Surf City Elementary School Preschool
A child care center in Hampstead, North Carolina 28443
12345 - A Literacy Lane, Hampstead, North Carolina 28443. (910) 259-7603.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov.
The short answer
- 18 violations in the last three years
- Mar 252026 the latest visit on record
- 60 children, its licensed capacity
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean5
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Quality rating
- Many states rate child care in a quality rating system that goes past the licensing rules, such as Texas Rising Star or Kentucky All STARS. Taking part is often voluntary, so a program with no rating hasn’t been rated low. Source: Each state’s quality rating system.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
7 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Mar 25, 2026.
18 violations cited in the last three years, 18 of them marked corrected.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
18 violations in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 3, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Dec | |||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each violation, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Mar 25, 2026: announced3 violations
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A safe outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“Back gate will not securely close. The debris that is located right next to the fence needs to be cleared. The mulch needs to be tilled by the swing area and slide area. There also seems to be some drainage issues where the water is puddling up next to the building. There is also a large hole located by the ramp to the front entrance of the building.”
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Gates to the fenced outdoor play area did not remain closed while children occupied the area.
“The back gate to the playground area is being kept closed by a locked chain that poses a risk in the event of a fire.”
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Potentially hazardous items including but not limited to power tools, nails, chemicals, propane stoves, lawn mowers, gasoline, or kerosene were not stored in locked areas, removed from the premises, or made inaccessible to children.
“In the outdoor play area, baby wipes were laying on the table by the fence. The label read, “Keep out of reach of children” and should have been stored at least 5ft above floor level.”
Sep 4, 2025: unannounced1 violation
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A safe outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“The double gate in this area is not secure – easily opens even with a chain attached. The fence by the double gate is slack/loose making it unstable. These hazards need to be immediately addressed by replacing or repairing.”
Apr 2, 2025: unannounced5 violations
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A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.
“This information was not available in space #6; the last posted activity plan was dated for February 2025.”
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A safe indoor environment was not provided for the children.
“The fence in several areas is not secured to the ground on the bottom – there is space between the ground and fencing that a child could possibly get themselves or a body part stuck. Other areas of the fence are slack/loose making it unstable. The back gate in this area is not secure – easily opens even with a chain attached.”
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A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“This information was not on file for substitute caregiver in space #8.”
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Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.
“There was not a fire drill recorded on the record for March 2025.”
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Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.
“This information was not completed for bus driver.”
Sep 10, 2024: unannounced1 violation
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Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)
“Menus for all meals and snacks were not current. The current lunch menu was not posted; the menu posted was from last week dated, September 2-6, 2024.”
Sep 3, 2024: unannounced7 violations
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A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“This information was not available for new principal.”
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All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.
“A complete file for new principal was not available for review.”
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Children used space that was not approved.
“Facility has a new fenced outdoor play area and children were observed playing in new fenced play area today.”
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Outdoor play area did not provide an area that is shaded.
“Children were observed playing on a new fenced outdoor play area and there was no shaded area provided.”
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Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed.
“New Principal was hired for this school year, 2024 -2025, has not completed the criminal background check process.”
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Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)
“The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not 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. AC unit was leaking and children were observed playing in the liquid that appeared to be water. The liquid/water was puddled; standing water can be a breeding ground for pests.”
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The operator did not maintain the manufacturer’s instructions on file electronically or in paper format for any outdoor play structures purchased or installed on or after September 1, 2017.
“This information for the new stationary equipment in the new fenced outdoor play area was not available.”
Feb 14, 2024: unannounced1 violation
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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.
“A child in Space 7 did not have a medical action plan on file and available for review for the inhaler provided for them.”
All 7 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2026 | Announced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Sep 4, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Sep 10, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Sep 3, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 7 violations cited |
| Feb 14, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Dec 14, 2023 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Apr 17, 2026.
- Licensed for 60 children, ages 3 through 5.
- Not enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 71000270.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Has North Carolina acted against it?
- DCDEE says it has taken no action against this facility, for its current licence and location, in the last three years.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
Who does the caring?
- North Carolina’s page gives a staff-to-child ratio policy as the provider reports it, unverified by DCDEE, so it isn’t shown.
Who owns it?
- Owner, as North Carolina lists it: Pender County Schools.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How is it rated?
- Star Rated License: 5 stars of five.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 33 child care providers in Pender County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 4; this one had 18.
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations. Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| Discovery Place Child Care Center Inc. | 8 |
| Topsail Montessori | 3 |
| Rainbow Garden Preschool & Extended Care | 4 |
| South Topsail Elementary Preschool | 7 |
| Hampstead Preschool of the Arts | 9 |
| Surf City Elementary School Preschool This child care provider | 18 |
| Rising Stars of Surf City | 1 |
| Kid and Play Day Care | 0 |
| Green’s Day Care | 4 |
| Nanny Home Child Care | 1 |
| Children of the World | 4 |
| Malpass Corner Elementary School-Preschool | 2 |
What the record doesn’t say
- North Carolina doesn’t show a visit summary tied to an open child maltreatment investigation while the case is active, and shows an administrative action only after its 30-day appeal period, without saying what it was.
- DCDEE’s descriptions of violations are shown in its own words; a description that names or may name a person isn’t shown. Visit summaries, the consultants’ full reports, aren’t read.
- North Carolina’s page lists the provider’s own features (transport, ratios) as furnished by the provider and unverified by DCDEE, so they aren’t shown.
Sources
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North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE), Child Care Facility Search (ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov): licences, DCDEE visits and violations.
Checked Oct 21, 2026. Updated daily. nc.gov terms: copying and distribution for non-commercial use, without alteration, citing the source. Shown free and never sold; DCDEE’s own words are quoted.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). North Carolina’s own record is on ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Nov 3, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.