The Play Yard LP
A licensed child care center in Salado, Texas 76571
15299 S IH 35, Salado, Texas 76571. (254) 947-1153.
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The short answer
Record last released by Texas HHSC on Nov 5, 2026.
- 15 deficiencies cited in the last three years Middle in Bell County: 2
- 6 rated High by Texas, its most serious level (needs attention)
- 18 inspections on record
- 2-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?
15 deficiencies cited in the last three years
The middle of the 237 child care providers in Bell County had 2.
18 inspections on record. The latest, on Sep 23, 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 inspection on Sep 8, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Infant Care Area - Able to See, Hear and Intervene, at the report to the state on Sep 4, 2026
Rated High by Texas: Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance, at the inspection on Jul 13, 2026
3 more rated High; all are listed below.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data) and inspections and investigations. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
When those deficiencies happened
15 deficiencies in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Sep 2026. Most serious: High. The last 3 years, to Nov 5, 2026.
| 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.
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.
Sep 8, 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 the inspection, the state inspector observed a child in the hallway by themselves. There were no caregivers standing at the door or in the hallway with the child. When the state inspector asked the nearest teacher where the child belonged the caregiver did not know. The state inspector walked the child back to their classroom and explained to the caregiver that the child cannot be in the hallway by themselves.”
Sep 4, 2026: report to the state3 deficiencies
-
Infant Care Area - Able to See, Hear and Intervene
“Observed a caregiver taking a child out of a highchair while there were two other older infants on the other side of the wall of the infant room. The caregiver was unable to see the infants or intervene if needed. This was corrected when the caregiver went to where she was able to see all the infants.”
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Personal use of electronic devices, such as cell phones, MP3 players, tablets, and video games
“During an investigation it was found that a caregiver has been using their phone while caring for children. The caregiver was spoken to about not using their phones while caring for the children.”
-
Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional
“Observed written feeding instructions for an infant which states that the infant was to be fed a bottle every 2 hours. The infant arrived at the daycare at 7:48 and was not given a bottle until 11:30. Observed another infant feeding instructions that was last completed July 30, 2026.”
Jul 13, 2026: inspection2 deficiencies
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Director Responsibilities - Operate in Compliance
“During the inspection it was found that the operation was not following their safety plan that was put in place for investigation 3211648”
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Additional Minimum Qualifications for Caregivers - Age Requirement
“Observed a 16 year old who has not yet completed high school in ratio by herself.”
Jul 7, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Requirements for Feeding Infants-Hold through 6-months
“Observed an infant under 6 months old laying on a boppy pillow while a caregiver held a bottle to the infant’s mouth.”
Jul 6, 2026: report to the state1 deficiency
-
Not Under the Influence of Alcohol or Controlled Substance
“There was sufficient evidence found during the investigation to show that a staff member was under the influence of a controlled substance when a positive drug test confirmed this while staff was present at the operation during operational hours.”
Mar 30, 2026: inspection1 deficiency
-
Transportation Safety Training -Director and Employee Complete 2 Hours Annually
“Observed three people who transport but do not have current transportation training.”
Jul 24, 2025: report to the state1 deficiency
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Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity
“During an investigation, it was found that a caregiver fell asleep while on the playground supervising children. This was corrected as the caregiver no longer works at the operation.”
Apr 11, 2025: inspection1 deficiency
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Naptime Child/Caregiver Ratio - Central Sleeping Location
“Observed a caregiver standing in a doorway of two classrooms while the children were sleeping, One classroom had 15 children and the other classroom had 14 children. The children were not combined in a centralized location. This was corrected when another teacher came into the classroom.”
Mar 3, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
-
Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment
“Observed anchoring nails sticking out of the playground equipment. This was corrected when the nails were hammered back in. There was also rotted wood on one equipment that needs to be replaced.”
-
Diaper Changing Equipment - Smooth, Non-absorbent, Easy to Clean Surface
“Observed a soft fabric cover on the infant changing mat. This was corrected when it was removed.”
Feb 26, 2024: inspection2 deficiencies
-
Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months
“During the investigation inspection it was found that the operation’s annual fire inspection was overdue by 6 weeks.”
-
Arrangement of Napping Equipment - Provides Access to Walkway
“During the inspection it was observed that in the two year old classroom the mats were arranged in a way that did not leave a walkway between all of the mats for each caregiver and child. This was corrected at inspection when a few of the mats were rearranged.”
5 deficiencies older than three years
Nov 3, 2023: inspection5 deficiencies
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Children Handwashing After Toileting or Diapering
“During the monitoring inspection it was observed that two infants diapers were changed and their caregivers did not wash their hands afterwards. This was corrected at inspection when both infants hands were cleaned after state licensing asked them to.”
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Children Handwashing After Outdoor Activities
“During the inspection it was observed that the toddler classroom did not wash their hands after coming inside from playing outside. This was corrected at inspection when the group of children washed their hands after state licensing asked them to.”
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Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Inspect Daily
“During the inspection it was found that the operation was not completing the daily building and grounds safety checklist.”
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Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Proper Depth Maintained
“During the monitoring inspection it was observed that the loose fill on the playground was less than 1 inch in some areas, such as at the bottom of slides.”
-
Installation of Unitary Surfacing Materials - Over Concrete or Asphalt
“During the inspection it was found that there was an ABC mat, placed over concrete as unitary surfacing for a slide fall zone, however the manufacturer of this mat does not state that this is an appropriate unitary surfacing over concrete. This was corrected at inspection when the slides were removed from the infant playground.”
All 28 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 23, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 22, 2026 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Sep 15, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Report to the state | 3 deficiencies cited |
| Aug 18, 2026 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Jul 14, 2026 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 13, 2026 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Jul 7, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jul 6, 2026 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 30, 2026 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Mar 26, 2026 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Aug 4, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 25, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Jul 24, 2025 | Report to the state | 1 deficiency cited |
| Jun 30, 2025 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Apr 11, 2025 | Inspection | 1 deficiency cited |
| Apr 10, 2025 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Mar 3, 2025 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Sep 12, 2024 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Feb 26, 2024 | Inspection | 2 deficiencies cited |
| Feb 16, 2024 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Nov 3, 2023 | Inspection | 5 deficiencies cited |
| Nov 17, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 5, 2022 | Inspection | No violation found |
| Aug 4, 2022 | Report to the state | No violation found |
| Dec 14, 2021 | Inspection | No violation found |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Center, permit issued May 12, 2008.
- Accepts state child care subsidies.
- Licensed for ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School.
- Capacity: 89 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.
- 10 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 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: 2-Star (the first of three levels).
Texas Workforce Commission, subsidy providers and Texas Rising Star. Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 237 child care providers in Bell County, the middle value for deficiencies cited in the last three years was 2; this one had 15.
Texas HHSC, deficiencies (non-compliance data). Released Nov 5, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Deficiencies, 3 years |
|---|---|
| Salado Montessori Inc. | 4 |
| Kids Zone Salado | 4 |
| The Play Yard LP This child care provider | 15 |
| Susan Travis | 2 |
| Maria Burgos | 4 |
| Tiny Troops Learning Center | 4 |
| God’s Promise | 6 |
| A Heart for the Children | 0 |
| Theresas Creative Minds | 6 |
| Barnyard Babes Daycare | 3 |
| Faith’s First Steps Home Daycare | 0 |
| Carmen Y Benitez Rivera | 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 Nov 5, 2026 and checked Nov 5, 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 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).
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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.