Cadence Academy Preschool, Ballantyne

Children were not adequately supervised at all times.

“On September 25, 2026, a child four (4) years of age was left unsupervised inside for approximately twenty minutes while two teachers took the group of children outside.”

Rule Children were not adequately supervised at all times.. Corrected during the inspection.

All children were not held or placed in feeding chairs or other appropriate apparatus to be fed.

“In space #1, there was an infant in a bouncy seat with a bottle.”

Rule All children were not held or placed in feeding chairs or other appropriate apparatus to be fed.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 11, 2026. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met.

“In space #1, there were six children less than twelve months of age with one staff member for approximately five minutes.”

Rule Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met.. Corrected during the inspection.

A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child’s parent or authorized health professional.

“In space #1, one child’s authorization form to administer diaper cream was not signed by the parent. Two children had diaper cream authorization forms for diaper cream however, the instructions to administer was for sunscreen.”

Rule A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional.. 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.

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair.

“Spaces #6, #7 and #10 had several areas of the wall that paints was peeling.”

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: Aug 26, 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.

“One infant was placed in a crib for napping however, documentation had not been completed with information regarding date, time and position of infant.”

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.. Corrected during the inspection.

Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.

“One child did not have an immunization record on file.”

Rule Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.. 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.

Each child’s bed, cot, or 2” mat was not individually assigned and identified.

“In space #2, one cot was not individually labeled for a child.”

Rule Each child's bed, cot, or 2" mat was not individually assigned and identified.. 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.

Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.

“Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last approved fire inspection on file is dated July 12, 2024.”

Rule Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 18, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The activity plan was not designed to stimulate emotional and social, health and physical, approaches to play and learning, language development and communication, and cognitive development for each group of children in care.

“The activity plans for each classroom did not include goals from Foundations for Early Learning and Development. T”

Rule The activity plan was not designed to stimulate emotional and social, health and physical, approaches to play and learning, language development and communication, and cognitive development for each group 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 26, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.

“The EPR plan had not been updated to reflect the current name and contact information for the facility’s Child Care Consultants name and Child Care Health Consultant.”

Rule The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.. 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.

All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair.

“In spaces #5, #6, #7 and #8, there was chipping paint on the walls throughout the classrooms. In space #8, the baseboard near the direct exit had several places that the paint was peeling.”

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: Mar 14, 2025. 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.

“In space #3, diapers creams were located in an unlocked bottom cabinet of the changing table.”

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

Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18” apart or separated by partitions when in use.

“In space #4, there were three cots spaced 12” apart, two cots 10” apart and two cots 14” apart. In space #6, two cots were touching and two cots 12” apart.”

Rule Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use.. Corrected during the inspection.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

“In Space 5 I observed puzzles pieces stored in a container; the photo of the puzzle was not present to help guide children as they put the puzzle together. Battery operated interactive toys did not work properly, batteries were either missing or dead in Space 5 and Space 6.”

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: Aug 30, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet.

“The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The fencing between outdoor play areas, which is four feet is a chain linked fence that is not flush at the top and is considered a protrusion. I also observed areas where the fencing is unraveling leaving sharp edges and protruding into the play areas.”

Rule Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 9, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

“Parent participation plan did not include a procedure for parents who need information or who have complaints about the program. The current family handbook does not provide procedures on when parents need information or have a complaint about the program listed as part of their parent participation plan.”

Rule Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below). Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 30, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.

“One staff hired 7/17/23 does not have proof of completing the required trainings. One staff hired 8/18/22 but left a few months, had until 10/18/23 to complete them and did not complete the trainings until 8/14/24.”

Rule Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 30, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Toys and other mouth-contact surfaces were not cleaned and sanitized daily when used or cleaned more frequently if visibly dirty.

“I observed serval toys with dust and dirt build up in space 5 and 6.”

Rule Toys and other mouth-contact surfaces were not cleaned and sanitized daily when used or cleaned more frequently if visibly dirty.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 30, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“Staff failed to provided a safe environment when two staff members engaged in a physical altercation in the presence of two year old children.”

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: Jul 2, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child’s developmental needs.

“Staff did not provide a nurturing environment when two staff members engaged in a verbal and physical altercation in the presence of two year old children.”

Rule Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jul 2, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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. Four staff’s CPR certification expired in February 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: Mar 18, 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. Four (4) staff’s First Aid certification expired in February 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: Mar 18, 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.

“In several classroom spaces I observed the walls chipped with drywall exposed.”

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: Mar 18, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“Four (4) staff do not have proof of completing all health and safety topics within the last 5 years of completion. Most did not complete the required training in Medication in Child Care and Recognizing and Response to Suspicions of Maltreatment training.”

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: Mar 18, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.

“Three (3) staff do not have proof of completing all required topic areas of the health and safety training requirement within the first year of hire.”

Rule Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 18, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.