Stepping Stone School
A licensed child care center in Tyler, Texas 75703
5113 Timber Creek Dr, Tyler, Texas 75703. (903) 566-1851.
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The short answer
Record last released by Texas HHSC on Oct 30, 2026.
- 11 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in Smith County: 2
- 6 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
- 27 inspections on record
- 4-Star Texas Rising Star rating
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?
11 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 83 child care providers in Smith County had 2.
27 inspections on record. The latest, on Aug 4, 2026: no violation found.
Rated High by Texas: Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity, at the report to the state on Mar 19, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity, at the inspection on Mar 6, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity, at the report to the state on Apr 23, 2024
3 more rated High; all are listed below.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
When those deficiencies happened
11 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Mar 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Oct 30, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | 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 |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
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 Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Mar 19, 2026: report to the state1 deficiency
-
Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the allegation and found to be deficient. There was enough evidence to substantiate the operation allowing children to be unsupervised while in the restroom.”
Mar 6, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
“During a walk through of the operation, it was observed in an empty classroom a child left unattended for an unknown amount of time. The child was not found to be injured. This was brought to the person’s in charge attention and quickly corrected.”
Mar 5, 2026: report to the state1 deficiency
-
Required Admission Information-Child’s allergies and Completed Food Allergy Plan
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the allegation and found to be deficient. The operation did not follow a child?s food allergy plan that was on file.”
Feb 23, 2026: report to the state1 deficiency
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Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the allegation and found to be deficient. The operation was out of ratio with a 1:15 ratio with the specified age range being two years old.”
Aug 11, 2025: inspection1 deficiency
-
Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days
“During a review in the infant room, it was observed 7 students without updated feeding forms.”
Apr 23, 2024: report to the state1 deficiency
-
Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the self-reported allegations and found to be deficient. Supervision was not met when a caregiver was observed to be sitting on the playground, instead of walking around to ensure that risk was reduced to all children. During this time an incident occurred that the caregiver was not aware of.”
Mar 22, 2024: report to the state3 deficiencies
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AP Responsibilities of Employees and Caregivers -Ensure No Child Abused, Neglected, or Exploited
“Based on a DFPS investigation this standard was reviewed in relation to the allegations and found to be deficient.”
-
Prohibited Punishments - No Harsh, Cruel or Unusual
“Based on a DFPS investigation this standard was reviewed in relation to the allegations and found to be deficient. A caregiver, who is no longer working for the operation, was seen attempting to push a child’s head down to the table several different times.”
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Prohibited Punishments - Using Inappropriate Long Period of Silence or Inactivity Including Requiring Child to Remain in a Restrictive Device
“Based on a DFPS investigation this standard was reviewed in relation to the allegations and found to be deficient. A child was viewed being in time-out for about 30 minutes consecutively.”
Dec 28, 2023: report to the state1 deficiency
-
Diaper Changing Steps- Prompt
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the allegation and found to be deficient. The child was not promptly changed when they became while still in care.”
Dec 12, 2023: inspection1 deficiency
-
Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional
“During a review of the infant classroom, it was observed no feeding instructions could be presented during the inspection.”
9 deficiencies older than three years
Dec 21, 2022: report to the state3 deficiencies
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Director Responsibilities - Employee Assignments
“During the investigation, it was learned that the director was aware that a caregiver does not meet the physical requirements for the age group they are assigned to.”
-
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Supervision of Children
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the self-reported allegations and found to be deficient. The children in the classroom were not being properly supervised which led to a child being injured.”
-
Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling
“During an investigation, it was learned that a caregiver was yelling at the children as a form of discipline.”
Sep 8, 2022: inspection1 deficiency
-
Prohibited Equipment - Allows Children To Fall Inside Structure Onto Other Parts
“While during a walk through of the playground, it was observed by licensing the play structure that is under review for a current investigation allegation that is meant to be a riding toy. However, this toy is also being used by the children as monkey bars.”
Sep 6, 2022: report to the state1 deficiency
-
AP Report Child Injury Requiring Medical Treatment by a Health-Care Professional or Hospitalization
“This standard was reviewed in relation to the allegations and found to be deficient. The center did not notify licensing in the appropriate 48 hour time frame when a child was injured was seen by a medical professional.”
Nov 23, 2021: inspection1 deficiency
-
Floors, ceilings and Walls in Good Repair and Clean
“While conducting a walk through of the operation, it was observed by licensing a hole on the side of one of the classroom building. The hole is roughly 6 inches big.”
Nov 22, 2021: report to the state3 deficiencies
-
Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children
“This standard was reviewed in relation to a reported allegation and found to be deficient. Based on interviews with staff and children, the caregiver sits on a bench during outdoor time. Supervision is not being met when the caregiver sits on the bench and fails to intervene when children are fighting.”
-
Responsibilities of Caregivers - Children in Control
“This standard was reviewed and found to be deficient. Based on interviews with caregivers and children, there have been several fights happening in their class. The children are not in control if they are fighting one another on several occasions.”
-
Parental Notification of Less Serious Injuries
“This standard was reviewed and found to be deficient. The operation did not inform the parent of a less serious injuries at pick up.”
All 42 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 4, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 17, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 6, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 5, 2026 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Feb 24, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Feb 3, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 5, 2025 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Aug 11, 2025 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 31, 2025 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Dec 4, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jun 25, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jun 21, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Jun 21, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| May 30, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 24, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 23, 2024 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Apr 1, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Mar 28, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Mar 22, 2024 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Feb 23, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jan 9, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 28, 2023 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Dec 21, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 12, 2023 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Sep 26, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 25, 2023 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Feb 6, 2023 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 28, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 21, 2022 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Oct 3, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 8, 2022 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Sep 6, 2022 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Apr 5, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 1, 2022 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Jan 5, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Dec 14, 2021 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Nov 23, 2021 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Nov 22, 2021 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, permit issued Sep 15, 2017.
- Accepts state child care subsidies.
- Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
- Capacity: 256 children.
Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Texas acted against it?
- No corrective or adverse action by Texas on record.
- 15 reports to the state on record; Texas doesn’t publish whether they were A complaint allegation the state investigated and found true: the evidence showed it more likely than not happened. Inconclusive means the evidence couldn’t show it either way. Neither inconclusive nor unsubstantiated proves it didn’t happen. Source: California Department of Social Services, complaint findings; each state’s licensing agency..
Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 30, 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: 4-Star (the highest of three levels).
Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 83 child care providers in Smith County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 11.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Little Peoples School | 3 |
| The Primary Leadership Academy | 3 |
| Stepping Stone School This child care provider | 11 |
| Hand in Hand Preschool | 0 |
| Early Steps Bilingual Academy | 10 |
| First Steps Daycare | 4 |
| Lillie Brannen | 3 |
| Kid City USA Tyler | 0 |
| Live Oaks Childcare | 5 |
| Brittany Bowman | 1 |
| Lions and Lambs Childcare | 18 |
| Little Blessings Childcare & Preschool of Tyler | 2 |
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 Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Inspections and investigations (m5q4-3y3d).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
-
Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Deficiencies (non-compliance data) (tqgd-mf4x).
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated daily. Creative Commons 1.0 Universal (Public Domain Dedication).
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Texas Workforce Commission, Subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star.
Released Oct 30, 2026 and checked Oct 30, 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 Oct 30, 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.