NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: SMILES R' US BIG KIDS Facility ID: 42000222 Consultant: ANGELA NIEVES Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 3/28/2025 Number Present: 14 Completed Date: 3/28/2025 Age: From 3 To 5 Total Minutes: 125 Time In: 09:05 AM Time Out: 11:10 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor this facility for compliance with applicable child care requirements during an annual compliance visit. T. Battle, Administrator, was present and available to assist with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a four-star license issued on December 1, 2020, earning 4 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component, and 1 quality point for having staff benefits package and infrastructure of parent involvement. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on May 8, 2024. The sanitation inspection was completed on March 6, 2025, with a “Superior” classification “5” demerits. The fire inspection was completed on January 8, 2025, and the center was approved for daytime care only. The license was posted, and the restrictions were in compliance. Sixteen (16) children from ages three (3) to five (5) were present during the visit. 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 were participating in transitions, meal time, group time and center free play. The children were observed eating the following for breakfast: bagels with peanut butter, pears, and milk. Any violations of the child care requirements observed today were discussed with you and documented in the visit summary report and reviewed with you at the conclusion of the visit. The violation documented was corrected during today's visit. The following violations of the child care requirements were documented today: Violation Number Comment Rule 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. There is a wooden bench swing next to the fence on the playground closest to the building. The bench part of the swing, where children sit, there are two wooden planks that are jagged and splintered. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 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. COMPLIANCE HISTORY: Prior to conducting today’s visit your center’s Compliance History score, over an 18-month period time frame, is 99%. The violations documented could impact the center’s overall Compliance History score. Your compliance score must be maintained at 75% or higher or an Administrative Action may be warranted. CORPORATION STATUS: Smiles R’ Us Big Kids, LLC. is listed as the current owner of this center. According to information verified on the North Carolina Secretary of State’s website, Smiles R’ Us Big Kids, LLC. remains current and active. Prior to making any changes to the corporation status, please contact me to discuss changes of ownership procedures. The corporation status for your program must always remain current and active. Failure to comply may affect your license. FACILITY PROFILE INFORMATION: You verified the mailing address, email address, and phone number listed on the facility profile are correct. If changes in your facility’s information occurs, please contact me at 252-557-5597 or email me at angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov to discuss the changes and ensure the information is current in our system. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: STAFF AND CHILDREN’S FILES: I reviewed ten percent (10%) of your existing staff files and found the files to be well organized and in compliance. I also reviewed 10 percent (10%) of your children’s files and found them to be well organized and incompliance. OUTDOOR LEARNING ENVIRONEMENT: There is a wooden bench swing next to the fence on the playground closest to the building. The bench part of the swing, where children sit, there are two wooden planks that are jagged and splintered. The wooden boards could poke or scratch a child while sitting and swinging. Please replace the board, sand them down or replace them. You stated you have a plan to replace the whole bench swing. You unhooked the bench swing and removed it from area. This was corrected during the visit. REMINDERS: CLEAN WATER FOR US KIDS: According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website you last tested your water for lead on December 18, 2023, you must test your drinking and cooking water every three (3) years. According to the Clean Water for Us Kids website, RTI is waiting for on-site results; however you received a report stating there was no asbestos found on the premises of the child care facility. PROGRAM ASSESSMENT (ERS-3) UPDATE: Starting February 1, 2025, as part of QRIS Modernization, Session Law 2024-34 states that beginning on February 1, 2025, new child care facilities and child care facilities that choose to use program assessment to earn points toward their Two through Five Star Rated License shall be evaluated using the following, as applicable: • Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (ITERS-3) • Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (ECERS-3) • Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (FCCERS-3) • School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale, Updated Edition (SACERS-U) The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) has prepared many resources and trainings for child care facilities to use in planning for the new editions of the Environment Rating Scale. The NC Division of Child Development and Early Education is implementing the use of lower threshold scores to assist child care facilities in their shift to the new edition, matching the NC Child Care Commission’s on-going work regarding proposed QRIS rules. This intentional, collaborative planning will ensure a smooth transition regarding program assessment requirements. Hold Harmless remains effective until all new QRIS rules are effective. New child care facilities and child care facilities that choose to move forward with ERS-3 program assessment should work with their consultant to learn more about the changes and revised scores needed to earn points toward their Two through Five Star Rated License. WORKS: Please continue to keep your Staff and Training worksheets up to date. Update the worksheets when changes are made, such as hiring new staff, additional coursework, and completed training. If the education information is not in the “WORKS” system when the star-rated license is reassessed it could affect the points in Education Standards. Please contact the WORKS department if you have questions on what is needed. The information is below 919-814-6350 or dcdee.works@dhhs.nc.gov. CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have any questions about today’s visit, you may contact me at 252-557-5597 or angela.nieves@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also contact Licensing Supervisor, Susan Fuller at 252-373-9809 or email at susan.fuller@dhhs.nc.gov. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.