Kids at Play Childcare Center, LLC.
A child care center in Ellenboro, North Carolina 28040
126 Piney Mountain Road, Ellenboro, North Carolina 28040. (828) 453-0809.
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
- 39 violations in the last three years
- Oct 152026 the latest visit on record
- 36 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?
8 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Oct 15, 2026.
39 violations cited in the last three years, 39 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
39 violations in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited Jul 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.
Jul 7, 2026: unannounced10 violations
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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. One staff member employed on 10/18/21, had a CPR certification on file that expired 9/2025.”
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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. One staff member employed on 10/18/21, had a First Aid certification on file that expired 9/2025.”
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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.
“In space #2 on a safe sleep log for an eleven month old child there were ten documented sleep records that did not include a date that the sleep record was completed.”
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Children were not adequately supervised at all times.
“In space #2, one child eight months of age sitting in a bouncy seat was left unattended and unsupervised between 10:28am-10:32am while the staff member went into another space separated by a wall and gate, where the infant could not be seen or heard, to change another child’s diaper.”
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Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met.
“In space #3 between 9:23am-9:35am, there were four children three years of age, four children four years of age, one child five years of age, one child six years of age, and one child eleven years of age, totaling eleven children being cared for by one staff member.”
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Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.
“In space #1, one tube of Gentle Steps A & D ointment labelled for a child two years of age, did not have a permission to administer medication form.”
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Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)
“Children were allowed to be bare-footed while outdoors when equipment or surfacing was too hot to touch. On outdoor space #3 two children two years of age were walking bare-footed on the sand surfacing that was hot to the touch throughout the outdoor play time.”
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The activity plan did not provide at least 4 different activities daily listed in GS 110-91(12): art/creative play; books; blocks; manipulatives; and family living and dramatic play, including one of which is outdoors if weather conditions permit.
“In space #2, the activity plan dated 7/6-7/10 did not have any activity listed for books for the week.”
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The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.
“On outdoor space #2, the mulch in the fall zone border around the anchored play structure measured three inches deep.”
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When screen time was provided to school-aged children, it was not offered as a free-choice activity; not used to meet a developmental goal; was not limited to 30 minutes per day and no more than a total of two and a half hours per week, per child; and/or was not documented on a cumulative log or the activity plan that is available for review.
“In space #2, two school age children were using individual screen devices and the screen time was not recorded on a cumulative log or the current activity plan.”
Sep 5, 2025: unannounced9 violations
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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. Five current employees are not listed on the facility roster in the ABCMS provider portal.”
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Application for enrollment did not include all required information.
“One infant enrolled 7/11/25 did not have fears, behavioral characteristics, or health care concerns listed on the application.”
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Daily records of arrival and departure times for children at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.
“On 8/6/25, 8/25/25, and 8/27/25, one child was not signed out of care.”
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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.
“One child, one year of age, had an incident report dated 1/21/25 on file that did not include the time the parent was notified and by whom.”
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Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission.
“One infant enrolled in care on 7/11/25 did not have a medical exam on file.”
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Parent’s statement includes the child’s name and date of enrollment and the date the parent signed the statement.
“One child enrolled 6/2/25 and one child enrolled 7/11/25 did not have the child’s date of enrollment on the parent’s statement regarding discipline policy review.”
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Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.
“One staff member employed 3/13/24 had verification of completed health and safety trainings dated August 26, 2025 on file.”
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The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.
“One staff member employed 3/13/24 had verification of the last review of the Emergency Medical Care Plan dated 3/13/24 on file.”
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The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.
“One staff member employed 3/13/24 had verification of the last review of the EPR plan dated 3/13/24 on file.”
Apr 2, 2025: unannounced4 violations
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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 #2, there were 3 bottles without dates on the label.”
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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.
“In space #1 one leftover tube of A & D Ointment, labeled for a two-year-old child, did not have a current authorization for administration on file.”
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Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.
“The last playground inspection on file was dated 2/28/25.”
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Science and nature activities were not available weekly to each group.
“In space #1, there was no science activity offered for the week of 3/31/25-4/4/25.”
Sep 19, 2024: unannounced11 violations
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A child’s file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information.
“One child enrolled 9/19/24, did not have a signed acknowledgement of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy on file.”
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A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center.
“One child enrolled 9/19/24, did not have a signed acknowledgement that the safe sleep policy was discussed on or before enrollment.”
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A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center.
“One child enrolled 9/19/24, did not have a signed acknowledgement that the Summary of the Law had been given to the parent.”
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Application did not include the names of individuals to whom the center may release the child, as authorized by the person who signs the application.
“The application for a child enrolled 9/19/24 did not show the name of those to whom the center is authorized to release the child.”
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Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review.
“On 9/9/24, one child was not signed out of care. On 9/10/24, one child was not signed out of care. On 9/16/24, two children were not signed into care. On 9/18/24, one child was not signed out of care.”
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Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.
“On the anchored play structure steps, there was peeling plastic coating that allowed exposed metal with sharp edges to be accessible to children.”
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Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child’s first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes.
“Operational policies had not been discussed with the parent of a child that enrolled 9/19/24.”
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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 #1, two children, two years of age, were wearing teething/sensory necklaces with small beads that could be torn apart and swallowed by children under three years of age.”
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Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child’s file.
“One child enrolled 9/19/24, did not have a signed discipline acknowledgement on file.”
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The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.
“The mulch around the anchored play structure measured 4 inches tall.”
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The written feeding plan did not include the child’s name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center.
“One child enrolled 9/19/24, did not have a feeding plan on file.”
Jun 6, 2024: unannounced5 violations
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All group leaders were not at least 18 years of age, have a high school diploma, and/or had not completed Basic School Age Care (BSAC) training.
“One staff member, hired 1/2/24 that was working in the classroom with school age children, had not completed BSAC training.”
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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.
“One staff member hired 11/8/23 had a medical exam on file dated 4/30/24. One staff member hired 1/2/24 had a medical exam on file dated 2/26/24.”
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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.
“One package of Iproatopium Bromide and Albuterol Sulfate .05mg and 3mg expired 8/2023. One Proventil inhaler expired 5/11/23.”
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Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements.
“The last playground inspection recorded was on 4/25/24.”
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Refrigerator(s) did not maintain a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below.
“The kitchen refrigerator did not have a thermometer to verify the temperature was 45 degrees or below.”
All 8 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 2026 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Jul 16, 2026 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 10 violations cited |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 9 violations cited |
| Apr 2, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 4 violations cited |
| Sep 19, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 11 violations cited |
| Jun 6, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Four Star Center License since Jan 18, 2019.
- Licensed for 36 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 81000292.
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: Kids at Play Childcare Center, LLC..
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: 4 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 23 child care providers in Rutherford County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 7; this one had 39.
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 |
|---|---|
| Ellenboro Elementary Preschool | 33 |
| Kids at Play Childcare Center, LLC. This child care provider | 39 |
| Rise and Shine Academy Inc. | 37 |
| Carver Head Start | 41 |
| Tiny Tots Day Care | 7 |
| Pinnacle Elementary More at Four Program | 6 |
| Sunshine Elementary Preschool | 7 |
| The Learning Tree | 3 |
| Spindale Elementary Preschool | 4 |
| Harris Elementary Preschool | 4 |
| Children’s Development Academy, Inc. | 21 |
| Forest City-Dunbar Preschool | 25 |
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.