The Learning Experience Apex

10A NCAC 09 .0902 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: CORRINE FULP Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/25/2026 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 6/25/2026 Age: From 0 To 6 Total Minutes: 210 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Danielle McDowell, Assistant director and later joined by Natalie Raybon, and she accompanied me throughout the visit. CURRENT LICENSE STATUS: The program operates with a 3-star license issued on 1/22/25. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS: The last sanitation inspection was completed on: 11/18/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 11/5/25. The last outdoor play area inspection was completed on 5/6/26. The last fire drill was conducted on 5/29/26. The last lock down/shelter-in-place drill was completed on 4/17/26. The EPR plan was updated on 8/6/25. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 12/10/25. The NC Secretary of State's website was reviewed on 6/24/26 and was listed as active- current. During today's visit, I observed all approved indoor and outdoor spaces and found them to be accessible, safe, and appropriate for the children in care. Upon arrival, the children were engaged in a variety of activities, including outdoor play, circle time, and learning center activities. In the 0–24-month classroom, the infants were participating in floor play activities, while one child was resting comfortably during nap time. Children appeared content and appropriately supervised throughout the observation period. ITEMS MONITORED: A partial monitoring of applicable child care requirements was conducted, monitoring Supervision, Staff Child Ratio, CPR/First Aid, Special Training, Storage of Hazardous Substances, Storage of Medication, Adequate Approved/Space, Staff Records, Program Records, License Posted, and Permit Restrictions. During today’s visit, five (5) newly added staff files were reviewed to verify that required documentation was present, complete, current, and maintained according to program requirements. A follow-up visit will be conducted due to non-compliance with required staff-to-child ratios observed during the visit. The purpose of the follow-up is to verify that corrective actions have been implemented and that staffing practices consistently maintain compliance with ratio requirements. The following violations were observed and documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 301 Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. A caregiver in a two-year-old classroom were observed caring for 10 children. The staff/child ratio for this age group is 1/9. GS 110-91(7);.0713(a-d) 428 A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Activity plans were not posted for two classroom. GS 110-91(12); .0508(a) 533 Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. During the observation, two bottles were found without the required date and the child's name clearly labeled. 15A NCAC 18A .2804(d) 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence) Two feeding schedule were not posted for children under 15 months of age. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Diaper cream and sun screen was stored in an unlocked cabinet accessible to children. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. During a walkthrough of the infant classroom, an infant was observed sleeping. A review of the sleep monitoring documentation indicated that the last recorded sleep check had been completed 32 minutes earlier. .0606(g) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. Five staff files did not have a signed statement on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. A review of staff records indicated that a caregiver hired on February 2, 2026, had not completed the required training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) Please submit a corrective action letter for the above violations. While the documented; allows you time to explain how you have corrected violations when they are documented, it is expected that you will correct all violations immediately. Your corrective action letter must include the following: Name of your program, Id number of your program, Date of Letter, Violation(s) number(s), and How and When each violation was corrected. If I do not receive your letter by 7/9/26, and/or if you do not address all violations, I will be making a return visit to your program to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the situation has not been corrected or addressed. Your compliance letter should be sent to me at the following email address: corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov., or mailed to 1781 Indian Camp Road Clayton, NC 27520. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history score was 92%. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE I observed a child bottle and sippy cup not labeled and dated with the child’s name. Please remind staff to check bottles/sippy cups when parents drop them off. During the walkthrough of the two-year-old classroom, teachers were caring for 10 children. The required ratio for this age group is 1:9, which means the classroom was out of ratio at the time of observation. As a best practice, walkthroughs should be conducted during early morning drop-off to verify attendance and staffing levels. Staff should also notify the office immediately whenever they are out of ratio so appropriate adjustments can be made. During the observation, an unlocked cabinet containing medication was accessible to young children. It appeared that the safety latch did not fully engage when the cabinet was closed. Staff should verify that the cabinet is securely locked each time it is closed by gently pulling on the drawer or cabinet door to ensure the latch has engaged properly. This will help prevent children from accessing medication and maintain a safe environment. Five staff members did not have a job description on file. In North Carolina, licensed child care programs are required to maintain a signed statement verifying they received and reviewed their job description. CONSULTATION AND RESOURCES: ABCMS PROVIDER PORTAL Child care providers can now view and manage their facility’s staff roster through the ABCMS Provider Portal. Please note that you are required to add new employees within five days of their hire date and update your roster by adding or removing applicants as needed. FACILITY LEAD H2O, LEAD-BASED PAINT, ASBESTOS TESTING Child care facilities are now required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids are designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements to test lead and asbestos hazards in buildings. You can check your status at https://data.cleanwaterforuskids.org/data/north-carolina. HEALTH AND SAFETY Training in all the required health and safety topics must be completed every 5 years. Health and Safety training is available, at no charge, on the DCDEE website, in Moodle. Staff should use their individual NCID username and password to access this training. DCDEE UPDATES AND NEWS For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.nc.gov. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions about today’s visit, I can be reached at: 919-606-2388 or email me at corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov. If I am unavailable, you can reach my supervisor, Holli Hemby, at (919)819-9363 or email at holli.hemby@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0514 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: CORRINE FULP Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/25/2026 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 6/25/2026 Age: From 0 To 6 Total Minutes: 210 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Danielle McDowell, Assistant director and later joined by Natalie Raybon, and she accompanied me throughout the visit. CURRENT LICENSE STATUS: The program operates with a 3-star license issued on 1/22/25. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS: The last sanitation inspection was completed on: 11/18/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 11/5/25. The last outdoor play area inspection was completed on 5/6/26. The last fire drill was conducted on 5/29/26. The last lock down/shelter-in-place drill was completed on 4/17/26. The EPR plan was updated on 8/6/25. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 12/10/25. The NC Secretary of State's website was reviewed on 6/24/26 and was listed as active- current. During today's visit, I observed all approved indoor and outdoor spaces and found them to be accessible, safe, and appropriate for the children in care. Upon arrival, the children were engaged in a variety of activities, including outdoor play, circle time, and learning center activities. In the 0–24-month classroom, the infants were participating in floor play activities, while one child was resting comfortably during nap time. Children appeared content and appropriately supervised throughout the observation period. ITEMS MONITORED: A partial monitoring of applicable child care requirements was conducted, monitoring Supervision, Staff Child Ratio, CPR/First Aid, Special Training, Storage of Hazardous Substances, Storage of Medication, Adequate Approved/Space, Staff Records, Program Records, License Posted, and Permit Restrictions. During today’s visit, five (5) newly added staff files were reviewed to verify that required documentation was present, complete, current, and maintained according to program requirements. A follow-up visit will be conducted due to non-compliance with required staff-to-child ratios observed during the visit. The purpose of the follow-up is to verify that corrective actions have been implemented and that staffing practices consistently maintain compliance with ratio requirements. The following violations were observed and documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 301 Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. A caregiver in a two-year-old classroom were observed caring for 10 children. The staff/child ratio for this age group is 1/9. GS 110-91(7);.0713(a-d) 428 A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Activity plans were not posted for two classroom. GS 110-91(12); .0508(a) 533 Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. During the observation, two bottles were found without the required date and the child's name clearly labeled. 15A NCAC 18A .2804(d) 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence) Two feeding schedule were not posted for children under 15 months of age. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Diaper cream and sun screen was stored in an unlocked cabinet accessible to children. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. During a walkthrough of the infant classroom, an infant was observed sleeping. A review of the sleep monitoring documentation indicated that the last recorded sleep check had been completed 32 minutes earlier. .0606(g) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. Five staff files did not have a signed statement on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. A review of staff records indicated that a caregiver hired on February 2, 2026, had not completed the required training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) Please submit a corrective action letter for the above violations. While the documented; allows you time to explain how you have corrected violations when they are documented, it is expected that you will correct all violations immediately. Your corrective action letter must include the following: Name of your program, Id number of your program, Date of Letter, Violation(s) number(s), and How and When each violation was corrected. If I do not receive your letter by 7/9/26, and/or if you do not address all violations, I will be making a return visit to your program to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the situation has not been corrected or addressed. Your compliance letter should be sent to me at the following email address: corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov., or mailed to 1781 Indian Camp Road Clayton, NC 27520. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history score was 92%. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE I observed a child bottle and sippy cup not labeled and dated with the child’s name. Please remind staff to check bottles/sippy cups when parents drop them off. During the walkthrough of the two-year-old classroom, teachers were caring for 10 children. The required ratio for this age group is 1:9, which means the classroom was out of ratio at the time of observation. As a best practice, walkthroughs should be conducted during early morning drop-off to verify attendance and staffing levels. Staff should also notify the office immediately whenever they are out of ratio so appropriate adjustments can be made. During the observation, an unlocked cabinet containing medication was accessible to young children. It appeared that the safety latch did not fully engage when the cabinet was closed. Staff should verify that the cabinet is securely locked each time it is closed by gently pulling on the drawer or cabinet door to ensure the latch has engaged properly. This will help prevent children from accessing medication and maintain a safe environment. Five staff members did not have a job description on file. In North Carolina, licensed child care programs are required to maintain a signed statement verifying they received and reviewed their job description. CONSULTATION AND RESOURCES: ABCMS PROVIDER PORTAL Child care providers can now view and manage their facility’s staff roster through the ABCMS Provider Portal. Please note that you are required to add new employees within five days of their hire date and update your roster by adding or removing applicants as needed. FACILITY LEAD H2O, LEAD-BASED PAINT, ASBESTOS TESTING Child care facilities are now required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids are designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements to test lead and asbestos hazards in buildings. You can check your status at https://data.cleanwaterforuskids.org/data/north-carolina. HEALTH AND SAFETY Training in all the required health and safety topics must be completed every 5 years. Health and Safety training is available, at no charge, on the DCDEE website, in Moodle. Staff should use their individual NCID username and password to access this training. DCDEE UPDATES AND NEWS For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.nc.gov. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions about today’s visit, I can be reached at: 919-606-2388 or email me at corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov. If I am unavailable, you can reach my supervisor, Holli Hemby, at (919)819-9363 or email at holli.hemby@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: CORRINE FULP Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/25/2026 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 6/25/2026 Age: From 0 To 6 Total Minutes: 210 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Danielle McDowell, Assistant director and later joined by Natalie Raybon, and she accompanied me throughout the visit. CURRENT LICENSE STATUS: The program operates with a 3-star license issued on 1/22/25. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS: The last sanitation inspection was completed on: 11/18/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 11/5/25. The last outdoor play area inspection was completed on 5/6/26. The last fire drill was conducted on 5/29/26. The last lock down/shelter-in-place drill was completed on 4/17/26. The EPR plan was updated on 8/6/25. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 12/10/25. The NC Secretary of State's website was reviewed on 6/24/26 and was listed as active- current. During today's visit, I observed all approved indoor and outdoor spaces and found them to be accessible, safe, and appropriate for the children in care. Upon arrival, the children were engaged in a variety of activities, including outdoor play, circle time, and learning center activities. In the 0–24-month classroom, the infants were participating in floor play activities, while one child was resting comfortably during nap time. Children appeared content and appropriately supervised throughout the observation period. ITEMS MONITORED: A partial monitoring of applicable child care requirements was conducted, monitoring Supervision, Staff Child Ratio, CPR/First Aid, Special Training, Storage of Hazardous Substances, Storage of Medication, Adequate Approved/Space, Staff Records, Program Records, License Posted, and Permit Restrictions. During today’s visit, five (5) newly added staff files were reviewed to verify that required documentation was present, complete, current, and maintained according to program requirements. A follow-up visit will be conducted due to non-compliance with required staff-to-child ratios observed during the visit. The purpose of the follow-up is to verify that corrective actions have been implemented and that staffing practices consistently maintain compliance with ratio requirements. The following violations were observed and documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 301 Minimum staff/child ratios and group sizes for the number and ages of children in care were not met. A caregiver in a two-year-old classroom were observed caring for 10 children. The staff/child ratio for this age group is 1/9. GS 110-91(7);.0713(a-d) 428 A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference. Activity plans were not posted for two classroom. GS 110-91(12); .0508(a) 533 Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. During the observation, two bottles were found without the required date and the child's name clearly labeled. 15A NCAC 18A .2804(d) 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence) Two feeding schedule were not posted for children under 15 months of age. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Diaper cream and sun screen was stored in an unlocked cabinet accessible to children. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. During a walkthrough of the infant classroom, an infant was observed sleeping. A review of the sleep monitoring documentation indicated that the last recorded sleep check had been completed 32 minutes earlier. .0606(g) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. Five staff files did not have a signed statement on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. A review of staff records indicated that a caregiver hired on February 2, 2026, had not completed the required training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) Please submit a corrective action letter for the above violations. While the documented; allows you time to explain how you have corrected violations when they are documented, it is expected that you will correct all violations immediately. Your corrective action letter must include the following: Name of your program, Id number of your program, Date of Letter, Violation(s) number(s), and How and When each violation was corrected. If I do not receive your letter by 7/9/26, and/or if you do not address all violations, I will be making a return visit to your program to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the situation has not been corrected or addressed. Your compliance letter should be sent to me at the following email address: corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov., or mailed to 1781 Indian Camp Road Clayton, NC 27520. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history score was 92%. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE I observed a child bottle and sippy cup not labeled and dated with the child’s name. Please remind staff to check bottles/sippy cups when parents drop them off. During the walkthrough of the two-year-old classroom, teachers were caring for 10 children. The required ratio for this age group is 1:9, which means the classroom was out of ratio at the time of observation. As a best practice, walkthroughs should be conducted during early morning drop-off to verify attendance and staffing levels. Staff should also notify the office immediately whenever they are out of ratio so appropriate adjustments can be made. During the observation, an unlocked cabinet containing medication was accessible to young children. It appeared that the safety latch did not fully engage when the cabinet was closed. Staff should verify that the cabinet is securely locked each time it is closed by gently pulling on the drawer or cabinet door to ensure the latch has engaged properly. This will help prevent children from accessing medication and maintain a safe environment. Five staff members did not have a job description on file. In North Carolina, licensed child care programs are required to maintain a signed statement verifying they received and reviewed their job description. CONSULTATION AND RESOURCES: ABCMS PROVIDER PORTAL Child care providers can now view and manage their facility’s staff roster through the ABCMS Provider Portal. Please note that you are required to add new employees within five days of their hire date and update your roster by adding or removing applicants as needed. FACILITY LEAD H2O, LEAD-BASED PAINT, ASBESTOS TESTING Child care facilities are now required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids are designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements to test lead and asbestos hazards in buildings. You can check your status at https://data.cleanwaterforuskids.org/data/north-carolina. HEALTH AND SAFETY Training in all the required health and safety topics must be completed every 5 years. Health and Safety training is available, at no charge, on the DCDEE website, in Moodle. Staff should use their individual NCID username and password to access this training. DCDEE UPDATES AND NEWS For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.nc.gov. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions about today’s visit, I can be reached at: 919-606-2388 or email me at corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov. If I am unavailable, you can reach my supervisor, Holli Hemby, at (919)819-9363 or email at holli.hemby@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: CORRINE FULP Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/10/2025 Number Present: 92 Completed Date: 12/10/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 01:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Natalie Raybon, and she accompanied me throughout the visit. CURRENT LICENSE STATUS: The program operates with a 3-star license issued on 1/22/25. ANNUAL INSPECTIONS: The last sanitation inspection was completed on: 11/18/25. The last fire inspection was completed on 11/5/25. The last outdoor play area inspection was completed on 12/8/25. The last fire drill was conducted on 10/28/25. The last lock down/shelter-in-place drill was completed on 7/21/25. The EPR plan was updated on 8/6/25. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 1/22/25. A full assessment was conducted. A monitoring checklist was used to observe all minimum licensing requirements. I viewed eight (8) staff files and ten (10) children’s files. ON GOING TRAINING HOURS Your center’s annual Inservice training for the period of January 2025 through December 2025 was viewed during today’s visit. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history score was 94%. Prior to the visit I reviewed the NC Secretary of State's website and observed that the owner of this facility, Fatih LLC. was active/current. You visited all approved indoor/outdoor spaces with me during today’s visit. I observed children engaged in art projects, group time activities and preparing to go outdoors. The following violations were observed and documented during today’s visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 533 Human milk, formula and other bottled beverages including sippy cups, sent from child's home were not fully prepared, dated, and labeled for the appropriate child. An infant bottle and a sippy cup was not labeled and dated. 15A NCAC 18A .2804(d) 805 Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. The last recorded fire drill was conducted on 10/28/25. .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One child's authorization form to apply sunscreen expired on 1/8/25. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 858 Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. Plastic bags and a staff purse was stored in an unlocked cabinet. .0604(q) 861 Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision. Styrofoam blocks were accessible to children two years of age. .0604(q) 1811 Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. The last documented emergency drill was conducted on 7/21/25. .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. One employee hired on 1/8/25 did not complete the training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) Please submit a corrective action letter for the above violations. While the Division allows you time to explain how you have corrected violations when they are documented, it is expected that you will correct all violations immediately. Your corrective action letter must include the following: Name of your program, Id number of your program, Date of Letter, Violation(s) number(s), and How and When each violation was corrected. If I do not receive your letter by 12/24/25, and/or if you do not address all violations, I will be making a return visit to your program to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the situation has not been corrected or addressed. Your compliance letter should be sent to me at the following email address: corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov., or mailed to 1781 Indian Camp Road Clayton, NC 27520. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE I observed a child bottle and sippy cup not labeled and dated with the child’s name. Please remind staff to check bottles/sippy cups when parents drop them off. Styrofoam blocks were accessible to children two and younger. Materials that can be easily torn apart, such as foam rubber and Styrofoam, "should not be accessible" to children under three years of age. The risk is that young children may ingest small pieces, creating a choking hazard. The fire drill and emergency drill were not conducted in a time manner. North Carolina child care rules require that child care centers conduct a fire drill at least once per month and emergency drill every three months. These drills must be conducted and a record that includes the date of each drill, time of day, the length of time to reach the designated location and the signature of the person conducting the drill. CONSULTATION AND RESOURCES: HEALTH AND SAFETY Training in all the required health and safety topics must be completed at least every 5 years. It may be time for your staff to complete this training again. Health and Safety training is available, at no charge, on the DCDEE website, in Moodle. All staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. This training counts toward requirements for Health and Safety. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training is available at www.preventchildabusenc.org. DCDEE UPDATES AND NEWS For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.nc.gov. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions about today’s visit, I can be reached at: 919-606-2388 or email me at corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: CORRINE FULP Operation Type: Center Case Number: 1025-454L Visit Date: 11/5/2025 Number Present: 86 Completed Date: 11/5/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 68 Time In: 01:30 PM Time Out: 02:38 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to obtain information regarding alleged violations of child care requirements. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the center administrator, and she accompanied me on a walk-through of the facility. During today’s visit, there were 86 children, and 12 staff members present. The program operates with a 3-star issued on 1/22/25. A partial assessment of child care requirements was conducted during today’s visit. I monitored staff/child ratios, nurturing care, adequate/approved space, permit restrictions, and license posted. ALLLEGATIONS There were concerns that inappropriate behavior was displayed in front of children. Based on the information provided a playground incident occurred on 10/20/25. Two child care workers got into a verbal altercation in front of children. I interviewed two caregivers present on the date of the alleged incident. Both stated that at the time of the incident children were on the playground playing. The voice tones and the projection were louder than normal ranges. An employee stated that she was holding a child when yelling, and inappropriate words were exchanged during the altercation. The director stated that she was aware of the incident. On the day of the incident an employee was allowed to leave and go home because she was disgruntled. Violations of the Child Care Requirements were confirmed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. A staff altercation with two employees occurred on 10/20/25 where profanity and yelling occurred in front of the children on the playground. G.S. 110-91(10) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and verification of how and when they were corrected submitted within 2 weeks to maintain compliance with the NC Child Care Law and Requirements. Please send me a signed and dated letter that addresses each violation. You can email the letter to: corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov or mail to 1781 Indian Camp Road Clayton, NC 27520 I must receive your letter by no later than 11/19/25. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history score was 95%. RESOLUTION The investigation was completed during today’s visit. Based on information provided by staff, I was able to determine that lapses in compliance with the Child Care Rules have occurred, therefore the concerns related to nurturing care have been SUBSTANTIATED. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Helping a disgruntled employee in a child care setting requires a supportive, direct, and collaborative approach focused on understanding and resolving the root causes of why they are dissatisfaction. You could schedule a private, one-on-one meeting in a quiet place free from distractions to discuss the situation. Approach the conversation with empathy and an open mind, focusing on their specific behaviors and performance, not personal attacks. Allow the employee to express their frustrations and concerns without interruption. They just may want to feel heard. Also remember the employee's dissatisfaction might stem from issues within management or company policies. Be prepared to receive constructive criticism and assess the organization's role in the problem. Try to work with the employee to find mutually solutions and create a clear plan for improvement. This can empower them and makes them feel invested in the outcome. Determine what both you and the employee will do to address the problem. This might include providing additional training, adjusting their workload, offering flexible scheduling, or implementing a mentorship program. Remember process doesn't end after the meeting. Regular follow-ups are crucial for accountability and ongoing support. Plan one-on-one meetings to monitor the progress and offer support. If, despite all efforts, the negative attitude or poor performance continues, or if the behavior is severe), involve human resources and be prepared to take disciplinary action, including termination. CONSULTATION AND ADDTIIONAL INFORMATION It’s time to complete the Annual Childcare Immunization Report. You can go to the Raise NC Newsletter – for more information. If you have any questions or need additional information, I can be reached at corrine.fulp@dhhs.nc.gov or via phone at 919-606-2388. My supervisor, Holli Hemby, can be reached at (919)819-9363, holli.hemby@dhhs.nc.gov. if I am unavailable. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: ANGELA ALGER-WALKER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 68 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's announced visit has been to conduct the first temporary time period visit. The temporary time period license was issued on 3/27/23 and expires on 9/27/23. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the center director, Erica Pitrack. She called her regional manager, Natalie Raybon, to inform her of my presence. Ms. Raybon arrived shortly after I began touring through the center. We discussed the monitoring items for today's visit. We observed the center playground and conducted observation of the seven classrooms open for children during today's visit. We concluded the visit by reviewing this report and resource materials. Preschool-aged children were observed completing Leap curriculum workbooks as a large group, playing outside, and freely playing with the materials in the various learning centers. Toddlers were observed freely playing with materials, cleaning up, playing outside, completing puzzles as a large group, and singing songs. Infants were observed being helped to sleep and freely playing with the available toys. The Children’s Records forms was completed during this visit. I monitored a sampling of the staff files. The director attests that all children’s file and facility/program records are current and contain all the required information. She will have the Staff and Training Worksheets prepared for the next visit. Sixty-eight children were present during this visit. The center had the following items posted/located in a prominent place in the center for parents and available for me to review: --the center's license --a current and nutritious menu --a Safe Arrival and Departure Procedure --Summary of the NC Child Care Law posted The first fire drill was completed on 8/31/23. The outdoor inspection was completed on 9/5/23. The emergency drill was last conducted on 6/15/23 but will be redone before the end of September 2023. The director completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response training previously and has revised the Emergency Plan which was reviewed with all staff on 8/16/23. The center does not provide aquatic activities, transportation, or school-age services; thus, those requirements were not monitored during this visit. CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP PROCESS The building, fire, and sanitation inspections for the new owner must be completed, approved, and sent to me before 8/27/23. The Regional Manager stated that they will contact the various inspectors soon. I encouraged her not to wait too long but to give herself plenty of time to get any items they may require to be completed in time to submit the forms as requested. We also discussed that the building permit will need to be applied for with the City or Apex Inspections Department before any renovations involving plumbing, electrical, demolition, or additional walls can begin. The following violations were cited during this visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 445 For children under three years of age, developmentally appropriate toys and activities were not provided as outlined in Rule. In space #4 (room #129, TWA) the two year old children did not have any books accessible to them during this visit. .0510 (e ) (1)(A-G) 468 When three year old children and older were in care, the materials and equipment in the activity area was not in sufficient quantity to allow at least three children to use the area regardless of whether the children choose the same or different activities. Space #8 (Room 125, P1A) did not have three different language related activities accessible to the preschool-aged children. The room has books and puppets but was missing a third related activity item during today's visit. .0510(d)(1) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The chain link fence that surrounds the perimeter vinyl fence and separates the two outdoor learning environments, has protrusions along the entire top of the fence and is not at least four feet tall in all areas. Some of the sections are no longer connected to the poles and are bending outward. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. One epi-pen was observed in a Ziploc bag with the prescription label stuck to the epi-pen itself. The epi-pen was not in the original container. .0803(2)(a) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One child's medication permission slip to administer his epi-pen had expired on 8/7/23. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1828 Jump ropes and rubber bands were accessible to children under five years of age. Jump ropes were accessible to three year old children using the outdoor learning environment during this visit. .0604(q) The violations documented during today's assessment were reviewed with the operator and must be corrected IMMEDIATELY. Evidence of correction must be sent to me no later than September 19, 2023. Compliance verification must be a dated and signed letter that includes statements addressing how and when the violations were corrected. Please include the facility's name and ID number on the letter of compliance. The letter may be emailed to angela.algerwalker@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 COMPLIANCE HISTORY When you receive your Child Care License from the State of NC, you are agreeing to comply at all times with the Law, Rules and Requirements pertaining to and governing Child Care in NC. It is your responsibility to read, learn, and maintain all Child Care Requirements that apply to your licensed facility. It is also your responsibility to ask Division staff questions for clarification of requirements you do not understand and to monitor your staff to ensure that all requirements are maintained at all times. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION The following items were discussed prior to today' visit. 1) Please refer to the Staff and Training Worksheets to continue to keep all staff members current with their upcoming due dates for CPR/First Aid training, ITS-SIDS training, child maltreatment training, and health and safety training requirements. 2) Please refer to the What’s New Section of the DCDEE website for the new rules and other updates. 3) Medicines can be crucial to the health and wellness of children. They can also be very dangerous if the wrong type or wrong amount is given to the wrong person or at the wrong time. Administering medication requires skill, knowledge and careful attention to detail. All medicines require clear, accurate instruction and medical confirmation of the need for the medication to be given while the child is in the facility. Prescription medication must be labeled and brought to the child care facility by the parent/guardian in the original container (with a label that includes the child’s name, date filled, prescribing clinician’s name, pharmacy name and phone number, dosage/instructions, and relevant warnings. Prescribed medications should be in the original container (with a label that includes the child’s name, date filled, prescribing clinician’s name, pharmacy name and phone number, dosage/instructions, and relevant warnings). RATED LICENSE APPLICATION INFORMATION Once you have achieved a full six (6) months of operation, your program will be eligible for a Voluntary Enhanced Rated License. The award of this Rated License will occur at the end of the 6-month Temporary License Time Period. The following information will need to be completed to begin the program's Rated License Assessment: Once the approved inspections are submitted, the facility can be issued a Three Star Rated License effective 2/18/24 based on previously earning 4 points in staff education, 2 points in program standards, and one quality point. You can be issued a Rated License based on a previous assessment due to being in “Hold Harmless” status. A full Rated License Assessment will occur based on the program’s Cohort assignment; your program is in COHORT #3, therefore the assessment period would begin on or around July 1, 2026. You should begin preparing for your assessment in July 2025 as the cohort system includes a planning/preparation period prior to the assessment period. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions or need further assistance, I can be reached via email at angela.algerwalker@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Learning Experience Apex Facility ID: 92003946 Consultant: ANGELA ALGER-WALKER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 9/12/2023 Number Present: 68 Completed Date: 9/12/2023 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's announced visit has been to conduct the first temporary time period visit. The temporary time period license was issued on 3/27/23 and expires on 9/27/23. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the center director, Erica Pitrack. She called her regional manager, Natalie Raybon, to inform her of my presence. Ms. Raybon arrived shortly after I began touring through the center. We discussed the monitoring items for today's visit. We observed the center playground and conducted observation of the seven classrooms open for children during today's visit. We concluded the visit by reviewing this report and resource materials. Preschool-aged children were observed completing Leap curriculum workbooks as a large group, playing outside, and freely playing with the materials in the various learning centers. Toddlers were observed freely playing with materials, cleaning up, playing outside, completing puzzles as a large group, and singing songs. Infants were observed being helped to sleep and freely playing with the available toys. The Children’s Records forms was completed during this visit. I monitored a sampling of the staff files. The director attests that all children’s file and facility/program records are current and contain all the required information. She will have the Staff and Training Worksheets prepared for the next visit. Sixty-eight children were present during this visit. The center had the following items posted/located in a prominent place in the center for parents and available for me to review: --the center's license --a current and nutritious menu --a Safe Arrival and Departure Procedure --Summary of the NC Child Care Law posted The first fire drill was completed on 8/31/23. The outdoor inspection was completed on 9/5/23. The emergency drill was last conducted on 6/15/23 but will be redone before the end of September 2023. The director completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response training previously and has revised the Emergency Plan which was reviewed with all staff on 8/16/23. The center does not provide aquatic activities, transportation, or school-age services; thus, those requirements were not monitored during this visit. CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP PROCESS The building, fire, and sanitation inspections for the new owner must be completed, approved, and sent to me before 8/27/23. The Regional Manager stated that they will contact the various inspectors soon. I encouraged her not to wait too long but to give herself plenty of time to get any items they may require to be completed in time to submit the forms as requested. We also discussed that the building permit will need to be applied for with the City or Apex Inspections Department before any renovations involving plumbing, electrical, demolition, or additional walls can begin. The following violations were cited during this visit: Violation Number Comment Rule 445 For children under three years of age, developmentally appropriate toys and activities were not provided as outlined in Rule. In space #4 (room #129, TWA) the two year old children did not have any books accessible to them during this visit. .0510 (e ) (1)(A-G) 468 When three year old children and older were in care, the materials and equipment in the activity area was not in sufficient quantity to allow at least three children to use the area regardless of whether the children choose the same or different activities. Space #8 (Room 125, P1A) did not have three different language related activities accessible to the preschool-aged children. The room has books and puppets but was missing a third related activity item during today's visit. .0510(d)(1) 824 Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The chain link fence that surrounds the perimeter vinyl fence and separates the two outdoor learning environments, has protrusions along the entire top of the fence and is not at least four feet tall in all areas. Some of the sections are no longer connected to the poles and are bending outward. GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) 844 Prescribed medicine was not in original labeled container or accompanied by signed and dated written instructions from prescribing physician or health care professional. One epi-pen was observed in a Ziploc bag with the prescription label stuck to the epi-pen itself. The epi-pen was not in the original container. .0803(2)(a) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One child's medication permission slip to administer his epi-pen had expired on 8/7/23. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1828 Jump ropes and rubber bands were accessible to children under five years of age. Jump ropes were accessible to three year old children using the outdoor learning environment during this visit. .0604(q) The violations documented during today's assessment were reviewed with the operator and must be corrected IMMEDIATELY. Evidence of correction must be sent to me no later than September 19, 2023. Compliance verification must be a dated and signed letter that includes statements addressing how and when the violations were corrected. Please include the facility's name and ID number on the letter of compliance. The letter may be emailed to angela.algerwalker@dhhs.nc.gov. If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 COMPLIANCE HISTORY When you receive your Child Care License from the State of NC, you are agreeing to comply at all times with the Law, Rules and Requirements pertaining to and governing Child Care in NC. It is your responsibility to read, learn, and maintain all Child Care Requirements that apply to your licensed facility. It is also your responsibility to ask Division staff questions for clarification of requirements you do not understand and to monitor your staff to ensure that all requirements are maintained at all times. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION The following items were discussed prior to today' visit. 1) Please refer to the Staff and Training Worksheets to continue to keep all staff members current with their upcoming due dates for CPR/First Aid training, ITS-SIDS training, child maltreatment training, and health and safety training requirements. 2) Please refer to the What’s New Section of the DCDEE website for the new rules and other updates. 3) Medicines can be crucial to the health and wellness of children. They can also be very dangerous if the wrong type or wrong amount is given to the wrong person or at the wrong time. Administering medication requires skill, knowledge and careful attention to detail. All medicines require clear, accurate instruction and medical confirmation of the need for the medication to be given while the child is in the facility. Prescription medication must be labeled and brought to the child care facility by the parent/guardian in the original container (with a label that includes the child’s name, date filled, prescribing clinician’s name, pharmacy name and phone number, dosage/instructions, and relevant warnings. Prescribed medications should be in the original container (with a label that includes the child’s name, date filled, prescribing clinician’s name, pharmacy name and phone number, dosage/instructions, and relevant warnings). RATED LICENSE APPLICATION INFORMATION Once you have achieved a full six (6) months of operation, your program will be eligible for a Voluntary Enhanced Rated License. The award of this Rated License will occur at the end of the 6-month Temporary License Time Period. The following information will need to be completed to begin the program's Rated License Assessment: Once the approved inspections are submitted, the facility can be issued a Three Star Rated License effective 2/18/24 based on previously earning 4 points in staff education, 2 points in program standards, and one quality point. You can be issued a Rated License based on a previous assessment due to being in “Hold Harmless” status. A full Rated License Assessment will occur based on the program’s Cohort assignment; your program is in COHORT #3, therefore the assessment period would begin on or around July 1, 2026. You should begin preparing for your assessment in July 2025 as the cohort system includes a planning/preparation period prior to the assessment period. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions or need further assistance, I can be reached via email at angela.algerwalker@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times