Hearth Record

First Steps Learning Center LLC

A child day center in Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111

8146 Elm Street, Mechanicsville, Virginia 23111. (804) 789-1870.

Virginia’s own record, on legacy.dss.virginia.gov

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

The last 24 months 33 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. Every month

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 11, 2026.

33 violations cited in the last three years.

Source:

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

33 deficiencies in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Jun 2026. The last 3 years, to Nov 2, 2026.

33 deficiencies by month over the last 3 years. Each cell is one month.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2023 Dec
2024 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2026 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNov

Hover or focus a month to read it.

No visit on record Visited, nothing cited A stronger orange is more serious, on its source’s own levels, read onto four bands: from the least serious it publishes to the most
Source:

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.

Source:

Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.

Jun 11, 2026: subsidy health and safety inspection2 deficiencies
  • 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 record of child #3, under the age of two years, did not have an updated immunization record in file. An updated immunization record was due two months ago.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-130-E.

  • 8VAC20-790-600-F

    “Repeat Staff who work directly with children shall, in addition to preservice and orientation training, annually attend at least 16 hours of training and staff development activities, to include the department’s health and safety update course. 1. Staff #3, employed for one year and two months, had not completed the departments 2026 health and safety update course. 2. Staff #4, employed for one year and nine months, did not complete the departments 2026 health and safety update course.”

    Rule 8VAC20-790-600-F.

Dec 1, 2025: subsidy health and safety inspection1 deficiency
  • 8VAC20-790-600-F

    “Staff who work directly with children shall, in addition to preservice and orientation training, annually, attend at least 16 hours of training and staff development activities, to include the department’s health and safety update course. 1. Staff #1, employed for one year 17 days, did not have documentation of completing the annual health and safety update training. 2. The record of staff #2 contained documentation of the health and safety training dated 11/01/2024. There was no documentation of the updated training for 2025.”

    Rule 8VAC20-790-600-F.

Dec 1, 2025: inspection5 deficiencies
  • 8VAC20-780-240-A

    “The Virginia Department of Education-sponsored orientation course shall be completed within 90 calendar days of employment. The record of staff #1, employed for one year and 17 days, did not have documentation of completing the Virgina Department of Education-sponsored orientation.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-240-A.

  • 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 of staff #1, employed for one year and 17 days, did not contain documentation of any annual training.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-245-A.

  • 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. A bottle of bleach was observed unlocked on the floor of the kitchen.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-280-B.

  • 8VAC20-780-550-D

    “The center shall implement a monthly practice evacuation drill. The center’s did not complete an evacuation drill for the month of November 2025.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-550-D.

  • 8VAC20-780-570-E

    “The center shall ensure prepared infant formula is refrigerated, dated and labeled with the child’s name. Two bottles observed in the refrigerator were not labeled with the date.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-570-E.

Jun 3, 2025: inspection6 deficiencies
  • 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. Staff #4, employed for two months, did not have documentation of requesting a central registry check and a criminal history record check from a state they resided in the preceding five years.”

    Rule 22.1-289.035-B-4.

  • 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 documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment and be signed by a physician, physician’s designee, or an official of the local health department. The record of staff #4 contained documentation of a TB screening that was completed two months prior to the date of employment.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-160-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-260-B

    “After the first license, annual approval from the health department shall be provided for meeting requirements for food service. The center is currently providing meals and did not obtain a food establishment inspection from the health department.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-260-B.

  • 8VAC20-780-570-B

    “Bottles shall not be propped or used while the child is in his designated sleeping location. Two infants were observed drink a bottle while laying in their crib during the inspection on June 3, 2025.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-570-B.

  • 8VAC20-780-60-A

    “The center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain a written care plan for each child with a diagnosed food allergy, to include instructions from a physician regarding the food to which the child is allergic and the steps to be taken in the event of a suspected or confirmed allergic reaction. Child #9, with a diagnosed food allergy, did not have a written allergy care plan from a physician.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-70

    “Repeat Staff records shall be kept for each staff person and contain all required documentation. 1. The record of staff #1, employed for 1 month and 28 days, did not contain documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the orientation as required. 2. The record of staff #2, employed for 1 month, did not contain documentation to demonstrate that the individual possesses the orientation as required.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-70.

Dec 12, 2024: inspection3 deficiencies
  • 8VAC20-780-240-A

    “Staff are to complete the VDOE sponsored online orientation course within 90 days of hire. Staff #6, employed for five months, has not yet completed this course.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-240-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-340-D

    The inspectors’ words, 103 words

    “Repeat In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present. Such a program leader shall supervise no more than two aides. Records were reviewed for the two staff (staff #3 and staff #4) who were regularly assigned to the toddler-preschool classroom and who were the only staff present in the classroom on 12/12/2024. The two staff records did not contained documentation to demonstrate any of the two staff met program leader qualification. Administration stated she did not have a program leader qualified staff member for the classroom.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-340-D.

  • 8VAC20-780-70

    “Repeat A complete staff record shall be kept for each staff person. The records for staff #3 did not contain documentation of two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency that were checked before employment or volunteering.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-70.

Sep 9, 2024: inspection15 deficiencies
  • 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. Staff #4, employed for 6 days, did not have documentation of a sworn statement.”

    Rule 22.1-289.035-B-1.

  • 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. Child #3 and child #4, both enrolled for five days, did not have documentation of immunizations on file. Documentation of immunizations for child #5 was dated one day after the first day of attendance.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-130-A.

  • 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 documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment. Staff #4, employed for six days, did not have documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening on file. Staff #6, employed two months, did not have documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening on file.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-160-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-210-A-4-a

    “Program leaders shall have fulfilled a high school program completion or the equivalent and have meet one of the following experience and education requirements. Staff #5, identified as a program leader, had documentation of 10 hours of training when 24 hours is required within six months of beginning work or within 30 days after being promoted or beginning work.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-210-A-4-a.

  • 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, employed for 14 days, did not have documentation of orientation training. Staff #2, employed for 14 days, did not have documentation of orientation training. Staff #6, employed for two months, did not have documentation of orientation training.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-240-B.

  • 8VAC20-780-245-L

    “There shall always be at least one staff member on duty who has obtained within the last three years instruction in performing the daily health observation of children. The director stated there were no staff with current daily health observation training.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-245-L.

  • 8VAC20-780-270-A

    “The center shall maintain areas and equipment of the center, inside and outside, in a clean, safe and operable condition. The gate to the playground had two exposed nails that could snag the skin of children in care.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-270-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-340-D

    The inspectors’ words, 104 words

    “In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present. Such a program leader shall supervise no more than two aides. Records were reviewed for the three staff (staff #1, staff #2 and staff #4) who were regularly assigned to the toddler-preschool classroom and who were the only staff present in the classroom on 9/09/2024. The three staff records did not contained documentation to demonstrate any of the three staff met program leader qualification. Administration stated she did not have a program leader qualified staff member for the classroom.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-340-D.

  • 8VAC20-780-40-E

    “The operational responsibilities of the licensee shall include ensuring the terms of the current license issued by the department. The current license stipulates an age range of three months through five years, 11 months. On 09/09/2024, the youngest child is care was seven weeks old.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-40-E.

  • 8VAC20-780-40-M

    “The center shall maintain in a way that is accessible to all staff who work with children, a current, dated, written list of all children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions in each room where children are present. There was no list observed of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions in each room where children were present. The record of child #1 and child #5 both listed a dietary restriction. The administrator stated she did not have a list of children’s allergies, sensitivities, and dietary restrictions.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-40-M.

  • 8VAC20-780-420-E-1

    “The center shall post a daily record which can be easily accessed by both the parent and the staff working with the child. The record shall contain all the required information. The dry-erase board used to post the infant log did not include the amount of time the infant slept; the amount of food consumed and the time; a description and time of bowel movements; developmental milestones; and for infants, who are awake and cannot turn over by themselves, the amount of time spent on their stomachs.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-420-E-1.

  • 8VAC20-780-570-A

    “The center shall ensure when a child is placed in an infant seat or highchair, the protective belt was fastened securely. Child #1 was observed in a highchair with an unfastened protective seat belt. Child #7 was observed sitting in a bouncer with an unfastened protective seat belt. Staff acknowledged the two protective seat belts were not fastened.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-570-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-570-C

    “The center shall maintain a record of each child on formula that contain the brand of formula and the child’s feeding schedule. There was no record of the brand of formula and the child’s feeding schedule for the three infants in care.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-570-C.

  • 8VAC20-780-60-A

    “Each center shall maintain and keep at the center a separate record for each child enrolled which shall contain all required information. The record of child #3 and child #4 did not contain the address for the two emergency contacts listed for each child as required.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-60-A.

  • 8VAC20-780-70

    “A complete staff record shall be kept for each staff person. The records for staff #1 and staff #4 did not contain documentation of two or more references as to character and reputation as well as competency that were checked before employment or volunteering.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-70.

Apr 15, 2024: inspection1 deficiency
  • Based on review of three staff records and interview, the licensee did not obtain documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. The documentation shall have been completed within the last 30 calendar days of the date of employment.

    “Evidence: The record of staff #2, employed 04/15/2024, contained documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening dated 02/05/2024, exceeding 30 days prior to employment.”

    Rule 8VAC20-780-160-A.

All 10 visits on record
Visits on record
DateVisitWhat the record says
Jun 11, 2026Subsidy health and safety inspection2 violations cited
Dec 1, 2025Subsidy health and safety inspection1 violation cited
Dec 1, 2025Inspection5 violations cited
Jun 3, 2025InspectionNo violations cited
Jun 3, 2025Subsidy health and safety inspectionNo violations cited
Jun 3, 2025Inspection6 violations cited
Dec 12, 2024Subsidy health and safety inspectionNo violations cited
Dec 12, 2024Inspection3 violations cited
Sep 9, 2024Inspection15 violations cited
Apr 15, 2024Inspection1 violation cited

Is it licensed?

  • Child Day Center: Two Year license, expires Jan 25, 2027.
  • A current subsidy provider.
  • Ages: 3 months - 7 years 11 months.
Source:

Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each facility’s page. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.

Has Virginia acted against it?

  • 0 complaint inspections on record.
  • No complaint allegations published with findings.

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 33.
Source:

Virginia Department of Education, Search for Child Day Care: each inspection’s page, with its violations. Checked Nov 2, 2026. Updated weekly.

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

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.

Source:

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.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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