The Growing Years

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

“On September 28, 2026, the director was alone with seventeen (17) pre-K aged children, sixteen (16) four year-olds, and one (1) five (5) year-old in space 10, a classroom for Meck. Pre-K; The fourteenth (14th) child arrived at 8:35 a.m., and space 10 was out of ratio from 8:35 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.”

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

Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.

“An outlet cover was not covered in space 3, and an outlet was uncovered in the hallway.”

Rule Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.. Corrected during the inspection.

Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.

“An opening in the fencing was greater than three (3) and a half inches in the outdoor play area for four (4) year-old children.”

Rule Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 3, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Outdoor play area did not provide an area that is shaded.

“No shade available for the four (4) year-old outdoor play area.”

Rule Outdoor play area did not provide an area that is shaded..

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

“Mulch needed the outdoor play areas; four (4) year-old play area and the two (2) to three (3) year-old play area.”

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

The written feeding plan did not include the child’s name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center.

“A child’s infant feeding plan did not include the parent’s signature and date.”

Rule The written feeding plan did not include the child's name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 26, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A violation was found for which there is no item number.

“Pests shall be excluded from the child care center. Traps set for pests shall only be placed in areas that are inaccessible to children (NCAC 15A NCAC 18A .2831(b). There were gnats observed during the visit, and staff stated that they have experienced gnats in the center.”

Rule A violation was found for which there is no item number.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 7, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Children’s records were not made available for review.

“A child is space 1 record was not available for review.”

Rule Children's records were not made available for review.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 25, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“The gate latch to the two (2) year-old outdoor play area was broken.”

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

Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child’s file.

“An Incident Report that was completed on September 11, 2025, did not include all the required information in rule; the report did not include the child’s last name, the report was not signed by the person completing it; did not include Medical Treatment Received: First Aid Onsite (ice pack provided).”

Rule Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 25, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.

“No medical report on file for staff (B.H.).”

Rule Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 13, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“The parent did not sign and date the Permission to Administer Medication form for (W.T.).”

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: Jun 13, 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 Fire Inspection Report was not submitted within one (1) week of the inspection.”

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: Jun 13, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.

“The shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three (3) months; were practiced October 28, 2024, February 25, 2025, and March 4, 2025; a drill should have been practiced January 2025.”

Rule Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jun 13, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services.

“A medical action plan was not completed after a doctor’s note was provided, regarding a medical condition requiring specialized health services.”

Rule Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: May 16, 2025. Correction verified: at a follow-up visit by DCDEE.

Center administrators and staff did not use the information provided in the application to ensure that each individual child’s needs are met.

“The center received a medical note on April 2, 2025, due to a child’s pollen allergy, and needing to restrict outdoor play time. An email was sent to teachers by the director that the request could not be accommodated because outdoor play was required. The child did have outdoor play on April 3, 2025, which was a medium-high pollen count day.”

Rule Center administrators and staff did not use the information provided in the application to ensure that each individual child's needs are met.. Corrected during the inspection.

Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child’s file.

“The Incident Report did not include the time that the parent was notified of the incident.”

Rule Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 27, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.

“A child in space 8 emergency medication expired.”

Rule Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 19, 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 in space 8 Permission to Administer Medication form expired April 10, 2024, and one (1) child did not have a Permission to Administer Medication form; a child in space 9 permission to administer medication expired March 10, 2024.”

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

Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.

“The outdoor play area gate that has an entrance to the parking area (front gate near the pond) was not less than 3 1/2 inches.”

Rule Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 15, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

“A violation was found for which there is no item number. here was a small frog in an aquarium in the child care space. The frog was removed out of the child care area. Refer to Sanitation Rule 15A NCAC 18A .2831 ANIMAL AND VERMIN CONTROL Turtles, iguanas, frogs, salamanders, and other reptiles or amphibians are not allowed to be kept as pets on the premises.”

Rule Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below). Corrected during the inspection.

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

“There was not adequate surfacing under outdoor play equipment.”

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: Oct 15, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“An occupational therapist (C.U.) did not have a CBC letter on file.”

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

Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.

“Prior to working with children, the center did not verify if a CBC was completed for an occupational therapist (C.U.)”

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

Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.

“An incident log for March 2024 was not completed.”

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: Apr 3, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.

“The apple sauce that was substituted for oranges was not recorded on the menu.”

Rule Food substitution was not of comparable food value or recorded on the menu prior to the meal or snack being served.. Corrected during the inspection.