Little Steps Academy, LLC.
A child day center in Norfolk, Virginia 23518
7934 Glade Road, Norfolk, Virginia 23518. (757) 351-0688.
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
- 40 deficiencies in the last three years
- May 282026 the latest visit on record
- 52 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?
15 inspections on record, the latest on May 28, 2026.
40 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
40 deficiencies in 5 months of the last 36. Last cited May 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.
May 28, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection11 deficiencies
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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. Additional immunization reports for Child #3 were not received every six months, as required.”
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. There was no documentation to show that a TB screening was submitted for Staff #2 (employed for a week).”
-
8VAC20-780-160-C
“At least every two years from the date of the first initial screening or testing, or staff members shall obtain and submit the results of a follow-up tuberculosis screening. TB documentation was not updated for Staff #1, 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. Staff #3 and Staff #4 did not complete 16 annual hours of training in 2025.”
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8VAC20-780-260-A
“The center shall provide to the licensing representative an annual fire inspection report from the appropriate fire official having jurisdiction. There was no documentation at the center to show that an annual fire inspection was completed.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Areas and equipment of the center, inside, shall be maintained in a safe condition. A baseboard in a two year old classroom was damaged and peeling paint was observed on the floor.”
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8VAC20-780-330-B
“Where playground equipment is provided, resilient surfacing shall comply with minimum safety standards. The resilient surfacing on the outdoor play area was measured at approximately two inches which does not meet the required minimum safety standard of six inches.”
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8VAC20-780-500-A
“Children’s hands shall be washed with soap and running water after toileting. An infant’s hands were not washed after a diaper change.”
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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 records of Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, Child #4 and Child #5 did not contain all information required to be in children’s records.”
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8VAC20-780-70
“Repeat Violation Staff records shall be kept for each staff person and contain all the required information. The record for Staff #2 did not documentation that two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency were checked before employment.”
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8VAC20-790-600-F
“Staff who work directly with children shall annually complete the department’s health and safety update course. There was no documentation in the record of Staff #4 to show that the department’s health and safety update course was completed in 2025.”
Dec 1, 2025: subsidy health and safety inspection2 deficiencies
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8VAC20-790-600-D-1
“All staff who work directly with children shall have current certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) appropriate to the ages of children in care. The record for Staff #1 did not contain an up-to-date CPR certification.”
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8VAC20-790-600-D-2
“All staff who work directly with children shall have current certification in first aid appropriate to the ages of children in care. The record for Staff #1 did not contain an up-to-date first aid certification.”
Dec 1, 2025: inspection7 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-140-A
“Repeat Violation Each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician within 30 days after the first day of attendance. The records for Child #1 and Child #3 did not contain documentation of a physical examination.”
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8VAC20-780-150-B
“Each immunization report shall be signed by a physician, his designee, or an official of a local health department. The immunization report for Child #4 was not signed by a physician, his designee, or an official of a local health department, which is required.”
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8VAC20-780-260-B
“An annual approval from the health department shall be provided. There was no documentation at the center to show that an environmental sanitation report was completed.”
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8VAC20-780-550-D
“The center shall implement a monthly practice evacuation drill. There was no documentation to show that an evacuation drill was completed in November 2025.”
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8VAC20-780-560-G
“When food is brought from home, the following shall apply: the food container shall be clearly dated and labeled in a way that identifies the owner. Three bottles in an infant room were not dated or labeled to show who the bottles belonged to.”
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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 records for Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, and Child #4 did not contain all the information required to be in a child’s record.”
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8VAC20-780-70
“Repeat Violation Staff records shall be kept for each staff person and contain all the required information. The records for Staff #1 and Staff #2 did not contain all required information.”
Apr 25, 2025: inspection9 deficiencies
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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. The records for Child #2, Child #3, and Child #4 did not contain additional immunizations required to be in the records.”
-
8VAC20-780-140-A
“Each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician within 30 days after the first day of attendance. The records for Child #1 (enrolled for three months), Child #3 (enrolled for over a year), Child #4 (enrolled for 1.5 years) and Child #5 (enrolled for over a month) were missing documentation of a physical examination.”
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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 records for Staff #1 (employed for one year), Staff #2 (employed for one year), and Staff #3 (employed for three years) did not contain documentation to show that the staff members completed 16 hours of annual training in 2024, which is required.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a safe condition. A piece of playground equipment had a bolt protruding approximately one inch, posing a snag hazard and injury hazard.”
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8VAC20-780-330-B
“Where playground equipment is provided, resilient surfacing shall comply with minimum safety standards. In the outdoor play area, the resilient surfacing was measured at less than one inch, which does not meet the required minimum safety standard of six inches.”
-
8VAC20-780-500-B
“The diapering surface shall be cleaned with soap and at least room temperature water and sanitized after each use. After a diaper change, the diaper changing table in a toddler classroom was not sanitized after it was cleaned, which is required.”
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8VAC20-780-560-F
“A menu listing foods to be served for meals and snacks during the current one-week period shall be posted in a location conspicuous to parents or given to parents. On the day of the inspection, the menu posted was not for the current week.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain all the required information. The records for Child #1, Child #2, Child #3, Child #4, and Child #5 did not contain all of the required information.”
-
8VAC20-780-70
“Staff records shall be kept for each staff person and contain all the required information. The records for Staff #1 (employed for one year) and Staff #2 (employed for one year) did not contain documentation to demonstrate that the individuals possess the education required by the job position.”
Oct 30, 2024: inspection9 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-1
“The center is required to obtain a completed sworn statement prior to the employee’s first day of employment. The sworn statement for Staff #3 (employed for two months) was dated for two days after their first day of employment.”
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22.1-289.035-B-4
The inspectors’ words, 97 words
“The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. Staff #1 (employed for two months) did not have documentation of requesting a central registry check and sex offender check for one state and no documentation of requesting a central registry check, sex offender check, or criminal history check for a different state. Staff #3 (employed for two months) did not have documentation of requesting a central registry search and sex offender check for one state. Both staff members were observed working during the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-140-A
“Repeat Violation Each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician within 30 days after the first day of attendance. The record for Child #1 (enrolled for over a year) was missing documentation of a physical examination.”
-
8VAC20-780-160-A
“Each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. The record for Staff #3 contained TB results that show that the staff did not submit results at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children, which is required.”
-
8VAC20-780-320-B
“Each restroom area provided for children shall have running warm water that does not exceed 120?F. On the day of the inspection, a water temperature reading in a bathroom that children use was 123?F. The temperature exceeded the maximum water temperature requirement.”
-
8VAC20-780-330-B
“Where playground equipment is provided, resilient surfacing shall comply with minimum safety standards. In the outdoor play area, the resilient surfacing was measured at approximately one inch, which does not meet the required minimum safety standard of six inches. Children were observed playing in the outdoor play area at the time of the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-40-H
“The sponsor shall maintain public liability insurance for bodily injury for each center site. There was no documentation of updated liability insurance for review at the center. The insurance available for review at the center expired in August 2024.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain all the required information. 1.The record for Child #2 was missing the phone number of one parent, the work phone numbers for both parents, and an address for one of two required people to call in an emergency if a parent cannot be reached.”
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8VAC20-780-70
“Staff records shall be kept for each staff person and contain all the required information. The records for Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #3 show that references were not checked before employment, which is required.”
Dec 15, 2023: inspection2 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-A
“Based on record review and interview, it was determined that the center did not ensure that all employees shall undergo a background check in accordance with subsection B every five years thereafter. Evidence: 1. In reviewing staff records, Staff #2 has an expired background checks that expired August 16, 2023. 2. Staff #1, the owner, confirmed that Staff #2 has an expired background check.”
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8VAC20-780-140-A
The inspectors’ words, 127 words
“Based on record review and interview, it was determined that the center did not ensure that each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician before the child’s attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Evidence: 1. Three of the five children’s records reviewed did not have physical examinations in their record. a. Child #1 (date of enrollment 10/18/2022) did not have documentation of a physical; b. Child #2 (date of enrollment 11/22/2021) did not have documentation of a physical; c. Child #3 (date of enrollment 1/03/2023) did not have documentation of a physical. 2. Staff #2, program director, confirmed that the physical examinations were missing from the records of Child #1, Child #2, and Child #3.”
Dec 6, 2022: inspection6 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-2
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to obtain fingerprint background checks prior to employment. Evidence: 1 - The record for Staff #3 contains a fingerprint background dated November 18, 2022. However, the documented date of hire is November 15, 2022. Therefore, the fingerprint background check was obtained after the date of hire. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that the fingerprint background check was obtained after the date of hire.”
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22.1-289.035-B-4
“Based on record review the center failed to ensure that out of state background are obtained as required. Evidence: 1 - The record for Staff #2 contains documentation that the staff lived out of state within the past five years. However, there was not an out of state background check completed as required. Staff #2 has a documented date of hire as November 7, 2022. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not any documentation that an out of state background check was requested for Staff #2.”
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8VAC20-770-60-C-2
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that central registry findings are obtained within 30 days. Evidence: 1 - The record for Staff #5 does not contain any documentation that a central registry background check was requested or received within 30 days of hire. The documented date of hire for Staff #5 is July 25, 2022. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that there was not any documentation that a central registry background check was requested for Staff #5.”
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Based on record review the center failed to ensure that each staff member submits documentation of negative tuberculosis screening within 30 calendar days of the date of employment. 1 - The record for Staff #3 has tuberculosis screening dated June 1, 2022. However, the documented date of hire is November 15, 2022. Therefore, the tuberculosis screening was not obtained within the required time frame. 2 - Staff #1 confirmed that tuberculosis screening documentation was not obtained within the required time frame.”
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8VAC20-780-330-B
“Based on observation the center failed to maintain resilient surface as required. Evidence: 1 - There is less than six inches of resilient surface under, around and into the fall/use zone of the climb and slide equipment. a. Children were observed playing on the equipment during the inspection.”
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8VAC20-780-70
The inspectors’ words, 193 words
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that staff records contain all required information. Evidence: 1 - The record for Staff #2 has a documented date of hire as November 7, 2022. However, the record did not contain documentation of program leader qualifications which was the position Staff #2 was observed working in during the inspections. Additionally, the reference documentation was incomplete without a year or firm contacted noted. There was not any documentation of age verification. 2 - The record for Staff #3 has a documented date of hire as November 15, 2022. However, the reference documentation was incomplete as the year of the check nor the firm contacted was not noted. There was not any documentation of age verification. 3 - The record for Staff #4 has a documented date of hire as July 8, 2022. However, the reference documentation was incomplete as the firm contacted was not noted. 4 -The record for Staff #5 has a documented date of hire as July 25, 2022. However, the reference documentation was incomplete as the firm contacted was not noted. Additionally, there was not any documentation of age verification.”
Jul 26, 2022: complaint inspection3 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-160-A
The inspectors’ words, 94 words
“Based on record review the center failed to ensure that tuberculosis documentation has been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. Evidence: 1 - The record of staff 2 contains tuberculosis documentation that is dated February 11, 2022. a. Staff 2 has a documented date of employment as July 11, 2022. b. Staff 2 was present providing direct care to children during the inspection. 2 - Staff 1 confirmed that the tuberculosis documentation on file for staff 2 was dated more than 30 prior to her date of hire.”
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure areas and equipment are maintained is safe condition. Evidence: There were areas of peeling paint within reach of children on the climb and slide on the center playground.”
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8VAC20-780-330-B
“Based on observation the center failed to maintain resilient surface as required. Evidence: 1 - There was less than six inches of resilient surface under, around into the fall/use zone of the climb and slide playground equipment. 2 - There was grass and weeds growing up through the resilient under, around into the fall/use zone of the climb and slide playground equipment.”
Apr 12, 2022: inspection7 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-140-A
The inspectors’ words, 157 words
“Based record review the center failed to ensure that Each child shall have a physical examination by or under the direction of a physician within 30 days after the first day of attendance. Evidence: 1 ? Eight out of 13 children’s records reviewed do not have any documentation of physical reports on file. a. Child 1 has a documented date of enrollment as July 18, 2021. b. Child 2 has a documented date of enrollment as September 21, 2020. c. Child 3 has a documented date of enrollment as October 26, 2022. d. Child 4 has a documented date of enrollment as November 30, 2020. e. Child 5 has a documented date of enrollment as November 1, 2021. f. Child 6 has a documented date of enrollment as August 9, 2021. g. Child 7 has a documented date of enrollment as November 1, 2021. h. Child 8 has a documented date of enrollment as August 9, 2021.”
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8VAC20-780-280-B
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that hazardous substances are stored in locked location. Evidence: 1 ? In the boys and girls bathrooms there are spray bottles of air freshener stored on the window sill, an open an unlocked location. 2 ? Staff 1 confirmed that the air freshener is stored in an unlocked location in both bathrooms.”
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8VAC20-780-350-C
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that when children are in ongoing mixed age groups the ratio of the youngest child in the group will apply to the entire group. Evidence: 1 ? During nap time there were 7 children alone in a classroom with staff 1. The children present ranged in age from 15months through three years old. 2 ? Staff 1 confirmed that the youngest child in the room was 15months old.”
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8VAC20-780-350-K
The inspectors’ words, 94 words
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that in addition to the staff required by rest period ratios, an additional staff member shall always be available on-site to offer immediate assistance. Evidence: 1 ? There were only two staff in the building and each staff was responsible for providing director care to the children in their respective classrooms during rest period. 2 ? Staff 1 stated that the youngest child in her group was toddler age. Therefore, she thought she could have 10 children alone in the classroom during rest time.”
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8VAC20-780-530-A
“Based on record review and interview the center failed to ensure that at least one staff in each classroom or area where children are present shall have CPR and First Aid training. Evidence: 1 ? The records for staff 1 and 2 contain documentation of CPR and First Aid certification that expired in April 2022. 2 ? Staff 1 confirmed that the CPR and First Aid certification expired in April 2022.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that each child’s record contains documentation of child updates and confirmation of up-to-date information in the child’s record. 1 ? 12 out of 13 children’s records reviewed did not contain documentation of annual information update.”
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8VAC20-780-80-A
“Based on observation and interview the center failed to ensure that for each group of children, the center will maintain a written record of daily attendance that documents the arrival and departure of each child in care as it occurs. Evidence: 1 ? In the classroom with staff 2 where six four-year-old children were present for care, there was not an attendance record available for review at the onset of the inspection. 2 ? Staff 2 stated that the documented provided was the required attendance documentation.”
All 15 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2026 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 11 violations cited |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Dec 1, 2025 | Inspection | 7 violations cited |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 25, 2025 | Inspection | 9 violations cited |
| Oct 30, 2024 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Oct 30, 2024 | Inspection | 9 violations cited |
| Dec 15, 2023 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Dec 15, 2023 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| May 31, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Dec 6, 2022 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
| Dec 6, 2022 | Inspection | 6 violations cited |
| Jul 26, 2022 | Complaint inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 12, 2022 | Inspection | 7 violations cited |
| Apr 12, 2022 | Subsidy health and safety inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Dec 20, 2026.
- A current subsidy provider.
- Ages: 1 month - 12 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 52 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 143 child care providers in the City of Norfolk, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 13; this one had 40.
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 |
|---|---|
| Building Blocks Preschool and Childcare Center | 18 |
| YMCA School-Age Child Care @ Larrymore Elementary | 15 |
| St. Pius X Catholic School | 25 |
| Calvin Presbyterian Church | Not given |
| Barbara’s Childcare Center | 58 |
| KCE Champions LLC at Little Creek Elementary School | 35 |
| Bettina Myrick-Bergan | 9 |
| Angel’s Place Daycare Center II | 39 |
| Little Steps Academy, LLC. This child care provider | 40 |
| Barbara’s Childcare Center 2 | 53 |
| Noah’s Ark Learning Center | 19 |
| Noah’s Ark Infant Care LLC | 14 |
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.