The Goddard School (Hanover Co)
A child day center in Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111
7503 Old Hickory Drive, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111. (804) 746-2922.
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
- 13 deficiencies in the last three years
- Jun 152026 the latest visit on record
- 254 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?
10 inspections on record, the latest on Jun 15, 2026.
13 violations cited in the last three years.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated weekly.
When those deficiencies happened
13 deficiencies in 4 months of the last 36. Last cited Dec 2025. The last 3 years, to Oct 30, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | 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 |
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 Oct 30, 2026. Updated weekly.
Dec 11, 2025: inspection4 deficiencies
-
Immunization records are required to be signed and dated by a physician, his designee, or an official of the local health department.
“The immunization record for child #2 was not dated.”
-
Staff are to complete the VDOE sponsored online orientation course within 90 days of hire.
“The records for staff # 8, #9, and #10, did not contain documentation of the completed course.”
-
Staff shall complete orientation prior to the staff member working alone with children and no later than seven days of the date of assuming job responsibilities.
The inspectors’ words, 92 words
“1. The record for staff #1, did not contain documentation of orientation training. Staff # 1 has been employed for four months. 2. The record for staff #3, did not contain documentation of orientation training. Staff #3 has been employed and working with children for more than two weeks. 3. The record for staff #7, did not contain documentation of orientation training. Staff #7 has been employed for six months. 4. The record for staff # 9, did not contain documentation of orientation training. Staff #9 has been employed for four months.”
-
Documentation of at least 2 references to character, reputation, and competency are to be checked prior to employment.
“Staff #6, who has been actively working at the center for the past 6 months, did not have any complete reference verifications on file.”
Jun 18, 2025: inspection2 deficiencies
-
The center shall ensure that areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, are maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition.
“Areas of chipped and/or peeling paint were observed in the school age building, many of which were within reach of the children in care.”
-
Hazardous substances such as cleaning materials shall be kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children.
“In the Gazelles classroom, there was one bottle of sanitizing spray with a warning label, ?Keep out of reach of children? stored over a sink accessible to children. In the bathroom located in the Flamingos classroom, there was an unlocked cabinet over the sink with a can of Lysol Disinfectant spray and a can of Febreze Air Freshener with a warning label, ?Keep out of reach of children? stored.”
Oct 1, 2024: inspection3 deficiencies
-
Based on record review, the center failed to ensure that all employees shall undergo background checks every five years.
“Evidence: The record for staff #6 contained a central registry background check dated 08/03/2018. Staff #6 should have completed a central background check on or before 08/03/2023.”
-
Based on a review of ten (10) staff records and interview, the center did not ensure that sworn statements was updated every five years for 2 staff.
“Evidence: 1. The record for staff #1 contained a sworn statement that was completed on 3/11/2018. The sworn statement for staff #1 should have been updated on or before 3/11/2023. 2. The record for staff #2 contained a sworn statement that was completed on 4/16/2018. The sworn statement for staff #2 should have been updated on or before 4/16/2023. 3. Staff #1 verified that an updated sworn statement had not been completed for staff #1 and staff #2.”
-
Based on a review of staff records, the center failed to obtain a tuberculosis screening at least every two years from the date of the initial screening.
“Evidence: The record of Staff #6 (DOH 08/24/2016) did not contain an updated tuberculosis screening. The tuberculosis documentation in the record was dated 09/29/2022.”
Jun 10, 2024: inspection4 deficiencies
-
(Repeat Violation) Based on observation and staff interviews, the center failed to maintain areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, shall be maintained in a clean, safe, and operable condition.
“Evidence: 1. The vinyl on a red child size chair and sofa in the Rhino’s classroom was torn on the seat of the chair and sofa exposing the cushion and webbing. 2. Staff stated that they were not aware that the child size sofa and chair was torn.”
-
(Repeat Violation) Based on observation, the center did not ensure that all hazardous substances were kept in a locked place using a safe locking method that prevents access by children
“Evidence: There were containers of diaper rash cream stored in an unlocked cabinet in the elephants classroom accessible to children.”
-
(Repeat Violation) Based on observation, the center did not ensure children’s hands shall be washed with soap and running water after toileting.
“Evidence: In the infant classroom staff was observed conducting a diaper change and the child’s hands were not washed after diaper change. After the diaper change, staff handed the child to another staff member in the classroom.”
-
Based on record review, it was determined that the center did not ensure that each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain the work phone number and place of employment of each parent who has custody.
The inspectors’ words, 96 words
“Evidence: 1. Child #3 (date of enrollment 4/1/2024) did not have the parent’s work number listed in the child’s record. 2. Child #4 (date of enrollment 2/1/2024) did not have the parent’s work number listed in the child’s record. 3. Child #6 (date of enrollment 3/1/2024) did not have the parent’s work number listed in the child’s record. 4. Child #12 (date of enrollment 6/3/2024) did not have the parent’s work number listed int the child’s record. 5. Child #13 (date of enrollment 6/20/2022) did not have the parent’s work number listed in the child’s record.”
Oct 19, 2023: inspection3 deficiencies
-
8VAC20-780-260-B
“Based on record review and interview with staff, the center did not ensure an annual approval from health department was completed. Evidence: The most recent annual health inspection was dated 7/11/2022. Staff confirmed that an updated health inspection had not been completed.”
-
8VAC20-780-270-A
“Repeat Violation - Based on observation, the center did not ensure areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were maintained in a clean, safe, and operable condition. Evidence: The gym had torn soft blocks and playmats exposing the inside materials, presenting a choking hazard.”
-
8VAC20-780-550-P
“Based on record review, the center did not ensure injury reports contained all required information. Evidence: 2 out of 5 injury reports reviewed, did not contain documentation of how and when the parent was notified.”
Apr 25, 2023: inspection3 deficiencies
-
8VAC20-780-270-A
The inspectors’ words, 128 words
“Based on observation and staff interviews, the licensee did not ensure the areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, were maintained in a clean, safe and operable condition. Unsafe conditions include, but not be limited to, splintered, cracked or otherwise deteriorating wood; chipped or peeling paint; visible cracks, bending or warping, rusting or breakage of any equipment; head entrapment hazards; and protruding nails, bolts or other components that could entangle clothing or snag skin. Evidence: 1. The red chair in the older 3 and 4?s classroom fabric was torn (approximately 3 1/2 inches long) and the inside filling/ material was exposed. 2. Two red poles at the corner of the play equipment on the 2nd playground has broken edges. The broken edges create a scratching hazard.”
-
8VAC20-780-40-M
The inspectors’ words, 100 words
“Based on observation and interviews, the center did not ensure to 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. This list shall be dated and kept confidential in each room or area where children are present. Evidence: 1. In the Flamingo’s classroom there were red octagon allergy tags with the child’s name and allergy visible and not kept confidential. 2. In the Infant II classroom, there were red octagon allergy tags with the child’s name and allergy visible and not kept confidential.”
-
8VAC20-780-500-A
“Based on observations, the center failed to ensure children’s hands are washed with soap and running water after diapering. Evidence: 1. In the Zebra’s, staff A did not wash an infant’s hands after diapering.”
Jun 22, 2022: inspection2 deficiencies
-
8VAC20-780-260-B
“Based on a review of documentation and interview, it was determined that the facility did not ensure that the annual approval from the health department is provided. Evidence: 1. The most recent annual health inspection available for viewing during the inspection was dated 10/5/2020. 2. The director confirmed that the center has not had a health inspection due to the change in management and COVID.”
-
8VAC20-780-440-G
“Based on observation the center failed to ensure that cribs are used for children under 12 months of age and for children over 12 months of age who are not developmentally ready to sleep on a cot or mat. Evidence: 1 - Child 1 was observed sleeping on mat during the inspection. However, child 1 is 11 months old and therefore should be sleeping in a crib.”
All 10 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 15, 2026 | Complaint inspection | No violations cited |
| Jun 15, 2026 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Dec 11, 2025 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Jun 18, 2025 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
| Oct 1, 2024 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Jun 10, 2024 | Inspection | 4 violations cited |
| Oct 19, 2023 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Apr 25, 2023 | Inspection | 3 violations cited |
| Oct 4, 2022 | Inspection | No violations cited |
| Jun 22, 2022 | Inspection | 2 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Nov 1, 2026.
- Ages: 1 month - 12 years 11 months.
- Capacity: 254 children.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Oct 30, 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 Oct 30, 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 59 child care providers in Hanover County, the middle value for violations cited in the last three years was 11; this one had 13.
Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Oct 30, 2026. Updated weekly.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| First Shiloh Baptist Church | 17 |
| Walnut Grove Baptist Church | 2 |
| Skipwith Academy At Pebble Creek (#24) | 13 |
| Childtime Learning Centers - Old Hickory | 19 |
| The Gingerbread Cottage Preschool, Inc. - Mechanicsville | 12 |
| Hanover Evangelical Friends Church | 5 |
| The Goddard School (Hanover Co) This child care provider | 13 |
| The Cherub School | 19 |
| Camp Hanover Inc. | 11 |
| The Nest School | 6 |
| First Steps Learning Center LLC | 33 |
| Oak Tree Christian Montessori LLC | 2 |
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 Oct 30, 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 inspection’s page, with its violations.
Checked Oct 30, 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 Oct 30, 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 Oct 30, 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.