Bright Horizons Children’s Ctr’s at Shepherd’s VI
A child care center in Apex, North Carolina 27502
2051 Shepherd Vineyard Drive, Apex, North Carolina 27502. (919) 363-4556.
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
- 19 violations in the last three years
- Jul 162026 the latest visit on record
- 144 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?
12 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Jul 16, 2026.
19 violations cited in the last three years, 19 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
19 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 16, 2026: unannounced3 violations
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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.
“During my observation there were 3 expired medications that was not returned to the parent.”
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Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule.
“During the review of the medications, five authorization forms were found to have expired. The expiration dates included one form that expired in November 2025, one form that expired in May 2026, and three forms that expired in June 2026.”
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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 last fire inspection was completed on 6/13/25.”
Aug 14, 2025: unannounced5 violations
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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 gallon container of hand soap was stored in an unlock cabinet.”
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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.
“A container of diaper cream expired on January-2025.”
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Parent’s medication authorization did not include required information.
“A child’s authorization form expired on 6/1/25.”
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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 the toddler classroom a plastic bag was accessible to children.”
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Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“The last documented emergency drill was conducted on 3/5/25.”
Jan 14, 2025: unannounced8 violations
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A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.
“In space #9 the activity plan was dated 1/6/25.”
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“A staff purse was hanging on an unlocked door less than five feet, a key was left in a closet door with chemical, also chemical were stored in an unlock bathroom cabinet accessible to children.”
-
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.
“In space #8 aerosol spray was stored in an unlock cabinet.”
-
Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container.
“Benadryl was stored in an emergency bag in one of the classroom.”
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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 documented playground drill was conducted on 11/25/25.”
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Parent’s medication authorization did not include required information.
“Nine authorization form did not have all the required information.”
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Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“The last documented emergency drill was conducted on 9/27/24.”
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The written feeding plan was not modified as the child’s needs changed.
“Three feeding plans were not updated to meet the child’s nutritional needs.”
Aug 13, 2024: unannounced1 violation
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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.
“Two container of aquaphor cream was not labeled with child’s name, authorization form did not have the required information, a child no longer attending the facility medication was not return to parent/discarded.”
Jun 20, 2024: unannounced2 violations
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Children were not adequately supervised at all times.
“One 6/7/24 a child unattended left the playground area in an unsecured gate while another child was allowed to enter the building alone to use the bathroom.”
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Gates to the fenced outdoor play area did not remain closed while children occupied the area.
“Staff members failed to ensure that a gate exiting the playground was securely closed which allowed the child to leave the area unattended.”
All 12 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 16, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Dec 30, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Sep 11, 2025 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Aug 14, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Announced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 14, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 8 violations cited |
| Oct 31, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Aug 13, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Jul 25, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 2 violations cited |
| May 14, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Feb 15, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Five Star Center License since Sep 23, 2019.
- Licensed for 144 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 92000836.
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: Bright Horizons Children’s Centers 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: 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 470 child care providers in Wake County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 19.
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 |
|---|---|
| Bright Horizons Children’s Ctr’s at Shepherd’s VI This child care provider | 19 |
| Karen’s Kids Home Child Care | 0 |
| The Goddard School of Apex | 19 |
| Apex Peak Schools, Inc. | 8 |
| Bright Start Child Care LLC | 4 |
| Creative Schools of Apex | 10 |
| The Growing Years Learning Center - Apex | 20 |
| Everbrook Academy | 15 |
| Children’s Lighthouse of Apex | 16 |
| Kindercare Education | 39 |
| Apex Friendship Elementary | 0 |
| The Learning Experience Apex | 20 |
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.