Little Sprouts Academy: the Hocutt Center

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 (5) staff have not been linked to the Provider Portal for the facility.”

Rule A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Sep 3, 2026. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking.

“A staff member handled a child in a manner that resulted in fingernail marks on both upper arms, involving the front and back surfaces of each arm, and a red mark to the back of the neck.”

Rule A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking..

There was a substantiation of child maltreatment.

“On September 22, 2026, The Division of Child Development and Early Education substantiated child maltreatment.”

Rule There was a substantiation of child maltreatment..

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. Two staff did not have proof of annual review of the EPR plan on file.”

Rule All staff did not review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 6, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Parent’s medication authorization did not include required information.

“Two tubes of diaper cream for children enrolled in the Toddler classroom did not have current permission slips on file.”

Rule Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.. Corrected during the inspection.

The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.

“Two staff did not have documentation of annual review of the EMC plan.”

Rule The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 6, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.

“One new staff member who transferred from a sister site did not have a current annual health questionnaire on file.”

Rule All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.. Corrected during the inspection.

Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years.

“Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. One new staff member who transferred from a sister site did not have SIDS and was assigned to the Infant/Toddler classrooms.”

Rule Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Apr 8, 2025. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“One staff member who transferred from a sister site did not have current Emergency Information on file.”

Rule 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.. Corrected during the inspection.

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

“Two sections of the chain link fence on the outdoor playground were observed sagging at the top during my visit.”

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 21, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.

“Two staff did not have an updated annual health questionnaire on file.”

Rule All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 21, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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 members did not have updated emergency contact information on file during my visit.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 21, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics.

“One staff member did not renew the required Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment training prior to expiration.”

Rule Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Oct 21, 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 was conducted on 9-18-23.”

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 15, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Staff working in part-time, full-day or track out school age care programs required to complete BSAC training, did not complete it within three months of employment.

“One staff member assigned to the school age children as Group Leader did not have BSAC.”

Rule Staff working in part-time, full-day or track out school age care programs required to complete BSAC training, did not complete it within three months of employment.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Mar 11, 2024. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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

“There was a pair of sharp scissors stored less than 5 feet from the floor and a staff member’s backpack purse sitting on a wooden chair accessible to the children in the Toddler classroom. I also observed a tube of Aveeno hand cream on top of the cubby area of the Toddler classroom which was not labeled as staff.”

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: Nov 27, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.

“The sink bucket was missing from the Dramatic Play sink in the 3-5 year old classroom.”

Rule All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 27, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“A child was observed using the potty but did not wash their hands after finishing before returning back to the play area.”

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: Nov 27, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

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.

“One classroom did not have arrival and departure times in the classroom during my visit.”

Rule 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.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 27, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.

Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.

“Three staff did not have documentation of completion of orientation required for the first 2 weeks of employment.”

Rule Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas.. Correction date, as North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) recorded it: Nov 27, 2023. 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.

“A staff member was observed assisting a child go to the potty but did not wash their hands before returning to the play area.”

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: Nov 27, 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.

“I observed two instances of children mouthing toys and the toys were not removed from the children and placed in dirty toy bins.”

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: Nov 27, 2023. Correction verified: by a letter from the provider.