Steps & Stages Children’s Center
A child care center in Wendell, North Carolina 27591
4690 Wendell Blvd, Wendell, North Carolina 27591. (919) 365-0028.
- administrative action in the last three years
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
- 59 violations in the last three years
- Jun 232026 the latest visit on record
- 26 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?
21 DCDEE visits in the last three years, the latest on Jun 23, 2026.
59 violations cited in the last three years, 59 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
59 violations in 8 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 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.
Jun 23, 2026: unannounced5 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. A new employee (NS) hired in April 2026 was not listed on the ABCMS portal.”
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All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division.
“Two employees (JG) and (NS) did not have complete files. The consultant was told the documents were on the owners cell phone. These documents must be accessible to review.”
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Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider.
“A child that was transported up until June 11, 2026 did not have a current permission to transport permission slip. The child’s permission slip expired August 26, 2024.”
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Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance.
“Daily attendance had not been taken in both classrooms for June 23, 2026.”
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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.
“Three out of eighteen children’s arrival and departure times were not completed. Three of them showed arrival times, but did not show departure times.”
Apr 15, 2026: unannounced1 violation
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“Upon entering the building at the front entrance. The door is surrounded by a porch with 3 ft. high lattice and a self-closing gate. The door to the gate needs adjusting so it will swing back into place vs. lifting and pulling/pushing it to open/close.”
Mar 3, 2026: unannounced1 violation
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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. The ABCMS portal has three names in the portal and must be updated immediately with five additional employees.”
Dec 2, 2025: unannounced12 violations
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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.
“Two infants did not have a signed and dated safe sleep policy on file.”
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“An unlocked cabinet located in the hallway had teacher supplies that should be kept away from children.”
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A written statement from each child’s parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available.
“The infants take buggy rides in the parking lot. Two infants did not have a signed and dated permission to play outside the fenced in area form on file. This is a repeat violation.”
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Accurate records were not maintained for all children.
“One child’s file (SS) was incomplete. The file was missing the following: physical, discipline policy, summary of the law, notification of smoking/tobacco restriction & receipt of facilities policies.”
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All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.
“The owner/director’s file was not accessible during the visit. She stated it was located at the other facility.”
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Caregiver or team of caregivers were not assigned to each infant or toddler as primary caregiver.
“Primary caregivers were not assigned to the infants and toddlers.”
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Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually.
“Five (5) employees emergency information form could not be located during the visit.”
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Each child’s bed, cot, or 2” mat was not individually assigned and identified.
“The cot list in space one (1) was not current. Twelve children were listed on the posted cot list, and more than twelve children were listed on the posted cot list.”
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Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete.
“The pull station was not used for the fire drill on November 26, 2025. The method used was teachers clapping their hands.”
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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.
“Diapers were stored in plastic bags, and a plastic bag was observed under the unlocked diaper changing table.”
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Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.
“One employee (TCD) that started work on 2-18-19 did not have proof of medication training.”
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The center’s safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily.
“A safe sleep policy was not posted in the classroom used for the infants.”
Jun 10, 2025: unannounced5 violations
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“1. On the playground used for toddlers, the grass along the fence line and gate was 12” to 15” tall. 2. Pine straw was observed on the playground and must be removed. 3. Vines were observed growing along the fence near the storage building. 4. A thorn bush was observed in a raised garden container. 5. In space one (1) adult size scissors and Ziploc bags were accessible to children under three years old. These were removed from the classroom during the visit.”
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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’s CPR expired on 2-10-25.”
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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’s 1st Aid expired 2-10-25.”
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Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)
“The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days and every five years. One employee’s training was completed on 4-16-19 and expired 4-16-24; her current certificate could not be located during the visit.”
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Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
“SIP and lockdown drills were completed every four months vs. three months.”
Dec 16, 2024: unannounced5 violations
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“The chain link has come away from the bottom and middle of the fence and a gap about six inches is in the fence, leaving the possibility for a small child to work their way through it and leave the playground.”
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A written statement from each child’s parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available.
“One child did not have permission from the parent to be outside the fenced in area.”
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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.
“An infant woke up at 12:25 and fell asleep at 1:40. From 1:40 to 2:15 safe sleep charts were not completed.”
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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.
“One child was missing this signed and dated document indicating the parents were given the operation policies.”
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The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction.
“One child did not have this signed and dated document in it’s file.”
Jun 27, 2024: unannounced3 violations
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All records required were not available for review by a representative of the Division.
“A child’s file could not be located for review by DCDEE staff on 6-27-24.”
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Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance.
“Record of daily attendance was not on file for the preschool classroom for 6-26-24.”
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Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.
“An incident log was not on file.”
Jan 8, 2024: unannounced18 violations
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“A section of the outdoor playground fence that faces the busy highway needs to be secured at the bottom. The chain link has come away from the bottom leaving the possibility for a small child to work their way from under the fence over time. There was also a metal rivet which connects the black borders around climbing structure which needs to be hammered down.”
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A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.
“One staff member did not have a criminal background qualification letter on file. It was verified in the CBC database that the employee is qualified until 9-7-27 but the qualification letter was not on file at the center.”
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All staff did not review the center’s EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff.
“Documentation of the review was not maintained on file. One staff member did not have documentation on file that the EPR plan was reviewed with them.”
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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. Two staff did not have documentation on file of current CPR completion.”
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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. Two staff did not have documentation on file that First Aid had been completed and was current.”
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All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.
“Two staff did not have a current annual health questionnaire on file.”
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Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff.
“One employee did not have an application on file and one other employee did not have a date anywhere on their application.”
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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 did not have a Staff Medical Report on file.”
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Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually.
“Two staff did not have Emergency Information on file which was current.”
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Each employee’s personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies.
“Two staff did not have statements that they received a job description and that operational and personnel policies were reviewed. One additional staff member did not have a date on their documentation.”
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Each employee’s personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan.
“Three staff did not have current staff development plans on file and two staff did not have current evaluations on file.”
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Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.
“Two staff did not have documentation on file that the required topics were covered within first 2 weeks.”
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New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks.
“Three staff did not have documentation on file that the required orientation topics were covered within first 6 weeks.”
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On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months.
“One staff member did not have a TB test on file.”
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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 conducted on 1-5-23.”
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Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment.
“Three staff did not renew the required health & Safety trainings. Some staff also did not have completion certificates for trainings which were documented as completed.”
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The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.
“One staff member did not have documentation on file that the EMC plan was reviewed with them.”
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The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person’s file.
“One staff member did not have documentation on file the policy was reviewed and one staff member did not date the documented page.”
Jan 5, 2024: unannounced9 violations
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A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children.
“A staff member failed to provide adequate supervision which resulted in a child exiting the center, running onto a road, stopping traffic.”
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At least one child care provider, who has completed ITS-SIDS training was not present in the infant room, while children were in care.
“A staff member failed to complete ITS-SIDS training prior to providing care for infants.”
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Children were not adequately supervised at all times.
“A staff member failed to provide adequate supervision when a two-year-old child exited the facility without the staff member’s knowledge.”
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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.
“Staff members failed to ensure attendance records for children are being maintained on a daily basis.”
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Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child’s developmental needs.
“Two staff members engaged in a verbal confrontation in the presence of children in care.”
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Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met.
“One staff member provided care to twelve two - four-year-old children.”
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Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)
“Corporal punishment was used. [Omit item 0903 for religious sponsored centers operating under GS 110-106 with an exemption on file with the Division.] A staff member grabbed and pulled an eight-year-old child into the bathroom at the center and spanked the child.”
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Screen time was offered to children under three years of age.
“A staff member provided screen time for two-year-old children.”
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There was a substantiation of child maltreatment.
“On April 23, 2024, the Division substantiated maltreatment.”
All 21 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Mar 3, 2026 | Unannounced visit | 1 violation cited |
| Dec 2, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 12 violations cited |
| Jun 10, 2025 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Dec 16, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 5 violations cited |
| Dec 16, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Nov 25, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Oct 11, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Sep 16, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Aug 6, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jun 27, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 3 violations cited |
| Jun 26, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| May 10, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Apr 2, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Feb 29, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 23, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 10, 2024 | Unannounced visit | No violations cited |
| Jan 8, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 18 violations cited |
| Jan 5, 2024 | Unannounced visit | 9 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Care Center, holding a Four Star Center License since Apr 7, 2022.
- Licensed for 26 children, ages 0 through 12.
- Enrolled in North Carolina’s subsidized child care program.
- North Carolina’s licence number: 92003366.
- Restriction: Other - Children under age 1 only able to use space #3.
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 issued one or more administrative actions for this facility in the past three years; North Carolina’s page doesn’t say what they were, and shows one only after its 30-day appeal period.
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: Steps & Stages Children’s 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 470 child care providers in Wake County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 5; this one had 59.
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 |
|---|---|
| A New Beginning Child Care | 3 |
| Abc Land, Inc. | 13 |
| Abc Land, Inc. II | 5 |
| Central Baptist Church Preschool | 6 |
| Open Arms Child Care of NC LLC | 0 |
| Steps & Stages Children’s Center This child care provider | 59 |
| Lake Myra Elementary | 3 |
| Kindercare Learning Center Wendell Falls | 18 |
| Barbara’s Home Daycare LLC | 1 |
| Kids Educational Center #2, Inc. | 25 |
| Stella Lowery Small Day Care Home | 6 |
| Heritage Christian Academy Daycare | 1 |
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
-
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.