Little Steps Academy

A licensed child care center in Fort Worth, Texas 76112

3121 Forest Ave, Fort Worth, Texas 76112. (817) 881-2501.

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Texas’s own record is on its child care search.

The short answer

Record last released by Texas HHSC on Nov 5, 2026.

14 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in Tarrant County: 3
1 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
17 inspections on record
3-Star Texas Rising Star rating

The last 24 months 14 deficiencies in 8 months of the last 36. Last cited May 2026. Most serious: High. Every month

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.
Texas’s risk levels: Texas gives each child care deficiency a risk level, by how likely it is to harm a child: Low, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High or High. High is its most serious. Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation.
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?

14 deficiencies cited in the last three years

The middle of the 920 child care providers in Tarrant County had 3.

17 inspections on record. The latest, on Sep 2, 2026: no violation found.

Rated High by Texas: Licensed Operations Required Fees, at the assessment on May 15, 2026

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

When those deficiencies happened

14 deficiencies in 8 months of the last 36. Last cited May 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.

14 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
	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.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most

Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.

Each deficiency, in Texas’s words

Grouped by visit, newest first, with the risk level Texas gave it, from Low to High.

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

May 15, 2026: assessment1 deficiency

Licensed Operations Required Fees

“Operation has not paid background check fee.”

Rule 745.509. High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 15, 2026. Correction verified: May 27, 2026.

Apr 17, 2026: report to the state2 deficiencies

Infant Daily Report - Times and Amount of Food

“Based on the investigation findings, this standard was reviewed and found to be in non-compliance with The Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers. The operation was not providing an infant daily report to the parents of infants ages 0-17 months old noting the times and amount of food the infant was ingesting. The operation has since been providing this information to the parents of the children in the infant classroom.”

Rule 746.2431(2). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 15, 2026. Correction verified: May 15, 2026.
Infant Daily Report - Times of Diaper Changes

“Based on the investigation findings, this standard was reviewed and found to be in non-compliance with The Minimum Standards for Child Care Centers. The operation was not providing an infant daily report to the parents of infants ages 0-17 months old noting the times of diaper changes. The operation has since been providing this information to the parents of the children in the infant classroom.”

Rule 746.2431(3). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 15, 2026. Correction verified: May 15, 2026.

Jan 2, 2026: inspection2 deficiencies

Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

“The outdoor play space has three active ant piles and thorny vines around the fence.”

Rule 746.3701. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 9, 2026. Correction verified: Jan 7, 2026.
Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired

“The a.c unit is accessible to children.”

Rule 746.4751(c). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 9, 2026. Correction verified: Jan 7, 2026.

Jul 11, 2025: report to the state2 deficiencies

Director’s Absence - Caregiver in Charge Knows in Charge

“There was no person in charge. The deficiency is related to a DFPS Abuse/Neglect investigation.”

Rule 746.1013(a)(1). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Sep 17, 2025. Correction verified: Oct 2, 2025.
Director’s Absence - Caregiver in Charge Knows Responsibilities

“Director did not leave a person in charge in their absence. The deficiency is related to a DFPS Abuse/Neglect investigation.”

Rule 746.1013(a)(2). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Sep 17, 2025. Correction verified: Oct 2, 2025.

Jan 16, 2025: assessment1 deficiency

Report Number of Employees

“The provider did not report the number of employees that left in 2024 in the allotted timeframe required.”

Rule 746.303(b). Medium Low, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 24, 2025. Correction verified: Jan 27, 2025.

Dec 31, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies

Training Requirements for Employees, Caregivers, and Directors - Pre-Service Training

“At the time of the inspection, 2 caregivers did not have pre-service training and did not have the 2 years od required experince in a regulated center.”

Rule 746.1301(a)(2)(A). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 31, 2025. Correction verified: Feb 10, 2025.
Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment -Sufficient Number of Toys

“Infant room had a very little selection of toys available for infant engagement.”

Rule 746.2405(5). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 10, 2025. Correction verified: Feb 10, 2025.
Crib Mattress Cover - Snug-Fitting and Thin

“The sheets on the infant cribs were not tight fitting and created an entanglement hazard.”

Rule 746.2415(c)(2). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 10, 2025. Correction verified: Feb 10, 2025.
Written Activity Plan - Child-Initiated - Equipment/Materials In Reach

“The classrooms had little to no toys available for children to initiate play. Toys were put up out of reach and had to be retrived by a caregiver.”

Rule 746.2206(3)(A). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 10, 2025. Correction verified: Feb 10, 2025.

Feb 27, 2024: inspection1 deficiency

Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Inspect Daily

“The playground has multiple tripping hazards including PVC pipes and black rubber covering for the water pipe. There are also holes on the side of the building that need to be filled and leveled out to avoid risk of tripping.”

Rule 746.4751(a). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Mar 4, 2024. Correction verified: Feb 29, 2024.

Jan 17, 2024: assessment1 deficiency

Report Number of Employees

“Report not submitted as of 1/16/2023.”

Rule 746.303(b). Medium Low, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Jan 18, 2024. Correction verified: Jan 18, 2024.

30 deficiencies older than three years

Oct 12, 2023: inspection12 deficiencies

AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation

“A caregiver with a pending background check was present and alone with children.”

Rule 745.641. High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 12, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children’s names and ages

“A caregiver did not know the ages of the children they were responsible for.”

Rule 746.1205(a)(3). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 13, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Employee Handwashing After Diapering a Child

“A caregiver did not wash their hands after diapering a child.”

Rule 746.3415(4). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 13, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Children Handwashing After Toileting or Diapering

“A child did not have their hands washed after diapering.”

Rule 746.3417(3). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 13, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

“There were loose cords hanging from a TV in the classroom.”

Rule 746.3701. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Food Allergy Emergency Plan Signed by Parents and Health Care Professional

“Two children with diagnosed food allergies did not have their food allergy emergency plan on file.”

Rule 746.3819. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 20, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Posting Requirements - Child’s Food Allergy Plans

“Two children’s allergies were not posted in their classrooms or in the kitchen where food gets prepared.”

Rule 746.403(b). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Required Admission Information - Emergency Contact

“A child’s enrollment form did not have their emergency contact’s address.”

Rule 746.605(6). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Written Activity Plans - Plan Followed by Caregiver

“Caregivers are expected to follow the activity plan to ensure consistency in the children’s daily activities.”

Rule 746.2203(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Individual Cot, Bed, or Mat for Each Walking Child Through 4 Years of Age

“A walking child was placed in a crib with a crib bed that was too high, causing risks of the child standing up and falling out, climbing out, and injuring themselves.”

Rule 746.4503(a). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 13, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Children’s Records - Health Statement

“Three children’s files were missing the healthcare professional statement.”

Rule 746.603(a)(3). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 20, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.
Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Employees’ Attendance

“Two staff members did not have current attendance records on file.”

Rule 746.801(5). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2023. Correction verified: Oct 19, 2023.

Aug 29, 2023: inspection7 deficiencies

Activities for Infants - Not in Restrictive Device for more than 15 Minutes

“It was observed three infants on high chairs for more that 15 minutes.”

Rule 746.2417(2)(B). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Meal preparation, except when 12 or fewer children are in care

“It was observed the permit holder supervising and providing care for the infant room and an older children’s room while serving meals to the older children group.”

Rule 746.1203(3)(B). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Infant Care Area - Not Used as a Passageway

“It was observed children over the age of 2 years old, walking from another room to the infant room.”

Rule 746.2403(6). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Infant Care Area Furnishings and Equipment - Adult-sized Chair

“It was observed 3 infants unsupervised while a caregiver was in a room adjacent supervising another group of children.”

Rule 746.2405(1). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Safety - Areas Free From Hazards

“It was observed a child having access to an electrical cable that was connected to a wall outlet.”

Rule 746.3701. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Sign-in and Sign-out Tracking System

“Tracking system did not have a complete information of the incoming children, did not showed the time of arrival and age of the children in care.”

Rule 746.631(a). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Child/Caregiver Ratio - Opening/Closing

“The operation had 22 children in care with one caregiver, the youngest child was under 12 months old and the oldest was around 11 years old.”

Rule 746.1615. Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.

Aug 28, 2023: report to the state3 deficiencies

Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity

“The supervision provide did not ensure each child s safety and well-being based on physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child s on going activity as appropriate.”

Rule 746.1205(a)(4). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 29, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Basic Requirements for Infants - Never Unsupervised

“Infants were left unsupervised during opening hours.”

Rule 746.2401(7). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Sep 1, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.
Complying with Laws and Rules

“The permit holder did not comply with Lawas and Rules, by not providing children supervision that ensure safety of all children in care.”

Rule 746.201(9). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Sep 1, 2023. Correction verified: Sep 6, 2023.

Nov 12, 2021: inspection8 deficiencies

People Whose Behavior/Health Threatens Children Not Present

“The center staff was present at the center, exposing other staff and children, while being positive for COVID-19.”

Rule 746.3703(a). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Safety Requirements for Cribs - Snug Fitting Sheets

“A crib did not have a snug fitted sheet covering the mattress.”

Rule 746.2409(a)(2). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Safety Requirements for Cribs - Waterproof, Washable Mattress

“A crib mattress was torn up with tape covering the tears making the mattress not washable.”

Rule 746.2409(a)(3). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Safety Requirements for Cribs - Secure Supports

“A child was sleeping in a crib with loose hardware. The child and mattress had sunken almost reaching the floor.”

Rule 746.2409(a)(4). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Report Outbreak of Communicable Illness

“The operation did not notify licensing of a positive COVID-19 case.”

Rule 746.305(a)(4). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Employee Handwashing After Diapering a Child

“Caregiver did not wash hands after changing a diaper.”

Rule 746.3415(4). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Children Handwashing After Toileting or Diapering

“A child did not have their hands washed after diapering.”

Rule 746.3417(3). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.
Diapering Procedures - Sanitizing Diaper Changing Area

“Caregiver did not sanitize the diaper changing surface after changing a diaper.”

Rule 746.3505(e). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 15, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 23, 2021.

All 24 visits on record

Inspections, investigations and reports to the state
Date	Visit	What the record says
Sep 2, 2026	Inspection	No violation found
May 27, 2026	Inspection	No violation found
May 15, 2026	Assessment	1 deficiency cited
Apr 21, 2026	Inspection	No violation found
Apr 17, 2026	Report to the state	2 deficiencies cited
Jan 7, 2026	Inspection	No violation found
Jan 2, 2026	Inspection	2 deficiencies cited
Oct 2, 2025	Inspection	No violation found
Jul 11, 2025	Report to the state	2 deficiencies cited
Feb 10, 2025	Inspection	No violation found
Jan 16, 2025	Assessment	1 deficiency cited
Dec 31, 2024	Inspection	4 deficiencies cited
Feb 29, 2024	Inspection	No violation found
Feb 27, 2024	Inspection	1 deficiency cited
Jan 17, 2024	Assessment	1 deficiency cited
Oct 19, 2023	Inspection	No violation found
Oct 12, 2023	Inspection	12 deficiencies cited
Sep 6, 2023	Inspection	No violation found
Aug 29, 2023	Inspection	7 deficiencies cited
Aug 28, 2023	Report to the state	3 deficiencies cited
Nov 1, 2022	Inspection	No violation found
Nov 23, 2021	Inspection	No violation found
Nov 12, 2021	Inspection	8 deficiencies cited
Nov 10, 2021	Report to the state	No violation found

Is it licensed?

Licensed Center, permit issued Dec 21, 2016.
Accepts state child care subsidies.
Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
Capacity: 47 children.

Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

Has Texas acted against it?

No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
4 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were .

Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

Who does the caring?

Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.

Who owns it?

Texas’s open data doesn’t list owners.

How is it rated?

Texas Rising Star: 3-Star (the middle of three levels).

Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

Among 920 child care providers in Tarrant County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 3; this one had 14.

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.

11 of the 920 in Tarrant County, as the source lists them, same ZIP code first
Place	Deficiencies, 3 years
Treasures Chest Learning Center	2
Little Tyke Brentwood	9
Little Steps Academy This child care provider	14
Saintsville Baptist Church Childcare	3
Faith Academy Learning Center LLC	2
Kce Champions LLC @ Iltx- Woodhaven	3
King Kids Learning Center, LLC	1
Genesis Child Care	1
Heavenly Sent Daycare	9
April Tidwell	Not given
Children Education Station Learning Center	5
Kids Cave Child Care Learning Center	14

What the record doesn’t say

Texas doesn’t publish whether a complaint was substantiated.
Texas rates some paperwork slips as High risk, so read what was actually cited.
Texas doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.

Sources

Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child care operations (bc5r-88dy).

Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Inspections and investigations (m5q4-3y3d).

Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Deficiencies (non-compliance data) (tqgd-mf4x).

Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
Texas Workforce Commission, Subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star.

Released Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily. No licence stated.

If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Texas HHSC or Texas Workforce Commission. Texas’s own record is on its child care search. 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 5, 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.