10A NCAC 09 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: Inspire Horizons Academy Facility ID: 26002656 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/8/2026 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 7/8/2026 Age: From 0 To 7 Total Minutes: 375 Time In: 09:35 AM Time Out: 03:50 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to a first temporary time period visit for a change of ownership. This program currently operates with a Temporary License issued June 1, 2026 to December 1, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by LaDaisa Murphy and the owner’s corporation status was verified on the Secretary of State’s website as current-active. Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, accompanied me during today’s visit. There are no current inspections at this time. The owner is in the process of obtaining current inspections for the change of ownership that occurred on June 1, 2026. As a reminder, the facility has 6 months from the issuance of the Temporary License (December 1, 2026) to obtain an approved, Building, Fire, and Sanitation Inspection. Additionally, zoning approval in writing from the City of Fayetteville is required to be obtained for continued use as a child care business. L. Murphy, Administrator, was present. I explained the purpose of the visit and requested L. Murphy accompany us as we conduct a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. We washed our hands and conducted the walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas with L. Murphy. An outlet on the wall and two in the surge protector in the reception area were uncovered and accessible to children. Additionally, an outlet in the surge protector in Space #1 was uncovered when not in use. The posted menu on the parent information board was dated June 2026. Children, aged one to seven years old, assigned to Spaces #2, #3, and #4, were in the outdoor learning environment. Children pushed toys, rode trikes, dug in the sand, and climbed on the Simplay 3 Climber on the left side of the program. The critical height was 2 feet 4 inches. The resilient surfacing measured 3 to 4 inches in depth, and the fall zone measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches from the rear of the climber. Vegetation was present in the resilient surfacing and sand toys were present in the fall zone. In the outdoor learning environment on the right side of the program, there were exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint on the metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue. Additionally, the paint on the wooden benches and railing underneath the metal structure was chipping and flaking. Upon their return indoors, children and staff washed their hands, participated in personal care routines, and participated in free choice/free play activities. In Space #2, staff members were assisting children with preparing for mealtime. Teachers were observed having meaningful conversations with children about washing their hands and importance of getting rid of germs. The cook served lunch to the children while the teacher put bibs on the children. “Let me help you with your bib. Now, that’s better. Are you hungry and ready to eat? Are you going to drink all of it?” The teacher used parallel talk with children as they discussed the healthy foods they were served and consumed. I observed the teacher assisting a child who was having difficulty holding his spoon. “Do you need help? Here, let me help you with your spoon.” Children appeared to be familiar with classroom schedule as some children put their plates in the trash and washed their hands in the bathroom without being prompted by the teacher. In Space #3, I observed staff monitoring children as they consumed lunch. One child was eating a meal prepared by their family. Teachers asked children about what food items they were eating and asked children what vegetables they like to eat. As children finished their meal, one teacher asked children “What do we do after we eat lunch?” Children recalled washing their hands, going to the bathroom, reading a book, and resting on their cots. While one teacher monitored children who were eating, another teacher assisted children with toilet training, hand washing, and preparing their individual cots for rest time. Following hand washing routines, a group of children gathered on the carpet reading books quietly. Lunch served was Swedish meatballs, pasta noodles, green beans, mixed fruit, and milk. In Space #2, children aged one and two, were served whole milk. In Spaces #3 and #4, children aged two through seven, were served 2% milk. Five staff personnel and medical files, three children’s records, and required center program records were monitored today. The most current outdoor inspection checklist and fire drill completed on file were dated June 3, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with L. Murphy. The following violations were observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 526 Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The posted menu in the reception area and kitchen were not current. They were dated June 2026. 10A NCAC 09 .0901(b) 717 Surfacing did not extend six (6) feet beyond the external limits of the equipment or 3 feet for equipment used only by children less than 2 years of age. Surfacing did not extend three (3) feet beyond the external limits of the Simplay 3 climber used by children less than 2 years of age. .0605(l)(1-2) 808 The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. The outdoor learning environment to the right of the program was not free of hazards. The metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue had exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint. Additionally, the blue paint on the wooden benches underneath the shade structure was chipping and flaking. There was vegetation growing in the sand boxes and the large tractor tires in the outdoor learning environments. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 1030 Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff. Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for three employees, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets. .0302(d)(1)(A) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A child care provider, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, employed on June 22, 2026, did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1033 On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. On their first day of work (June 22, 2026), a staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not provide results indicating that they are free of active TB. .0701(a) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not have the required emergency information form on file on their first day of work (June 22, 2026). .0701(a) 1067 Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One employee, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. .1101(a)(b) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. One employee's personnel file, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1791 The child care provider did not provide the required beverage(s). In Space #1, unflavored whole milk was served to children two years old and in Spaces #2 and #3, 2 percent fat milk was served to children two through seven years old during meal time. .0901(e)(1-7) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the sand underneath and around the Simplay 3 climber, with a critical height of 2 feet and 4 inches, measured 3 to 4 inches instead of the required 6 inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1874 The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with one new staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, prior to providing care with children on June 22, 2026. .0608(d)(1-4) 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. The violations observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violations observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 22, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to me. The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If the letter states that corrections have been made when they have not, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Rhonda Blackmon Licensing Supervisor P.O. Box 279 Linden, NC 28356 Rhonda.blackmon@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The compliance history is based on violations that are cited during visits to your facility. If you have an acceptable compliance history at the end of your temporary license you will be eligible to apply for a star rated license. Failure to maintain an acceptable compliance history may result in the issuance of administrative action up to and including denial of a full license at the end of the temporary time period. Technical Assistance Specific to Today’s Visit: Outdoor Learning Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Since children are exploring and taking risks it is very important to provide a safe environment. All equipment must be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the product is safe for use by children. Prior to equipment being accessible to the children, make sure that the product is accurately and thoroughly assembled as required. Proper maintenance is a key factor when trying to ensure a safe play environment for children. All stationary outdoor equipment, more than 18 inches high, shall be installed over protective surfacing. Protective surfacing shall be either: loose surfacing material, including wood mulch, double shredded bark mulch, uniform wood chips, fine sand, coarse sand, and pea gravel, except that pea gravel shall not be used if the area will be used by children under three years of age. Loose surfacing material shall not be installed over concrete; or other materials that have been certified by the manufacturer to be shock-absorbing protective material in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F 1292, may be used if installed, maintained, and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. As a reminder, the depth of the loose surfacing material shall be based on the critical height of the equipment, which is defined as the maximum height that a child may sit, or stand, as follows: equipment with a critical height of 5 feet or less shall have 6 inches of loose surface materials. Protective surfacing shall cover the area under and around equipment where a child may fall, referred to as the fall zone. The area for fall zones is as follows: for stationary outdoor equipment used by children under two years of age, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of three feet and stationary equipment used by children two years of age or older, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for six feet. During today’s visit, I measured the critical height of the Simplay 3 climber, and it was measured at 2 feet 4 inches high. Children, aged one to two years of age, use the stationary equipment. The sand measured 4 to 5 inches in depth, and the fall zones measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches. From the rear to the containment border. We discussed correcting the areas of noncompliance by repositioning the stationary equipment and containment borders so the sand can extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of 3 feet and adding additional sand to meet the required six inches of loose surface material. Additionally, you may remove the Simplay 3 climber from the approved outdoor area and purchase additional gross motor materials for vigorous play such as riding and push toys, jump ropes, assortment of balls, balance beam, etc. The outdoor learning environments shall be free of hazards and maintained in a manner that does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. During today’s visit, there was rust and chipping and flaking paint present on metal equipment and grass growing in the sand boxes, and tractor tires used for vigorous play. Menus/Nutrition: Planning the menu in advance and posting the current menu, to include substitutions, is essential in providing a variety of foods for proper nutrition. A current menu must be posted, in advance, visible to parents and in the kitchen. Meals and snacks served to children in a child care center must comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which are based on the recommended nutrient intake judged by the National Research Council to be adequate for maintaining good nutrition. Parents/ guardians need to be informed about food served in the facility to know how to complement it with the food served at home. The menu should be dated and posted for easy view by the parents and the cook. At the conclusion of the visit, I reviewed the following resources with L. Murphy and a copy was left at the facility for reference: CACFP Infant Meal Patterns, Breakfast, Lunch and Supper, and Snacks for Children, aged 1 to 12. As a reminder, fluid milk must be unflavored whole milk for children age one and must be unflavored low-fat (1percent fat or less) or unflavored fat-free skim milk for children two through five years old. Staff files: Violations regarding staff files were observed and documented today. Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administration. It is an important part of licensure. Staff records consist of various documentation such as employment application, medical report, TB test results, Annual Health questionnaire, Emergency contact information, CRC qualification letter, documentation of orientation, in service training hours, CPR and First Aid, and playground safety. I discussed with the administrator to always have the staff file checklist attached to individual staff files as a tracking tool for paperwork submission. Additionally, we discussed how important it is to monitor all files every month for applicable requirements, and to develop a system to track expiration dates. Ensure that required documents are on file prior to employment and prior to the expiration of current certifications. Rated License Assessment: Starting your Pathways to the Stars: I look forward to working with you to transition to the new QRIS system, also known as Pathways to the Stars, located in Section .3200 of the Child Care Rules. During today’s visit, I reviewed the new rules in Section .3200; Standards for Two through Five Star Rated Licenses. Additionally, I reviewed the pathway options, identified facility needs, and answered questions to assist L. Murphy with establishing a plan to achieve compliance for a rated license by month five of the Temporary Time period. As a reminder, the facility must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized care after six (6) months. Rather than a star level being determined by points earned, star level is now determined by meeting the requirements at each star level within the pathway chosen. During the temporary time-period, as part of the process, I will need to verify evaluation of staff education. To prepare, be sure the staff member’s education has been evaluated and is available for review. A child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. WORKS is a self-service applicant portal that will be used by an individual applicant to register and maintain their workforce information to support education requirements. The WORKS portal is available online and requires the user to maintain an individual North Carolina Identity Management (NCID) username and password. All paperwork, except for official transcripts, will no longer be submitted to the Workforce Education Unit. These documents will be uploaded using WORKS via each applicant’s WORKS account. All staff education should be current before the fifth month (November) of the temporary time period. For more information about NCID and WORKS, visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov to view more information under the DCDEE WORKS tab http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/general/mb_dcdeeworks.asp. You can also contact the Workforce Education Unit at 1-800-859-0829 (In State Only) or 919-527-6600 for more information concerning WORKS. The NCRLAP website (www.ncrlap.org) has a wealth of information on the Environment Rating Scales and overall quality issues for child care. You can find information that will assist operators with quality environments, self-study process, and the Environment Rating Scale assessments using the ITERS-3 and ECERS- 3. Training videos are available on the following topics: Overview of the Assessment Process, Using Materials with Non-Mobile Infants, A Safe Place for Gross Motor Play, Hand washing and Other Basic Health Considerations, and Language for Learning. To access resources or information on webinars, go to www.ncrlap.org. A packet of forms, brochures, and technical assistance handouts were reviewed and emailed to L. Murphy. Childcare Health Consultant: The Cumberland County Department of Public Health’s current Child Care Health Consultant is Nicole Richardson. Her contact number is: 910-678-7706 and her email address: nrrichardson@cumberlandcountync.gov. Visit the website https://nccchcassociation.org/resources/, under resources there are several links that may be beneficial for your Child Care Center. For example, Caring for Our Children, My Plate, Safe Kids NC, and many others. The following website will also provide more information about the Child Care Health Consultants. The Child Care Health Consultant provides support in the following areas, but not limited to oral health, illness, infectious disease, emergency preparedness, health related areas, nutrition, environmental health, and physical activity. For addition information, visit the website, https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/child-care-health-consultants/about-cchc/. The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County offers on-site technical assistance to child care programs. Types of technical assistance provided include observation and assessment and support and mentoring visits. For more information, contact Mary Welch, CCR&R Program Manager at (910) 867-9700 or visit www.ccpfc.org to complete a technical assistance application. Additionally, please review the Region 5 education, training topics and training calendars for Early Education Professionals. Training: Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety training within one year of employment unless the staff member has completed the training within the year prior to beginning employment. Complete the health and safety training record as found on the DCDEE website. After the first year, staff must complete the health and safety training topics at least once every five years. Child care staff are expected to be well informed about child abuse and neglect issues and adequately trained to prevent and recognize potential maltreatment. The child care administrator and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment/licensure. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training is available at https://www.preventchildabusenc.org. Additionally, staff who are responsible for supervising groups of school-age children (group leaders) shall be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to employment and shall complete the BSAC training within three months of becoming employed. Documentation of training must be kept on file for review. Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR): B. Fletcher, Owner, completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training at the PFC of Cumberland County on February 18, 2017. B. Fletcher has four (4) months to go online and complete the EPR Plan (October 1, 2026). Fire drills will continue to be completed monthly and lock down drills or shelter in place drills will be completed within three months. The trained staff shall review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changes to ensure all information is current. All staff shall review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review shall be maintained on file. The template for the EPR plan can be found at: https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx. On-going Training: It is your responsibility to keep the staff and training worksheets current for the consultant to review during annual compliance visits. Reminder: After the first year of employment, the child care administrator and any staff who work with children shall participate in on-going training activities annually. Refer to child care requirement 09.1103 for the number of required training hours based on education and experience. The DCDEE has a new initiative – Natural Outdoor Learning Initiative. Through this initiative, we hope to increase knowledge and confidence for everyone in developing and implementing best practices to support the creation, programming, and safe use of naturalized outdoor spaces in child care facilities. You can learn more by visiting the NLI website, where you will also find many resources, including an updated Toolkit designed to help you enhance your outdoor learning environment. The downloadable NLI Toolkit is available at: https://naturalearning.org/preschool-outdoor-toolkit. If you have questions, please contact me at: (910) 709-4168. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0901 · Violation

Name of Operation: Inspire Horizons Academy Facility ID: 26002656 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/8/2026 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 7/8/2026 Age: From 0 To 7 Total Minutes: 375 Time In: 09:35 AM Time Out: 03:50 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to a first temporary time period visit for a change of ownership. This program currently operates with a Temporary License issued June 1, 2026 to December 1, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by LaDaisa Murphy and the owner’s corporation status was verified on the Secretary of State’s website as current-active. Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, accompanied me during today’s visit. There are no current inspections at this time. The owner is in the process of obtaining current inspections for the change of ownership that occurred on June 1, 2026. As a reminder, the facility has 6 months from the issuance of the Temporary License (December 1, 2026) to obtain an approved, Building, Fire, and Sanitation Inspection. Additionally, zoning approval in writing from the City of Fayetteville is required to be obtained for continued use as a child care business. L. Murphy, Administrator, was present. I explained the purpose of the visit and requested L. Murphy accompany us as we conduct a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. We washed our hands and conducted the walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas with L. Murphy. An outlet on the wall and two in the surge protector in the reception area were uncovered and accessible to children. Additionally, an outlet in the surge protector in Space #1 was uncovered when not in use. The posted menu on the parent information board was dated June 2026. Children, aged one to seven years old, assigned to Spaces #2, #3, and #4, were in the outdoor learning environment. Children pushed toys, rode trikes, dug in the sand, and climbed on the Simplay 3 Climber on the left side of the program. The critical height was 2 feet 4 inches. The resilient surfacing measured 3 to 4 inches in depth, and the fall zone measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches from the rear of the climber. Vegetation was present in the resilient surfacing and sand toys were present in the fall zone. In the outdoor learning environment on the right side of the program, there were exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint on the metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue. Additionally, the paint on the wooden benches and railing underneath the metal structure was chipping and flaking. Upon their return indoors, children and staff washed their hands, participated in personal care routines, and participated in free choice/free play activities. In Space #2, staff members were assisting children with preparing for mealtime. Teachers were observed having meaningful conversations with children about washing their hands and importance of getting rid of germs. The cook served lunch to the children while the teacher put bibs on the children. “Let me help you with your bib. Now, that’s better. Are you hungry and ready to eat? Are you going to drink all of it?” The teacher used parallel talk with children as they discussed the healthy foods they were served and consumed. I observed the teacher assisting a child who was having difficulty holding his spoon. “Do you need help? Here, let me help you with your spoon.” Children appeared to be familiar with classroom schedule as some children put their plates in the trash and washed their hands in the bathroom without being prompted by the teacher. In Space #3, I observed staff monitoring children as they consumed lunch. One child was eating a meal prepared by their family. Teachers asked children about what food items they were eating and asked children what vegetables they like to eat. As children finished their meal, one teacher asked children “What do we do after we eat lunch?” Children recalled washing their hands, going to the bathroom, reading a book, and resting on their cots. While one teacher monitored children who were eating, another teacher assisted children with toilet training, hand washing, and preparing their individual cots for rest time. Following hand washing routines, a group of children gathered on the carpet reading books quietly. Lunch served was Swedish meatballs, pasta noodles, green beans, mixed fruit, and milk. In Space #2, children aged one and two, were served whole milk. In Spaces #3 and #4, children aged two through seven, were served 2% milk. Five staff personnel and medical files, three children’s records, and required center program records were monitored today. The most current outdoor inspection checklist and fire drill completed on file were dated June 3, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with L. Murphy. The following violations were observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 526 Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The posted menu in the reception area and kitchen were not current. They were dated June 2026. 10A NCAC 09 .0901(b) 717 Surfacing did not extend six (6) feet beyond the external limits of the equipment or 3 feet for equipment used only by children less than 2 years of age. Surfacing did not extend three (3) feet beyond the external limits of the Simplay 3 climber used by children less than 2 years of age. .0605(l)(1-2) 808 The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. The outdoor learning environment to the right of the program was not free of hazards. The metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue had exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint. Additionally, the blue paint on the wooden benches underneath the shade structure was chipping and flaking. There was vegetation growing in the sand boxes and the large tractor tires in the outdoor learning environments. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 1030 Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff. Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for three employees, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets. .0302(d)(1)(A) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A child care provider, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, employed on June 22, 2026, did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1033 On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. On their first day of work (June 22, 2026), a staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not provide results indicating that they are free of active TB. .0701(a) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not have the required emergency information form on file on their first day of work (June 22, 2026). .0701(a) 1067 Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One employee, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. .1101(a)(b) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. One employee's personnel file, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1791 The child care provider did not provide the required beverage(s). In Space #1, unflavored whole milk was served to children two years old and in Spaces #2 and #3, 2 percent fat milk was served to children two through seven years old during meal time. .0901(e)(1-7) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the sand underneath and around the Simplay 3 climber, with a critical height of 2 feet and 4 inches, measured 3 to 4 inches instead of the required 6 inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1874 The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with one new staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, prior to providing care with children on June 22, 2026. .0608(d)(1-4) 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. The violations observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violations observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 22, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to me. The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If the letter states that corrections have been made when they have not, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Rhonda Blackmon Licensing Supervisor P.O. Box 279 Linden, NC 28356 Rhonda.blackmon@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The compliance history is based on violations that are cited during visits to your facility. If you have an acceptable compliance history at the end of your temporary license you will be eligible to apply for a star rated license. Failure to maintain an acceptable compliance history may result in the issuance of administrative action up to and including denial of a full license at the end of the temporary time period. Technical Assistance Specific to Today’s Visit: Outdoor Learning Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Since children are exploring and taking risks it is very important to provide a safe environment. All equipment must be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the product is safe for use by children. Prior to equipment being accessible to the children, make sure that the product is accurately and thoroughly assembled as required. Proper maintenance is a key factor when trying to ensure a safe play environment for children. All stationary outdoor equipment, more than 18 inches high, shall be installed over protective surfacing. Protective surfacing shall be either: loose surfacing material, including wood mulch, double shredded bark mulch, uniform wood chips, fine sand, coarse sand, and pea gravel, except that pea gravel shall not be used if the area will be used by children under three years of age. Loose surfacing material shall not be installed over concrete; or other materials that have been certified by the manufacturer to be shock-absorbing protective material in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F 1292, may be used if installed, maintained, and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. As a reminder, the depth of the loose surfacing material shall be based on the critical height of the equipment, which is defined as the maximum height that a child may sit, or stand, as follows: equipment with a critical height of 5 feet or less shall have 6 inches of loose surface materials. Protective surfacing shall cover the area under and around equipment where a child may fall, referred to as the fall zone. The area for fall zones is as follows: for stationary outdoor equipment used by children under two years of age, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of three feet and stationary equipment used by children two years of age or older, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for six feet. During today’s visit, I measured the critical height of the Simplay 3 climber, and it was measured at 2 feet 4 inches high. Children, aged one to two years of age, use the stationary equipment. The sand measured 4 to 5 inches in depth, and the fall zones measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches. From the rear to the containment border. We discussed correcting the areas of noncompliance by repositioning the stationary equipment and containment borders so the sand can extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of 3 feet and adding additional sand to meet the required six inches of loose surface material. Additionally, you may remove the Simplay 3 climber from the approved outdoor area and purchase additional gross motor materials for vigorous play such as riding and push toys, jump ropes, assortment of balls, balance beam, etc. The outdoor learning environments shall be free of hazards and maintained in a manner that does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. During today’s visit, there was rust and chipping and flaking paint present on metal equipment and grass growing in the sand boxes, and tractor tires used for vigorous play. Menus/Nutrition: Planning the menu in advance and posting the current menu, to include substitutions, is essential in providing a variety of foods for proper nutrition. A current menu must be posted, in advance, visible to parents and in the kitchen. Meals and snacks served to children in a child care center must comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which are based on the recommended nutrient intake judged by the National Research Council to be adequate for maintaining good nutrition. Parents/ guardians need to be informed about food served in the facility to know how to complement it with the food served at home. The menu should be dated and posted for easy view by the parents and the cook. At the conclusion of the visit, I reviewed the following resources with L. Murphy and a copy was left at the facility for reference: CACFP Infant Meal Patterns, Breakfast, Lunch and Supper, and Snacks for Children, aged 1 to 12. As a reminder, fluid milk must be unflavored whole milk for children age one and must be unflavored low-fat (1percent fat or less) or unflavored fat-free skim milk for children two through five years old. Staff files: Violations regarding staff files were observed and documented today. Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administration. It is an important part of licensure. Staff records consist of various documentation such as employment application, medical report, TB test results, Annual Health questionnaire, Emergency contact information, CRC qualification letter, documentation of orientation, in service training hours, CPR and First Aid, and playground safety. I discussed with the administrator to always have the staff file checklist attached to individual staff files as a tracking tool for paperwork submission. Additionally, we discussed how important it is to monitor all files every month for applicable requirements, and to develop a system to track expiration dates. Ensure that required documents are on file prior to employment and prior to the expiration of current certifications. Rated License Assessment: Starting your Pathways to the Stars: I look forward to working with you to transition to the new QRIS system, also known as Pathways to the Stars, located in Section .3200 of the Child Care Rules. During today’s visit, I reviewed the new rules in Section .3200; Standards for Two through Five Star Rated Licenses. Additionally, I reviewed the pathway options, identified facility needs, and answered questions to assist L. Murphy with establishing a plan to achieve compliance for a rated license by month five of the Temporary Time period. As a reminder, the facility must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized care after six (6) months. Rather than a star level being determined by points earned, star level is now determined by meeting the requirements at each star level within the pathway chosen. During the temporary time-period, as part of the process, I will need to verify evaluation of staff education. To prepare, be sure the staff member’s education has been evaluated and is available for review. A child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. WORKS is a self-service applicant portal that will be used by an individual applicant to register and maintain their workforce information to support education requirements. The WORKS portal is available online and requires the user to maintain an individual North Carolina Identity Management (NCID) username and password. All paperwork, except for official transcripts, will no longer be submitted to the Workforce Education Unit. These documents will be uploaded using WORKS via each applicant’s WORKS account. All staff education should be current before the fifth month (November) of the temporary time period. For more information about NCID and WORKS, visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov to view more information under the DCDEE WORKS tab http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/general/mb_dcdeeworks.asp. You can also contact the Workforce Education Unit at 1-800-859-0829 (In State Only) or 919-527-6600 for more information concerning WORKS. The NCRLAP website (www.ncrlap.org) has a wealth of information on the Environment Rating Scales and overall quality issues for child care. You can find information that will assist operators with quality environments, self-study process, and the Environment Rating Scale assessments using the ITERS-3 and ECERS- 3. Training videos are available on the following topics: Overview of the Assessment Process, Using Materials with Non-Mobile Infants, A Safe Place for Gross Motor Play, Hand washing and Other Basic Health Considerations, and Language for Learning. To access resources or information on webinars, go to www.ncrlap.org. A packet of forms, brochures, and technical assistance handouts were reviewed and emailed to L. Murphy. Childcare Health Consultant: The Cumberland County Department of Public Health’s current Child Care Health Consultant is Nicole Richardson. Her contact number is: 910-678-7706 and her email address: nrrichardson@cumberlandcountync.gov. Visit the website https://nccchcassociation.org/resources/, under resources there are several links that may be beneficial for your Child Care Center. For example, Caring for Our Children, My Plate, Safe Kids NC, and many others. The following website will also provide more information about the Child Care Health Consultants. The Child Care Health Consultant provides support in the following areas, but not limited to oral health, illness, infectious disease, emergency preparedness, health related areas, nutrition, environmental health, and physical activity. For addition information, visit the website, https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/child-care-health-consultants/about-cchc/. The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County offers on-site technical assistance to child care programs. Types of technical assistance provided include observation and assessment and support and mentoring visits. For more information, contact Mary Welch, CCR&R Program Manager at (910) 867-9700 or visit www.ccpfc.org to complete a technical assistance application. Additionally, please review the Region 5 education, training topics and training calendars for Early Education Professionals. Training: Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety training within one year of employment unless the staff member has completed the training within the year prior to beginning employment. Complete the health and safety training record as found on the DCDEE website. After the first year, staff must complete the health and safety training topics at least once every five years. Child care staff are expected to be well informed about child abuse and neglect issues and adequately trained to prevent and recognize potential maltreatment. The child care administrator and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment/licensure. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training is available at https://www.preventchildabusenc.org. Additionally, staff who are responsible for supervising groups of school-age children (group leaders) shall be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to employment and shall complete the BSAC training within three months of becoming employed. Documentation of training must be kept on file for review. Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR): B. Fletcher, Owner, completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training at the PFC of Cumberland County on February 18, 2017. B. Fletcher has four (4) months to go online and complete the EPR Plan (October 1, 2026). Fire drills will continue to be completed monthly and lock down drills or shelter in place drills will be completed within three months. The trained staff shall review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changes to ensure all information is current. All staff shall review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review shall be maintained on file. The template for the EPR plan can be found at: https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx. On-going Training: It is your responsibility to keep the staff and training worksheets current for the consultant to review during annual compliance visits. Reminder: After the first year of employment, the child care administrator and any staff who work with children shall participate in on-going training activities annually. Refer to child care requirement 09.1103 for the number of required training hours based on education and experience. The DCDEE has a new initiative – Natural Outdoor Learning Initiative. Through this initiative, we hope to increase knowledge and confidence for everyone in developing and implementing best practices to support the creation, programming, and safe use of naturalized outdoor spaces in child care facilities. You can learn more by visiting the NLI website, where you will also find many resources, including an updated Toolkit designed to help you enhance your outdoor learning environment. The downloadable NLI Toolkit is available at: https://naturalearning.org/preschool-outdoor-toolkit. If you have questions, please contact me at: (910) 709-4168. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: Inspire Horizons Academy Facility ID: 26002656 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/8/2026 Number Present: 29 Completed Date: 7/8/2026 Age: From 0 To 7 Total Minutes: 375 Time In: 09:35 AM Time Out: 03:50 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today's visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to a first temporary time period visit for a change of ownership. This program currently operates with a Temporary License issued June 1, 2026 to December 1, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by LaDaisa Murphy and the owner’s corporation status was verified on the Secretary of State’s website as current-active. Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, accompanied me during today’s visit. There are no current inspections at this time. The owner is in the process of obtaining current inspections for the change of ownership that occurred on June 1, 2026. As a reminder, the facility has 6 months from the issuance of the Temporary License (December 1, 2026) to obtain an approved, Building, Fire, and Sanitation Inspection. Additionally, zoning approval in writing from the City of Fayetteville is required to be obtained for continued use as a child care business. L. Murphy, Administrator, was present. I explained the purpose of the visit and requested L. Murphy accompany us as we conduct a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. We washed our hands and conducted the walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas with L. Murphy. An outlet on the wall and two in the surge protector in the reception area were uncovered and accessible to children. Additionally, an outlet in the surge protector in Space #1 was uncovered when not in use. The posted menu on the parent information board was dated June 2026. Children, aged one to seven years old, assigned to Spaces #2, #3, and #4, were in the outdoor learning environment. Children pushed toys, rode trikes, dug in the sand, and climbed on the Simplay 3 Climber on the left side of the program. The critical height was 2 feet 4 inches. The resilient surfacing measured 3 to 4 inches in depth, and the fall zone measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches from the rear of the climber. Vegetation was present in the resilient surfacing and sand toys were present in the fall zone. In the outdoor learning environment on the right side of the program, there were exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint on the metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue. Additionally, the paint on the wooden benches and railing underneath the metal structure was chipping and flaking. Upon their return indoors, children and staff washed their hands, participated in personal care routines, and participated in free choice/free play activities. In Space #2, staff members were assisting children with preparing for mealtime. Teachers were observed having meaningful conversations with children about washing their hands and importance of getting rid of germs. The cook served lunch to the children while the teacher put bibs on the children. “Let me help you with your bib. Now, that’s better. Are you hungry and ready to eat? Are you going to drink all of it?” The teacher used parallel talk with children as they discussed the healthy foods they were served and consumed. I observed the teacher assisting a child who was having difficulty holding his spoon. “Do you need help? Here, let me help you with your spoon.” Children appeared to be familiar with classroom schedule as some children put their plates in the trash and washed their hands in the bathroom without being prompted by the teacher. In Space #3, I observed staff monitoring children as they consumed lunch. One child was eating a meal prepared by their family. Teachers asked children about what food items they were eating and asked children what vegetables they like to eat. As children finished their meal, one teacher asked children “What do we do after we eat lunch?” Children recalled washing their hands, going to the bathroom, reading a book, and resting on their cots. While one teacher monitored children who were eating, another teacher assisted children with toilet training, hand washing, and preparing their individual cots for rest time. Following hand washing routines, a group of children gathered on the carpet reading books quietly. Lunch served was Swedish meatballs, pasta noodles, green beans, mixed fruit, and milk. In Space #2, children aged one and two, were served whole milk. In Spaces #3 and #4, children aged two through seven, were served 2% milk. Five staff personnel and medical files, three children’s records, and required center program records were monitored today. The most current outdoor inspection checklist and fire drill completed on file were dated June 3, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with L. Murphy. The following violations were observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 526 Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook. The posted menu in the reception area and kitchen were not current. They were dated June 2026. 10A NCAC 09 .0901(b) 717 Surfacing did not extend six (6) feet beyond the external limits of the equipment or 3 feet for equipment used only by children less than 2 years of age. Surfacing did not extend three (3) feet beyond the external limits of the Simplay 3 climber used by children less than 2 years of age. .0605(l)(1-2) 808 The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. The outdoor learning environment to the right of the program was not free of hazards. The metal shade structure, blue caboose, red train, green car, and red fire rescue had exposed rust and chipping and flaking paint. Additionally, the blue paint on the wooden benches underneath the shade structure was chipping and flaking. There was vegetation growing in the sand boxes and the large tractor tires in the outdoor learning environments. 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 1030 Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff. Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for three employees, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets. .0302(d)(1)(A) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A child care provider, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, employed on June 22, 2026, did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1033 On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. On their first day of work (June 22, 2026), a staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not provide results indicating that they are free of active TB. .0701(a) 1035 Child care providers, including the director, uncompensated providers, substitute providers, and volunteers did not have the required Emergency Information Form on file on or before the first day of work, which included all the required information and/or the information on the form was not updated as changes occur and at least annually. One staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not have the required emergency information form on file on their first day of work (June 22, 2026). .0701(a) 1067 Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One employee, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. .1101(a)(b) 1233 Each employee's personnel file did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. One employee's personnel file, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, did not contain a signed and dated statement that they received a job description and that they have received personnel and operational policies. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(g) 1791 The child care provider did not provide the required beverage(s). In Space #1, unflavored whole milk was served to children two years old and in Spaces #2 and #3, 2 percent fat milk was served to children two through seven years old during meal time. .0901(e)(1-7) 1867 The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The depth of the sand underneath and around the Simplay 3 climber, with a critical height of 2 feet and 4 inches, measured 3 to 4 inches instead of the required 6 inches. .0605(k)(1-4) 1874 The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with one new staff member, identified on the staff records and staff training worksheets, prior to providing care with children on June 22, 2026. .0608(d)(1-4) 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. The violations observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violations observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 22, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to me. The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If the letter states that corrections have been made when they have not, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Rhonda Blackmon Licensing Supervisor P.O. Box 279 Linden, NC 28356 Rhonda.blackmon@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, you must include a signature block, which contains your name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 The compliance history is based on violations that are cited during visits to your facility. If you have an acceptable compliance history at the end of your temporary license you will be eligible to apply for a star rated license. Failure to maintain an acceptable compliance history may result in the issuance of administrative action up to and including denial of a full license at the end of the temporary time period. Technical Assistance Specific to Today’s Visit: Outdoor Learning Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Since children are exploring and taking risks it is very important to provide a safe environment. All equipment must be installed per the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the product is safe for use by children. Prior to equipment being accessible to the children, make sure that the product is accurately and thoroughly assembled as required. Proper maintenance is a key factor when trying to ensure a safe play environment for children. All stationary outdoor equipment, more than 18 inches high, shall be installed over protective surfacing. Protective surfacing shall be either: loose surfacing material, including wood mulch, double shredded bark mulch, uniform wood chips, fine sand, coarse sand, and pea gravel, except that pea gravel shall not be used if the area will be used by children under three years of age. Loose surfacing material shall not be installed over concrete; or other materials that have been certified by the manufacturer to be shock-absorbing protective material in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard F 1292, may be used if installed, maintained, and replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions. As a reminder, the depth of the loose surfacing material shall be based on the critical height of the equipment, which is defined as the maximum height that a child may sit, or stand, as follows: equipment with a critical height of 5 feet or less shall have 6 inches of loose surface materials. Protective surfacing shall cover the area under and around equipment where a child may fall, referred to as the fall zone. The area for fall zones is as follows: for stationary outdoor equipment used by children under two years of age, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of three feet and stationary equipment used by children two years of age or older, the protective surfacing shall extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for six feet. During today’s visit, I measured the critical height of the Simplay 3 climber, and it was measured at 2 feet 4 inches high. Children, aged one to two years of age, use the stationary equipment. The sand measured 4 to 5 inches in depth, and the fall zones measured 1 foot 5 inches from the containment border on the left and 2 feet 5 inches. From the rear to the containment border. We discussed correcting the areas of noncompliance by repositioning the stationary equipment and containment borders so the sand can extend beyond the external limits of the equipment for a minimum of 3 feet and adding additional sand to meet the required six inches of loose surface material. Additionally, you may remove the Simplay 3 climber from the approved outdoor area and purchase additional gross motor materials for vigorous play such as riding and push toys, jump ropes, assortment of balls, balance beam, etc. The outdoor learning environments shall be free of hazards and maintained in a manner that does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. During today’s visit, there was rust and chipping and flaking paint present on metal equipment and grass growing in the sand boxes, and tractor tires used for vigorous play. Menus/Nutrition: Planning the menu in advance and posting the current menu, to include substitutions, is essential in providing a variety of foods for proper nutrition. A current menu must be posted, in advance, visible to parents and in the kitchen. Meals and snacks served to children in a child care center must comply with the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) which are based on the recommended nutrient intake judged by the National Research Council to be adequate for maintaining good nutrition. Parents/ guardians need to be informed about food served in the facility to know how to complement it with the food served at home. The menu should be dated and posted for easy view by the parents and the cook. At the conclusion of the visit, I reviewed the following resources with L. Murphy and a copy was left at the facility for reference: CACFP Infant Meal Patterns, Breakfast, Lunch and Supper, and Snacks for Children, aged 1 to 12. As a reminder, fluid milk must be unflavored whole milk for children age one and must be unflavored low-fat (1percent fat or less) or unflavored fat-free skim milk for children two through five years old. Staff files: Violations regarding staff files were observed and documented today. Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administration. It is an important part of licensure. Staff records consist of various documentation such as employment application, medical report, TB test results, Annual Health questionnaire, Emergency contact information, CRC qualification letter, documentation of orientation, in service training hours, CPR and First Aid, and playground safety. I discussed with the administrator to always have the staff file checklist attached to individual staff files as a tracking tool for paperwork submission. Additionally, we discussed how important it is to monitor all files every month for applicable requirements, and to develop a system to track expiration dates. Ensure that required documents are on file prior to employment and prior to the expiration of current certifications. Rated License Assessment: Starting your Pathways to the Stars: I look forward to working with you to transition to the new QRIS system, also known as Pathways to the Stars, located in Section .3200 of the Child Care Rules. During today’s visit, I reviewed the new rules in Section .3200; Standards for Two through Five Star Rated Licenses. Additionally, I reviewed the pathway options, identified facility needs, and answered questions to assist L. Murphy with establishing a plan to achieve compliance for a rated license by month five of the Temporary Time period. As a reminder, the facility must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized care after six (6) months. Rather than a star level being determined by points earned, star level is now determined by meeting the requirements at each star level within the pathway chosen. During the temporary time-period, as part of the process, I will need to verify evaluation of staff education. To prepare, be sure the staff member’s education has been evaluated and is available for review. A child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. WORKS is a self-service applicant portal that will be used by an individual applicant to register and maintain their workforce information to support education requirements. The WORKS portal is available online and requires the user to maintain an individual North Carolina Identity Management (NCID) username and password. All paperwork, except for official transcripts, will no longer be submitted to the Workforce Education Unit. These documents will be uploaded using WORKS via each applicant’s WORKS account. All staff education should be current before the fifth month (November) of the temporary time period. For more information about NCID and WORKS, visit the DCDEE website at www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov to view more information under the DCDEE WORKS tab http://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/general/mb_dcdeeworks.asp. You can also contact the Workforce Education Unit at 1-800-859-0829 (In State Only) or 919-527-6600 for more information concerning WORKS. The NCRLAP website (www.ncrlap.org) has a wealth of information on the Environment Rating Scales and overall quality issues for child care. You can find information that will assist operators with quality environments, self-study process, and the Environment Rating Scale assessments using the ITERS-3 and ECERS- 3. Training videos are available on the following topics: Overview of the Assessment Process, Using Materials with Non-Mobile Infants, A Safe Place for Gross Motor Play, Hand washing and Other Basic Health Considerations, and Language for Learning. To access resources or information on webinars, go to www.ncrlap.org. A packet of forms, brochures, and technical assistance handouts were reviewed and emailed to L. Murphy. Childcare Health Consultant: The Cumberland County Department of Public Health’s current Child Care Health Consultant is Nicole Richardson. Her contact number is: 910-678-7706 and her email address: nrrichardson@cumberlandcountync.gov. Visit the website https://nccchcassociation.org/resources/, under resources there are several links that may be beneficial for your Child Care Center. For example, Caring for Our Children, My Plate, Safe Kids NC, and many others. The following website will also provide more information about the Child Care Health Consultants. The Child Care Health Consultant provides support in the following areas, but not limited to oral health, illness, infectious disease, emergency preparedness, health related areas, nutrition, environmental health, and physical activity. For addition information, visit the website, https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/child-care-health-consultants/about-cchc/. The Partnership for Children of Cumberland County offers on-site technical assistance to child care programs. Types of technical assistance provided include observation and assessment and support and mentoring visits. For more information, contact Mary Welch, CCR&R Program Manager at (910) 867-9700 or visit www.ccpfc.org to complete a technical assistance application. Additionally, please review the Region 5 education, training topics and training calendars for Early Education Professionals. Training: Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety training within one year of employment unless the staff member has completed the training within the year prior to beginning employment. Complete the health and safety training record as found on the DCDEE website. After the first year, staff must complete the health and safety training topics at least once every five years. Child care staff are expected to be well informed about child abuse and neglect issues and adequately trained to prevent and recognize potential maltreatment. The child care administrator and all staff members shall complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment/licensure. Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training is available at https://www.preventchildabusenc.org. Additionally, staff who are responsible for supervising groups of school-age children (group leaders) shall be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to employment and shall complete the BSAC training within three months of becoming employed. Documentation of training must be kept on file for review. Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR): B. Fletcher, Owner, completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training at the PFC of Cumberland County on February 18, 2017. B. Fletcher has four (4) months to go online and complete the EPR Plan (October 1, 2026). Fire drills will continue to be completed monthly and lock down drills or shelter in place drills will be completed within three months. The trained staff shall review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changes to ensure all information is current. All staff shall review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review shall be maintained on file. The template for the EPR plan can be found at: https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx. On-going Training: It is your responsibility to keep the staff and training worksheets current for the consultant to review during annual compliance visits. Reminder: After the first year of employment, the child care administrator and any staff who work with children shall participate in on-going training activities annually. Refer to child care requirement 09.1103 for the number of required training hours based on education and experience. The DCDEE has a new initiative – Natural Outdoor Learning Initiative. Through this initiative, we hope to increase knowledge and confidence for everyone in developing and implementing best practices to support the creation, programming, and safe use of naturalized outdoor spaces in child care facilities. You can learn more by visiting the NLI website, where you will also find many resources, including an updated Toolkit designed to help you enhance your outdoor learning environment. The downloadable NLI Toolkit is available at: https://naturalearning.org/preschool-outdoor-toolkit. If you have questions, please contact me at: (910) 709-4168. 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

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.