Steppin Stones Academy and Preschool Inc.
A child day center in Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462
665 Newtown Road, Suites 115-121, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23462. (757) 201-3099.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov.
The short answer
- 37 deficiencies in the last three years
- Aug 182026 the latest visit on record
- 152 children, its licensed capacity
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean4
- 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.
- 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?
17 inspections on record, the latest on Aug 18, 2026.
37 violations cited in the last three years.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.
When those deficiencies happened
37 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Aug 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 2, 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 its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.
Aug 18, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection11 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-130-A
“The center shall obtain documentation that each child has received the immunizations required by the State Board of Health before the child can attend the center. There was no documentation to show that immunizations were received before Child #3 attended the center.”
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Each staff member and individual from an independent contractor shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis (TB) screening. The documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. TB documentation for Staff #1 was not completed within 30 days of the staff member’s date of employment.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Areas and equipment of the center, inside, shall be maintained in a safe condition. In an infant room, there was a loose fitting crib sheet observed on a crib mattress. In a Pre-K classroom, there was peeling paint observed on two walls and chipped paint on the floor under the peeling paint.”
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8VAC20-780-280-B
“Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. In a toddler room, disinfectant spray and disinfectant cleaner were stored on a high shelf of an unlocked cabinet.”
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8VAC20-780-350-B-2
“The staff-to-children ratio 1:5 (staff:children) is required whenever children 16 months up to 24 months are in care. On the day of the inspection, a toddler classroom had one staff and six children in care.”
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8VAC20-780-350-B-3
“The staff-to-children ratio 1:8 (staff:children) is required whenever children 2 year olds are in care. On the day of the inspection, a two year old classroom had one staff and nine children in care.”
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8VAC20-780-350-B-4
“The staff-to-children ratio 1:10 (staff:children) is required whenever children 3 year olds up to school age are in care. On the day of the inspection, a pre-k classroom had one staff and 11 children in care.”
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8VAC20-780-420-E-3
“Staff shall request at least annually parent confirmation that the required information in the child’s record is up to date. The records for Child #1 and Child #2 did not contain annual parent confirmation that the information in the records is up to date, as required.”
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8VAC20-780-500-A
“Children’s hands shall be washed with soap and running water or disposable wipes before and after eating meals or snacks. In a toddler classroom, six children did not wash their hands before eating snack. In a school age classroom, 17 children did not wash their hands after eating snack.”
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8VAC20-780-570-A
“When a child is placed in an infant seat or high chair, the protective belt shall be fastened securely. An infant was observed eating at a feeding seat; however, the protective belt was not fastened.”
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8VAC20-790-600-F
“Staff who work directly with children shall complete the department’s health and safety update course. Staff #2 did not complete the department’s health and safety update, which is required annually.”
Feb 23, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection8 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-4
“The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. There was no documentation of an out of state sex offender check in the record of Staff #4 (employed for 10 months).”
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8VAC20-780-130-E
“The center shall obtain documentation of additional immunizations once every six months for children under the age of two years. Immunization documentation for Child #2 and Child #3 show that the documentation was not received every six months, required for children under the age of two.”
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8VAC20-780-160-C
“A tuberculosis (TB) screening is required every two years from the last screening. The record for Staff #3 did not include follow-up TB documentation, which is required every two years. The staff member was observed working on the day of the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-245-A
“Staff shall complete annually a minimum of 16 hours of training appropriate to the age of children in care. The record for Staff #5 show that only 15 hours of annual training was completed in 2025.”
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8VAC20-780-40-M
“The center shall maintain, in a way that is accessible to all staff who work with children, a current written list of all children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. A current written list of all children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions was not available in a pre-kindergarten classroom or in a two year old classroom.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Repeat Violation Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain all the required information. The record for Child #1 did not contain all the required information.”
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8VAC20-790-600-D-1
“All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care. The training shall include an in-person competency demonstration. The CPR certification for Staff #1 did not include an in-person competency demonstration, as required.”
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8VAC20-790-600-D-2
“All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in first aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The record for Staff #2 did not contain current first aid certification.”
Aug 25, 2025: inspection5 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-2
“Centers must obtain a completed national criminal background check prior to the employee’s first day of employment. The criminal background check for Staff #1 (employed for one month) was not obtained prior to the employee’s first day of employment, which is required.”
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8VAC20-780-260-B
“The center shall provide annual approval from the health department. On the day of the inspection, the annual health inspection documentation reviewed was expired.”
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8VAC20-780-560-F
“When centers choose to provide meals or snacks, the following shall apply: a menu listing foods to be served for meals and snacks during the current one-week period shall list any substituted food. On the day of the inspection, substituted food was served for lunch; however, the substituted food was no listed on the center’s menu.”
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8VAC20-780-560-G
“When food is brought from home, the following shall apply: shall be clearly dated and labeled in a way that identifies the owner. In a toddler classroom, five of five water bottles observed were not labeled to identify the owner of each water bottle.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Repeat Violation Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain all the required information. The record for Child #1 (enrolled for almost two years) did not contain all the required information.”
Mar 12, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-160-C
“A tuberculosis (TB) screening is required every two years from the last screening. The record for Staff #1 did not include follow-up TB documentation, which is required every two years.”
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8VAC20-780-290-A-3
“Repeat Violation Electrical outlets shall have protective covers. In the infant feeding area, two outlets were missing protective outlet covers. Infants were observed eating in the area during the inspection.”
Oct 2, 2024: subsidy health and safety inspection2 deficiencies
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8VAC20-790-600-D-1
“All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care. Staff #1, employed for four months, did not have current certification in CPR, which is required within 90 days of the date of employment.”
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8VAC20-790-600-D-2
“All staff who work directly with children shall have within 90 days of the date of employment current certification in first aid appropriate to the ages of children in care Staff #1, employed for four months, did not have current certification in first aid, which is required within 90 days of the date of employment.”
Oct 2, 2024: inspection5 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Repeat Violation Areas and equipment of the center, inside, shall be maintained in a safe condition. A carpet in the two-to three-year-old classroom was fraying, posing as a tripping hazard.”
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8VAC20-780-280-B
“Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials, insecticides, and pesticides shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children. There were hazardous materials found that had manufacturers? labels stating, ?Keep Out of Reach of Children.? 1.In a hallway cabinet, there was bleach and wasp spray in an unlocked cabinet that was accessible to children. 2.In the Pre-k 2 classroom, there were two containers of disinfectant wipes, unlocked and accessible to children.”
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8VAC20-780-340-D
“In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader shall be regularly present. Record review and interview confirmed that Staff #1 does not meet qualifications of a program lead. The staff member was observed working alone in the two-year-old classroom throughout the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-440-B
“Cribs, cots, rest mats, and beds shall be identified for use by a specific child. One of four cribs in the infant room did not identify which child uses the crib.”
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8VAC20-780-80-A
“For each group of children, the center shall maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. There were six children in the Pre-K 1 classroom at the time of the inspection; however, only five children were signed in on the daily attendance.”
Jun 5, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies
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22.1-289.011-F
“Based on observation and interview the center did not ensure that all required documents are posted in a conspicuous place on the licensed premises. Evidence: 1.The most recent inspection findings for the inspection completed on October 17, 2023, were not posted on the licensed premises. 2.The program director confirmed that the most recent inspection findings were not posted.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Repeat Violation Based on observation and interview the center did not ensure that areas and equipment of the center are maintained in a safe condition. Evidence: 1.A window ledge in the Pre-k 1 classroom was peeling and crumbling. There were particles of paint from the ledge on the floor, accessible to children. 2. In the school age classroom an area of drywall was peeling and crumbling. There was residue from the drywall on the floor. a. The assistant director confirmed that the wall was peeling and crumbling and needed repair.”
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8VAC20-780-290-A-3
“Based on observation and interview the center did not ensure that electrical outlets have protective covers that are of a size that cannot be swallowed by children. Evidence: 1.An electrical outlet in the infant feeding area was missing an outlet cover. 2.An electrical outlet in the Sparkling 2-3 year-old classroom was missing an outlet cover. 3.The assistant director confirmed that two outlet covers in the areas mentioned were missing.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Based on record review and interview the center did not ensure that each child’s record contain all the required information. Evidence: 1. The record for Child #1 did not contain the work phone number for one parent. 2.The record for Child #2 not contain the name or work phone number for one parent. 3.The program director confirmed that the specified information was missing from Child #1 and Child #2?s records.”
Oct 17, 2023: inspection4 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that each staff member submits documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening prior to coming in contact with children. Evidence: 1 - Staff #2 did not have any documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening on file. a. Staff #2 has documented date of hire as October 7, 2023. b. Staff #2 was present providing direct to children enrolled in the program. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not documentation of tuberculosis screening in the record of Staff #2.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
The inspectors’ words, 145 words
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that areas and equipment are maintained in safe and operable condition. Evidence: 1 - On the playground there was a storage unit that is missing it’s top and doors and therefore, is unstable and poses a toppling hazard. 2 - There was peeling paint throughout the center with in reach of children including but not limited to the toddler room the cafeteria and the school age room. 3 - There was a cracked plastic chair in the four year old room. Children were present being cared for this room during the inspection. 4 - In the two-year old Child #1 picked up a tiny blue bead was holding it in her hand. The bead poses a choking hazard. Staff #3 was unaware that the child had the bead until it was point out to her.”
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8VAC20-780-330-B
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure that where playground equipment is provided resilient surfacing is in compliance with minimum safety standards when tested in accordance with the procedures described in the American Society for Testing and Materials. Evidence: 1 - There is climb and slide on the playground however, there is not any resilient surface under around and into the fall/use zone of the equipment. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not any resilient under and around the climb and slide equipment.”
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8VAC20-780-500-B
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure that the diaper changing surface is nonabsorbent. Evidence: The diaper changing pad in the boys bathroom is torn and had a hole in the covering. Therefore, the surface was absorbent rather than nonabsorbent.”
Feb 24, 2023: inspection8 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-2
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that background checks are obtained within the required time frames. Evidence: 1 ? The record for Staff #4 contains a fingerprint background check dated October 18, 2022. However, the documented date of hire for Staff #4 is October 10, 2022. Therefore, the background check was not obtained prior to hire as required. 2 ? Staff #1 confirmed that the date on the fingerprint background check for Staff #4 is after the documented date of hire.”
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that tuberculosis screenings are obtained within required time frames. Evidence: 1 ? There was not any documentation of tuberculosis screening in the record of Staff #3. a. The documented date of hire for Staff #3 is July 23, 2020. 2 ? Staff #1 confirmed that there was not any documentation of tuberculosis screening in the record of Staff #3”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
The inspectors’ words, 96 words
“Based on observations and interview the center failed to ensure that areas are maintained in safe operable conditions. Evidence: 1 - There was peeling paint and plaster throughout the center including areas within reach of children in the infant room and the school age room. 2 ? The banister outside the school age room door that leads to the outside and would be used as an emergency exit was broken and coming apart. 3 ? Staff #1 confirmed that there was peeling paint and plaster throughout the center and the banister was not in operable condition.”
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8VAC20-780-350-B-1
“Evidence: 1 ? There were seven children ages 12 months to 24 months in care napping with one staff member. The ages and number of children present require two staff be present. 2 ? Staff #5, who was present during the inspection, confirmed that there were seven children in her care.”
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8VAC20-780-350-M
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure that one staff member does not supervise more than one room or area during rest time. Evidence: 1 - During nap time there was one staff member supervising children in two different areas. a. There was chair in the doorway between the toddler room and the infant room. Staff #5, who was present, stated that she sat in the chair to supervise both groups of children during nap time.”
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8VAC20-780-40-E
“Based on observations and interview the center failed to ensure that the operational responsibilities of the licensee including ensuring that the center’s activities, services, and facilities are maintained in compliance with the terms of the current license issued by the department. Evidence: Staff #1 stated that children under the age of 2.5 years were cared for in a room that does not have direct egress to outside as required by the terms of license and the Certificate of Occupancy.”
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8VAC20-780-570-E
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that prepared infant formula is dated. Evidence: 1 - There were seven infant bottles in the infant room. However, none of the bottles were dated as required. 2 ? Staff #2, who was present in the infant room during the inspection, confirmed that the bottles were not labeled with the date.”
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8VAC20-780-80-A
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that attendance is maintained as required. Evidence: 1 ? There was not any attendance available for the toddler classroom during the inspection. 2 ? Staff #6 stated that the attendance sheet had got wet during the day and was not available”
Jun 22, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-270-A
The inspectors’ words, 161 words
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure that areas and equipment are maintained in safe condition. Evidence: 1 - The infant room the direct egress to outside is blocked by plastic safety fencing, an infant crib and stacked infant care equipment. 2 - There is peeling paint on the walls throughout the center. The peeling paint is within reach of children. 3 - A storage closet in the infant/toddler wing is stacked with equipment that poses toppling hazards. The closet is unlocked and the contents accessible to children in care. 4 - In the lunch room area ther eis dangling cord to an electronic speaker. The cord poses a toppling hazard. Additionally, speaker is located and above and near the sink. 5 - In the sink area of the cafeteria where children are served lunch there are a large number of what appear to be fruit flies. a. Staff report that flies are a result of sink not working properly.”
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8VAC20-780-500-B
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that the diaper changing surface is used only for diaper changing. Evidence: In the infant room there were what appeared to craft items stored on the diaper changing table.”
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8VAC20-780-80-A
The inspectors’ words, 130 words
“Based on documentation review and interview the center failed to ensure that for each group of children a written record that documents the arrival and departure of each child as it occurs is maintained in writing. Evidence: 1 - There is not a written attendance record for the toddler group with staff 2 or the infant toddler group with staff 3. 2 - Staff 2 stated that the attendance sheet had got wet earlier and was sent to the front office and was never returned to the classroom. 2 - Staff 3 stated the attendance sheet she had did not include the time of arrival or departure. 3 - There is no arrival time documented on the attendance sheets in the four/five year old room or the school age room.”
All 17 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 18, 2026 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 11 violations cited |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 8 violations cited |
| Aug 25, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Aug 25, 2025 | Inspection | 5 violations cited |
| Apr 28, 2025 | Complaint inspection | No violations cited |
| Mar 12, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Mar 12, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Oct 2, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Oct 2, 2024 | Inspection | 5 violations cited |
| Jun 5, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Jun 5, 2024 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Oct 17, 2023 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Oct 17, 2023 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Feb 24, 2023 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Feb 24, 2023 | Inspection | 8 violations cited |
| Jun 22, 2022 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Jun 22, 2022 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Sep 18, 2027.
- A current subsidy provider.
- Ages: 1 month - 12 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 152 children.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.
Has Virginia acted against it?
- 1 complaint inspection on record.
- No complaint allegations published with findings.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations and Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.
Who does the caring?
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers. State rules set staff-to-child ratios by age.
Who owns it?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- Virginia’s search doesn’t show a quality rating.
How does it compare nearby?
- Among 194 child care providers in the City of Virginia Beach, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 10; this one had 37.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| KINDERCARE EDUCATION-KEMPSVILLE #1331 | 53 |
| Kempsville Church of God | 5 |
| Emmanuel Episcopal Church | 1 |
| Diane McEwen | 5 |
| Virginia Beach Free Will Baptist Church | Not given |
| Toddler Station II | 14 |
| Sharon Dillard | 24 |
| Kid’s Town Learning Center, LLC | 14 |
| Montessori Academy of Virginia - Virginia Beach | 28 |
| Steppin Stones Academy and Preschool Inc. This child care provider | 37 |
| Learn with Me Academy | 2 |
| City o VA Beach Parks & Recration Early Childhood?Williams Farm | 9 |
What the record doesn’t say
- Virginia doesn’t grade how serious a violation is, so no severity is shown.
- Virginia publishes a complaint’s allegations and findings only when its inspection found a violation and the records are linked.
- Virginia doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- A plan of correction sent late, or not at all, isn’t online: Virginia says to ask the inspector.
- Virginia’s pages show about the last five years of inspections; for older ones, Virginia says to contact the licensing inspector.
- Virginia says this information may not be accurate, up to date or complete, and shouldn’t be the only source in choosing care.
Sources
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page.
Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
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Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations.
Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
-
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each complaint’s page, with its allegations and findings.
Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly. No open licence; Virginia allows non-commercial use, so Care Ledger shows it free.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Virginia Department of Education. Virginia’s own record is on legacy.dss.virginia.gov. 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 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.