GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Goddard School Facility ID: 92004042 Consultant: WANDA FOWLER Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0226-054L Visit Date: 3/4/2026 Number Present: 26 Completed Date: 3/4/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 90 Time In: 08:30 AM Time Out: 10:00 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Follow-Up Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced follow-up visit was to ensure compliance with child care requirements related to staff child ratios. A visit was conducted on 2/18/26 and the allegation related to staff child ratios remained open. During today’s visit, I was greeted by the center director, Fatisha Drayton, and she accompanied me on a general walk-through of the child care facility. Four rooms were opened this morning when I arrived. In classroom Twos A there were seven children ranging from 1 – 2 years of age with one teacher present. The other 3 rooms were complaint with staff child ratios during today’s visit. Limited monitoring of child care requirements was assessed today. The following violations were observed and recorded during today's visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 899 The child care operator did not comply with all State laws, federal laws and/or local ordinances that pertain to child health, safety, and welfare, as required by General Statute 110-91. The kitchen was unlocked and the door propped open during today's visit. GS 110-91 1844 The staff/child ratio for the youngest child was not maintained when children of all ages were cared for together in groups for the first and last operating hour of the day. There were 7 one and two year old children present with 1 teacher today during the walk through. .0713(a)(2) Both violations were corrected during the visit, however, a follow-up visit will be conducted to confirm staff child ratios. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit the program’s compliance history was 99%. Programs must maintain a compliance history of at least 75%. COMPLAINT STATUS Based on my observations I was able to determine that the center was not complying with child care requirements related to staff child ratios. Therefore, the allegation is SUBSTANTIATED. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE The kitchen door was propped open today. The director had been serving morning snack when I arrived, and she stated that her hands were full when she left the kitchen, and she forgot to close the door. Sanitation rules require that the kitchen remain locked when no one is in that area. This ensures that children do not have access to chemicals, a hot stove or hot water which are typically found in the kitchen area. Adhering to staff/child ratios ensures that children are safe, and that staff are adequately able to supervise and interact with the children. A classroom must always maintain staff/child ratios. Center staff should notify the administrator before they reach the maximum number of children permitted, so that staff child ratios are maintained. If another child arrives before a 2nd staff member is present parents should be asked to wait until coverage can be provided or the teacher can refuse to accept the child and advise the parent to ask the administrator where they can drop off their child. If groups are routinely out of ratio in the early mornings or late afternoons, then staff schedules should be adjusted to ensure compliance with the required ratios. If the center is understaffed, then children must be turned away and not accepted into care, to ensure that proper staff child ratios are maintained. Keep in mind that staff/child ratios and maximum group sizes are based on the youngest child present in the classroom. The program uses transition sheets. Teachers are supposed to sign into and out of the classroom when they leave, recording the time of their arrival and departure and noting the number of children present during their time in the room. The records provided by the center were inconclusive. Notations were made that children were moved out of a room but did not include the room where they were moved. Also, on several occasions, the child was moved back to their assigned classroom, but the time was not indicated on the sheet. This resulted in a child being listed on one classroom roster but being signed out from another classroom at the end of the day. Tracking forms are not required by licensing rules, however, if they are used, they must be accurate. Center staff should accurately document the times when children are present and which staff are assigned to the classroom during specific times throughout the day. If the records that staff use to track transition the children is inaccurate, this could potentially lead to confusion and lapses in supervision, which may endanger a child. It also makes it difficult to confirm that the center is complaint with licensing requirements if a report is filed. Staff should be retrained in how to use the transition sheets and closely monitored to ensure compliance. CONSULTATION The substantiation of any allegation may result in an administrative action being issued to the center. For assistance, you may contact me at wanda.fowler@dhhs.nc.gov or 919 218-0988. If you are unable to reach me you may contact my supervisor, Holli Hemby, at 919 819-9363 or holli.hemby@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.

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: The Goddard School Facility ID: 92004042 Consultant: WANDA FOWLER Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0226-054L Visit Date: 2/18/2026 Number Present: 46 Completed Date: 2/18/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 01:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to obtain information regarding alleged violations of child care requirements. Upon arrival, I was greeted by the center's second director, Fatisha Drayton and she introduced me to the center’s owner, Parul Gandhi. During today’s visit, there were 46 children and 9 staff members present. The facility currently has a 5 star-rated license issued on 10/2/25. We began the visit by conducting a general walk-through of the facility. Fatisha accompanied me on the walk-through. I observed groups of children engaged in routine care, participating in group activities or free play in their classrooms. All classrooms were compliant with staff/child ratios during today's visit. I then proceeded to the office and reviewed a sample of staff files. I also requested staff time sheets and classroom attendance records for February 2 – 6, 2026. I reviewed a sample of staff files and determined that one staff member did not have a qualification letter in their file. The director showed me a statement that was downloaded from our criminal records unit. I advised them to call the criminal records unit for guidance on how to print the qualification letter from the database. After the walk-through, I observed in the classroom named in the report for approximately 50 minutes. When I entered the classroom the teacher was leading a circle time activity. When the group time was over, the teachers had everyone use the bathroom and then they began playing in the activity areas. While the children had free-play the teacher worked with individual children on a math and counting activity. Throughout the observation the teacher was observed looking around the room and was in close proximity of the children. When the children were using the restroom, the teacher stood outside the door so she could see the children and the remainder of the classroom. When working with individual children, the teacher frequently looked around the room and spoke to the children as they played. I observed no concerns with supervision during today’s visit. In addition, the children appeared to feel comfortable with the teacher. I observed several children approaching the teacher when they needed help and they were responsive to the teachers questions and comments. I then met privately with the two teachers who are routinely assigned to the classroom named in the report. We discussed their procedures for diapering and toileting, and they stated that they have scheduled times when all the children are encouraged to use the bathroom and for those who are still mastering toileting, they give additional reminders, typically every hour. I asked them to explain what happens when a child soils their clothing. They stated that they have extra clothing on hand and changed the children as needed. I then asked if they recall any times when a child’s clothing was soiled at pick up time. The teacher stated that there was one incident when that occurred, and she said she offered to change the child. The parent stated that she would change the child. The child’s parent notified the center administrator that afternoon about the incident and a meeting was scheduled with the teacher. The teacher stated that the child was newly enrolled in the room and that she had only been employed for a few weeks at the time of the incident. She said that she did not realize that the child needed extra reminders. The child is very quiet in the classroom, and she did not recall him asking to use the rest room. She stated that after the meeting with the parent she adjusted class routines and her practices in the classroom. She now frequently reminds the child to use the restroom and also tries to spend more one-on-one time with the child near the end of the day, when less children are present. Since the child is still adjusting to their new classroom and the new teacher, I encouraged her to continue these practices until the child is more comfortable with her. Limited monitoring of child care requirements were assessed during today's visit. The following violation was observed and documented during today's visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 1041 Prior to employment a Criminal Background Check was not completed. One staff member was at work today and had not received a qualification letter. G.S. 110-90.2(b) The above violations must be corrected immediately and verification submitted within 2 weeks to maintain compliance with the NC Child Care Law and Requirements. Please send me a letter that addresses each violation that explains how and when each one was corrected. I must receive your letter by no later than 3/4/26 and it should be sent to my email, wanda.fowler@dhhs.nc.gov. COMPLIANCE HISTORY The facility’s overall Compliance History Score is currently 100%. To maintain minimal licensing requirements, the program’s compliance history may not drop below 75%. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE I was unable to connect to the internet, so I could not check the criminal records database during the visit. When I returned to the office, I checked the database and learned that the staff member, who was missing the qualification letter in their file, had not been issued a letter. There was a message stating “a new application must be submitted.” No one may be employed in a licensed facility with a valid qualification letter. This staff member should not be in the center until she receives a qualification letter. I encourage you to advise the staff member to contact the criminal records unit to see what she needs to do to complete her criminal records check. I spoke with the center owner after the visit and she stated that she sent the employee home after I left the center. She stated that the staff member will not return until proper documentation is received. Moving forward, no one should begin employment until they provide you with a valid qualification letter. INVESTIGATION STATUS Based on observations, and staff interviews, I was unable to determine whether lapses in compliance with the Child Care Requirements have occurred. The teacher acknowledged that the child’s pants were soiled when the parent arrived. However, I was unable to determine if there was a lapse in sanitation and health procedures or supervision, therefore the concerns related to the allegation related to these items are UNSUBSTANTIATED. While an incident had occurred, it appears that the center has adequately addressed the parent's concern and have adjusted the classroom's routines and practices to avoid a recurrence. The allegation related to staff/child ratios remains open pending further investigation. CONSULTATION The substantiation of any allegation may result in an Administrative Action being issued to the center. The following topics, not related to reported concerns, were discussed during today’s visit. We discussed that your current administrator has been on leave since November and Fatisha was promoted to serve as a second director. Please complete a Pre-Service Requirements for Administrators form for Fatisha and return it to me as soon as possible. CONTACT INFORMATION If you have any questions or need additional information, I can be reached at 919 218-0988 or wanda.fowler@dhhs.nc.gov. My supervisor, Holli Hemby, can be reached at holli.hemby@dhhs.nc.gov or 919 819-9363 if I am unavailable. 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.