Step BY Step

10A NCAC 09 .0802 · Violation

Name of Operation: STEP BY STEP Facility ID: 01000568 Consultant: MONA NDIAYE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/9/2025 Number Present: 26 Completed Date: 10/9/2025 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 180 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 01:15 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 childcare requirements during an unannounced annual compliance visit. Upon my arrival, I was greeted by the Assistant Director, Rhonda Nedohin, she assisted me throughout the visit. I conducted a walkthrough of all classroom spaces, documented enrollment and attendance records, and completed observations. Children were observed participating in free play in their classrooms and outside. They were also observed eating lunch. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on November 19, 2024. The center is currently operating with a 3-star license issued on June 5, 2019 . The most recent sanitation inspection was conducted on June 19, 2025, with the center receiving a Superior rating. Fire drills and playground inspections were reviewed, and the most recent fire inspection was conducted on July 15, 2025. Three staff files were monitored along with three children’s files. Your compliance history is currently 97% this percentage may change based on the results of today’s visit. During today’s visit, a full assessment of applicable Child Care Requirements was conducted. I observed the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Special diet or food allergy information was not posted where they can be seen in food preparation and eating areas. All the allergies and special diets were not posted in the kitchen. .0901(g) 801 Written procedures were not established for pick-up and delivery of children. The was no arrival and departure procedures posted where parents could view. .1003(b) 859 Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. An inspection for September 2025, was not completed. .0605(q) 862 The EMC plan was not reviewed with all staff annually and whenever the plan was revised. The EMC was not reviewed with staff. 10A NCAC 09 .0802(a) 1034 All staff, including the director, did not have an annual health questionnaire on file following the initial medical statement.Staff did not have a current health questionnaire on file. .0701(a) 1850 Signage was not posted regarding the smoking and tobacco restriction at the entrance of the center and/or in vehicles used to transport children. There was not a "No Smoking" sign at the entrance of the center. .0604(i) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and a letter must be sent to me no later than October 23, 2025 stating how each item was corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirement. The following information must be included in your signed and dated compliance letter: • the name of your center • facility ID number • date • title of the person who signs the letter • each violation number(s) • describes accurately and in detail how and when you corrected each violation and your plan to keep each item in compliance. My email address is mona.ndiaye@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by October 23, 2025 and/or if you do not address all violations, a return visit to your program will be made to monitor for compliance of violations and to obtain your compliance letter. Additional violations may be documented if the violations have not been corrected or addressed. Preparing for North Carolina's New QRIS System You were provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all child care requirements. Child care licensing rules and regulations are established to ensure a safe and healthy environment for children in care. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all of the licensing requirements that apply to your program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all of the applicable laws and rules at all times. The best way for you to make sure that you are meeting all requirements is to periodically review the child care law and rules. Both are available on the DCDEE website https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ , on the home page under the ‘Services’ tab. Technical Assistance Keep a paper attendance in each classroom. The Assistant Director and I discussed the staff child ratios, the center license required enhanced ratio, the required for reduced ratios was posted. The Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is being modernized to provide more flexible and equitable ways for programs to demonstrate quality. Starting later this year, providers will be able to choose from three star-rating pathways—Program Assessment, Classroom & Instructional Quality, or Accreditation—allowing you to align your strengths with the rating method that best fits your program. Now is the time to evaluate your current practices, staff credentials, curriculum use, and classroom interactions to determine which pathway is the best fit. Programs are encouraged to begin preparing for updates to staff qualification standards and assessment tools. While existing star ratings will remain valid for now, all new star ratings will be subject to the new system. Your program’s quality should reflect not just compliance—but a commitment to best practices, child development, and continuous improvement. Stay informed, stay proactive, and take advantage of technical assistance and training opportunities as they become available. For more information and guidance, visit https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. RESOURCES The Health and Safety Trainings are offered on the DCDEE Moodle format. On the Division’s website look under the “SERVICES” tab for “DCDEE Moodle”. These trainings are free, and participants will receive training certificates when completed. Child care programs can order free posters from the NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center at https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/ . Thank you for your cooperation during today’s visit. If you need assistance, I can be reached at mona.ndiaye@dhhs.nc.gov or by phone at 336-580-5417. You can also reach my supervisor Kaye Adkins at kaye.adkins@dhhs.nc.gov or 336-580-2527 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: STEP BY STEP Facility ID: 01000568 Consultant: LORI RIERSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/19/2024 Number Present: 34 Completed Date: 11/19/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 145 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 12:10 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced Today an unannounced annual compliance visit was conducted. A checklist was used to note the childcare requirements monitored today, and a copy was left with you. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 11/30/23. Currently this program operates with a three (3) Star License, issued 6/5/19. The facility earned three (3) points in staff education, five (5) points in program standards, and one (1) quality point form programmatic options met. Center director Amber Allen was not present. Assistant director Rhonda Nehodin assisted me today. I conducted an assisted walk-through of the center. The last sanitation inspection was completed 5/29/24 with a ‘Superior’ classification and 2 demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on 7/16/24. Children were observed playing outside, playing in activity areas, and routine care activities. Transportation is not provided. A full assessment of childcare rules was conducted today. The following violations were observed today: Violation Number Comment Rule 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. The permission to administer diaper cream forms for two children in room three had expired. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Staff member S. Odum was short five ongoing training hours. Copies of the training certificates must accompany the corrective action letter. .1103(a) You were provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all childcare requirements. Each violation cited was discussed with Ms. Nehodin. The violation(s) documented above must be corrected immediately. A signed and dated letter of compliance must be received on or before 12/3/24. The letter must include the following: *Facility Name and ID number *List of each violation number *How each violation was corrected All items must be included, or the corrective action letter will be returned for corrections. CONSULTATION: All licensed childcare facilities are currently under the ‘Hold-Harmless’ state for their license from DCDEE. Once QRIS is implemented, you will receive information from DCDEE regarding the new pathways for licensure and your timeframe for completing your license renewal. The NCRLAP website, https://ncrlap.org, has trainings geared towards the new ECERS3 and ITERS3 assessment scales. These will introduce you to the updated assessment scale and provide tips for completing the new scale. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment is due for A. Hutchinson by 11/22/24 and P. Clark by 11/26/24. AGENCY NEWS AND UPDATES: Please refer to the Division of Child Development and Early Education website, http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov for additional information regarding: *’What’s New’ tab * QRIS Updates If you have and questions or concerns, please call me at 336-816-4826, or email lori.rierson@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: STEP BY STEP Facility ID: 01000568 Consultant: LORI RIERSON Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/30/2023 Number Present: 26 Completed Date: 11/30/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 175 Time In: 09:45 AM Time Out: 12:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced Today an unannounced annual compliance was conducted. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today, and a copy was left with you. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 12/5/22. Currently this program operates with a three (3) Star License, issued 6/5/19. The facility earned three (3) points in staff education, five (5) points in program standards, and one (1) quality point form programmatic options met. Center director Amber Allen assisted me today. I conducted an assisted walk-through of the center. The last sanitation inspection was completed 6/6/23 with a ‘Superior’ classification and 4 demerits. The last fire inspection was conducted on 7/27/23. Children were observed playing outside, playing in activity areas, eating lunch, resting, and routine care activities. Transportation is not provided. A full assessment of childcare rules was conducted today. The following violation(s) were documented and technical assistance regarding maintaining compliance was offered. Violation Number Comment Rule 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Staff member A. Copp was short 3 training hours. Copies of the training certificates must accompany the corrective action letter. .1103(a) 1320 Children's records that include an application for enrollment, medical and immunization records, and permission to seek emergency medical care was not on file for each child. The medical record was not on file for one child. GS 110-91(1);.0302(d)(2); .0304(g) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. The trainings for K. Walker were due 7/18/23 and for L. Bland 10/4/23. Technical assistance was provided. Each was missing one or more trainings. .1102(a) You were provided an opportunity to ask questions regarding interpretation and implementation of all childcare requirements. Each violation cited was discussed with Ms. Allen. The violation(s) documented above must be corrected immediately. A signed and dated letter of compliance must be received on or 12/14/23. The letter must include the following: *Facility Name and ID number *List of each violation number *How each violation was corrected All items must be included, or the corrective action letter will be returned for corrections. CONSULTATION: Your facility is in cohort 2 as we resume the rated license process. A preparation year will be July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025 and your assessment year will be July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026. AGENCY NEWS AND UPDATES: Please refer to the Division of Child Development and Early Education website, http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov for additional information regarding: *’What’s New’ tab If you have and questions or concerns, please call me at 336-816-4826, or email lori.rierson@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