Hearth Record

Tiny Steps Learning Center

A licensed child care center in Mercedes, Texas 78570

121 S Georgia Ave, Mercedes, Texas 78570. (956) 684-5314.

Texas’s own record, on its child care search

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 Workforce Commission on Nov 2, 2026.

The last 24 months 11 deficiencies in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Oct 2025. 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?

11 deficiencies cited in the last three years

The middle of the 479 child care providers in Hidalgo County had 3.

16 inspections on record. The latest, on Sep 16, 2026: no violation found.

Rated High by Texas: AP Cribs - Only Snug Fitting Sheet and Crib Mattress Cover Allowed if Infant Younger than 12 Months of Age, at the inspection on Nov 18, 2024

Rated High by Texas: Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months, at the inspection on Nov 18, 2024

Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.

When those deficiencies happened

11 deficiencies in 3 months of the last 36. Last cited Oct 2025. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Nov 2, 2026.

11 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

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
Source:

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.

Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.

Oct 2, 2025: inspection3 deficiencies

  • Written Operational Policies - Operating Times

    The inspectors’ words, 93 words

    “The following written operational policies are incomplete: (18) Promotion of indoor and outdoor physical activity that is consistent with Subchapter F policy must include: (A)-(G); (20)Parent rights that are consistent with the rules in Division 5 of this subchapter(relating to Parent Rights);(26) Preventing and responding to abuse and neglect of children (A)-(E); (30) Procedures for supporting inclusive services to children with special care needs. The policy must address the requirements outlined in 746.2202 of this chapter(relating to What are my responsibilities when planning activities for a child in care with special care needs?).”

    Rule 746.501(a)(1). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 16, 2025. Correction verified: Oct 21, 2025.

  • Children’s Records - Immunizations

    “Two children files are missing immunization records.”

    Rule 746.603(a)(4). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 17, 2025. Correction verified: Oct 21, 2025.

  • Required Personnel Records

    “A caregivers file was not available for review during inspection.”

    Rule 746.901. Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Oct 10, 2025. Correction verified: Oct 21, 2025.

Nov 18, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies

  • AP Cribs - Only Snug Fitting Sheet and Crib Mattress Cover Allowed if Infant Younger than 12 Months of Age

    “Observed a 10 month old infant asleep in a crib while covered with a blanket.”

    Rule 746.2415(b). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 18, 2024. Correction verified: Nov 25, 2024.

  • Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months

    “Facility does not have a current Fire Inspection.”

    Rule 746.5101(a). High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 2, 2024. Correction verified: Dec 3, 2024.

  • Annual Sanitation Inspection

    “Facility does not have a current annual sanitation inspection.”

    Rule 746.3401(a). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 2, 2024. Correction verified: Dec 2, 2024.

  • Children’s Products- Annual Certification

    “Facility does not have a current annual certification regarding unsafe children’s products.”

    Rule 746.4135(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 25, 2024. Correction verified: Nov 25, 2024.

Dec 15, 2023: inspection4 deficiencies

  • Documented Annual Training - Caregivers of Children Under 24 Months Required

    “A caregiver has not obtained one hour of training in the following topics: recognizing and preventing shaken baby syndrome and abusive head trauma; understanding and using safe sleep practices and preventing sudden infant death syndrome and understanding early childhood brain development.”

    Rule 746.1309(d). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 22, 2023. Correction verified: Dec 22, 2023.

  • Documented Annual Training - 1 hour in Prevention, Recognition and Reporting of child maltreatment

    “A caregiver has not obtained one hour of training in the following topic: prevention, recognition and reporting of child maltreatment.”

    Rule 746.1309(c). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 22, 2023. Correction verified: Dec 22, 2023.

  • Children’s Products- Annual Certification

    “Facility is not current with children’s products certification.”

    Rule 746.4135(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 15, 2023. Correction verified: Dec 15, 2023.

  • Documentation of Training Requirements - Original Training Certification Card or Letter in each Employee’s personnel record

    “Staff files were reviewed and the following was not available for review: pre service for a caregiver and TB results; a second file was missing proof of education.”

    Rule 746.1329(a). Medium Low, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Dec 22, 2023. Correction verified: Dec 22, 2023.

10 deficiencies older than three years
Nov 22, 2022: inspection1 deficiency

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

    “In reviewing staff sign in/out logs it was found that there was a person working with no cleared background check. This person has been working since 11/1. (NOTE: The person has not been present this week)”

    Rule 745.641. High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 22, 2022.

Sep 23, 2022: inspection1 deficiency

  • Required Immunizations

    “2 of the children’s files reviewed were lacking immunizations. (NOTE: Corrected during inspection as immunizations were emailed to the director and she was able to print them)”

    Rule 746.613(a). High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Sep 23, 2022.

Aug 15, 2022: inspection2 deficiencies

  • Children Handwashing Before Eating

    “Not all children washed their hands prior to eating lunch. (NOTE: Corrected during inspection as the children were asked to wash their hands.)”

    Rule 746.3417(1). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Corrected during the inspection. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 15, 2022.

  • Diaper Changing Equipment - Smooth, Non-absorbent, Easy to Clean Surface

    “The diaper changing mat in the infant room has several small tears that do not allow for proper sanitation.”

    Rule 746.3503(a). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Aug 22, 2022. Correction verified: Sep 2, 2022.

May 12, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies

  • Smoke Detectors Testing

    “The electronic smoke detection system was not working properly when the button for a drill was activated. There was no alarm sound and the company did not call to verify a drill.”

    Rule 746.5319. High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 20, 2022. Correction verified: Jun 1, 2022.

  • Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment

    “Although the operation is not licensed for afterschool children, the room assigned for the age group is currently not set up and is not organized and children’s items are on the tables. (Pictures on file)”

    Rule 746.3407. Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 20, 2022. Correction verified: Jun 1, 2022.

  • Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes

    “There have been no fire drills done since February. (One was attempted however the fire system was not operating properly)”

    Rule 746.5205(1). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: May 31, 2022. Correction verified: Jun 1, 2022.

Nov 10, 2021: inspection3 deficiencies

  • Install CO Detection System-Electric or Battery Operated-on Every Level of Each Building

    “Facility does not have a carbon monoxide in the building.”

    Rule 746.5535(a)(1). Medium High, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 23, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 22, 2021.

  • Children’s Products- Annual Certification

    “Children’s products was not available for review during inspection.”

    Rule 746.4135(b). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 23, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 19, 2021.

  • Written Operational Policies - Operating Times

    “Written operational policies are incomplete.”

    Rule 746.501(a)(1). Medium, by Texas’s label. Correction date, as Texas HHSC recorded it: Nov 23, 2021. Correction verified: Nov 19, 2021.

All 16 visits on record
Inspections, investigations and reports to the state
DateVisitWhat the record says
Sep 16, 2026InspectionNo violation found
Oct 2, 2025Inspection3 deficiencies cited
Nov 25, 2024InspectionNo violation found
Nov 18, 2024Inspection4 deficiencies cited
Dec 15, 2023Inspection4 deficiencies cited
Jun 23, 2023InspectionNo violation found
Nov 22, 2022Inspection1 deficiency cited
Sep 23, 2022Inspection1 deficiency cited
Sep 2, 2022InspectionNo violation found
Aug 15, 2022Inspection2 deficiencies cited
Jun 1, 2022InspectionNo violation found
May 12, 2022Inspection3 deficiencies cited
Mar 25, 2022InspectionNo violation found
Mar 11, 2022InspectionNo violation found
Feb 14, 2022InspectionNo violation found
Nov 10, 2021Inspection3 deficiencies cited

Is it licensed?

  • Licensed Center, permit issued Dec 22, 2022.
  • Accepts state child care subsidies.
  • Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
Source:

Texas HHSC, child care operations. Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.

Has Texas acted against it?

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

Texas HHSC, child care operations and inspections and investigations. Released Oct 31, 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).
Source:

Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Nov 2, 2026. Updated daily.

How does it compare nearby?

  • Among 479 child care providers in Hidalgo County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 3; this one had 11.
Source:

Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Oct 31, 2026. Updated daily.

11 of the 479 in Hidalgo County, as the source lists them, same ZIP code first
PlaceDeficiencies, 3 years
Valley Oak Tree No.11
Claudia Marisol Gutierrez0
Easy Learning Preschoolers3
Mercedes Head Start1
Umos Mshs Mercedes Center0
Tiny Tots Learning Center LLC11
Tiny Steps Learning Center This child care provider11
Easy Learning Preschoolers 20
Raquel Hinojosa Daycare1
Kidcellence Learning Academy3
City Kids Learning Academy #21
Elly’s Learning Center1

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

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.

Source:

This copy of the record was made on Nov 2, 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.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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