The Center for Children Cottage

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. Two staff were not linked to the facility within five days of hiring in the ABCMS.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Corrected during the inspection.

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.

“Six metal pegs were monitored protruding upwards throughout the black protective surfacing borders outdoors.”

Rule Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 21, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

One or more persons who met the qualifications for administrator were not on site for number of hours per week required by capacity of center.

“The former administrator left her position in June of 2025, and a qualified replacement has not been hired.”

Rule One or more persons who met the qualifications for administrator were not on site for number of hours per week required by capacity of center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 2, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The information contained in the application was not accessible to caregiving staff during the time children were in care.

“Children’s records/files were maintained in the other licensed facility and not accessible to the caregiving staff during the time children were in care.”

Rule The information contained in the application was not accessible to caregiving staff during the time children were in care.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Feb 27, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.

“A valid CBC letter was not on file for C. Camp, operator.”

Rule A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 27, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.

“C. Camp was hired July 1,2025. A CBC was not completed prior to employment.”

Rule Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 27, 2026. 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.

“Non prescribed, over the counter products stored in a staff purse were not stored in a cabinet meeting five feet vertically from the ground in space #2.”

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

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. An ABCMS DCDEE Roster Report was run prior to the visit. There were three substitutes, one new lead teacher, no administrator and one floater form the other center who was working in the building but not listed on the report. There were former employees who were listed and remained linked to the center.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.

“There were multiple completed incident reports that were not filed on the center’s incident log nor filed in the applicable child’s file.”

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: Jun 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“The creative curriculum was not implemented. Quarterly assessments were not completed or charting of children’s responses were listed.”

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: Apr 16, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

“Artificial grass was monitored torn in two places on the toddler playground. The fence/date in-between the toddler and preschool playground was monitored with missing fence and a large opening between the top bar. The wooden ramp and wooden hand railings were monitored worn with splinters and exposed hardware.”

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: Apr 26, 2025. 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. A staff member hired October 2024 did not obtain CPR training within the first ninety (90) days of employment.”

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: Apr 25, 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. A staff member hired in October of 2024 did not obtain FA within the first ninety (90) days of employment.”

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: Apr 25, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Parent’s medication authorization did not include required information.

“One permission slip in space #2 did not list specific symptoms or circumstances that would require the medication to be given.”

Rule Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 16, 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 center’s EPR plan was last reviewed/updated March of 2024.”

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: Apr 28, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“In Space 4, the current activity plan did not provide all required information. The second page that lists activities for the interest centers was missing.”

Rule A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“Two diaper creams (one in Space 1 and one in Space 3) did not have written permission to administer. Bug repellent in Space 2 did not have written permission to administer.”

Rule A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional.. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date.

“One diaper cream in Space in Space 3 expired in April 2024.”

Rule A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date.. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

Rule All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.. 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 staff in the infant room did not accurate document the visual safe sleep checks. They begin stating a child was placed on their side to sleep. The staff stated she placed the child on their back in the crib but the infant immediately rolled to their side. She did not start the document noting she placed the child on their back to rest.”

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 verified: by a letter from the provider.

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.

“On the toddler playground I observed red bricks around the base of a tree. One brick was observed with a sharp edge.”

Rule Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.. 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.

“One staff hired 6-5-2017 completed Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of maltreatment on 6/16/18 and did not complete it again by 6/16/23. She completed it on 3/4/24.”

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 verified: by a letter from the provider.

Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision.

“While in Space 3, which serves 2 year olds, we observed foam blocks on the shelf in the block center, several had bites on them, also in the art area on the shelf accessible to children we observed soft foam sponges accessible.”

Rule Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision.. Corrected during the inspection.

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.

“A staff members purse was stored in an unlocked cabinet in space #1. The cabinet was locked immediately.”

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.

Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.

“Books were monitored in poor condition in space #2.”

Rule Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 8, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.

“A child with a life altering condition did not have a signed permission slip on file, every six months.”

Rule Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 11, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

“All stationary equipment, more than 18 inches high, was not installed overprotective surfacing. A stationary piece of equipment maintained on the toddler playground was over eighteen inches in height and did not at least six inches of mulch.”

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: Mar 16, 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.

“The center’s policy regarding safe arrival and departure procedures were not posted where it could be seen by the parents.”

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: Mar 8, 2024. 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 center’s EPR plan was not updated when changes occurred.”

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: Mar 20, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Toxic plants were accessible to children.

“Semi toxic plants were monitored in spaces #4 and #5. An approved plant list was emailed to the administrator.”

Rule Toxic plants were accessible to children.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 8, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.