Highland Creek Kindercare

Children did not wash their hands upon arrival at the center, after each visit to the toilet, before eating, before and after water activity play, after outside play, and after handling animals or animal cages.

“Following outdoor play the children did not wash their hands before sitting down at a table and participating in tabletop activities.”

Rule Children did not wash their hands upon arrival at the center, after each visit to the toilet, before eating, before and after water activity play, after outside play, and after handling animals or animal cages.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“Review of fifteen children’s files found four of the fifteen did not have a medical on file for review.”

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 18, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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. A fire inspection was not requested prior to the August 6th expiration date. Last inspection was August 6th, 2025.”

Rule Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Aug 13, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Balloons were accessible to children.

“Mylar balloons were in the building accessible to the children during the visit that were left out from an event at the facility the night before. The balloons were removed during the visit,”

Rule Balloons were accessible to children.. Corrected during the inspection.

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.

“Sleep charts reviewed during the visit in both infant room A and infant room B were not completed for naps that occurred on 8/25/2025.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 5, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member’s individual personnel file.

“Review of thirteen staff files found one staff person did not have a current TB test on file and one did not have a current medical on file for review.”

Rule Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 5, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Children were not adequately supervised at all times.

“A four-year-old enrolled preschool child was left unsupervised for approximately forty-five minutes when the class left the room to attend a special event in the gym. The required CSR (name-to-face) forms were not completed so the teachers were unaware that the child was left behind.”

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: Jun 18, 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.

“The last lockdown was conducted on September 6th, 2024. A lockdown or shelter in place should have been conducted by December 6th, 2024.”

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 20, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.

“Three staff were confirmed by DCDEE as qualified but did not have their qualification letter on file for review.”

Rule A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.

“Three hired staff did not have a file and additional staff files had missing paperwork such as (health questionnaires, annual in-service training and special trainings).”

Rule All staff records, except financial records, were not made available for review.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.

“The assistant director’s criminal record qualification was confirmed valid via phone call to DCDEE criminal records unit but the letter was not on file for review.”

Rule A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“The facilities kitchen door had the key in the door making it 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: Oct 10, 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.

“Since the new director took the position four months ago playground safety inspections have not been completed. The new assistant director took the required training and will take over the task of completing the requirement.”

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: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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 completed was October 25th, 2022. The fire inspector was contacted and conducted the visit today.”

Rule Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Rule violated (DCDEE’s description below)

“Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care. chips and cupcakes were observed on a shelf in the staff lounge with the door open accessible/visible to the children.”

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: Oct 10, 2024. 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.

“The last shelter in place or lockdown drill was conducted on February 26th, 2024.”

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: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not wash their hands thoroughly before beginning work, before/after handling food, before bottle feeding or serving to other children, after toileting or handling body fluids, after diaper changing and after handling soiled items.

“An infant teacher was observed cleaning a child’s nose with a tissue and did not wash her hands following her actions.”

Rule Staff did not wash their hands thoroughly before beginning work, before/after handling food, before bottle feeding or serving to other children, after toileting or handling body fluids, after diaper changing and after handling soiled items.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.

“The EPR plan was not available for review and not accessible by the director. Contact information was provided to access the plan.”

Rule The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 10, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Children were not adequately supervised at all times.

“An enrolled five-year-old child was left in the classroom bathroom for approximately six minutes as the class left for outdoor play and the child was not marked on the name to face attendance log.”

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: Mar 22, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met.

“In space #6 there was a ratio of 2:29 for a multi-age group of children from three through five. Based on the ratio for three year old’s the maximum group size is 25 so the room was over maximum by four enrolled children.”

Rule Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Jan 4, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care.

“During the walkthrough to document enrollment a teacher had Fritos and what appeared to be cheese dip that on the table where she was working with the enrolled children.”

Rule Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence 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: Jan 4, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A violation was found for which there is no item number.

“This a violation of sanitation Sanitation rule 15A NCAC.2831 and .2832 effective control of rodents, insects and other vermin: premises free of vermin harborage and breeding areas. Exterminator has been contacted on several occasions and the interior of the building has been treated due to discovery of mouse droppings, a corporate request has been made and awaiting approval to treat from the outside to rectify the problem.”

Rule A violation was found for which there is no item number.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Dec 19, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met.

“Review of attendance records for the morning hours of classrooms open at 6:30 am found two classrooms out of compliance with staff/child ratios. One room with a 1:19 ratio with children as young as two in care. A second room with a 1:24 staff child ratio with the youngest child age 3 in care.”

Rule Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Dec 19, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care.

“A bottle of Hawaiian punch was observed on the shelf in the gym where children were in care.”

Rule Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence 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: Dec 19, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Toys and other mouth-contact surfaces were not cleaned and sanitized daily when used or cleaned more frequently if visibly dirty.

“An infant child tossed their pacifier on the floor and the teacher was observed picking it up and giving it back to the child without cleaning and sanitizing it first.”

Rule Toys and other mouth-contact surfaces were not cleaned and sanitized daily when used or cleaned more frequently if visibly dirty.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Dec 19, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.