The Little Academy
A child day center in Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407
4721 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia 22407. (540) 785-3437.
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
- 27 deficiencies in the last three years
- Jul 292026 the latest visit on record
- 53 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?
13 inspections on record, the latest on Jul 29, 2026.
27 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
27 deficiencies in 7 months of the last 36. Last cited Jul 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.
Jul 29, 2026: inspection3 deficiencies
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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.
“Child #4, who had been in attendance for 10 months, did not have documentation of an immunization record on file.”
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Physical examinations completed by a physician shall be obtained prior to the first day of attendance or within 30 days after the first day of attendance.
“There was no physical examination in the record of Child #4, who had been in attendance for 10 months.”
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(Repeat Violation) After the first license, annual approval from the health department shall be provided, or approvals of a plan of correction, for meeting requirements for the water supply and the sewage disposal system.
“The annual approval from the health department is more than six months overdue.”
Jan 22, 2026: inspection3 deficiencies
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22.1-289.057-A
“(Repeat Violation) The center shall develop and implement a plan to test potable water for lead. The center has not had their water tested.”
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8VAC20-780-260-B
“After the first license, annual approval from the health department shall be provided, or approvals of a plan of correction, for meeting requirements for the water supply and the sewage disposal system. The annual Report of Environmental Sanitation is overdue by 13 days.”
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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 documentation of child updates and confirmation of up-to-date information in the child’s record annually. The parent confirmation that the required information in the file of Child #2 was up to date, was overdue by more than four months.”
Aug 14, 2025: complaint inspection1 deficiency
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8VAC20-780-270-A
“Areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. The air conditioning unit was rusted and leaking. There was a trash can on the floor in the middle of the classroom for the 3 and 4 year old children to collect the leaking water. The trash can contained yellow water and was observed right next to a napping child.”
Jul 21, 2025: inspection3 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-240-A
“Staff are to complete the VDOE sponsored online orientation course within 90 days of hire. Staff #3 completed this training more than four months after her start date.”
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8VAC20-780-245-A
“Staff shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of training annually, appropriate to the age of children in care. Staff #2 obtained four of the 16 required hours in the last year.”
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8VAC20-780-70
“Documentation of at least 2 references to character, reputation, and competency are to be checked prior to employment. Staff #1, who has been working at the center for over two months, did not have any completed reference verifications on file.”
Apr 3, 2025: inspection3 deficiencies
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22.1-289.057-A
“The center is required to test potable drinking water for lead levels. The center has not arranged for testing to be completed.”
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8VAC20-780-550-G
The inspectors’ words, 105 words
“Documentation shall be maintained of fire drills that includes: 1. Identity of the person conducting the drill; 2. The date and time of the drill; 3. The method used for notification of the drill; 4. The number of staff participating; 5. The number of children participating; 6. Any special conditions simulated; 7. The time it took to complete the drill; 8. Problems encountered, if any; and 9. For emergency evacuation drills only, weather conditions. The Director noted the date and time of fire drills in her phone along with the time it took to complete the drills. The other elements were not addressed as required.”
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8VAC20-780-70
“The center is required to obtain documentation that staff possess the education and experience required by the job position. There was no documentation that Staff #2 who has been working at the center for more than one month completed 24 hours of training related to the care of children. Staff #2 was working alone with children, serving as lead teacher at the beginning of the inspection.”
Jan 8, 2025: inspection8 deficiencies
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22.1-289.035-B-2
“Providers must obtain a completed national criminal background check prior to the employee’s first day of employment. Staff #1, who had been employed for more than 4 weeks, did not have a completed national criminal background check.”
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22.1-289.036-A
“The center is required to have applicants undergo a background check every five years. The most recent national criminal background check for applicant #1 was overdue by a year and seven months.”
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22.1-289.057-A
“The program is required to submit to VDH and implement a plan to test potable water for lead. The program did not have evidence of a testing plan submitted to VDH and the program did not have evidence of the implementation of the required testing plan.”
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8VAC20-780-160-A
“Each staff member shall submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment. The documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. The tuberculosis screening for Staff #1 was dated more than a year prior to her start date. The tuberculosis screening for Staff #4 was dated more than two months prior to her start date.”
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8VAC20-780-210-A
“Program leaders shall receive 24 hours of training related to the care of children within six months before beginning work or one month after beginning work. Staff #1 did not have 24 hours of training documented during the required timeframes.”
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8VAC20-780-240-B
“Staff shall complete orientation training prior to the staff member working alone with children and no later than seven days of the date of assuming job responsibilities. Staff #1, who is working with children, has not yet completed this course which is overdue by 3 weeks.”
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8VAC20-780-245-A
“Staff shall complete a minimum of 16 hours of training annually, appropriate to the age of children in care. The most recent training documented for Staff #2 was dated 8/24/23. The most recent training documented for Staff #3 was dated 8/14/23. The most recent training documented for Staff #5 was dated 4/05/23.”
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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. The center documents attendance electronically but they did not maintain a written record as required.”
May 14, 2024: inspection6 deficiencies
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8VAC20-780-130-A
“Based on review of five children’s records it was determined that not all records contained documentation of immunizations before the first day of enrollment. Evidence: The record for child B (start date: 04/16/2024) did not have documentation of immunizations on file as required.”
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8VAC20-780-245-L
“Based on interviews and review of three staff records it was determined there was not always at least one staff member on site who was trained in daily health observation of children. Evidence: The records for the three staff on site did not have documentation of obtaining daily health observation training.”
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8VAC20-780-40-M
“Based on review of the facilities food allergy list, review of medication, and review of six children’s records it was determined that the facility failed to maintain a current list of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions. Evidence: Child A who had medication on site for a food allergy was not listed on the facilities allergy list, which was dated January 2024.”
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8VAC20-780-530-A-1
“Based on interviews and review of three staff records it was determined that there was not always at least one staff where children are present with current CPR training. Evidence: The most recent CPR training on file for Staff A had an expiration date of 04/27/2024. There were no other staff on site with CPR training.”
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8VAC20-780-530-A-2
“Based on interviews and review of three staff records it was determined that there was not always at least one staff where children are present with current First Aid training. Evidence: The most recent First Aid training on file for Staff A had an expiration date of 04/27/2024. There were no other staff on site with First Aid training.”
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8VAC20-780-60-A-8
“Based on review medication and five child records it was determined that not all children with diagnosed food allergies had a written allergy care plan on file. Evidence: Child A had medication on site for a food allergy. Child A did not have a written allergy care plan on file in reference to the food allergy.”
Apr 26, 2023: inspection2 deficiencies
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Based on record review, the center did not obtain ensure that repeat background checks are completed at least every five years for all staff.
“Evidence: Staff #1 (Date of Hire: 10/26/2011) did not have repeat Virginia Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry checks completed within the last five years as the most recent results on file were dated 1/19/2018.”
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Based on record review, the center did not ensure that all staff complete the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored orientation course within 90 calendar days of employment.
“Evidence: Staff #4 (Date of Hire: 11/14/22) did not have documentation on file of completing the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored orientation course.”
Dec 5, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies
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Based on record review, the center did not ensure that all staff complete the Virginia Department of Education-sponsored Preservice orientation course within 90 calendar days of employment.
“Evidence: Staff #2 (Date of Hire: 10/26/2011), Staff #3 (Date of Hire: 8/31/2015) and Staff #4 (Date of Hire: 6/2/14) have not completed Preservice training.”
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Based on record review, the center has not obtained an annual health inspection.
“Evidence: The most recent health inspection was conducted 1/23/2020.”
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Based on observation, the center did not ensure that hazardous substances such as cleaning materials were kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.
“Evidence: There were spray bottles of bleach, glass cleaner, and multipurpose cleaners stored on a shelf above the changing table in the bathroom used by children.”
Apr 5, 2022: inspection3 deficiencies
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Based on staff interview, the center did not ensure that the facility was equipped with at least one carbon monoxide detector.
“Evidence: The center did not have a carbon monoxide detector on site.”
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Based on record review, the center did not obtain a physical examination for each child before the child’s first day of attendance or within one month after attendance.
“Evidence: Child #3 (First Day of Attendance: 7/28/2020) did not have a physical examination on file.”
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Based on observation, staff interview, and documentation review, the center did not ensure that there was at least one staff in each classroom or area where children are present that has current first aid training.
“Evidence: There were three staff present at the time of inspection and none of the staff have current first aid training.”
All 13 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 29, 2026 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Jan 22, 2026 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Aug 14, 2025 | Complaint inspection | 1 violation cited |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 3, 2025 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Jan 8, 2025 | Inspection | 8 violations cited |
| May 14, 2024 | Inspection | 6 violations cited |
| Oct 13, 2023 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Apr 26, 2023 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Dec 5, 2022 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 5, 2022 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Nov 30, 2021 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Oct 1, 2021 | Complaint inspection | No violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Jan 19, 2027.
- Ages: 2 years - 7 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 53 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?
- 2 complaint inspections 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 66 child care providers in Spotsylvania County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 7.5; this one had 27.
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 |
|---|---|
| The Little Academy This child care provider | 27 |
| The Merit School at The Castle (#9) | 25 |
| Learning Paths Academy at Leavells (#8) | 13 |
| Salem Village Academy | 5 |
| Rappahannock Area Young Men’s Christian Association-Smith Statio | 17 |
| Children of America Salem Church, LLC | 4 |
| Ms. Tamara Gilchrist | 12 |
| Madelaine Cuello | 14 |
| Creative Childcare Center | 17 |
| Resurrection Lutheran Church | 0 |
| The Merit School of Southpoint (#45) | 14 |
| Tiny Toes Creative Learning Center | 46 |
| Ms. Lisa Ernest | 0 |
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
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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.