Bright Beginnings Academy Inc. II

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: KESHIA HAYWARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 4/9/2026 Number Present: 44 Completed Date: 4/9/2026 Age: From 3 To 10 Total Minutes: 230 Time In: 08:55 AM Time Out: 12:45 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, including compliance with requirements located in Child Care Rule Section .3000, programs in Spaces #1 where children participating in the NC Pre-K program are cared for. D. Lumsden, Administrator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued September 30, 2022, earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced space and enhanced ratios) and 1 quality point for the child care administrator having at least 10 years of documented child care administration work experience in a licensed program. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum (Creative Curriculum with Teaching Strategies Gold) as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted May 14, 2025. The sanitation inspection was completed June 30, 2025, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on December 29, 2025, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety eight percent as of April 9, 2026. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on February 19, 2026, and Bright Beginnings Academy, Inc. was listed as current- active. You visited each indoor and outdoor space with me that is used by children. Children present in all spaces were engaged in free choice and table play, outdoor play, completing morning routine activities, completing toileting and hand-washing routines, circle times, interacting with teachers, and eating lunch. Proper hand-washing techniques were observed. Lunch consisted of chicken nuggets, string beans, peaches, and milk. The NC Pre-K requirements in section .3000 of the child care rules were monitored for compliance. This program has one NC Pre-K classroom serving eighteen children. NC Pre-K children were out today for Sparing break. The NC Pre-K Program Site Monitoring Tool was not available for review today; however, eight NC Pre-K children enrolled in the child care program’s afterschool program were present in Space #1. The current NC Pre-K staff are lead teacher, Patricka Holley, and teacher assistant, Deborah Billups. A selection of files was monitored for complete health assessments and developmental screenings. One child’s health assessment did not include a hearing screening. Completed Dial 4 screenings were observed in NC Pre-K children’s files reviewed. You stated the center uses Teaching Strategies Gold instrument to document evidence of children's ongoing progress. Checkpoint assessments are conducted three times per year: at the beginning, middle and end of the school year. The first day of school was 9-8-25. The classroom is open from 7:30am. to 2:30 pm. The environment rating scale score received on 5/10/2022 was 5.78. One violation was documented today. Violation Number Comment Rule 1768 The health assessment did not include a hearing screening. One NC Pre-K child’s health assessment did not include a hearing screening as required. .3005 (a)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before April 23, 2026, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Keshia Hayward, Child Care Consultant PO Box 13 Ahoskie, NC 27910 keshia.hayward@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: You verified the phone number, email address and mailing address listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occur in the future, contact me at 252-214-2709 or email keshia.hayward@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure accurate information is updated in our system. HEARING SCREENING: Based on my review of children files, one NC Pre-K child's file did not include a hearing screening. I explained to you that hearing screenings must be completed for NC Pre-K children to meet requirements in section .3000. I recommend you contact the local contractor to discuss options for having the screening completed. I advised you to review children’s health assessments upon receipt to determine if the assessments have been completed. If it is identified that the screenings were not completed as part of the health assessment, you should talk with parents to plan to have the screening done. TRANSPORTATION REQUIREMENTS: During today’s visit, you stated transportation is only done during the summer for field trips with school-age children. Based on my review of the vehicle used, the tread depth on the tire was borderline to meeting the 2/32 of an inch. I recommended that you replace the tire prior to utilizing the vehicle to transport children. You reported the small crack in the windshield was scheduled for repair on Monday April 14, 2026. The appointment was verified on your phone. ENVIRONMENT RATING SCALE ASSESSMENT: Your program has selected Pathway #2 as the desired choice. I confirmed you would submit the request to complete the environment rating scale assessment for your NC Pre-K program in September 2026.If you have questions, contact me to discuss. SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY: North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. NCID CREDENTIALS: Please remember to use your NCID credential periodically to prevent your user ID and password from becoming inactive. If your NCID credentials are not used within a twelve (12) to fifteen (15) month period, access to your account may be restricted due to inactivity. To avoid disruption, it is strongly recommended that you schedule regular logins to ensure your credentials remain active and valid. RAISE NC NEWSLETTER: The Raise NC Newsletter, sent directly to providers via email, contains valuable and up-to-date information about important updates and changes within the child care sector in North Carolina. I encourage you to set aside time to read each issue upon receipt to ensure you remain informed and updated on the latest developments, resources and guidance impacting child care programs. Staying connected helps support quality child care and compliance across the state. DCDEE RESOURCES: I recommended you periodically visit the DCDEE website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ under the "What's New" tab to stay abreast of updated information provided. Be reminded you are responsible for maintaining compliance with all applicable child care requirements whether they have been discussed or reviewed with you in the past. Albemarle Alliance for Children & Families is available to provide technical assistance, guidance and training for your programs. You can contact the Partnership at (252)-333-1233or visit their website at https://www.aacfnc.org/. The agency is located at 1403 Parkview Dr. Elizabeth City, NC. 27909 At the completion of the visit, a visit summary report was completed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Keshia Hayward, 252-214-2709, or email keshia.hayward@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, 252-373-4199, or email jennifer.linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/14/2025 Number Present: 41 Completed Date: 5/14/2025 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 340 Time In: 10:00 AM Time Out: 03:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced Annual Compliance Visit today was to monitor this program for compliance with applicable child care requirements, including requirements for NC Pre-Kindergarten. D. Lumsden, Administrator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 9/30/2022 earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for: The care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience. Hold harmless has been extended until the new QRIS is implemented (SB 425). This means that you do not need to schedule a rated license assessment unless you voluntarily request one. The new QRIS has been approved by the Child Care Commission. The Division is working on implementation and trainings for the new system. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project - NCRLAP’s mission is to promote the quality of child care by consistently and reliably assessing environments for the North Carolina Star Rated License. They collaborate with professionals in the early childhood education field to foster the development and learning of young children. Their website, ncrlap.org, offers resources, trainings, videos, worksheets, and help to get ready for the new ITERS-3, ECERS-3, and FCCRS-3 assessment tools that will be used in the new QRIS system. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four and five star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 6/11/24. The sanitation inspection was completed 9/30/24. with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 12/24/24. and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 95% as of 5/12/25. Facility Information: We reviewed your facility information and per your statements, the information is current and accurate. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your information, e.g., phone numbers, email address, mailing address, owner information, or Legal Designee. A walk-through of the facility was completed and all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, broccoli, applesauce, wheat crackers, and milk. After lunch, the children rested on linen covered cots. Corporation Status: This facility is currently owned by Bright Beginnings Academy, Inc. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this corporation is current and active. Please contact me prior to any information changing regarding the ownership of this facility. Transportation requirements were monitored for van FMB 1446. The second van was out for service and not on site for monitoring. Documentation of insurance was monitored for both vehicles. The Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families / Child Care Resource & Referral is able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on child care issues and the Environment Rating Scales. Their phone number is (252) 333-1233 or check out their website at www.albemarleafc.org. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 1314 Emergency information did not name childs health care professional. Three (3) children’s files, out of eight (8) reviewed did not document the responsible party’s choice of health care professional. .0802(c)(2) 1329 Application for enrollment did not include all required information. Two (2) children’s files, out of eight (8) reviewed, did not list the child particular behaviors, fears, or health concerns. .0801(a)(1-7) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member, hired on 9/12/23, did not complete the trainings until 1/14/25. .1102(a) Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and environmental health rules; review them with your staff and assist them with understanding and implementing them to maintain compliance and keep children safe and healthy. The most recent versions of child care laws and rules and environmental health rules in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 5/28/25, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Application Required Information – All of the information on the child’s application is important to help you care for the child. Two (2) children’s files, out of eight (8) reviewed, did not list the child particular behaviors, fears, or health concerns. Three (3) children’s files, out of eight (8) reviewed did not document the party’s responsible choice of health care professional. When reviewing the children’s application, you must ensure that all items have been completed. Per our discussion, when you receive the NC Pre-K applications, you must review each page to ensure each section is complete. You could also have parents complete a copy of your facilities’ application to ensure you have what you need. Health and Safety Training Requirements – Completing the Health and Safety Trainings helps to ensure that new staff have a good working knowledge of best practices and NC Child Care Rules. New staff are required to complete Health & Safety Training (H&S Training) within one year of hire and then complete training in all topic areas every five years. One staff member, hired on 9/12/23, did not complete the trainings until 1/14/25. Consider having staff complete the trainings within the first month of work. This allows them time to process the information without feeling overwhelmed. These trainings are not a substitute for your sixteen (16) hours of orientation but can help staff feel more confident as they work in the classroom. Also, if you hire staff who have completed the trainings in the past, the trainings must be current within twelve (12) months of hire or the provider will need to complete the trainings again. Additional Information: NCID Password Change – In the Raise NC email blast sent out on 2/21/25, announced changes to the password rules. As part of ongoing efforts to protect state systems and data, the N.C. Department of Information Technology will be changing the minimum length of NCID passwords from 8 to 14 characters. The change will apply to all providers. NCID passwords must be updated on a regular basis to keep them active. The next time you update your current password; you will be required to create a new one that must: • Be a minimum of 14 characters. • Consist of at least one numeric character, at least one uppercase letter, at least one lowercase letter, and at least one special character such as #, &, * etc. • Passwords shall not contain number or character substitutes to create dictionary words (e.g., d33psl33p for deepsleep). Strong, unique passwords, along with practicing mindful cybersecurity practices, are key components to the Division protecting your devices and personal information Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - New child care rules require child care facilities to test lead in drinking water, lead paint, and asbestos. Testing is required by May 2025. Check out the FAQ in the updated Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids. Currently there is funding to pay for the testing and to mitigate lead paint or asbestos hazards. Depending on the age of your home or building and the information you provide in the enrollment process, testing for lead paint and asbestos may not be required. Water testing will be required every three years. For more information go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ or contact your Environmental Health Specialist. Per the information in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Water Testing: Complete Lead Paint: Enrollment Started Asbestos: Enrollment Started At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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 .0802 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0225-112L Visit Date: 2/25/2025 Number Present: 60 Completed Date: 2/25/2025 Age: From 3 To 9 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 01:00 PM Time Out: 04:45 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. The allegations are as follows: 1. There is a concern that children are not adequately supervised. 2. Staff did not appropriately respond to an injury incident. Staff/child ratio, group size, supervision, use of licensed space, space capacity, and license restrictions were monitored. The license and emergency care plan were posted. INVESTIGATION The allegation was shared with the owner, the administrator and two center staff members. Each was given an opportunity to respond. 1. There is a concern that children are not adequately supervised. Based on information provided, staff are always situated so that they can see or hear the children at all times. It was reported that no video was available as the system is still not working. My Observations: Supervision was observed to be in compliance. As the children arrived in the afternoon, there was one (1) staff person situated at the front door to greet children on the bus and walk them into the building. This person also handled parent sign-in and sign-out. Another provider supervised the children as they dropped off their personal belongings in the room, toileted, and went outside to play. A third staff member greeted the children as they came outside and marked the attendance sheet to ensure it was completed in real time. This person also circulated on the playground to supervise all the children as they played. A head count was taken at intervals as children arrived or left the playground for parent pick-up. Based on information received from interviewed staff and my observations, the finding regarding the allegation was unconfirmed. 2. Staff did not appropriately respond to an injury incident. Based on information provided concerning incidents at the facility, when a child bumped their head, the head was examined, and no injury was observed. The child was given an ice pack and comforted. When the child was examined approximately 15 minutes later, blood was observed on the child’s hands and head. The child’s hands were cleaned, and a damp paper towel was used to clean the wound on the head. The ice pack was wrapped with a paper towel and placed on the child’s head. The child later put the ice pack down and returned to play. The provider attempted to contact the parent and grandparent but was unable to reach either. Later an incident report was completed and shared with the parent, however the parent did not received a copy of the report and did not initial the report as documentation. A copy was also submitted to the child care consultant. It was also reported that a child bumped their nose on another child’s head creating a nose bleed. The provider applied a cool cloth to the child’s head and gently pinched the child’s nose on the pressure point to stop the bleeding. The child was also given tissues to clean the blood and the bleeding stopped within 10 minutes. The parent was contacted, and an incident report was completed and shared with the parent. My observations: All staff hold current CPR and First Aid training certificates. The Emergency Medical Care Plan was posted and current. The administrator listed as a secondary was on-site as required and available to respond to incidents. Based on information received from interviewed staff and my observations, the finding regarding the allegation was unconfirmed. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. The incident report completed on 2/24/25 did not include the full name of the facility, the full name of the child, the facility ID number, the type of medical treatment the child received, name of the witness, information on the type of equipment involved, the cause of the injury, how the parent was contacted, date and time the parent was contacted, and who contacted the parent. .0802 (e) 1952 A copy of the incident report was not given to the parent. A copy of the incident report, completed on 2/10/25 was not given to the parent. .0802(e) As a licensed child care operator, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to maintain compliance with them. The NC General Statutes, Child Care Rules and the “What’s New” section of The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website, ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov, are excellent resources to help you stay current with the child care requirements. The most current forms and documents needed for your licensed facility are available under the Provider tab. Many of them are now interactive so that you can type right into the form. Many of the forms needed for families are now offered in Spanish too. And of course, I am also available to assist you, should you have questions about the child care requirements. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 3/11/25, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Incident Reports - In accordance with Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(e), an incident report must be completed each time a child is injured as a result of an incident occurring while the child is in care. The rule specifies the information required to be included in an incident report, requires the parent’s signature, and requires the incident report be maintained in the child’s file. Specifically, 10A NCAC 09 .0802(e) states the following information shall be included on required incident reports: (1) facility identifying information; (2) the child's name; (3) date and time of the incident; (4) witness to the incident; (5) time the parent is notified of the incident and by whom; (6) piece of equipment involved, if applicable; (7) cause of injury, if applicable; (8) type of injury, if applicable; (9) body part injured, if applicable; (10) where the child received medical treatment, if applicable; (11) description of how and where the incident occurred, and the First Aid received; and (12) steps taken to prevent reoccurrence. Two (2) incident reports were reviewed. One did not have documentation that the parent refused a copy of the report. The other report did not include the full name of the facility, the full name of the child, the facility ID number, the type of medical treatment the child received, name of the witness, information on the type of equipment involved, the cause of the injury, how the parent was contacted, date and time the parent was contacted, and who contacted the parent. Neither report was filed in the child’s file. One was not recorded on the Incident Log. Per our discussion, all information must be completed before a copy of the report is shared and signed by the parent/guardian. Some staff did not seem to understand how to complete the form or the procedures for entering the information onto the log. You must train staff on each section of the form, it’s importance, and the process for logging and filing the information. Staff should clearly understand each step of the process. You must create policies and procedures that clearly outline the process for staff to follow to ensure all requirements are met. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0225-112L Visit Date: 2/25/2025 Number Present: 60 Completed Date: 2/25/2025 Age: From 3 To 9 Total Minutes: 225 Time In: 01:00 PM Time Out: 04:45 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. The allegations are as follows: 1. There is a concern that children are not adequately supervised. 2. Staff did not appropriately respond to an injury incident. Staff/child ratio, group size, supervision, use of licensed space, space capacity, and license restrictions were monitored. The license and emergency care plan were posted. INVESTIGATION The allegation was shared with the owner, the administrator and two center staff members. Each was given an opportunity to respond. 1. There is a concern that children are not adequately supervised. Based on information provided, staff are always situated so that they can see or hear the children at all times. It was reported that no video was available as the system is still not working. My Observations: Supervision was observed to be in compliance. As the children arrived in the afternoon, there was one (1) staff person situated at the front door to greet children on the bus and walk them into the building. This person also handled parent sign-in and sign-out. Another provider supervised the children as they dropped off their personal belongings in the room, toileted, and went outside to play. A third staff member greeted the children as they came outside and marked the attendance sheet to ensure it was completed in real time. This person also circulated on the playground to supervise all the children as they played. A head count was taken at intervals as children arrived or left the playground for parent pick-up. Based on information received from interviewed staff and my observations, the finding regarding the allegation was unconfirmed. 2. Staff did not appropriately respond to an injury incident. Based on information provided concerning incidents at the facility, when a child bumped their head, the head was examined, and no injury was observed. The child was given an ice pack and comforted. When the child was examined approximately 15 minutes later, blood was observed on the child’s hands and head. The child’s hands were cleaned, and a damp paper towel was used to clean the wound on the head. The ice pack was wrapped with a paper towel and placed on the child’s head. The child later put the ice pack down and returned to play. The provider attempted to contact the parent and grandparent but was unable to reach either. Later an incident report was completed and shared with the parent, however the parent did not received a copy of the report and did not initial the report as documentation. A copy was also submitted to the child care consultant. It was also reported that a child bumped their nose on another child’s head creating a nose bleed. The provider applied a cool cloth to the child’s head and gently pinched the child’s nose on the pressure point to stop the bleeding. The child was also given tissues to clean the blood and the bleeding stopped within 10 minutes. The parent was contacted, and an incident report was completed and shared with the parent. My observations: All staff hold current CPR and First Aid training certificates. The Emergency Medical Care Plan was posted and current. The administrator listed as a secondary was on-site as required and available to respond to incidents. Based on information received from interviewed staff and my observations, the finding regarding the allegation was unconfirmed. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. The incident report completed on 2/24/25 did not include the full name of the facility, the full name of the child, the facility ID number, the type of medical treatment the child received, name of the witness, information on the type of equipment involved, the cause of the injury, how the parent was contacted, date and time the parent was contacted, and who contacted the parent. .0802 (e) 1952 A copy of the incident report was not given to the parent. A copy of the incident report, completed on 2/10/25 was not given to the parent. .0802(e) As a licensed child care operator, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to maintain compliance with them. The NC General Statutes, Child Care Rules and the “What’s New” section of The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website, ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov, are excellent resources to help you stay current with the child care requirements. The most current forms and documents needed for your licensed facility are available under the Provider tab. Many of them are now interactive so that you can type right into the form. Many of the forms needed for families are now offered in Spanish too. And of course, I am also available to assist you, should you have questions about the child care requirements. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 3/11/25, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Incident Reports - In accordance with Child Care Rule 10A NCAC 09 .0802(e), an incident report must be completed each time a child is injured as a result of an incident occurring while the child is in care. The rule specifies the information required to be included in an incident report, requires the parent’s signature, and requires the incident report be maintained in the child’s file. Specifically, 10A NCAC 09 .0802(e) states the following information shall be included on required incident reports: (1) facility identifying information; (2) the child's name; (3) date and time of the incident; (4) witness to the incident; (5) time the parent is notified of the incident and by whom; (6) piece of equipment involved, if applicable; (7) cause of injury, if applicable; (8) type of injury, if applicable; (9) body part injured, if applicable; (10) where the child received medical treatment, if applicable; (11) description of how and where the incident occurred, and the First Aid received; and (12) steps taken to prevent reoccurrence. Two (2) incident reports were reviewed. One did not have documentation that the parent refused a copy of the report. The other report did not include the full name of the facility, the full name of the child, the facility ID number, the type of medical treatment the child received, name of the witness, information on the type of equipment involved, the cause of the injury, how the parent was contacted, date and time the parent was contacted, and who contacted the parent. Neither report was filed in the child’s file. One was not recorded on the Incident Log. Per our discussion, all information must be completed before a copy of the report is shared and signed by the parent/guardian. Some staff did not seem to understand how to complete the form or the procedures for entering the information onto the log. You must train staff on each section of the form, it’s importance, and the process for logging and filing the information. Staff should clearly understand each step of the process. You must create policies and procedures that clearly outline the process for staff to follow to ensure all requirements are met. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/11/2024 Number Present: 52 Completed Date: 6/11/2024 Age: From 3 To 11 Total Minutes: 345 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced Annual Compliance Visit today was to monitor this program for compliance with applicable child care requirements, including requirements for NC Pre-Kindergarten. Michelle O'Kelley Child Care Consultant accompanied me during the visit. The owner assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 9/30/22 earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience. On June 27, 2023, the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) introduced a cohort model and timeline for resuming the star rated license reassessments. This cohort model includes a preparation year and a reassessment year. Your facility will be in Cohort 3 which means your preparation year will be 7/1/25-6/30/26 and your reassessment year will be 7/1/26-6/30/27. There are opportunities within the preparation year that will help prepare your facility for the reassessment year. Additional information and supports are available on the Division website under Providers, Licensing, Star Rated License, and Resuming Star Rated License. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (https://ncrlap.org/) also has helpful information for your prep year and your assessment year. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four and five star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. You are currently using the Creative Curriculum. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 7/11/23. The sanitation inspection was completed 11/20/23. with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/3/24. and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 88% as of 6/10/24. Facility Information: We reviewed your facility information and per your statements, the information is current and accurate. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your information, e.g., phone numbers, email address, mailing address, owner information, or Legal Designee. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in both the indoor and outdoor learning environments and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. In space 1, the children were finishing breakfast. Breakfast consisted of waffles, mixed fruit, and milk. They washed hands and transitioned to circle time. The provider let one of the children be the teacher and point to the letters and numbers on the wall. In space 4, the school age children were working with paint dot markers to create their own pictures. Later, the children went outside to play. There continues to be a playground for the school age children and one for the preschool children. The children had access to stationary climbing equipment, basket balls, sand play, and dramatic play. Lunch was observed and consisted of a hotdog, slice of whole wheat bread, mandarin oranges, baked beans, and milk. After lunch, the younger children rested on linen covered cots. Camera footage from the classrooms was requested to be viewed. Per the owner, the video system is not working. A service provider has been called. Corporation Status: This facility is currently owned by Bright Beginnings Academy, Inc. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this corporation is current and active. Please contact me prior to any information changing regarding the ownership of this facility. The Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families / Child Care Resource & Referral is able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on child care issues and the Environment Rating Scales. Their phone number is (252) 333-1233 or check out their website at www.albemarleafc.org. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 716 All stationary equipment, more than 18 inches high, was not installed over protective surfacing. On the school age playground, the concrete anchors for the bench seats under the shade structure were exposed and created a tripping hazard. The bolts that hold the edge around the mulch surfacing were raised approximately 2 inches above the flat edge of the edging and created a hazard for the children as they stepped onto the mulch. On the playground for the preschool children, the edges of the base on the blue dramatic play car and the circular bike trail were exposed and posed a tripping hazard. .0605(j) 898 All electrical appliances were not used in accordance with the manufacturers instruction. Appliances with heating elements, such as bottle warmers, crock pots, curling irons, irons, coffee pots, and/or their cords were accessible to preschool-age children. In space 2a, a laminating machine and cord were located on a shelf less than 5 feet above the floor and accessible to the children in care. .0604(e) Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and environmental health rules; review them with your staff and assist them with understanding and implementing them to maintain compliance and keep children safe and healthy. The most recent versions of child care laws and rules and environmental health rules in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/25/24, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Playground Safety - Regular outdoor inspections are critical to prevent deterioration of equipment and accumulation of hazardous materials on the playground. It also ensures that appropriate repairs are made as soon as possible. On the school age playground, the concrete anchors for the bench seats under the shade structure were exposed and created a tripping hazard. The bolts that hold the edge around the mulch surfacing were raised approximately 2 inches above the flat edge of the edging and created a hazard for the children as they stepped onto the mulch. On the playground for the preschool children, the edges of the base on the blue dramatic play car and the circular bike trail were exposed and posed a tripping hazard. During daily and monthly inspections, the condition of the anchors and bolts holding stationary equipment should be monitored along with the play materials and documented on the form to ensure repairs are completed. You stated that the children like to dig around the anchors of the bench seats. You stated that you would add more sand to cover the tripping hazards and look into a long term repair. Classroom Safety - All electrical appliances shall be used only in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. For appliances with heating elements, such as a laminator machine, neither the appliance nor the cord, shall not be accessible to preschool-age children. In space 2a, a laminating machine and cord were located on a shelf less than 5 feet above the floor and accessible to the children in care. This rule protects children from burns and other injuries. This appliance cannot be stored on a low shelf, where a child is able to reach the appliance or cord. The machine was moved to a locked storage cabinet during the visit. Additional Information: The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. The team is made up of specialists with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. To speak to a Behavior Support Advisor, contact 1-888-600-1685 option 1. Provider Access to ABCMS - Beginning February 1, child care administrators can access the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS) This access will allow providers to: •See the real-time background check status of staff members. •Run a printable report of the staff roster to assist with compliance visits. •See new background check applicants and add them to staff roster. Access to the ABCMS requires the successful completion of a Moodle course consisting of a short video followed by a test. All staff must connect their CBC with your license number and the date this was completed listed on your Staff and Training Worksheet. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - New child care rules require child care facilities to test for lead in drinking water, lead paint, and asbestos. Testing is required by 1/1/2025. Check out the FAQ in the updated Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids. Currently there is funding to pay for the testing and to mitigate lead paint or asbestos hazards. Depending on the age of your home or building and the information you provide in the enrollment process, testing for lead paint and asbestos may not be required. Water testing will be required every three years. For more information go to https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/ or contact your Environmental Health Specialist. You must email the results to me once these are completed. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/6/2023 Number Present: 37 Completed Date: 12/6/2023 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 280 Time In: 08:50 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 unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. M. Gregory, Owner, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 11/22/22 earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for: The child care administrator has 10 years of administrative experience. On June 27, 2023, the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) introduced a cohort model and timeline for resuming the star rated license reassessments. This cohort model includes a preparation year and a reassessment year. Your facility will be in Cohort 3 which means your preparation year will be 7/1/25-6/30/26 and your reassessment year will be 7/1/26-6/30/27. There are opportunities within the preparation year that will help prepare your facility for the reassessment year. Additional information and supports are available on the Division website under Providers, Licensing, Star Rated License, and Resuming Star Rated License. The last Annual Compliance Visit was completed on 7/11/23. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 94 % as of 12/4/23. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/5/23 and Bright Beginnings Academy, Inc. was listed as current- active. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Transportation was monitored and incompliance. Per your statements, you are not currently transporting children. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. The children in space 1 drew numbers from a cup to decide which center they would go to. In space 2, the children were also in center time. All centers were open and available to the children. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs of the children. Files for one new staff member was reviewed. Rated license requirements were reviewed to ensure compliance was maintained with current program and education components as well as the quality point. Lunch was observed and consisted of meat balls, mac & cheese, lima beans, mixed fruit, wheat bread and milk. Later the children in space 1 went outside. There continues to be a separate fenced playground for the school age children and one for the preschool children. The younger children napped after lunch on linen covered cots spaced at least 18 inches apart. The Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families / Child Care Resource & Referral is able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on child care issues and the Environment Rating Scales. Their phone number is (252) 333-1233 or check out their website at www.albemarleafc.org. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. When I arrived, D. Billups stepped out of space 1 to let me in the building and assisted me in placing my equipment in the office. She then returned to the room. There were 17 children in care with one qualified provider. The youngest child was 4 years of age. .1801(a)(1-5) As a licensed child care operator, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to maintain compliance with them. The NC General Statutes (Updated September 2020), Child Care Rules (Updated July 2023), and the “What’s New” section of The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website, ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov, are excellent resources to help you stay current with the child care requirements. The most current forms and documents needed for your licensed facility are available under the Provider tab. Many of them are now interactive so that you can type right into the form. Many of the forms needed for families are now offered in Spanish too. And of course, I am also available to assist you, should you have questions about the child care requirements. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/20/23, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Supervision - Children must be adequately supervised at all times. Adequate supervision means that staff interact with the children while moving about the indoor and outdoor areas and are able to hear and see the children at all times. When I arrived, the D. Billups stepped out of space 1 to let me in and assist me in placing my equipment in the office. She then returned to the room. There was a therapist present in the room with the lead teacher, however the therapist did not met the child care requirements and could not count in staff/child ratios. When a teacher must step out of a classroom, there must be an additional qualified caregiver available who can maintain supervision of the children. We discussed that you have floaters listed on your Staff and Training Worksheet, however there were no additional caregivers in the building today. Having an extra person on site to answer the door and provide breaks for the staff can help to ensure that all staff are meeting supervision requirements consistently throughout the day. A follow-up visit will be made. Reminders: Approved CPR and First Aid - To find the most current information on approved CPR and First Aid providers, go to the Division website under Providers, Training and Professional Development, and Health and Safety Trainings. In the blue box on the right-hand side of the page you will see “Be a Smart Consumer of First Aid and CPR Training”. This will take you to a page that explains all the training requirements and lists the approved training organizations. If you click on an organization, the page will give more details for the different types of trainings such as Basic Life Support and DPI Kindergarten-12. Per our discussion, refer to this page when hiring new staff and reviewing their information. Because our area is diverse, you may see names of CPR/First Aid trainings that are not familiar to you. Make sure to use this resource to ensure they are an approved provider in North Carolina. Medications - Administering medication requires skill, knowledge, and careful attention to detail. Remember, before accepting medication from a parent, you must have: 1. The medication in the original pharmacy box with all the required information. Make sure the expiration date on the box matches the date on the medication. 2. A Medical Action Plan completed by a physician attached to the child’s application in their file and in the Ready to Go file. 3. Written permission to administer the medication, with complete instructions for how and when the medication is to be administered and signed by the parent. You would use the long form for chronic conditions for this type of medication. Before receiving any medication from a parent, you must carefully review the medication, the pharmacy box, the medical action plan, and the permission to administer forms to ensure everything is correct and all information matches. Consider creating a checklist to complete each time medication is brought to the facility to help staff verify they have all the required information. Screen Time Log – There are many educational computer programs that can help children with their learning. Screen time can be no longer than 30 minutes per day and must be tracked on a Screen Time Log. It must be offered to stimulate a developmental domain in accordance with NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development. If it is used for a center time activity, the time can be documented on your activity plan. If individual children are using electronic devices, the time must be documented on the Screen Time Log to verify that they are only using the device for no more than 30 minutes a day. A copy of the Screen Time Log is available on the Division website under Provider Documents. Per our discussion, consider placing the log close to where the children are using the devices to make it easy for staff to document the start and end times. Using a timer with an alarm will also help staff track the time. Additional Information: The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. The team is made up of specialists with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. To speak to a Behavior Support Advisor, contact 1-888-600-1685 option 1. Sanitation: Presentations on the Child Care Sanitation Rules and resources can be found at https://ehs.dph.ncdhhs.gov/hhccehb/cehu/ccs/children.htm. The Stand-Up Changing Procedure poster can be found at https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/resources/posters/. License fee collection moved to December - There are a few changes to the Annual License Fee process this year: • All invoices will be emailed, and no paper copies will be sent through the U.S. Postal Service. • All invoices will be emailed by December 1, 2023, and will include the invoice number and total amount due. • All payments are due no later than December 31, 2023 Payments must be submitted online only through the Division’s website using a Mastercard or Visa debit or credit card, or by e-check. Providers will need their Facility ID number and their 2023 Invoice number to complete the payment process. New Pathways to the Early Childhood Education Profession – Early educators now have multiple options to achieve higher education. • Staff can earn a no-cost nationally recognized Child Development Associate® (CDA) certificate through a free Professional Development Teacher Membership from Teaching Strategies. Courses are offered in English and Spanish. In addition, a T.E.A.C.H. scholarship is available to cover the CDA book and assessment fees. • They could also choose take the free online NC Early Childhood Equivalency Exam on DCDEE Moodle to earn the North Carolina Early Childhood Equivalency Certificate. This certificate is equivalent to the EDU 119 college course for star rated license evaluation. • A third options for staff is to turn their training and experience into a degree in Early Childhood Education. Providers can submit a Credit for Prior Learning portfolio to receive up to nine community college ECE credits for your early childhood knowledge and skills from participating NC Community Colleges. Credits can be applied toward the newly created Early Childhood Workforce Certificate, Early Childhood Education Diploma, Certificate and/or an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Early Childhood Education. See the Raise North Carolina email blast from 9/1/23 for links to more information. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: BRIGHT BEGINNINGS ACADEMY INC. II Facility ID: 70000322 Consultant: ANNE BUCK Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/11/2023 Number Present: 39 Completed Date: 7/11/2023 Age: From 3 To 11 Total Minutes: 415 Time In: 08:50 AM Time Out: 03:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Announced The purpose of my unannounced Annual Compliance Visit today was to monitor this program for compliance with applicable child care requirements. M. Gregory, Owner, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 9/30/22 earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience. On June 27, 2023, the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) introduced a cohort model and timeline for resuming the star rated license reassessments. This cohort model includes a preparation year and a reassessment year. Your facility will be in Cohort 3 which means your preparation year will be 7/1/25-6/30/26 and your reassessment year will be 7/1/26-6/30/27. There are opportunities within the preparation year that will help prepare your facility for the reassessment year. Additional information and supports are available on the Division website under Providers, Licensing, Star Rated License, and Resuming Star Rated License. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four and five star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 8/26/22. The sanitation inspection was completed 11/22/22 with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 12/29/22. and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 94% as of 7/10/23. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions, and personal care routines. The children had access to age-appropriate materials on low open shelving. The children were observed building with blocks, drawing, and coloring pictures, and pretend play. Staff talked with the children as they played and played along by ordering food at the pretend restaurant. There continues to be 2 playground spaces located at the back of the building. The first space is used by the school age children and the second by the preschool children. Both areas had stationary climbing equipment, sand play, and a small flower garden. Additional materials were observed to be taken outside for use by the children. Children washed hands as required when they came inside and before lunch. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken strips, peas, fruit cocktail, a slice of whole wheat bread, and milk. After lunch, the younger children rested on linen covered cots. The school age children played board games. Corporation Status: This facility is currently owned by Bright Beginnings Academy, Inc. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this corporation is current and active. Please contact me prior to any information changing regarding the ownership of this facility. Transportation: Inspection of the vans was made today and you continue to be approved for transportation. Per your statements you are not transporting children to and from school this year. The Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families / Child Care Resource & Referral is able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on child care issues and the Environment Rating Scales. Their phone number is (252) 333-1233 or check out their website at www.albemarleafc.org. The following violation(s) were documented: Violation Number Comment Rule 1067 Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One staff member, hired on 6/15/23, did not have documentation on file and available for review. .1101(a)(b) 1890 Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file. In the three (3) files reviewed, each had non-medical forms, including CBC qualifying letters and applications, filed in the staff member's medical information file. .0701(d) 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 staff member, hired on 9/19/22, did not have documentation of completion of the training on file. .1102(g) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member, hired on 6/13/22, did not have documentation on file that the required trainings had been completed. .1102(a) As a licensed child care operator, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to maintain compliance with them. The NC General Statutes (Updated September 2020), Child Care Rules (Updated February 2021), and the “What’s New” section of The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website, ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov, are excellent resources to help you stay current with the child care requirements. The most current forms and documents needed for your licensed facility are available under the Provider tab. Many of them are now interactive so that you can type right into the form. Many of the forms needed for families are now offered in Spanish too. And of course, I am also available to assist you, should you have questions about the child care requirements. Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 7/25/23, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Anne Buck, Child Care Consultant PO Box 2363 Elizabeth City, NC 27906 Anne.Buck@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Staff Records - Maintaining accurate documentation in your center is critical in demonstrating compliance with the child care rules and ensures that your staff meet the requirements to provide a healthy and safe environment for the children in their care. To assist with creating and maintaining staff files consider using the Staff File Checklist to organize each staff members file. Remember that all medical information must be kept in a separate file from the staff member’s personnel file. The only forms that should be kept in this file are the Medical Report form, the annual Health Questionnaire, and the TB test results. All other items must be kept in the personnel file. Per our discussion, you can keep the medical files in a completely separate location or simply place the file folder behind the personnel file folder. If you place it behind the personnel file, consider color coding the files so anyone who places items in the files can quickly and easily identify which is the medical and which is the personnel file. Health and Safety Training Requirements - New staff are required to complete Health & Safety Training (H&S Training) within one year of hire and then complete training in all topic areas every five years. If their Health and Safety Training is older than 1 year, they must complete the training again upon hire. CPR/First Aid and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment are required within 3 months of hire. T. Wilson was hired on 6/13/22 but did not have documentation of completion of the required Health and Safety Trainings. You stated that she had taken trainings that she thought would meet the requirement, however, the trainings did not meet the topic areas. You stated that she has begun working on the correct trainings. Staff who originally completed their initial Health & Safety Training in 2018 are coming up on their five-year renewal cycle. To help meet this requirement, free H&S Trainings, developed specifically for providers in North Carolina, are available in Moodle on the DCDEE website. Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org, also offers an approved on-line option for H&S Training for a reasonable fee. Any training, from an approved trainer, that covers one of the topic areas can be accepted. Continue to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment at www.preventchildabusenc.org. Once staff have completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment on the Prevent Child Abuse NC website, any approved training related to Child Maltreatment can be used to meet this topic area for the five-year cycle. There is a second Child Maltreatment training available called “What is Prevention” available on the Prevent Child Abuse NC website that can be used for the 5-year renewal. Use the Health & Safety Training Log, available on the DCDEE website under Provider Documents, to verify topic areas and document all completed H&S Trainings. Attach a certificate for each training topic area to log. These trainings can also be used to meet annual on-going training requirements. Staff Orientation Training – Providing a comprehensive orientation helps new staff feel confident in their new position and ensures that they have a working knowledge of NC Child Care Rule requirements. All new staff must receive 6 hours of orientation in the first 2 weeks of employment. Documentation was not on file for K. Chavies. You stated that it had been completed, however you were unable to find the orientation log form. Per our discussion, organizing your files in a specific order and maintaining that order each time you work in the files can help prevent misplacement of required information. Additional Information: Moodle Support - The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through the online learning platform Moodle. DCDEE has established a new support email address and phone number to help providers navigate Moodle. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The NC Early Childhood Credential Equivalency Exam is another pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. This equivalency exam assesses the foundations of culturally responsive, equitable and inclusive early childhood education, planning intentional developmentally appropriate experiences, learning activities, and teaching strategies for indoor and outdoor environments for all young children, guidance techniques, and professionalism. This option is now available on Moodle at no cost. Before staff take the test, they should review the NC Child Care Rules, the NC Foundations of Early Education and Development, and the most current version of Caring for Our Children. Each of these will help them prepare to score well on the test. Fire and Sanitation Inspections – The State of Emergency due to Covid-19 has been lifted, and flexibility for having fire and sanitation inspections completed is no longer available. Ensure that your inspections are completed at least annually by contacting your Environmental Health Inspector and/or Fire Inspector prior to the expiration of your inspections. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at 252-333-2084 or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, may also be contacted at (252) 373-4199. 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