Excel Learning Centers #9

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

“On the playground used for toddlers, two holes by the concrete sidewalks have formed, creating a tripping hazard. On the playground used by the toddlers, the gazebo has begun to splinter, leaving sharp pieces of wood exposed and accessible to 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 13, 2026. 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. Two staff members D. Ortiz and N. Stallings does not have a current CPR certification available for review.”

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: Aug 12, 2026. 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. Two staff members D. Ortiz and N. Stallings does not have a current First Aid certification available for review.”

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: Aug 12, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

For children under three years of age, materials were not offered in sufficient quantity to allow all children to use them at some time during the day and to allow for a range of choices.

“In space 3 and space 4, children under three did not have sufficient quantity of materials to allow a range of choice in play.”

Rule For children under three years of age, materials were not offered in sufficient quantity to allow all children to use them at some time during the day and to allow for a range of choices.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jul 13, 2026. 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.

“In space 9, plastic bags were accessible to children under the changing table.”

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.

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

“Repeat violation from 7/28/25. The facility has not completed a shelter-in-place or lockdown drill every three months as required. The last recorded drill was 7/10/2025.”

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: Feb 19, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“On playground 2, water was ponding by the plastic playhouse. On playground 4, there is a gap between the concrete and the earth creating a tripping hazard.”

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: Feb 19, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child’s parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted.

“(omit posting for centers located in a residence) One (1) infant feeding plan in space #1 was not posted.”

Rule An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted.. Corrected during the inspection.

Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.

“Fire drills were not conducted for March 2025, April, 2025, and May 2025.”

Rule Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the 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: Aug 8, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child’s home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child.

“In space #1 one infant bottle was not dated.”

Rule Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child.. Corrected during the inspection.

Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.

“Four (4) out of eight (8) children records reviewed did not have a health assessment on file.”

Rule Medical exam or health assessment 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 8, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.

“Monthly playground inspections were not completed for March 2025, April 2025, and May 2025.”

Rule Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 8, 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.

“A shelter-in-place or lockdown drills was not conducted every three months. A lockdown drill was conducted on October 1, 2024, and a shelter-in-place drill was conducted on July 10, 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: Aug 8, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.

“One staff member employed on September 19, 2024 has not completed the training.”

Rule The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 24, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“Activity plans were not current in classroom spaces #1 and space #7.”

Rule A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.. Corrected during the inspection.

Children’s records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child.

“Medical health assessments and immunization records were not on file for two children.”

Rule Children's records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 13, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.

“A playground checklist was not documented for July 2024.”

Rule Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 13, 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.

“One staff completed 6.5 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member has not completed 10 of the 10 required on-going training hours.”

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: Aug 13, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

“In centers that are licensed to care for infants, the child care administrator and any child care provider scheduled to work in the infant room shall complete ITS-SIDS training. ITS-SIDS training shall be completed within two months of an individual assuming responsibilities in the infant room and every three years thereafter. One staff member employed on January 22, 2024 has not completed ITS-SIDS training.”

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: Apr 11, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.

“One staff employed on May 5, 2023 has not completed Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.”

Rule The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 11, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Children were not adequately supervised at all times.

“On March 19, 2024, a 2 year-old child was left alone in classroom space #9 for approximately 5 minutes while the other children and staff transitioned outdoors for play.”

Rule Children were not adequately supervised at all times.. 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.