Little Giggles Childcare Home

10A NCAC 09.1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: Little Giggles Childcare Home Facility ID: 26002655 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 6/30/2026 Number Present: 2 Completed Date: 6/30/2026 Age: From 1 To 3 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 09:40 AM Time Out: 02:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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.. The initial assessment visit was completed on May 11, 2026, and prior to today’s visit, the eighteen-month compliance history score was 100%, as required by North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(c-d). This program currently operates with a temporary license effective May 18, 2026 to November 18, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by Peggy Smith. Current Inspection is as follows: Sanitation Classification of Superior with zero (0) demerits completed May 4, 2026. P. Smith, Owner/Operator, was present. Upon arrival, I explained the purpose of today’s visit. I completed hand washing routines and was accompanied by the operator during a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. Two children, ages one to three-years-old, were engaged in free choice activities in the child care area of the home. Children participated in circle time where they sang the alphabet, reviewed colors, and recalled the story of The Three Little Pigs. played with push/pull toys, musical activity boards, framed puzzles, stacking rings, dolls, and cooking and eating utensils in the dramatic play area. In the outdoor area, children played on the swing and played with toys in the sand. Upon return in doors, the operator completed diapering routines with a toddler and assisted a child with toileting routines. I observed hand washing routines with both children. The operator played music and the children danced and moved to The Wheels on the Bus and The Floor is Lava. Handwashing routines was completed in preparation for mealtime. Lunch served consisted of chicken nuggets, seasoned rice, baked French fries, fresh diced pears, and milk. P. Smith encouraged conversation and asked open-ended questions. Following lunch, children completed hand washing routines and were placed on individual assigned cots with clean linen. Soft instrumental lullabies played as children slept. The operator’s file, children’s files, and program records were monitored today. The most recent fire drill was completed on June 22, 2026 and a shelter-in-place emergency drill was completed on May 27, 2026. The most current outdoor inspection was completed on May 26, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with P. Smith. The following violation was observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on May 25, 2026 did not have a health assessment on file within 30 days of enrollment. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 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 violation observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violation observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to Y. Pridgen The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was 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: Yolanda Pridgen Lead Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 25561 Fayetteville, NC 28314 yolanda.pridgen@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 Technical Assistance/Consultation/Reminders Specific to Today’s Visit: Children’s Records: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children's files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. One (1) file monitored today was missing the health assessment. As a reminder, current health assessments and immunization records are required to be on file within thirty (30) days of enrollment. We discussed using the resource from the DCDEE website and tracking required information by checking off the items on the form as they’re received and setting reminders or creating a task list for items due after the first day of enrollment. Rated License Assessment: During today’s visit, I provided an overview of section .3200 of the child care rules. Each of the following pathway options were discussed: Program Assessment Pathway, Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway, and Accreditation and Head Start Pathway. Education requirements were also reviewed. As discussed, April 14, 2026, the FCCH must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized child care assistance after six (6) months. Based on today’s conversation, P. Smith stated she plans to achieve compliance with Classroom and Instructional Quality: Pathway 2. Ms. Smith recently submitted official transcripts to DCDEE WORKS and an education evaluation letter was generated on June 5, 2026. Ms. Smith has earned the FCCH credential equivalency with an additional 26 semester credit hours in early childhood education and has over 9 years of early childhood work experience in licensed child care. Based on a review of NC Child Care Rule .3217(e)(4) Enhanced Education Standards for Family Child Care Home Operators, Ms. Smith meets the five (5) star education standard. We discussed the approved curricula and formative assessments available on the DCDEE website. As a reminder, a child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. For additional information, you may review the Pathway to the Stars: The NC Quality Rating and Improvement System Child Care Rating System information/requirements at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. Training: P. Smith completed the health and safety trainings for the required eleven topic areas found at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/ in May 2026. P. Smith completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Abuse and Maltreatment training on July 15, 2025. You already know the Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As a reminder, the child care rule roll out module for section .3200 is complete and ready for viewing in Moodle. Please make time to listen to the module, it will further assist your understanding of these new rules. As we continue expanding our training offerings, the DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle Support. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. Training: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) in Child Care – As a previous FCCH operator, P. Smith completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training on October 8, 2019. I reminded P. Smith to go online at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx and complete the EPR Plan since she has already completed the required training. Fire drills must be completed monthly and lockdown or shelter in place drills shall be completed within three months. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and rules at all times. Periodically review the child care law and rules. Visit the DCDEE website and click on the “What’s New” tab to stay abreast of all updates. NCDHHS Responds to Increase in Measles Cases: Measles are on the rise globally and in North Carolina. As a highly contagious, airborne disease, even one case is a major priority for public health. NCDHHS is taking action by launching new outreach resources for child care providers, families, and community stakeholders to help curb the spread. Child care providers can share information about vaccinations with the families served and be informed with the most current information. For more information and to access tools and resources, visit NCDHHS at dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles. Transportation Safety: With summer in full swing and schools out of session, there are more children in child care. Requirements for safe transportation are not exclusive to child care centers, they involve anyone transporting a child. As such, all child care facilities must practice safe transportation and are encouraged to partner with parents to do the same. Child care centers are required to implement transportation policies and have procedures to check vehicles to ensure that all the children have loaded out, but they can also help parents. If a child is absent, take the time to call the parent. A quick phone call shows that you noticed their child's absence and that you genuinely care about their well-being. That care and concern not only builds a better relationship with enrolled families, but it also forms a partnership and ultimately could save a child's life! Transporting children is a high-risk activity, particularly for child care centers. Child care operators, staff members and parents need to be aware that transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Careful planning also reduces liability for facility operators and their programs. Another great resource for safety information is Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization dedicated to "preventing injuries in children, the number one killer of kids in the United States." Their website, www.safekids.org, contains valuable information on Heat Stroke Prevention as well as Child Passenger Safety. Please visit their website for more information. KidsandCars.org is committed to "preventing injuries and death to children in or around motor vehicles." This non-profit organization provides education and information regarding concerns such as injuries from power windows, trunk entrapment, vehicles accidentally set into motion by children, visual blockage of children while either backing up or driving forward, and children left in vehicles unattended. To learn more about the impact of heat stroke in children related to transportation, click the link to their Heat Stroke section. While this data is not exclusive to child care, it certainly can provide a clear understanding of the concern. Take the time to read the information contained on this website and educate staff in your child care facility. It could save a child's life! For North Carolina Occupant restraint laws, including child passenger safety laws, refer to www.buckleupnc.org. Outdoor Play: Every child must have an opportunity to be outdoors daily; if weather conditions permit. This requirement is for all ages including infants and toddlers. Due to extreme heat indices, it is important to remind parents about the requirement to go outdoors daily and that each child must come to school prepared to go outdoors. This includes bringing the appropriate clothes to child care and ensuring each child is able to participate in daily activities. Parents should determine whether their child is too sick to attend child care if they are unable to participate in the daily activities. The Weather watch chart must be used to determine “weather permitting”, and a thermometer may be posted outside a window, so staff can determine accurate temperatures. Ensure staff are trained in reading your posted Weather watch chart; you can also use the chart to help educate parents about when outdoor play should take place. For additional guidance, you may refer to the following requirements: Child Care Rule .0102 (27) "If weather conditions permit" means: (a) temperatures that fall within the guidelines developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and specified on the Child Care Weather Watch chart. These guidelines shall be used when determining appropriate weather conditions for taking children outside for outdoor learning activities and playtime. This chart may be downloaded free of charge from https://hhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/portals/1/userfiles/128/child%20care%20weather%20watch%20june%202020%20 final.pdf; and is incorporated by reference and includes subsequent editions and amendments; (b) following the air quality standards as set out in 15A NCAC 18A .2832(d). The Air Quality Color Guide can be found on the Division's web site at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/air-guide/aq-datasets/ or call 1-888-RU4NCAIR (1- 888-784- 6224); and (c) no active precipitation. Caregivers may choose to go outdoors when there is active precipitation if children have appropriate clothing such as rain boots and raincoats, or if they are under a covered area. Sanitation Rule 2832(d): If a daily air quality forecast is made by the Division of Air Quality or the regional air quality agency for the county where a center is located, outdoor activity for children shall be restricted as follows. On days with a code orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than one hour. On days with a code red (unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than 15 minutes. On days with a code purple (very unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. Provisions shall be made to allow children with diagnosed asthma or with coughing or wheezing symptoms to participate in physical activity indoors on days with a code orange, red or purple air quality forecast. As you can see each code within the rule does not prohibit outdoor play, rather, it provides information on when considerations and adjustments should be made to the outdoor play schedule. Partner Update: Starting in June 2026, the administration of the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Program will transition from Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) to the MilitaryChildCare.com Fee Assistance Management (MCC FAM) team. Please feel free to contact Yolanda Pridgen, Lead Child Care Consultant, on (910) 305-2371 or Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, (910) 709-4168 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: Little Giggles Childcare Home Facility ID: 26002655 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 6/30/2026 Number Present: 2 Completed Date: 6/30/2026 Age: From 1 To 3 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 09:40 AM Time Out: 02:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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.. The initial assessment visit was completed on May 11, 2026, and prior to today’s visit, the eighteen-month compliance history score was 100%, as required by North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(c-d). This program currently operates with a temporary license effective May 18, 2026 to November 18, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by Peggy Smith. Current Inspection is as follows: Sanitation Classification of Superior with zero (0) demerits completed May 4, 2026. P. Smith, Owner/Operator, was present. Upon arrival, I explained the purpose of today’s visit. I completed hand washing routines and was accompanied by the operator during a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. Two children, ages one to three-years-old, were engaged in free choice activities in the child care area of the home. Children participated in circle time where they sang the alphabet, reviewed colors, and recalled the story of The Three Little Pigs. played with push/pull toys, musical activity boards, framed puzzles, stacking rings, dolls, and cooking and eating utensils in the dramatic play area. In the outdoor area, children played on the swing and played with toys in the sand. Upon return in doors, the operator completed diapering routines with a toddler and assisted a child with toileting routines. I observed hand washing routines with both children. The operator played music and the children danced and moved to The Wheels on the Bus and The Floor is Lava. Handwashing routines was completed in preparation for mealtime. Lunch served consisted of chicken nuggets, seasoned rice, baked French fries, fresh diced pears, and milk. P. Smith encouraged conversation and asked open-ended questions. Following lunch, children completed hand washing routines and were placed on individual assigned cots with clean linen. Soft instrumental lullabies played as children slept. The operator’s file, children’s files, and program records were monitored today. The most recent fire drill was completed on June 22, 2026 and a shelter-in-place emergency drill was completed on May 27, 2026. The most current outdoor inspection was completed on May 26, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with P. Smith. The following violation was observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on May 25, 2026 did not have a health assessment on file within 30 days of enrollment. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 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 violation observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violation observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to Y. Pridgen The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was 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: Yolanda Pridgen Lead Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 25561 Fayetteville, NC 28314 yolanda.pridgen@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 Technical Assistance/Consultation/Reminders Specific to Today’s Visit: Children’s Records: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children's files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. One (1) file monitored today was missing the health assessment. As a reminder, current health assessments and immunization records are required to be on file within thirty (30) days of enrollment. We discussed using the resource from the DCDEE website and tracking required information by checking off the items on the form as they’re received and setting reminders or creating a task list for items due after the first day of enrollment. Rated License Assessment: During today’s visit, I provided an overview of section .3200 of the child care rules. Each of the following pathway options were discussed: Program Assessment Pathway, Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway, and Accreditation and Head Start Pathway. Education requirements were also reviewed. As discussed, April 14, 2026, the FCCH must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized child care assistance after six (6) months. Based on today’s conversation, P. Smith stated she plans to achieve compliance with Classroom and Instructional Quality: Pathway 2. Ms. Smith recently submitted official transcripts to DCDEE WORKS and an education evaluation letter was generated on June 5, 2026. Ms. Smith has earned the FCCH credential equivalency with an additional 26 semester credit hours in early childhood education and has over 9 years of early childhood work experience in licensed child care. Based on a review of NC Child Care Rule .3217(e)(4) Enhanced Education Standards for Family Child Care Home Operators, Ms. Smith meets the five (5) star education standard. We discussed the approved curricula and formative assessments available on the DCDEE website. As a reminder, a child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. For additional information, you may review the Pathway to the Stars: The NC Quality Rating and Improvement System Child Care Rating System information/requirements at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. Training: P. Smith completed the health and safety trainings for the required eleven topic areas found at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/ in May 2026. P. Smith completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Abuse and Maltreatment training on July 15, 2025. You already know the Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As a reminder, the child care rule roll out module for section .3200 is complete and ready for viewing in Moodle. Please make time to listen to the module, it will further assist your understanding of these new rules. As we continue expanding our training offerings, the DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle Support. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. Training: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) in Child Care – As a previous FCCH operator, P. Smith completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training on October 8, 2019. I reminded P. Smith to go online at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx and complete the EPR Plan since she has already completed the required training. Fire drills must be completed monthly and lockdown or shelter in place drills shall be completed within three months. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and rules at all times. Periodically review the child care law and rules. Visit the DCDEE website and click on the “What’s New” tab to stay abreast of all updates. NCDHHS Responds to Increase in Measles Cases: Measles are on the rise globally and in North Carolina. As a highly contagious, airborne disease, even one case is a major priority for public health. NCDHHS is taking action by launching new outreach resources for child care providers, families, and community stakeholders to help curb the spread. Child care providers can share information about vaccinations with the families served and be informed with the most current information. For more information and to access tools and resources, visit NCDHHS at dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles. Transportation Safety: With summer in full swing and schools out of session, there are more children in child care. Requirements for safe transportation are not exclusive to child care centers, they involve anyone transporting a child. As such, all child care facilities must practice safe transportation and are encouraged to partner with parents to do the same. Child care centers are required to implement transportation policies and have procedures to check vehicles to ensure that all the children have loaded out, but they can also help parents. If a child is absent, take the time to call the parent. A quick phone call shows that you noticed their child's absence and that you genuinely care about their well-being. That care and concern not only builds a better relationship with enrolled families, but it also forms a partnership and ultimately could save a child's life! Transporting children is a high-risk activity, particularly for child care centers. Child care operators, staff members and parents need to be aware that transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Careful planning also reduces liability for facility operators and their programs. Another great resource for safety information is Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization dedicated to "preventing injuries in children, the number one killer of kids in the United States." Their website, www.safekids.org, contains valuable information on Heat Stroke Prevention as well as Child Passenger Safety. Please visit their website for more information. KidsandCars.org is committed to "preventing injuries and death to children in or around motor vehicles." This non-profit organization provides education and information regarding concerns such as injuries from power windows, trunk entrapment, vehicles accidentally set into motion by children, visual blockage of children while either backing up or driving forward, and children left in vehicles unattended. To learn more about the impact of heat stroke in children related to transportation, click the link to their Heat Stroke section. While this data is not exclusive to child care, it certainly can provide a clear understanding of the concern. Take the time to read the information contained on this website and educate staff in your child care facility. It could save a child's life! For North Carolina Occupant restraint laws, including child passenger safety laws, refer to www.buckleupnc.org. Outdoor Play: Every child must have an opportunity to be outdoors daily; if weather conditions permit. This requirement is for all ages including infants and toddlers. Due to extreme heat indices, it is important to remind parents about the requirement to go outdoors daily and that each child must come to school prepared to go outdoors. This includes bringing the appropriate clothes to child care and ensuring each child is able to participate in daily activities. Parents should determine whether their child is too sick to attend child care if they are unable to participate in the daily activities. The Weather watch chart must be used to determine “weather permitting”, and a thermometer may be posted outside a window, so staff can determine accurate temperatures. Ensure staff are trained in reading your posted Weather watch chart; you can also use the chart to help educate parents about when outdoor play should take place. For additional guidance, you may refer to the following requirements: Child Care Rule .0102 (27) "If weather conditions permit" means: (a) temperatures that fall within the guidelines developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and specified on the Child Care Weather Watch chart. These guidelines shall be used when determining appropriate weather conditions for taking children outside for outdoor learning activities and playtime. This chart may be downloaded free of charge from https://hhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/portals/1/userfiles/128/child%20care%20weather%20watch%20june%202020%20 final.pdf; and is incorporated by reference and includes subsequent editions and amendments; (b) following the air quality standards as set out in 15A NCAC 18A .2832(d). The Air Quality Color Guide can be found on the Division's web site at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/air-guide/aq-datasets/ or call 1-888-RU4NCAIR (1- 888-784- 6224); and (c) no active precipitation. Caregivers may choose to go outdoors when there is active precipitation if children have appropriate clothing such as rain boots and raincoats, or if they are under a covered area. Sanitation Rule 2832(d): If a daily air quality forecast is made by the Division of Air Quality or the regional air quality agency for the county where a center is located, outdoor activity for children shall be restricted as follows. On days with a code orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than one hour. On days with a code red (unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than 15 minutes. On days with a code purple (very unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. Provisions shall be made to allow children with diagnosed asthma or with coughing or wheezing symptoms to participate in physical activity indoors on days with a code orange, red or purple air quality forecast. As you can see each code within the rule does not prohibit outdoor play, rather, it provides information on when considerations and adjustments should be made to the outdoor play schedule. Partner Update: Starting in June 2026, the administration of the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Program will transition from Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) to the MilitaryChildCare.com Fee Assistance Management (MCC FAM) team. Please feel free to contact Yolanda Pridgen, Lead Child Care Consultant, on (910) 305-2371 or Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, (910) 709-4168 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. 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: Little Giggles Childcare Home Facility ID: 26002655 Consultant: YOLANDA PRIDGEN Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 6/30/2026 Number Present: 2 Completed Date: 6/30/2026 Age: From 1 To 3 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 09:40 AM Time Out: 02:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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.. The initial assessment visit was completed on May 11, 2026, and prior to today’s visit, the eighteen-month compliance history score was 100%, as required by North Carolina General Statute 110-90(4)(c-d). This program currently operates with a temporary license effective May 18, 2026 to November 18, 2026. The information on record with DCDEE was verified as correct by Peggy Smith. Current Inspection is as follows: Sanitation Classification of Superior with zero (0) demerits completed May 4, 2026. P. Smith, Owner/Operator, was present. Upon arrival, I explained the purpose of today’s visit. I completed hand washing routines and was accompanied by the operator during a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor areas. Two children, ages one to three-years-old, were engaged in free choice activities in the child care area of the home. Children participated in circle time where they sang the alphabet, reviewed colors, and recalled the story of The Three Little Pigs. played with push/pull toys, musical activity boards, framed puzzles, stacking rings, dolls, and cooking and eating utensils in the dramatic play area. In the outdoor area, children played on the swing and played with toys in the sand. Upon return in doors, the operator completed diapering routines with a toddler and assisted a child with toileting routines. I observed hand washing routines with both children. The operator played music and the children danced and moved to The Wheels on the Bus and The Floor is Lava. Handwashing routines was completed in preparation for mealtime. Lunch served consisted of chicken nuggets, seasoned rice, baked French fries, fresh diced pears, and milk. P. Smith encouraged conversation and asked open-ended questions. Following lunch, children completed hand washing routines and were placed on individual assigned cots with clean linen. Soft instrumental lullabies played as children slept. The operator’s file, children’s files, and program records were monitored today. The most recent fire drill was completed on June 22, 2026 and a shelter-in-place emergency drill was completed on May 27, 2026. The most current outdoor inspection was completed on May 26, 2026. At the completion of the visit, the Visit Summary was reviewed with P. Smith. The following violation was observed: Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on May 25, 2026 did not have a health assessment on file within 30 days of enrollment. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 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 violation observed and documented today may impact the compliance history score. The violation observed and documented today must be corrected immediately. Additionally, by 5:00 p.m. on July 14, 2026, you must submit a written, dated, and signed statement to Y. Pridgen The statement must describe accurately and in detail, how and when the violation was 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: Yolanda Pridgen Lead Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 25561 Fayetteville, NC 28314 yolanda.pridgen@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 Technical Assistance/Consultation/Reminders Specific to Today’s Visit: Children’s Records: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children's files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. One (1) file monitored today was missing the health assessment. As a reminder, current health assessments and immunization records are required to be on file within thirty (30) days of enrollment. We discussed using the resource from the DCDEE website and tracking required information by checking off the items on the form as they’re received and setting reminders or creating a task list for items due after the first day of enrollment. Rated License Assessment: During today’s visit, I provided an overview of section .3200 of the child care rules. Each of the following pathway options were discussed: Program Assessment Pathway, Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway, and Accreditation and Head Start Pathway. Education requirements were also reviewed. As discussed, April 14, 2026, the FCCH must transition to a 3-5 Star Rated License to continue to be eligible to receive subsidized child care assistance after six (6) months. Based on today’s conversation, P. Smith stated she plans to achieve compliance with Classroom and Instructional Quality: Pathway 2. Ms. Smith recently submitted official transcripts to DCDEE WORKS and an education evaluation letter was generated on June 5, 2026. Ms. Smith has earned the FCCH credential equivalency with an additional 26 semester credit hours in early childhood education and has over 9 years of early childhood work experience in licensed child care. Based on a review of NC Child Care Rule .3217(e)(4) Enhanced Education Standards for Family Child Care Home Operators, Ms. Smith meets the five (5) star education standard. We discussed the approved curricula and formative assessments available on the DCDEE website. As a reminder, a child care facility is eligible for a rated license of two through five-stars upon application and assessment of compliance with the requirements. For additional information, you may review the Pathway to the Stars: The NC Quality Rating and Improvement System Child Care Rating System information/requirements at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization. Training: P. Smith completed the health and safety trainings for the required eleven topic areas found at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/ in May 2026. P. Smith completed the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Abuse and Maltreatment training on July 15, 2025. You already know the Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As a reminder, the child care rule roll out module for section .3200 is complete and ready for viewing in Moodle. Please make time to listen to the module, it will further assist your understanding of these new rules. As we continue expanding our training offerings, the DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle Support. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. Training: Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) in Child Care – As a previous FCCH operator, P. Smith completed the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training on October 8, 2019. I reminded P. Smith to go online at https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/portal.aspx and complete the EPR Plan since she has already completed the required training. Fire drills must be completed monthly and lockdown or shelter in place drills shall be completed within three months. Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all applicable laws and rules at all times. Periodically review the child care law and rules. Visit the DCDEE website and click on the “What’s New” tab to stay abreast of all updates. NCDHHS Responds to Increase in Measles Cases: Measles are on the rise globally and in North Carolina. As a highly contagious, airborne disease, even one case is a major priority for public health. NCDHHS is taking action by launching new outreach resources for child care providers, families, and community stakeholders to help curb the spread. Child care providers can share information about vaccinations with the families served and be informed with the most current information. For more information and to access tools and resources, visit NCDHHS at dph.ncdhhs.gov/measles. Transportation Safety: With summer in full swing and schools out of session, there are more children in child care. Requirements for safe transportation are not exclusive to child care centers, they involve anyone transporting a child. As such, all child care facilities must practice safe transportation and are encouraged to partner with parents to do the same. Child care centers are required to implement transportation policies and have procedures to check vehicles to ensure that all the children have loaded out, but they can also help parents. If a child is absent, take the time to call the parent. A quick phone call shows that you noticed their child's absence and that you genuinely care about their well-being. That care and concern not only builds a better relationship with enrolled families, but it also forms a partnership and ultimately could save a child's life! Transporting children is a high-risk activity, particularly for child care centers. Child care operators, staff members and parents need to be aware that transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Careful planning also reduces liability for facility operators and their programs. Another great resource for safety information is Safe Kids Worldwide, an organization dedicated to "preventing injuries in children, the number one killer of kids in the United States." Their website, www.safekids.org, contains valuable information on Heat Stroke Prevention as well as Child Passenger Safety. Please visit their website for more information. KidsandCars.org is committed to "preventing injuries and death to children in or around motor vehicles." This non-profit organization provides education and information regarding concerns such as injuries from power windows, trunk entrapment, vehicles accidentally set into motion by children, visual blockage of children while either backing up or driving forward, and children left in vehicles unattended. To learn more about the impact of heat stroke in children related to transportation, click the link to their Heat Stroke section. While this data is not exclusive to child care, it certainly can provide a clear understanding of the concern. Take the time to read the information contained on this website and educate staff in your child care facility. It could save a child's life! For North Carolina Occupant restraint laws, including child passenger safety laws, refer to www.buckleupnc.org. Outdoor Play: Every child must have an opportunity to be outdoors daily; if weather conditions permit. This requirement is for all ages including infants and toddlers. Due to extreme heat indices, it is important to remind parents about the requirement to go outdoors daily and that each child must come to school prepared to go outdoors. This includes bringing the appropriate clothes to child care and ensuring each child is able to participate in daily activities. Parents should determine whether their child is too sick to attend child care if they are unable to participate in the daily activities. The Weather watch chart must be used to determine “weather permitting”, and a thermometer may be posted outside a window, so staff can determine accurate temperatures. Ensure staff are trained in reading your posted Weather watch chart; you can also use the chart to help educate parents about when outdoor play should take place. For additional guidance, you may refer to the following requirements: Child Care Rule .0102 (27) "If weather conditions permit" means: (a) temperatures that fall within the guidelines developed by the Iowa Department of Public Health and specified on the Child Care Weather Watch chart. These guidelines shall be used when determining appropriate weather conditions for taking children outside for outdoor learning activities and playtime. This chart may be downloaded free of charge from https://hhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/portals/1/userfiles/128/child%20care%20weather%20watch%20june%202020%20 final.pdf; and is incorporated by reference and includes subsequent editions and amendments; (b) following the air quality standards as set out in 15A NCAC 18A .2832(d). The Air Quality Color Guide can be found on the Division's web site at https://airquality.climate.ncsu.edu/air-guide/aq-datasets/ or call 1-888-RU4NCAIR (1- 888-784- 6224); and (c) no active precipitation. Caregivers may choose to go outdoors when there is active precipitation if children have appropriate clothing such as rain boots and raincoats, or if they are under a covered area. Sanitation Rule 2832(d): If a daily air quality forecast is made by the Division of Air Quality or the regional air quality agency for the county where a center is located, outdoor activity for children shall be restricted as follows. On days with a code orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than one hour. On days with a code red (unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. for more than 15 minutes. On days with a code purple (very unhealthy) forecast, children shall not be outside participating in physical activity between noon and 8:00 p.m. Provisions shall be made to allow children with diagnosed asthma or with coughing or wheezing symptoms to participate in physical activity indoors on days with a code orange, red or purple air quality forecast. As you can see each code within the rule does not prohibit outdoor play, rather, it provides information on when considerations and adjustments should be made to the outdoor play schedule. Partner Update: Starting in June 2026, the administration of the Military Child Care in Your Neighborhood (MCCYN) Program will transition from Child Care Aware of America (CCAoA) to the MilitaryChildCare.com Fee Assistance Management (MCC FAM) team. Please feel free to contact Yolanda Pridgen, Lead Child Care Consultant, on (910) 305-2371 or Rhonda Blackmon, Licensing Supervisor, (910) 709-4168 if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. 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