s parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available.

“One child did not have an annual statement for participation in off premises activities.”

Rule A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 16, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

“A metal piece of siding was observed hanging at the corner of the building and under the path of travel for children to reach outdoors. The window screens were observed torn or separated from the frame in space #4.”

Rule All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 17, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience.

“One staff member did not complete the required number of hours by their date of hire (1/7).”

Rule Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 5, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.

“Approximately one inch of protective surfacing was monitored in the outdoor learning environment when six inches of mulch were required.”

Rule The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 26, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

“An outdoor piece of siding was monitored hanging and in poor repair.”

Rule All equipment and furnishings were not 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 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.

“The outdoor stationary equipment didn’t meet the six inches in depth of protective surfacing.”

Rule The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 21, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.

“Plastic bags and broken crayons were monitored in space #4 with two- and three-year-old children. The plastic bags and broken crayons were removed during the visit.”

Rule Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.. 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.

“The fenced in playground was monitored with many fallen leaves.”

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: Jan 18, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.

“During the visit incident reports were monitored and there was no current incident log available for review. It was observed that incident reports were completed but they were not recorded on the incident log, as required.”

Rule Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.. Corrected during the inspection.

Parent or guardian of child was not allowed access to the center during operating hours for the purpose of contacting the child or evaluating the caregiving space at the center and the care provided.

“During staff interviews it was shared that one staff member escorts children for both arrival and departure daily between caregivers and their assigned classrooms. It was also shared during one of the interviews that if a parent wishes to speak with their child’s teacher during the day about their child then the a staff member would step into that classroom to allow the teacher to meet them at the front entrance, as parents typically do not enter the classrooms.”

Rule Parent or guardian of child was not allowed access to the center during operating hours for the purpose of contacting the child or evaluating the caregiving space at the center and the care provided.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Safe pick-up and delivery procedures were not communicated to parents and/or were not posted where they can be seen by the parents.

“A walk through of the licensed childcare space was conducted. It was observed that the current safe arrival/departure procedures posted were last updated in 2018 and did not reflect the current procedure the facility had in place for families.”

Rule Safe pick-up and delivery procedures were not communicated to parents and/or were not posted where they can be seen by the parents.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 24, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean and in good repair.

“Chipped paint was monitored and documented during the last sanitation inspection on November 29, 2023. Chipped paint was monitored in every classroom, bathroom ceilings and classroom walls/ceilings.”

Rule All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean 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: Feb 18, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Application for enrollment did not include all required information.

“One child’s health care needs were not completed or clearly identified as “None” or “Not Applicable”.”

Rule Application for enrollment did not include all required information.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 22, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

At least one staff member counted to comply with the rule did not complete the training in playground safety within six months of employment date.

“One staff person who did not have completed playground safety training completed monthly outdoor inspections.”

Rule At least one staff member counted to comply with the rule did not complete the training in playground safety within six months of employment date.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 29, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible.

“Broken basketball hoops, children’s playhouses, fence and trikes were monitored broken or in poor repair.”

Rule Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 22, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience.

“The administrator stated staff completed health and safety trainings in the Moodle system every year to complete the annual in-service training requirement.”

Rule Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience.. 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.

The center did not complete an EPR Plan within four months of completing the EPR in Child Care training and/or the Plan was not completed on a template provided by the Division.

“The printed EPR plan on file and monitored was listed as “Draft” and was not current. The EPR plan was never keyed into the required template. It was keyed into the system template during the visit.”

Rule The center did not complete an EPR Plan within four months of completing the EPR in Child Care training and/or the Plan was not completed on a template provided by the Division.. Corrected during the inspection.

The center’s safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily.

“The center’s ITS-SIDS policy was not posted in the infant room/space #1. Two individual ITS-SIDS policies were posted in the space instead.”

Rule The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 23, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.

“There was not at least six inches of mulch under and around the stationary play pieces in the children’s outdoor learning environment.”

Rule The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.. 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.

The medical action plan was not updated on an annual basis or when changes to the plan were made by the child’s parent or health care professional.

“Two siblings with chronic medical conditions did not have current annual medical action plan on file.”

Rule The medical action plan was not updated on an annual basis or when changes to the plan were made by the child's parent or health care professional.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 29, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin.

“Fallen Gum Balls were monitored throughout the outdoor learning environment. Fallen branches were monitored on the playground.”

Rule The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 23, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.