10A NCAC 09 .0902 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0302 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0514 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0515 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0606 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .2818 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

GS 110-102 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 12/3/2025 Number Present: 47 Completed Date: 12/3/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 520 Time In: 08:20 AM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance visit and provide technical assistance on the QRIS rules in Section .3200. G. Grubbs, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a three-star license, issued 5/29/20, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component (meeting enhanced ratios and space) and 1 quality point for Center has a combined turnover rate of 20% or less for the administrator, program coordinator, lead teachers, teachers, and group leaders over the last 12 months. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 1/28/25. The sanitation inspection was completed 4/28/25 with a “Approved” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted 1/16/25 and your facility was approved for daytime care only. Three-year water testing is due 2/2028. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety-four percent as of 12/1/25. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, LLC. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/1/25 and was listed as current- active. License and contact information were current. Contact me to request any changes to your license or contact information. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play areas for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2025 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 4/2025. I monitored seven staff records, five children’s records and all program records. Infants in Space 5 were cared for on their own schedules. One infant was sleeping. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available and current for all infants. The three other infants were placed on the floor with toys. The teacher interacted positively with them. The toddlers in Space 1 were engaged in free play and moved to a short story time. The children, two and three years of age in Spaces 2 and 3, were outdoors on the playground where they had access to gross motor equipment, sand play, art, and dramatic play. The preschool-age group in Space 4 was engaged in free play with a small group activity led by the lead teacher. Proper hand washing techniques and diaper changing procedures were observed. Lunch was observed and consisted of corn dogs, baked beans, corn, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 114 A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Summary of NC Child Care Law was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. GS 110-102 540 An individual written feeding plan was not provided by child's parent or health care provider or was not followed and posted. (omit posting for centers located in a residence). A written feeding plan was not available for a child, three months of age, enrolled on December 1, 2025 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) 893 A copy of the safe sleep policy was not given to and/or explained to the parent of each child on or before the first day the infant attended the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the center's safe sleep policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(c) 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. The staff medical report for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. The staff medical report for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not received until September 15, 2025. 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. The TB screening for an employee hired on August 15, 2025 was not received until August 27, 2025. A current TB screening/test for an employee hired on September 8, 2025 was not available. .0701(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete First Aid by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. An employee hired on August 15, 2025 and required to complete CPR by November 15, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. An employee hired on February 7, 2025 and required to complete CPR by May 7, 2025 did not complete it until November 24, 2025. .1102(d) 1203 Operational policies were not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day and/or they were not notified in writing of all changes. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0514(b) 1207 Parent participation plan was not discussed with parents on or before the child's first day of attendance and/or a copy was not given to them or posted in the center. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the parent participation plan included in the parent handbook was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0515(a) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of immunizations was not available for a child enrolled on January 6, 2025. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1324 Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the discipline policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .1804(c) 1756 Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Staff/child ratios were not met for approximately one minute during naptime in the room for children, one year of age, when the second teacher required to meet ratios left the room to go on break. 10A NCAC 09 .2818 1851 The operator did not notify the parent of each child enrolled in writing of the smoking and tobacco restriction. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the smoking and tobacco restriction was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0604(j) 1908 A child's file did not have a statement with parent signature acknowledging receipt and explanation of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy and/or the acknowledgement did not have all the required information. In one of five children's files reviewed, documentation of receipt of the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not available for a child enrolled on December 1, 2025. .0608(b)(1-6) * 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 violations documented may impact the compliance history score. The violations documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/17/2025, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Mail or email the information to: Marjorie White, Child Care Consultant PO Box 116 Aydlett, NC 27916 Email – marjorie.white@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE which serves as your signature, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 A violation was documented that requires a follow-up visit. An unannounced visit will be made soon to verify corrections of violations. You are still required to send a compliance letter. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: #540: Infant Feeding Plans – Written feeding plans are critical for caregivers of infants and young toddlers because they provide the parents’ specific instructions on when, how, and how much to feed the infant. A written feeding plan was not available for an infant (CC), three months of age, enrolled on 12/1/2025. You stated that the parents of CC emailed other enrollment paperwork but did not email or bring in the completed feeding plan. You stated that you are going to request the feeding plan immediately. All documentation required to be available on a child’s first day needs to be received before the child can attend. For your compliance letter, state the date you receive the feeding plan for CC. #1032 (Staff Medical Report), #1033 (TB Test) - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report (SMR) and Documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. L. Brown’s date of employment on the staff worksheet and in the files was listed 8/15/25, but the date of the SMR and TB test was listed as 8/27/25. S. Etheridge was rehired on 9/8/25, but the date of the SMR was 9/15/25; documentation of a current TB test or screening was not available. The most current one observed in the medical file was dated 12/24/16. You stated you were still thinking staff had sixty days to submit a medical report and did not realize that the TB test received when SE was previously hired had expired. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee starts. Assist SE with obtaining a TB screening or TB test. For your compliance letter, state the date a current TB screening or test is available in SE’s file. #1048, #1049: First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, is critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Brown was hired on 8/15/25 and required to complete CPR/First Aid by 11/15/2025 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. D. Alexander was hired on 2/7/25 and required to complete CPR/FA by 5/7/25 but did not complete it until 11/24/25. You stated that the November date was the earliest CPR/First Aid date you could arrange for staff and had forgotten that DA needed it in May. Use your staff worksheets and create a “tickler” to send a reminder to your phone or email several months before CPR/First Aid expires to ensure you register for a class before your certifications expire. You can also use it to track due dates for items that expire such as Criminal Background Checks, ITS/SIDS Training, Health & Safety Training, etc. Blended classes with on-line instruction and face-to-face skills test are now allowed if provided by approved agency and trainer. This has been corrected. No further action or documentation in required except to maintain current First Aid and CPR in the future. Repeated CPR/First Aid violations may result in an Administrative Action. Children’s Records: Maintaining accurate records on the children in your care helps to ensure their health and safety, informs families of rules you are required to follow and your center’s policies, and provides a certain transfer of knowledge so that you can provide the best care possible for their children. I reviewed five children’s records. The following documents were not available. #114: Receipt of Summary of NC Law – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #893: Receipt of Infant/Toddler Safe Sleep Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1203: Receipt of Handbook – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1207: Receipt of Parent Participation Plan – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1323: Documentation of Immunizations – missing for DE, enrolled 1/6/25 #1324: Receipt of Discipline Policy – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1851: Notification of Smoking and Tobacco Restriction – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 #1908: Receipt of Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome/Abusive Head Trauma – missing for CC, enrolled 12/1/25 You stated that the parent of CC emailed you the other required forms: Child’s Application, Child’s Medical Report and Immunization record but did not email or send in a hard copy of the signature page documenting receipt of the center’s policies listed above. You were not aware that immunizations were missing for DE and feel that you received them because you have them for a sibling. You stated that you are going to request the missing documents immediately. Use Children’s File Checklist to verify you have received all required enrollment documents. Build in time to review enrollment documents with families explaining that they need to be fully completed, signed and dated. Check them before the parent leaves their children with you the first time. The empty blank might be the signature you need to seek emergency medical care if the child is injured. If documents are due by the first day of care but are not received, inform the parent that their child cannot start. For your compliance letter, state the date when each of the missing enrollment documentation forms are received for CC and DE. #1756: Naptime Staff/Child Ratios – For the safety of young children in the event of an emergency during naptime, staff/child ratios in classrooms with children younger than two years of age must be maintained. Today, nine children, one year of age, were present in Space 1 with two teachers. Enhanced staff/child ratios for this age group are 1:6. At naptime, the second teacher was observed in the hall to go on her break. She stated that she was leaving on break because all of the children in the classroom were sleeping. The administrator told her that two people must be in the room at naptime because the children were one year of age. The administrator immediately went to the classroom to put the classroom back into ratio. Remind staff of the rules related to staff/child ratios at naptime. Staff/child ratios must be met at all times in classrooms where any children younger than two years of age are present. This includes naptime. In classrooms where children are two years of age and older and two staff are required to maintain ratios, at naptime once the children are sleeping or resting, one teacher may remain in the classroom if they are actively supervising the children, and the second teacher may leave the classroom. Even if staff are able to leave the classroom at naptime, there must be enough staff on the premises to respond to the needs of staff or children in the event of an emergency. This violation will require a follow-up visit. Be aware that consecutive violations of staff/child ratios will result in an administrative action. Resources: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The following resources are available to you: 1. DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov – current laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, “What’s New” tab, Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. 2. Raise NC Newsletter – weekly newsletter emailed to facility email including relevant information from the Division, training opportunities, grants, and more. You can sign up to receive Raise NC on the What’s New tab. 3. Your local Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Albemarle Alliance for Children and Families (AACF) and Region 1 Child Care Resource and Referral: Phone – (252) 333-1233; website - www.aacfnc.org . *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org Reminders: ABCMS Portal - You have completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training and are now authorized to log in the ABCMS Provider Portal https://ncabcms.nc.gov/DCDEE/ using your Business NCID. You are still struggling with NCID to connect staff and hire them to your roster. I am emailing the ABCMS Provider Portal Access Guide which will assist with the step-by-step process of working in the ABCMS Portal, accessing your Pay Codes, helping your staff complete their Connecting Applications, and eventually “hiring” staff to your roster. The Provider Portal Access Guide also includes contact information for additional assistance. If you are still having difficulties working through this process, consider completing the ABCMS Provider Portal Training on Moodle again and ensure that you are using the correct Business NCID to access the ABCMS Provider Portal and Individual NCID to access your own ABCMS Applicant Portal. Staff will use their Individual NCID to log into the Applicant Portal and enter the Pay Code to connect to your center. You will then log into the ABCMS Provider Portal to add them to your roster. Complete your roster and maintain it by updating it as staff are hired or terminated. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. * On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 1/28/26 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 12/3/26 anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). If they have not completed the required number of on-going training hours, they have until 1/28/26 to complete them and I will check at the next monitoring visit. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher or an equivalent have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, L. Brown and S. Etheridge need to either enroll in EDU 119 or an equivalent course by 2/15/26 and 3/8/26, respectively. You said that new staff are looking at the Dare Child Care Academy starting in January 2026. Emergency Preparedness – Your Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Plan along with your Ready-to-Go File, Emergency Medical Care Plan (EMCP) and consistent practice of Fire and Emergency Drills are your center’s foundation for emergency preparedness. *Review your EPR Plan at least annually in the NC Risk Management Portal and update, if needed. Print updated plan or updated cover sheet and page 28. (Per your request I will email instructions on how to update your EPR Plan. *At the same time, review and update your Emergency Medical Care Plan, if needed. *Ensure your Ready-to-Go File is current and includes the following: a copy of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, child's Application for Child Care (includes health & emergency information, contacts, authorization to seek emergency medical care), medication authorizations and instructions, any action plans for children with special health care needs, a list of any known food allergies of children and staff, staff contact information, Incident Report forms, an area map, and emergency telephone numbers. *EPR Plan – Update in NC Risk Management Portal by March 2026. *Ready-to-Go File – available in the office *Emergency Medical Care Plan – current *Fire and Emergency Drills – current Laundry – You have a new washer and dryer which will make cleaning of crib sheets that need to be changed daily or when soiled much easier. Additional Comments: Annual Licensing Fee - Annual Licensing Fee - Annual License Fee invoices were emailed to the facility email address on November 3, 2025. Online payments are due by December 3, 2025. License fees are paid online only, and paper checks are not accepted for payment. Licensed child care facilities are assessed an annual license fee. The amount of your annual license fee is based on the licensed capacity printed on your license as of October 1, 2025, not the number of children enrolled at your facility. For questions regarding license fees, email DCDEE_LF@dhhs.nc.gov for further assistance Keep Your NCID Active - Did you know that if you do not login on to any DCDEE platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) for a period of 12 months, your account will be archived? An archived account cannot be reinstated. You will need to create a new one and then email all platforms (e.g., Moodle, WORKS, CBC) to merge accounts. *Pro Tip: Set your calendar to remind you, your staff and your household members (CLIAR only) every 6 months to log in and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. *For assistance with NCID, contact ncid.nc.gov or 919.754.6000. Sex Offender Registry and Notification Email - North Carolina General Statute 14-208 requires sex offenders to register with the North Carolina Department of Justice. The law states that a sex offender shall not knowingly reside within 1,000 feet of the property on which any public or nonpublic school or child care center is located. This does not apply to child care centers that are located on or within 1,000 feet of property of an institution of higher education where the registrant is a student or is employed. All licensed child care centers must register to receive e-mail notification when a registered sex offender moves within a one-mile radius of the center. (§14-208.19) To register for the e-mail notification, go to http://sexoffender.ncsbi.gov. If you have any questions, please contact your local sheriff's department. QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: G. Grubbs, Owner/Administrator, and I discussed the facility’s plan for completing a rated license assessment using the new QRIS rules found in Section .3200 of the NC Child Care Rules. All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRIS-Modernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we discussed the three QRIS Pathways - #1 – Program Assessment, #2 – Classroom and Instructional Quality, and #3 – Accreditation and completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Pathway 2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Since you are electing to complete Pathway 2, we focused on those components. *We reviewed current staff education (50% of Lead Teaches and 50% of Other Educators) to determine the facility’s expected star level based on education currently available in Works is 3 Stars. Any staff person who will be evaluated as part of the Lead Teachers or Other Educators needs to register for a Works account and submit original, official transcripts or update their current Works account and submit new education. *We reviewed the Family and Community Engagement Plan, including the Foundational Practices and Optional Practices. This will be completed annually. The operator will create a QRIS notebook to collect documentation of the practices including pictures, flyers, newsletters, emails, etc. *We walked through the Individual and Facility Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) forms (individual and center). Each staff member will complete an Individual CQI annually. (This will also count as their Professional Development Plan!) The administrator will also complete the Facility CQI Plan to create an overall goal for the center. Maintain these in your staff files and include a copy in the QRIS notebook. We reviewed the list of approved curriculums and formative assessments that are required for each age group. The administrator and lead teachers will need to provide verification that they have received training on the selected curriculum and formative assessment tool. We discussed options for five hours of additional training (on-going training or CEUs) or coaching/mentoring for the administrator and lead teacher. Your rated license assessment is currently due by 12/31/2026 but your requested timeline is to complete this by the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me, Marjorie White, by phone at (252) 373-9385 or by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov, or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/28/2025 Number Present: 45 Completed Date: 1/28/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 495 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 3/18/24 18-month compliance history from 7/23/23 – 1/22/25 = 95% Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/18/24 - Superior Last Fire Inspection – 1/16/25 – Satisfactory Daytime Care Only *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website reflects the following information about your center’s required three-year water testing and one-time lead paint testing, and asbestos testing: Three-year Water Testing – enrollment started 11/14/24, due 5/31/25 Lead Paint Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Asbestos Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Maintain any paperwork received by mail or email in your Program Records file. *For more information check out the FAQ page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/. G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment was due by 5/29/23, but new legislation (Senate Bill 425) has extended the “hold harmless” period until the new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is implemented. At this time, you may choose to complete a rated license assessment using the current rated license process or you may wait until the new QRIS is implemented. Note that the current program assessment tools are changing from the Environment Rating Scales – Revised (ECERS-R and ITERS-R) to the Environment Rating Scale – 3 (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Information and training on the new program assessment tools is available on the NC Rating License Assessment Project website at https://ncrlap.org/. See Additional Comments for updates on the modernized QRIS. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability company is current and active as of 1/24/25. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 11/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored nine staff records, five children’s records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Children in all classrooms participated in indoor and outdoor group activities and free play. Classrooms were set up in defined activity enters with toys and materials arranged on low, accessible shelves. Activity plans were posted and reflected activities observed in the classrooms. One infant was present. She was cared for on her own schedule. Documentation of safe sleep checks were available for all infants. Bottles were labeled with each child’s name and date. Lunch as baked meat spaghetti, green beans, applesauce, garlic bread and milk. After lunch children rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10 was stored out of reach of children but was not locked. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5, two diaper creams had medication permission forms, but parents did not include all required information such as "amount", "when and where to apply" and "how to apply". 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 848 Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. The medication permission form for Cortizone 10 was completed by the parent but was not accompanied by a physician's note. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." 10A NCAC 09 .0803(5) 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 Staff Medical Report was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. 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. Documentation of a TB Screening or negative TB Test was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. .0701(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by September 20, 2024 did not complete it until October 23, 2024. A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by December 17, 2024 did not complete it until January 16, 2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to you, G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 2/11/25. Your compliance verification letter needs to state your facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Do not include names of children in the compliance letter. Use their initials. Do not send copies of medication permission forms or staff documents. Just state the dates the violations were corrected. Send compliance verification letter in an email from your fcch’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: Storage of Medication - Improper storage of medications results in millions of accidental poisonings in children annually. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10, an OTC anti-itch cream, was stored out of reach of children in a child’s diaper bin but was not locked. The teacher stated that she did not realize it was not a regular cream and needed to be locked. All medications (topical ointments and creams, OTC, and prescription) must be inaccessible to children. Diaper creams and lotions may be stored out of reach, on a shelf or in a cabinet at least five feet or higher. OTC and prescription medications must be locked. Consider having the locked box for the medications that need to be locked and a separate basket for diaper creams that need to be stored out of reach but easily accessible when prepping for diaper changes. Because this topical OTC medication should only be used for children under two years of age with a physician’s note, return to the parent immediately. The teacher removed this from the classroom and will return to the parent. Medication Permission Forms - All medications (prescription, OTC, non-medical topical ointment, lotion, or cream) for children enrolled at the center must have a current, completed medication permission form to ensure that staff are administering medication according to the parents’ or physician’s instructions. A tube of Boudreux’s Butt Paste belonging to GL did not include the amount or how to apply. A tube of Desitin belonging to GHK did not include the amount, when and where to apply, and how to apply. The teacher stated that she knew to use a squeeze for the amount and where to apply. Even with something as simple as diaper cream, you need to ensure the parent includes all information so you know how much they expect you to use, when to apply it (after each diaper change or only when there is a rash), and how to apply it. Have the parents complete the medication permission forms. For your compliance letter state the date when the two medication permission forms are updated and complete. Check all medication forms in the center to verify they include all information. Questionable Medication Instructions – Over the counter medication for young children can have confusing and questionable instructions or dosage amounts. Not reading the boxes carefully before accepting the medication may result in administering an incorrect dose. A tube of Cortizone 10 was accompanied by a medication permission form completed by the parent. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." A doctor’s note was not available. The teacher stated that she had not administered the medication for any reason to the infant and was not aware that it needed a physician’s instructions. Review any OTC medication instructions carefully before you accept them into the child care and put them in a classroom. Many OTC pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, etc. appear to be for young children because they say “infant” or “child” and have pictures of cute babies on them, but when you read the dosage instructions, it is clear that they should not be given to young children without a physician’s consent. You corrected this by removing the medication from the classroom and will return it to the parent. Share this information with your staff so that this type of medication is clearly vetted before accepting it. Staff Medical Report (SMR) and TB Test - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report and documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. A, Ayala worked at the center previously and was rehired on 6/24/24. Because there was more than 12 months since she left, she needed to provide you with a new Staff Medical Report and TB Test by her first day of rehire. I documented this in your Routine Unannounced visit summary on 7/24/24. Documentation of a Staff Medical Report or TB Test was not available in her file today. You stated that you thought she could use her previous SMR and TB Test, but you were not able to locate her medical file. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee or rehire starts. Ms. Ayala needs to have a Staff Medical Report and Documentation of TB Screening or negative TB Test by 2/11/24. For your compliance letter, state the dates when these medical documents are received. Do not attach a copy of the documents. Five-year Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. C. Grubbs was due to complete her five-year CBC by 9/20/24 but did not complete it until 10/23/24. A. Ayala was due to complete her five-year CBC by 12/17/24 but did not complete it until 1/16/25. All owners of licensed child care facilities and employees working in a licensed child care center are required to submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and receive their Qualifying Letter prior to their first day of employment and complete a five-year requalification (on-line application and fingerprints) so that the new Qualifying Letter is on file before the expiration date listed on their current Qualifying Letter. Multiple instances of failing to complete Criminal Background Checks may result in an Administrative Action. This item has been corrected so no further action is required except to ensure that staff members due for their five-year CBC complete it far enough ahead of time to ensure that the Qualifying Letter is received. *B. Daniels – due 2/3/25 *E. Dosaeva – due 5/1/25 General Visit Information: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You can also review the “What’s New” section and download a copy of the Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants provide general training to meet on-going training hours, health and safety training requirements, Environment Rating Scale training and training specific to your center’s needs. They can also work with you to provide on-site technical assistance. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org *Birth – 3 Quality Specialist: J. Davidson – Phone (252) 333-1233; joy@aacfnc.org *Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org - offers DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced training with affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. Consultation: Reminders: ABCMS Provider Portal – You completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training. Today we logged into the Provider Portal and you downloaded your Applicant Code Instruction Sheet and completed your own connecting application. You are going to work on getting all staff connected in the next few months and create your roster. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Complete all staff evaluations and professional development plans in February/March 2025. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. *S. Falzon – initial H&S Training – due 3/18/25 – needs training topics on Moodle *A. Ayala– 5 year H&S renewal - due 6/24/25 – Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment *B. Daniels – 5 year H&S renewal – due 6/2025 - Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment (Use to meet on-going training hours by 3/18/25.) On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 3/18/25 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 1/28/26 (anniversary to today’s Annual Compliance visit). *E. Doseava – needs 4 hrs by 3/18/25. *C. Grubbs – needs 7 hrs by 3/18/25 *H. Estanol – needs 3 hrs by 3/18/25 *B. Daniels – needs 9 hrs by 3/18/25 (Complete H&S Training) *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *Training available on Moodle *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, A. Ayala needs to enroll in EDU 119 by July 2025. Fire and Emergency Drills – current Emergency Medical Care Plan – current and posted EPR Plan – last updated 7/2023; update by 7/2024 Additional Comments: I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Free Training – Mental Health Begins By Birth – 1/28/24 and 2/7/25 2. Health & Safety Resource Center – E New- Winter, Water and Safety 3. Child Care Commission Meeting – 3/3/25 4. QRIS Modernization Update 5. QRIS Modernization Information Session for Parents – 1/28/25 6. Bilingual QRIS Modernization Information Session – 1/19/25 7. Environment Rating Scales – Get Ready for the 3’s! 8. Moodle Support 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. 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 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/28/2025 Number Present: 45 Completed Date: 1/28/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 495 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 3/18/24 18-month compliance history from 7/23/23 – 1/22/25 = 95% Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/18/24 - Superior Last Fire Inspection – 1/16/25 – Satisfactory Daytime Care Only *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website reflects the following information about your center’s required three-year water testing and one-time lead paint testing, and asbestos testing: Three-year Water Testing – enrollment started 11/14/24, due 5/31/25 Lead Paint Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Asbestos Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Maintain any paperwork received by mail or email in your Program Records file. *For more information check out the FAQ page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/. G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment was due by 5/29/23, but new legislation (Senate Bill 425) has extended the “hold harmless” period until the new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is implemented. At this time, you may choose to complete a rated license assessment using the current rated license process or you may wait until the new QRIS is implemented. Note that the current program assessment tools are changing from the Environment Rating Scales – Revised (ECERS-R and ITERS-R) to the Environment Rating Scale – 3 (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Information and training on the new program assessment tools is available on the NC Rating License Assessment Project website at https://ncrlap.org/. See Additional Comments for updates on the modernized QRIS. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability company is current and active as of 1/24/25. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 11/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored nine staff records, five children’s records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Children in all classrooms participated in indoor and outdoor group activities and free play. Classrooms were set up in defined activity enters with toys and materials arranged on low, accessible shelves. Activity plans were posted and reflected activities observed in the classrooms. One infant was present. She was cared for on her own schedule. Documentation of safe sleep checks were available for all infants. Bottles were labeled with each child’s name and date. Lunch as baked meat spaghetti, green beans, applesauce, garlic bread and milk. After lunch children rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10 was stored out of reach of children but was not locked. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5, two diaper creams had medication permission forms, but parents did not include all required information such as "amount", "when and where to apply" and "how to apply". 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 848 Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. The medication permission form for Cortizone 10 was completed by the parent but was not accompanied by a physician's note. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." 10A NCAC 09 .0803(5) 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 Staff Medical Report was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. 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. Documentation of a TB Screening or negative TB Test was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. .0701(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by September 20, 2024 did not complete it until October 23, 2024. A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by December 17, 2024 did not complete it until January 16, 2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to you, G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 2/11/25. Your compliance verification letter needs to state your facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Do not include names of children in the compliance letter. Use their initials. Do not send copies of medication permission forms or staff documents. Just state the dates the violations were corrected. Send compliance verification letter in an email from your fcch’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: Storage of Medication - Improper storage of medications results in millions of accidental poisonings in children annually. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10, an OTC anti-itch cream, was stored out of reach of children in a child’s diaper bin but was not locked. The teacher stated that she did not realize it was not a regular cream and needed to be locked. All medications (topical ointments and creams, OTC, and prescription) must be inaccessible to children. Diaper creams and lotions may be stored out of reach, on a shelf or in a cabinet at least five feet or higher. OTC and prescription medications must be locked. Consider having the locked box for the medications that need to be locked and a separate basket for diaper creams that need to be stored out of reach but easily accessible when prepping for diaper changes. Because this topical OTC medication should only be used for children under two years of age with a physician’s note, return to the parent immediately. The teacher removed this from the classroom and will return to the parent. Medication Permission Forms - All medications (prescription, OTC, non-medical topical ointment, lotion, or cream) for children enrolled at the center must have a current, completed medication permission form to ensure that staff are administering medication according to the parents’ or physician’s instructions. A tube of Boudreux’s Butt Paste belonging to GL did not include the amount or how to apply. A tube of Desitin belonging to GHK did not include the amount, when and where to apply, and how to apply. The teacher stated that she knew to use a squeeze for the amount and where to apply. Even with something as simple as diaper cream, you need to ensure the parent includes all information so you know how much they expect you to use, when to apply it (after each diaper change or only when there is a rash), and how to apply it. Have the parents complete the medication permission forms. For your compliance letter state the date when the two medication permission forms are updated and complete. Check all medication forms in the center to verify they include all information. Questionable Medication Instructions – Over the counter medication for young children can have confusing and questionable instructions or dosage amounts. Not reading the boxes carefully before accepting the medication may result in administering an incorrect dose. A tube of Cortizone 10 was accompanied by a medication permission form completed by the parent. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." A doctor’s note was not available. The teacher stated that she had not administered the medication for any reason to the infant and was not aware that it needed a physician’s instructions. Review any OTC medication instructions carefully before you accept them into the child care and put them in a classroom. Many OTC pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, etc. appear to be for young children because they say “infant” or “child” and have pictures of cute babies on them, but when you read the dosage instructions, it is clear that they should not be given to young children without a physician’s consent. You corrected this by removing the medication from the classroom and will return it to the parent. Share this information with your staff so that this type of medication is clearly vetted before accepting it. Staff Medical Report (SMR) and TB Test - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report and documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. A, Ayala worked at the center previously and was rehired on 6/24/24. Because there was more than 12 months since she left, she needed to provide you with a new Staff Medical Report and TB Test by her first day of rehire. I documented this in your Routine Unannounced visit summary on 7/24/24. Documentation of a Staff Medical Report or TB Test was not available in her file today. You stated that you thought she could use her previous SMR and TB Test, but you were not able to locate her medical file. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee or rehire starts. Ms. Ayala needs to have a Staff Medical Report and Documentation of TB Screening or negative TB Test by 2/11/24. For your compliance letter, state the dates when these medical documents are received. Do not attach a copy of the documents. Five-year Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. C. Grubbs was due to complete her five-year CBC by 9/20/24 but did not complete it until 10/23/24. A. Ayala was due to complete her five-year CBC by 12/17/24 but did not complete it until 1/16/25. All owners of licensed child care facilities and employees working in a licensed child care center are required to submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and receive their Qualifying Letter prior to their first day of employment and complete a five-year requalification (on-line application and fingerprints) so that the new Qualifying Letter is on file before the expiration date listed on their current Qualifying Letter. Multiple instances of failing to complete Criminal Background Checks may result in an Administrative Action. This item has been corrected so no further action is required except to ensure that staff members due for their five-year CBC complete it far enough ahead of time to ensure that the Qualifying Letter is received. *B. Daniels – due 2/3/25 *E. Dosaeva – due 5/1/25 General Visit Information: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You can also review the “What’s New” section and download a copy of the Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants provide general training to meet on-going training hours, health and safety training requirements, Environment Rating Scale training and training specific to your center’s needs. They can also work with you to provide on-site technical assistance. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org *Birth – 3 Quality Specialist: J. Davidson – Phone (252) 333-1233; joy@aacfnc.org *Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org - offers DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced training with affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. Consultation: Reminders: ABCMS Provider Portal – You completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training. Today we logged into the Provider Portal and you downloaded your Applicant Code Instruction Sheet and completed your own connecting application. You are going to work on getting all staff connected in the next few months and create your roster. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Complete all staff evaluations and professional development plans in February/March 2025. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. *S. Falzon – initial H&S Training – due 3/18/25 – needs training topics on Moodle *A. Ayala– 5 year H&S renewal - due 6/24/25 – Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment *B. Daniels – 5 year H&S renewal – due 6/2025 - Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment (Use to meet on-going training hours by 3/18/25.) On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 3/18/25 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 1/28/26 (anniversary to today’s Annual Compliance visit). *E. Doseava – needs 4 hrs by 3/18/25. *C. Grubbs – needs 7 hrs by 3/18/25 *H. Estanol – needs 3 hrs by 3/18/25 *B. Daniels – needs 9 hrs by 3/18/25 (Complete H&S Training) *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *Training available on Moodle *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, A. Ayala needs to enroll in EDU 119 by July 2025. Fire and Emergency Drills – current Emergency Medical Care Plan – current and posted EPR Plan – last updated 7/2023; update by 7/2024 Additional Comments: I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Free Training – Mental Health Begins By Birth – 1/28/24 and 2/7/25 2. Health & Safety Resource Center – E New- Winter, Water and Safety 3. Child Care Commission Meeting – 3/3/25 4. QRIS Modernization Update 5. QRIS Modernization Information Session for Parents – 1/28/25 6. Bilingual QRIS Modernization Information Session – 1/19/25 7. Environment Rating Scales – Get Ready for the 3’s! 8. Moodle Support 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/28/2025 Number Present: 45 Completed Date: 1/28/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 495 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 3/18/24 18-month compliance history from 7/23/23 – 1/22/25 = 95% Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/18/24 - Superior Last Fire Inspection – 1/16/25 – Satisfactory Daytime Care Only *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website reflects the following information about your center’s required three-year water testing and one-time lead paint testing, and asbestos testing: Three-year Water Testing – enrollment started 11/14/24, due 5/31/25 Lead Paint Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Asbestos Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Maintain any paperwork received by mail or email in your Program Records file. *For more information check out the FAQ page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/. G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment was due by 5/29/23, but new legislation (Senate Bill 425) has extended the “hold harmless” period until the new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is implemented. At this time, you may choose to complete a rated license assessment using the current rated license process or you may wait until the new QRIS is implemented. Note that the current program assessment tools are changing from the Environment Rating Scales – Revised (ECERS-R and ITERS-R) to the Environment Rating Scale – 3 (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Information and training on the new program assessment tools is available on the NC Rating License Assessment Project website at https://ncrlap.org/. See Additional Comments for updates on the modernized QRIS. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability company is current and active as of 1/24/25. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 11/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored nine staff records, five children’s records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Children in all classrooms participated in indoor and outdoor group activities and free play. Classrooms were set up in defined activity enters with toys and materials arranged on low, accessible shelves. Activity plans were posted and reflected activities observed in the classrooms. One infant was present. She was cared for on her own schedule. Documentation of safe sleep checks were available for all infants. Bottles were labeled with each child’s name and date. Lunch as baked meat spaghetti, green beans, applesauce, garlic bread and milk. After lunch children rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10 was stored out of reach of children but was not locked. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5, two diaper creams had medication permission forms, but parents did not include all required information such as "amount", "when and where to apply" and "how to apply". 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 848 Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. The medication permission form for Cortizone 10 was completed by the parent but was not accompanied by a physician's note. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." 10A NCAC 09 .0803(5) 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 Staff Medical Report was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. 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. Documentation of a TB Screening or negative TB Test was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. .0701(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by September 20, 2024 did not complete it until October 23, 2024. A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by December 17, 2024 did not complete it until January 16, 2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to you, G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 2/11/25. Your compliance verification letter needs to state your facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Do not include names of children in the compliance letter. Use their initials. Do not send copies of medication permission forms or staff documents. Just state the dates the violations were corrected. Send compliance verification letter in an email from your fcch’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: Storage of Medication - Improper storage of medications results in millions of accidental poisonings in children annually. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10, an OTC anti-itch cream, was stored out of reach of children in a child’s diaper bin but was not locked. The teacher stated that she did not realize it was not a regular cream and needed to be locked. All medications (topical ointments and creams, OTC, and prescription) must be inaccessible to children. Diaper creams and lotions may be stored out of reach, on a shelf or in a cabinet at least five feet or higher. OTC and prescription medications must be locked. Consider having the locked box for the medications that need to be locked and a separate basket for diaper creams that need to be stored out of reach but easily accessible when prepping for diaper changes. Because this topical OTC medication should only be used for children under two years of age with a physician’s note, return to the parent immediately. The teacher removed this from the classroom and will return to the parent. Medication Permission Forms - All medications (prescription, OTC, non-medical topical ointment, lotion, or cream) for children enrolled at the center must have a current, completed medication permission form to ensure that staff are administering medication according to the parents’ or physician’s instructions. A tube of Boudreux’s Butt Paste belonging to GL did not include the amount or how to apply. A tube of Desitin belonging to GHK did not include the amount, when and where to apply, and how to apply. The teacher stated that she knew to use a squeeze for the amount and where to apply. Even with something as simple as diaper cream, you need to ensure the parent includes all information so you know how much they expect you to use, when to apply it (after each diaper change or only when there is a rash), and how to apply it. Have the parents complete the medication permission forms. For your compliance letter state the date when the two medication permission forms are updated and complete. Check all medication forms in the center to verify they include all information. Questionable Medication Instructions – Over the counter medication for young children can have confusing and questionable instructions or dosage amounts. Not reading the boxes carefully before accepting the medication may result in administering an incorrect dose. A tube of Cortizone 10 was accompanied by a medication permission form completed by the parent. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." A doctor’s note was not available. The teacher stated that she had not administered the medication for any reason to the infant and was not aware that it needed a physician’s instructions. Review any OTC medication instructions carefully before you accept them into the child care and put them in a classroom. Many OTC pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, etc. appear to be for young children because they say “infant” or “child” and have pictures of cute babies on them, but when you read the dosage instructions, it is clear that they should not be given to young children without a physician’s consent. You corrected this by removing the medication from the classroom and will return it to the parent. Share this information with your staff so that this type of medication is clearly vetted before accepting it. Staff Medical Report (SMR) and TB Test - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report and documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. A, Ayala worked at the center previously and was rehired on 6/24/24. Because there was more than 12 months since she left, she needed to provide you with a new Staff Medical Report and TB Test by her first day of rehire. I documented this in your Routine Unannounced visit summary on 7/24/24. Documentation of a Staff Medical Report or TB Test was not available in her file today. You stated that you thought she could use her previous SMR and TB Test, but you were not able to locate her medical file. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee or rehire starts. Ms. Ayala needs to have a Staff Medical Report and Documentation of TB Screening or negative TB Test by 2/11/24. For your compliance letter, state the dates when these medical documents are received. Do not attach a copy of the documents. Five-year Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. C. Grubbs was due to complete her five-year CBC by 9/20/24 but did not complete it until 10/23/24. A. Ayala was due to complete her five-year CBC by 12/17/24 but did not complete it until 1/16/25. All owners of licensed child care facilities and employees working in a licensed child care center are required to submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and receive their Qualifying Letter prior to their first day of employment and complete a five-year requalification (on-line application and fingerprints) so that the new Qualifying Letter is on file before the expiration date listed on their current Qualifying Letter. Multiple instances of failing to complete Criminal Background Checks may result in an Administrative Action. This item has been corrected so no further action is required except to ensure that staff members due for their five-year CBC complete it far enough ahead of time to ensure that the Qualifying Letter is received. *B. Daniels – due 2/3/25 *E. Dosaeva – due 5/1/25 General Visit Information: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You can also review the “What’s New” section and download a copy of the Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants provide general training to meet on-going training hours, health and safety training requirements, Environment Rating Scale training and training specific to your center’s needs. They can also work with you to provide on-site technical assistance. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org *Birth – 3 Quality Specialist: J. Davidson – Phone (252) 333-1233; joy@aacfnc.org *Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org - offers DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced training with affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. Consultation: Reminders: ABCMS Provider Portal – You completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training. Today we logged into the Provider Portal and you downloaded your Applicant Code Instruction Sheet and completed your own connecting application. You are going to work on getting all staff connected in the next few months and create your roster. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Complete all staff evaluations and professional development plans in February/March 2025. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. *S. Falzon – initial H&S Training – due 3/18/25 – needs training topics on Moodle *A. Ayala– 5 year H&S renewal - due 6/24/25 – Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment *B. Daniels – 5 year H&S renewal – due 6/2025 - Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment (Use to meet on-going training hours by 3/18/25.) On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 3/18/25 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 1/28/26 (anniversary to today’s Annual Compliance visit). *E. Doseava – needs 4 hrs by 3/18/25. *C. Grubbs – needs 7 hrs by 3/18/25 *H. Estanol – needs 3 hrs by 3/18/25 *B. Daniels – needs 9 hrs by 3/18/25 (Complete H&S Training) *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *Training available on Moodle *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, A. Ayala needs to enroll in EDU 119 by July 2025. Fire and Emergency Drills – current Emergency Medical Care Plan – current and posted EPR Plan – last updated 7/2023; update by 7/2024 Additional Comments: I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Free Training – Mental Health Begins By Birth – 1/28/24 and 2/7/25 2. Health & Safety Resource Center – E New- Winter, Water and Safety 3. Child Care Commission Meeting – 3/3/25 4. QRIS Modernization Update 5. QRIS Modernization Information Session for Parents – 1/28/25 6. Bilingual QRIS Modernization Information Session – 1/19/25 7. Environment Rating Scales – Get Ready for the 3’s! 8. Moodle Support 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. 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

G.S. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/28/2025 Number Present: 45 Completed Date: 1/28/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 495 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 3/18/24 18-month compliance history from 7/23/23 – 1/22/25 = 95% Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/18/24 - Superior Last Fire Inspection – 1/16/25 – Satisfactory Daytime Care Only *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website reflects the following information about your center’s required three-year water testing and one-time lead paint testing, and asbestos testing: Three-year Water Testing – enrollment started 11/14/24, due 5/31/25 Lead Paint Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Asbestos Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Maintain any paperwork received by mail or email in your Program Records file. *For more information check out the FAQ page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/. G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment was due by 5/29/23, but new legislation (Senate Bill 425) has extended the “hold harmless” period until the new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is implemented. At this time, you may choose to complete a rated license assessment using the current rated license process or you may wait until the new QRIS is implemented. Note that the current program assessment tools are changing from the Environment Rating Scales – Revised (ECERS-R and ITERS-R) to the Environment Rating Scale – 3 (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Information and training on the new program assessment tools is available on the NC Rating License Assessment Project website at https://ncrlap.org/. See Additional Comments for updates on the modernized QRIS. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability company is current and active as of 1/24/25. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 11/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored nine staff records, five children’s records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Children in all classrooms participated in indoor and outdoor group activities and free play. Classrooms were set up in defined activity enters with toys and materials arranged on low, accessible shelves. Activity plans were posted and reflected activities observed in the classrooms. One infant was present. She was cared for on her own schedule. Documentation of safe sleep checks were available for all infants. Bottles were labeled with each child’s name and date. Lunch as baked meat spaghetti, green beans, applesauce, garlic bread and milk. After lunch children rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10 was stored out of reach of children but was not locked. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5, two diaper creams had medication permission forms, but parents did not include all required information such as "amount", "when and where to apply" and "how to apply". 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 848 Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. The medication permission form for Cortizone 10 was completed by the parent but was not accompanied by a physician's note. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." 10A NCAC 09 .0803(5) 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 Staff Medical Report was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. 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. Documentation of a TB Screening or negative TB Test was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. .0701(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by September 20, 2024 did not complete it until October 23, 2024. A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by December 17, 2024 did not complete it until January 16, 2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to you, G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 2/11/25. Your compliance verification letter needs to state your facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Do not include names of children in the compliance letter. Use their initials. Do not send copies of medication permission forms or staff documents. Just state the dates the violations were corrected. Send compliance verification letter in an email from your fcch’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: Storage of Medication - Improper storage of medications results in millions of accidental poisonings in children annually. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10, an OTC anti-itch cream, was stored out of reach of children in a child’s diaper bin but was not locked. The teacher stated that she did not realize it was not a regular cream and needed to be locked. All medications (topical ointments and creams, OTC, and prescription) must be inaccessible to children. Diaper creams and lotions may be stored out of reach, on a shelf or in a cabinet at least five feet or higher. OTC and prescription medications must be locked. Consider having the locked box for the medications that need to be locked and a separate basket for diaper creams that need to be stored out of reach but easily accessible when prepping for diaper changes. Because this topical OTC medication should only be used for children under two years of age with a physician’s note, return to the parent immediately. The teacher removed this from the classroom and will return to the parent. Medication Permission Forms - All medications (prescription, OTC, non-medical topical ointment, lotion, or cream) for children enrolled at the center must have a current, completed medication permission form to ensure that staff are administering medication according to the parents’ or physician’s instructions. A tube of Boudreux’s Butt Paste belonging to GL did not include the amount or how to apply. A tube of Desitin belonging to GHK did not include the amount, when and where to apply, and how to apply. The teacher stated that she knew to use a squeeze for the amount and where to apply. Even with something as simple as diaper cream, you need to ensure the parent includes all information so you know how much they expect you to use, when to apply it (after each diaper change or only when there is a rash), and how to apply it. Have the parents complete the medication permission forms. For your compliance letter state the date when the two medication permission forms are updated and complete. Check all medication forms in the center to verify they include all information. Questionable Medication Instructions – Over the counter medication for young children can have confusing and questionable instructions or dosage amounts. Not reading the boxes carefully before accepting the medication may result in administering an incorrect dose. A tube of Cortizone 10 was accompanied by a medication permission form completed by the parent. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." A doctor’s note was not available. The teacher stated that she had not administered the medication for any reason to the infant and was not aware that it needed a physician’s instructions. Review any OTC medication instructions carefully before you accept them into the child care and put them in a classroom. Many OTC pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, etc. appear to be for young children because they say “infant” or “child” and have pictures of cute babies on them, but when you read the dosage instructions, it is clear that they should not be given to young children without a physician’s consent. You corrected this by removing the medication from the classroom and will return it to the parent. Share this information with your staff so that this type of medication is clearly vetted before accepting it. Staff Medical Report (SMR) and TB Test - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report and documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. A, Ayala worked at the center previously and was rehired on 6/24/24. Because there was more than 12 months since she left, she needed to provide you with a new Staff Medical Report and TB Test by her first day of rehire. I documented this in your Routine Unannounced visit summary on 7/24/24. Documentation of a Staff Medical Report or TB Test was not available in her file today. You stated that you thought she could use her previous SMR and TB Test, but you were not able to locate her medical file. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee or rehire starts. Ms. Ayala needs to have a Staff Medical Report and Documentation of TB Screening or negative TB Test by 2/11/24. For your compliance letter, state the dates when these medical documents are received. Do not attach a copy of the documents. Five-year Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. C. Grubbs was due to complete her five-year CBC by 9/20/24 but did not complete it until 10/23/24. A. Ayala was due to complete her five-year CBC by 12/17/24 but did not complete it until 1/16/25. All owners of licensed child care facilities and employees working in a licensed child care center are required to submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and receive their Qualifying Letter prior to their first day of employment and complete a five-year requalification (on-line application and fingerprints) so that the new Qualifying Letter is on file before the expiration date listed on their current Qualifying Letter. Multiple instances of failing to complete Criminal Background Checks may result in an Administrative Action. This item has been corrected so no further action is required except to ensure that staff members due for their five-year CBC complete it far enough ahead of time to ensure that the Qualifying Letter is received. *B. Daniels – due 2/3/25 *E. Dosaeva – due 5/1/25 General Visit Information: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You can also review the “What’s New” section and download a copy of the Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants provide general training to meet on-going training hours, health and safety training requirements, Environment Rating Scale training and training specific to your center’s needs. They can also work with you to provide on-site technical assistance. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org *Birth – 3 Quality Specialist: J. Davidson – Phone (252) 333-1233; joy@aacfnc.org *Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org - offers DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced training with affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. Consultation: Reminders: ABCMS Provider Portal – You completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training. Today we logged into the Provider Portal and you downloaded your Applicant Code Instruction Sheet and completed your own connecting application. You are going to work on getting all staff connected in the next few months and create your roster. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Complete all staff evaluations and professional development plans in February/March 2025. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. *S. Falzon – initial H&S Training – due 3/18/25 – needs training topics on Moodle *A. Ayala– 5 year H&S renewal - due 6/24/25 – Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment *B. Daniels – 5 year H&S renewal – due 6/2025 - Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment (Use to meet on-going training hours by 3/18/25.) On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 3/18/25 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 1/28/26 (anniversary to today’s Annual Compliance visit). *E. Doseava – needs 4 hrs by 3/18/25. *C. Grubbs – needs 7 hrs by 3/18/25 *H. Estanol – needs 3 hrs by 3/18/25 *B. Daniels – needs 9 hrs by 3/18/25 (Complete H&S Training) *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *Training available on Moodle *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, A. Ayala needs to enroll in EDU 119 by July 2025. Fire and Emergency Drills – current Emergency Medical Care Plan – current and posted EPR Plan – last updated 7/2023; update by 7/2024 Additional Comments: I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Free Training – Mental Health Begins By Birth – 1/28/24 and 2/7/25 2. Health & Safety Resource Center – E New- Winter, Water and Safety 3. Child Care Commission Meeting – 3/3/25 4. QRIS Modernization Update 5. QRIS Modernization Information Session for Parents – 1/28/25 6. Bilingual QRIS Modernization Information Session – 1/19/25 7. Environment Rating Scales – Get Ready for the 3’s! 8. Moodle Support 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. 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: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/28/2025 Number Present: 45 Completed Date: 1/28/2025 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 495 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Annual Compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 3/18/24 18-month compliance history from 7/23/23 – 1/22/25 = 95% Last Sanitation Inspection – 12/18/24 - Superior Last Fire Inspection – 1/16/25 – Satisfactory Daytime Care Only *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. Required Water, Lead Paint, and Asbestos Testing - The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids website reflects the following information about your center’s required three-year water testing and one-time lead paint testing, and asbestos testing: Three-year Water Testing – enrollment started 11/14/24, due 5/31/25 Lead Paint Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Asbestos Testing – Enrollment started; due 5/31/25 Maintain any paperwork received by mail or email in your Program Records file. *For more information check out the FAQ page at https://www.cleanwaterforuskids.org/en/carolina/. G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment was due by 5/29/23, but new legislation (Senate Bill 425) has extended the “hold harmless” period until the new Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) is implemented. At this time, you may choose to complete a rated license assessment using the current rated license process or you may wait until the new QRIS is implemented. Note that the current program assessment tools are changing from the Environment Rating Scales – Revised (ECERS-R and ITERS-R) to the Environment Rating Scale – 3 (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Information and training on the new program assessment tools is available on the NC Rating License Assessment Project website at https://ncrlap.org/. See Additional Comments for updates on the modernized QRIS. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability company is current and active as of 1/24/25. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. License information was current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 11/1/2024 and Item Numbers Listing, effective 3/2024. I monitored nine staff records, five children’s records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Children in all classrooms participated in indoor and outdoor group activities and free play. Classrooms were set up in defined activity enters with toys and materials arranged on low, accessible shelves. Activity plans were posted and reflected activities observed in the classrooms. One infant was present. She was cared for on her own schedule. Documentation of safe sleep checks were available for all infants. Bottles were labeled with each child’s name and date. Lunch as baked meat spaghetti, green beans, applesauce, garlic bread and milk. After lunch children rested on linen-covered cots. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10 was stored out of reach of children but was not locked. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In Space 5, two diaper creams had medication permission forms, but parents did not include all required information such as "amount", "when and where to apply" and "how to apply". 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 848 Questionable medication instructions from parents were followed without signed written dosage instructions received from physician or authorized health professional. The medication permission form for Cortizone 10 was completed by the parent but was not accompanied by a physician's note. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." 10A NCAC 09 .0803(5) 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 Staff Medical Report was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. 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. Documentation of a TB Screening or negative TB Test was not available for a staff member rehired on June 24, 2024. .0701(a) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by September 20, 2024 did not complete it until October 23, 2024. A staff member due to complete a five-year CBC by December 17, 2024 did not complete it until January 16, 2025. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to you, G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 2/11/25. Your compliance verification letter needs to state your facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Do not include names of children in the compliance letter. Use their initials. Do not send copies of medication permission forms or staff documents. Just state the dates the violations were corrected. Send compliance verification letter in an email from your fcch’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199. Technical Assistance With Documented Violations: Storage of Medication - Improper storage of medications results in millions of accidental poisonings in children annually. In Space 5, a tube of Cortizone 10, an OTC anti-itch cream, was stored out of reach of children in a child’s diaper bin but was not locked. The teacher stated that she did not realize it was not a regular cream and needed to be locked. All medications (topical ointments and creams, OTC, and prescription) must be inaccessible to children. Diaper creams and lotions may be stored out of reach, on a shelf or in a cabinet at least five feet or higher. OTC and prescription medications must be locked. Consider having the locked box for the medications that need to be locked and a separate basket for diaper creams that need to be stored out of reach but easily accessible when prepping for diaper changes. Because this topical OTC medication should only be used for children under two years of age with a physician’s note, return to the parent immediately. The teacher removed this from the classroom and will return to the parent. Medication Permission Forms - All medications (prescription, OTC, non-medical topical ointment, lotion, or cream) for children enrolled at the center must have a current, completed medication permission form to ensure that staff are administering medication according to the parents’ or physician’s instructions. A tube of Boudreux’s Butt Paste belonging to GL did not include the amount or how to apply. A tube of Desitin belonging to GHK did not include the amount, when and where to apply, and how to apply. The teacher stated that she knew to use a squeeze for the amount and where to apply. Even with something as simple as diaper cream, you need to ensure the parent includes all information so you know how much they expect you to use, when to apply it (after each diaper change or only when there is a rash), and how to apply it. Have the parents complete the medication permission forms. For your compliance letter state the date when the two medication permission forms are updated and complete. Check all medication forms in the center to verify they include all information. Questionable Medication Instructions – Over the counter medication for young children can have confusing and questionable instructions or dosage amounts. Not reading the boxes carefully before accepting the medication may result in administering an incorrect dose. A tube of Cortizone 10 was accompanied by a medication permission form completed by the parent. Directions for application on the tube stated, "Children under two years of age; ask a doctor." A doctor’s note was not available. The teacher stated that she had not administered the medication for any reason to the infant and was not aware that it needed a physician’s instructions. Review any OTC medication instructions carefully before you accept them into the child care and put them in a classroom. Many OTC pain relievers, decongestants, cough suppressants, etc. appear to be for young children because they say “infant” or “child” and have pictures of cute babies on them, but when you read the dosage instructions, it is clear that they should not be given to young children without a physician’s consent. You corrected this by removing the medication from the classroom and will return it to the parent. Share this information with your staff so that this type of medication is clearly vetted before accepting it. Staff Medical Report (SMR) and TB Test - Receipt of a Staff Medical Report and documentation of a negative TB Test or a TB Screening received from new staff by their first day of working in your center verifies that they are healthy enough to work with children and other staff and complete the physical responsibilities needed to work in child care. A, Ayala worked at the center previously and was rehired on 6/24/24. Because there was more than 12 months since she left, she needed to provide you with a new Staff Medical Report and TB Test by her first day of rehire. I documented this in your Routine Unannounced visit summary on 7/24/24. Documentation of a Staff Medical Report or TB Test was not available in her file today. You stated that you thought she could use her previous SMR and TB Test, but you were not able to locate her medical file. Use a Staff File Check list to track receipt of required documents at employment helps you ensure required forms are received before a new employee or rehire starts. Ms. Ayala needs to have a Staff Medical Report and Documentation of TB Screening or negative TB Test by 2/11/24. For your compliance letter, state the dates when these medical documents are received. Do not attach a copy of the documents. Five-year Criminal Background Check (CBC) – Criminal Background Checks ensure that staff have not committed any crimes which could potentially make them unsafe to be around children and other staff. Because Abuse and Neglect registries are also checked, it helps to ensure that children are protected from physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Performing diligent background screenings also protects the child care facility against future legal challenges. C. Grubbs was due to complete her five-year CBC by 9/20/24 but did not complete it until 10/23/24. A. Ayala was due to complete her five-year CBC by 12/17/24 but did not complete it until 1/16/25. All owners of licensed child care facilities and employees working in a licensed child care center are required to submit a Criminal Background Check (CBC) and receive their Qualifying Letter prior to their first day of employment and complete a five-year requalification (on-line application and fingerprints) so that the new Qualifying Letter is on file before the expiration date listed on their current Qualifying Letter. Multiple instances of failing to complete Criminal Background Checks may result in an Administrative Action. This item has been corrected so no further action is required except to ensure that staff members due for their five-year CBC complete it far enough ahead of time to ensure that the Qualifying Letter is received. *B. Daniels – due 2/3/25 *E. Dosaeva – due 5/1/25 General Visit Information: As a licensed child care facility, it is your responsibility to be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules and to teach your staff the rules to ensure your center remains in compliance. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You can also review the “What’s New” section and download a copy of the Items Number Listing which you can use as a checklist for your program. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies and Child Care Health Consultants provide general training to meet on-going training hours, health and safety training requirements, Environment Rating Scale training and training specific to your center’s needs. They can also work with you to provide on-site technical assistance. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. *Child Care Health Consultant – S. Rosser - Office: (252) 557-4208 or stacy_rosser@unc.edu *Healthy Behaviors Specialist: P. White – Phone (252) 333-1233; pam@aacfnc.org *Birth – 3 Quality Specialist: J. Davidson – Phone (252) 333-1233; joy@aacfnc.org *Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org - offers DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced training with affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. Consultation: Reminders: ABCMS Provider Portal – You completed the ABCMS Provider Portal Training. Today we logged into the Provider Portal and you downloaded your Applicant Code Instruction Sheet and completed your own connecting application. You are going to work on getting all staff connected in the next few months and create your roster. Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *Complete all staff evaluations and professional development plans in February/March 2025. Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for initial and five-year H&S Training renewal dates. New staff need to complete Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid within three months of hire and the rest of the training modules within twelve months. *S. Falzon – initial H&S Training – due 3/18/25 – needs training topics on Moodle *A. Ayala– 5 year H&S renewal - due 6/24/25 – Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment *B. Daniels – 5 year H&S renewal – due 6/2025 - Includes required H&S modules on Moodle and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment (Use to meet on-going training hours by 3/18/25.) On-going Training Hours – Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 3/18/25 (anniversary of last Annual Compliance visit) or by 1/28/26 (anniversary to today’s Annual Compliance visit). *E. Doseava – needs 4 hrs by 3/18/25. *C. Grubbs – needs 7 hrs by 3/18/25 *H. Estanol – needs 3 hrs by 3/18/25 *B. Daniels – needs 9 hrs by 3/18/25 (Complete H&S Training) *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *Training available on Moodle *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. Lead Teacher Requirements – Lead Teachers who do not have the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) or higher have six months to enroll in coursework that will lead to the NCECC (EDU 119 at the local community college) and eighteen months to complete it after enrollment. To remain qualified for a Lead Teacher position, A. Ayala needs to enroll in EDU 119 by July 2025. Fire and Emergency Drills – current Emergency Medical Care Plan – current and posted EPR Plan – last updated 7/2023; update by 7/2024 Additional Comments: I shared information on the following topics and emailed the information to you after the visit: 1. Free Training – Mental Health Begins By Birth – 1/28/24 and 2/7/25 2. Health & Safety Resource Center – E New- Winter, Water and Safety 3. Child Care Commission Meeting – 3/3/25 4. QRIS Modernization Update 5. QRIS Modernization Information Session for Parents – 1/28/25 6. Bilingual QRIS Modernization Information Session – 1/19/25 7. Environment Rating Scales – Get Ready for the 3’s! 8. Moodle Support 9. NCID – Keep it active! Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/16/2023 Number Present: 50 Completed Date: 8/16/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 375 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Routine Unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 5/16/2023 Last Sanitation Inspection – 6/23/2023 with an Approved Rating; expires 6/23/2024 Last Fire Inspection – 2/1/2023 with Satisfactory rating; approved for daytime only; expires 12/12/2023 *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. 18-month compliance history from 2/16/2022 – 8/15/2023 = 96% G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment is due by 5/29/2023. See below for more information about the Division’s plan to return to rated license assessments. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability corporation is current and active as of 8/14/2023. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. Facility contact information and license information were current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care, kitchen, and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2023 and Item Number Listing, effective 6/2022. I monitored four staff records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Parent information is posted at the entrance where parents sign children in and out. Fifty children, ten weeks through five years of age, were present in five classrooms. When I arrived, the administrator was greeting parents at the door and working with a child who was having separation anxiety. She gave him a special task to greet children until he could relax and join his classmates. They participated in group play and indoor and outdoor free play. Outdoor time was shortened due to the heat conditions. Infants were cared for on their own schedules and were fed and diapered when needed. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available. When they were not sleeping, they played on the floor with close supervision from the teachers. Lunch was ham and cheese toast, cucumbers with Italian dressing, watermelon, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. An outlet in Space 2 was not protected with an outlet cover. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Documentation of current First Aid training was not available for a staff member hired on March 9, 2023. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Documentation of current CPR training was not available for a staff member hired on March 9, 2023. .1102(d) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Three staff did not complete the required number of on-going training hours by June 14, 2023. .1103(a) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 8/30/2023. The compliance verification letter needs to state the facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Also include the following documents/pictures to verify compliance: training certificates and training logs, CPR/First Aid Certificates or signed roster from instructor Send compliance verification letter in an email from the center’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. If sent from another email address, the center’s official address must be Cc’d in the compliance email. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. *I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. *Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS: Outlets - Approximately 2,400 children are injured annually by inserting objects into the slots of electrical outlets. Most of these injuries involve children under the age of six. The outlet by the entrance to Space 2 was not protected by an outlet cover. The cook stated that it was probably overlooked after vacuuming. She immediately corrected it by finding and inserting an outlet cover into the uncovered outlet. Remind staff to check their rooms both at the end of the day and before children arrive to ensure that outlets are covered, potentially hazardous products are stored correctly, plastic bags are out of reach (classrooms for children younger than three years of age), and other potential hazardous are removed. First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, are critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Pickering was hired on 3/9/2023 and was required to complete CPR and First Aid by 6/29/2023. Documentation of completion of CPR and First Aid was not available. 21. You stated that it has been difficult to find a CPR/First Aid course in the summer, but you have one scheduled at the end of August for new staff needing initial training and staff needing their two-year recertification. Send documentation of completion by 8/30/2023. On-going Training – On-going training and professional development provides early learning staff opportunities to learn new skills and/or refresh previously learned skills. During your Annual Compliance visit on 5/16/2023, I monitored on-going training for staff. The following staff needed to complete the listed number of on-going training hours by 6/14/2023. H. Estanol needed 7 hours B. Daniels needed 4 hours C. Grubbs needed 3 hours. Today, I monitored their on-going training for the additional hours but the required number of hours for each staff was not completed. Each of the staff listed need to complete the new number of hours by 8/30/2023 and then 10 hours by 5/16/2024. H. Estanol needs 6 hours B. Daniels needs 1 hour C. Grubbs needs 1 hour You stated that due to staffing issues, you have not been able to follow up with them to ensure they completed the required number of hours. Planning for on-going training as part of the annual Professional Development Plan helps the administrator and staff person map out completion of on-going training for the upcoming year. On-going training is tracked from Annual Compliance visit to the one year anniversary. Have them complete the remaining on-going training by 8/30/2023. Send copies of their training certificates and their completed On-going Training Logs with your compliance letter. Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 5/16/2024 (anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). The staff listed above will need an additional ten hours by 5/16/2024. (Consider having all three of them complete the NITTO training (New Infant and Toddler Teacher Orientation to meet their 2023-24 on-going training. It is 7 modules over fourteen weeks earning 14 hours of on-going training. Staff do it at their own pace. A new module is released every two weeks. Find it on Moodle.) *The Health and Safety Training available on Moodle on the DCDEE website and other free trainings can also be used to help staff meet on-going training hours. *Also available on Moodle is a training course on Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness. *Trainings on the environment rating scales that count as on-going training hours are available on the NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. GENERAL VISIT INFORMATION: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules, review them with your center staff, and assist your staff with maintaining compliance with the laws and rules. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are available to assist you with technical assistance and training on a multitude of topics including but not limited to: Environment Rating Scales, infant/toddler practices, healthy behaviors and classroom management, developmentally appropriate practice, EPR plans, activity plans, NC Foundations for Early Learning (developmental domains), etc. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. CONSULTATION: All centers are struggling to recover from Covid and return to their pre-Covid enrollment and staffing, but the reality is that there are not enough teachers to fill positions needed to increase enrollment. While there are so many families needing child care, enrolling children without having stable, reliable, well-trained staff, compromises quality when staff call out or leave suddenly forcing you to regroup children or put yourself in a classroom where you cannot be available to complete your administrative duties, meet deadlines, work with staff, resolve parent issues, etc. This creates anxiety for staff, children, and families. Recovering from the lingering economic effects of Covid will take time. Building back a strong center will take time. Staff want to be valued and respected. You want your staff to wake up excited to come to work because they are well-trained and know the group of children they will work with and their expected duties. You want children to run up to the front door to be with their friends and favorite teacher. Creating a positive work environment builds loyalty, reduces staff turnover, recruits new staff, and allows a center to grow. REMINDERS: Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *The first two weeks of Orientation is due for M. Payne by 8/24/2023 Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for staff members needing initial H&S Training. New staff are required to complete Health & Safety Training (H&S Training) within one year of hire (CPR/First Aid and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within 3 months of hire) and then complete training in all topic areas every five years. Moodle Support - 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. Infant Classroom – New staff working in the classroom for infants have 2 months from their first assigned day in the classroom to complete ITS/SIDS Training. They can work in the classroom with another staff member with current ITS/SIDS training but may not be alone in the classroom. Review your center’s adopted ITS/SIDS policy on or before their first day working in the classroom even if you reviewed it with them during orientation. Outdoor Play Equipment – Outdoor play equipment takes a beating from the sun, the salt air and the children. Inspecting play equipment and removing it from the playground when broken keeps children safe. On the playground multiple plastic items were broken and cracked creating sharp edges and pinch points which could injure a child as they handle the toy. Discard the following toys: blue and yellow cozy coupe, pink and yellow cozy coup (rusted bolts and pedals), light blue portable teeter totter, several items observed in sandbox – orange toy piece, yellow Mercedes truck cab, blue loader, shopping cart stroller combo with no handle. These items need to be discarded. *Clean out graveyard of broken toys from under the deck to prevent places for vermin to live or hide. *Maintain surfacing in the fall zone of the complex climber and remove grass and weeds before they spread. Medication Administration – Medication was stored appropriately – either locked or stored out of reach of children. Medication permission forms were available and completed. On your workday this week, have staff verify that they have a current medication permission form for each diaper cream and sunscreen before the big transition when school starts. Other Items – 1. Label spray bottles with soapy solution (or detergent), sanitizer or disinfectant. This helps all staff know which spray bottle to use. 2. Do not store items on cots. A pink bean bag chair and a pillow were stored on the top cot in Space 2. This prevents the spread of germs from materials in the classroom to the cots. 3. Remove sand and grime build up from diaper tables. We do live and play in a sandy environment so cleaning disinfecting the diapering surface may need to include a quick sweep to remove sand. 4. Clean cubbies and toys to remove dirt and sand. 5. Styrofoam cups may not be used to serve beverages to children younger than three years of age. They can bite the cup and accidentally inhale the Styrofoam piece. 6. Update your EPR Plan in the Emergency Management Portal as needed. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I shared information on the following topics: 1. Annual Licensing Fee 2. Environmental Health Rules Update 3. New Rules – July 2023 – enhanced outdoor space, cooperative arrangements, multi-age grouping 4. NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) Resources TRANSITION BACK TO RATED LICENSE ASSESSMENTS AND COHORTS To transition back to rated license assessments, the Division has created a two-year Cohort Model. All facilities are assigned to one of three cohorts based on their current rated license assessment due date. Each cohort will have a year for preparation and a year for assessment. (However, you are encouraged to begin preparations now so that you are ready when your cohort group is due!) Your child care center was due for a three-year rated license reassessment by 5/29/2023 and has been assigned to Cohort 2. The Cohort 2 Rated License Preparation Year is from 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025. During your preparation year, if you are interested in having the Environment Rating Scales completed, review the ITERS-R and ECERS-R by obtaining the manuals for each classroom and looking for assessment related resources at ncrlap.org. Request technical assistance and training for your staff from Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County. You can request and complete an ITERS-R and ECERS-R during your preparation year. If your scores help you meet or exceed your current star rating and you are ready to move forward with your rated license assessment, you may choose to do so during your preparation year. Your preparation year is also the time to work on staff education and ensure that Works accounts are completed and up to date for staff members. Look at options to help staff earn the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) – EDU 119, Early Educator Certification, the new NCECC Equivalency Exam option available on Moodle. Encourage staff to enroll in additional college coursework to meet or increase points in Education. TEACH Scholarships are available to help staff pay for educational expenses. Go to https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ . The Cohort 2 Rated License Assessment Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. During your assessment year you may choose to complete the ITERS-R and ECERS-R again at no cost even if you completed them during your preparation year. Use the feedback from your preparation year scores to create a plan to improve your scores. During this year, all education needs to be posted in Works. At some point during that year, you will have your rated license assessed. Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. 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: THE SANDBOX EARLY LEARNING CENTER, LLC. Facility ID: 28000266 Consultant: MARJORIE WHITE Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/16/2023 Number Present: 50 Completed Date: 8/16/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 375 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today’s Routine Unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements. Last Annual Compliance visit – 5/16/2023 Last Sanitation Inspection – 6/23/2023 with an Approved Rating; expires 6/23/2024 Last Fire Inspection – 2/1/2023 with Satisfactory rating; approved for daytime only; expires 12/12/2023 *Sanitation and fire inspections are required at least annually by the date of the previous inspection. Send fire inspections to me within seven (7) days of the inspection. 18-month compliance history from 2/16/2022 – 8/15/2023 = 96% G. Grubbs, Administrator, was present and assisted me with the visit. The facility currently operates with a Three-Star Center License, issued 5/29/2020, earning points in the following components: Program (2 PTS) + Education (4 PTS) + Quality Point (1 PT) = 7 Points = 3 Stars *Current Quality Point is no longer met, but facility meets another option: The child care administrator has at least 10 years of documented child care administrative work experience in a licensed program that can be verified by the Division The next rated license assessment is due by 5/29/2023. See below for more information about the Division’s plan to return to rated license assessments. This facility is owned by The Sandbox Early Learning Center, L.L.C. According to the NC Secretary of State's website, this limited liability corporation is current and active as of 8/14/2023. Please contact me prior to any information change regarding the ownership of this facility. Facility contact information and license information were current. Contact me to make any changes to address, phone, or email or to request changes to the license. I monitored the classrooms and spaces used for child care, kitchen, and outdoor play area for applicable child care center requirements using the Child Care Center Requirements, effective 7/1/2023 and Item Number Listing, effective 6/2022. I monitored four staff records and all program records. The facility does not offer transportation. Center Observations: Parent information is posted at the entrance where parents sign children in and out. Fifty children, ten weeks through five years of age, were present in five classrooms. When I arrived, the administrator was greeting parents at the door and working with a child who was having separation anxiety. She gave him a special task to greet children until he could relax and join his classmates. They participated in group play and indoor and outdoor free play. Outdoor time was shortened due to the heat conditions. Infants were cared for on their own schedules and were fed and diapered when needed. Documentation of safe sleep checks was available. When they were not sleeping, they played on the floor with close supervision from the teachers. Lunch was ham and cheese toast, cucumbers with Italian dressing, watermelon, and milk. I observed and documented the following violations during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 812 Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. An outlet in Space 2 was not protected with an outlet cover. 10A NCAC 09 .0604(c) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Documentation of current First Aid training was not available for a staff member hired on March 9, 2023. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. Documentation of current CPR training was not available for a staff member hired on March 9, 2023. .1102(d) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. Three staff did not complete the required number of on-going training hours by June 14, 2023. .1103(a) * Child care programs are expected to achieve and always maintain compliance and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an 18-month compliance history score of at least 75%. Any violations documented may impact the compliance history score. I completed an electronic copy of the visit summary and provided a printed copy of it to G. Grubbs, Administrator. We reviewed the visit summary and violation(s) documented during today’s visit. Correct these immediately. Send evidence of correction to me so that I receive it no later than 8/30/2023. The compliance verification letter needs to state the facility name and license number and list each violation by Item # and describe in detail when and how each violation has been corrected. Also include the following documents/pictures to verify compliance: training certificates and training logs, CPR/First Aid Certificates or signed roster from instructor Send compliance verification letter in an email from the center’s official email address, thesandboxobx@gmail.com, to my email address, Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. If sent from another email address, the center’s official address must be Cc’d in the compliance email. You may include the compliance verification as an attachment or in the body of the email. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be conducted. *I will email a sample compliance verification letter to you. *Please be aware that any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the compliance letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If I may be of further assistance, please contact me by phone at (252) 373-9385, by e-mail at Marjorie.White@dhhs.nc.gov. You may also call Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, at (252) 373-4199 or Jennifer.Linhardt@dhhs.nc.gov. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH DOCUMENTED VIOLATIONS: Outlets - Approximately 2,400 children are injured annually by inserting objects into the slots of electrical outlets. Most of these injuries involve children under the age of six. The outlet by the entrance to Space 2 was not protected by an outlet cover. The cook stated that it was probably overlooked after vacuuming. She immediately corrected it by finding and inserting an outlet cover into the uncovered outlet. Remind staff to check their rooms both at the end of the day and before children arrive to ensure that outlets are covered, potentially hazardous products are stored correctly, plastic bags are out of reach (classrooms for children younger than three years of age), and other potential hazardous are removed. First Aid and CPR – Early care and education programs with staff trained in pediatric first aid and CPR can mitigate the consequences of injury and reduce the potential for death from life-threatening conditions and emergencies. Repetitive training, coupled with the confidence to use these skills, are critically important to the outcome of an emergency. (Caring for Our Children, 4th Edition). L. Pickering was hired on 3/9/2023 and was required to complete CPR and First Aid by 6/29/2023. Documentation of completion of CPR and First Aid was not available. 21. You stated that it has been difficult to find a CPR/First Aid course in the summer, but you have one scheduled at the end of August for new staff needing initial training and staff needing their two-year recertification. Send documentation of completion by 8/30/2023. On-going Training – On-going training and professional development provides early learning staff opportunities to learn new skills and/or refresh previously learned skills. During your Annual Compliance visit on 5/16/2023, I monitored on-going training for staff. The following staff needed to complete the listed number of on-going training hours by 6/14/2023. H. Estanol needed 7 hours B. Daniels needed 4 hours C. Grubbs needed 3 hours. Today, I monitored their on-going training for the additional hours but the required number of hours for each staff was not completed. Each of the staff listed need to complete the new number of hours by 8/30/2023 and then 10 hours by 5/16/2024. H. Estanol needs 6 hours B. Daniels needs 1 hour C. Grubbs needs 1 hour You stated that due to staffing issues, you have not been able to follow up with them to ensure they completed the required number of hours. Planning for on-going training as part of the annual Professional Development Plan helps the administrator and staff person map out completion of on-going training for the upcoming year. On-going training is tracked from Annual Compliance visit to the one year anniversary. Have them complete the remaining on-going training by 8/30/2023. Send copies of their training certificates and their completed On-going Training Logs with your compliance letter. Review Row 18 (# hours to carry over) on the Staff Worksheets to determine how many on-going training hours returning staff will need by 5/16/2024 (anniversary of today’s Annual Compliance visit). The staff listed above will need an additional ten hours by 5/16/2024. (Consider having all three of them complete the NITTO training (New Infant and Toddler Teacher Orientation to meet their 2023-24 on-going training. It is 7 modules over fourteen weeks earning 14 hours of on-going training. Staff do it at their own pace. A new module is released every two weeks. Find it on Moodle.) *The Health and Safety Training available on Moodle on the DCDEE website and other free trainings can also be used to help staff meet on-going training hours. *Also available on Moodle is a training course on Supporting Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness. *Trainings on the environment rating scales that count as on-going training hours are available on the NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org *ECE college coursework or coursework leading to an ECE degree counts towards on-going training hours. Each semester credit counts as 16 hours so a 3-credit classes also earns 48 hours of on-going training. *Check with your local Child Care Resource & Referral for available training. *The following offer on-line training opportunities at reasonable prices and accessible at times for your busy schedules: Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org – offers individual and group packages also ProSolutions courses are still available for a fee – offers individual and group packages also *Use the On-going Training Log to document training annually. Attach copies of certificates. GENERAL VISIT INFORMATION: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules, review them with your center staff, and assist your staff with maintaining compliance with the laws and rules. The most recent versions of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina, the Items Number Listing (can be used as a detailed checklist of required items) and What’s New information are available on the DCDEE website, www.ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Check the designated facility email at least weekly to stay current with communication and email blasts from DCDEE. If your email is not the facility email, sign up for email blasts on the What’s New page for general information and communication from DCDEE. Your local and regional Smart Start Partnerships and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies are available to assist you with technical assistance and training on a multitude of topics including but not limited to: Environment Rating Scales, infant/toddler practices, healthy behaviors and classroom management, developmentally appropriate practice, EPR plans, activity plans, NC Foundations for Early Learning (developmental domains), etc. *Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County: Phone - (252) 441-0614; website - www.darekids.org. CONSULTATION: All centers are struggling to recover from Covid and return to their pre-Covid enrollment and staffing, but the reality is that there are not enough teachers to fill positions needed to increase enrollment. While there are so many families needing child care, enrolling children without having stable, reliable, well-trained staff, compromises quality when staff call out or leave suddenly forcing you to regroup children or put yourself in a classroom where you cannot be available to complete your administrative duties, meet deadlines, work with staff, resolve parent issues, etc. This creates anxiety for staff, children, and families. Recovering from the lingering economic effects of Covid will take time. Building back a strong center will take time. Staff want to be valued and respected. You want your staff to wake up excited to come to work because they are well-trained and know the group of children they will work with and their expected duties. You want children to run up to the front door to be with their friends and favorite teacher. Creating a positive work environment builds loyalty, reduces staff turnover, recruits new staff, and allows a center to grow. REMINDERS: Staff Worksheets – We reviewed your staff worksheet. I highlighted items that were delinquent and items that are coming due in the next year. *The first two weeks of Orientation is due for M. Payne by 8/24/2023 Health and Safety Training and Five (5) Year Cycle Tracking Requirements – Review Row 17 on Staff Worksheet for staff members needing initial H&S Training. New staff are required to complete Health & Safety Training (H&S Training) within one year of hire (CPR/First Aid and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within 3 months of hire) and then complete training in all topic areas every five years. Moodle Support - 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. Infant Classroom – New staff working in the classroom for infants have 2 months from their first assigned day in the classroom to complete ITS/SIDS Training. They can work in the classroom with another staff member with current ITS/SIDS training but may not be alone in the classroom. Review your center’s adopted ITS/SIDS policy on or before their first day working in the classroom even if you reviewed it with them during orientation. Outdoor Play Equipment – Outdoor play equipment takes a beating from the sun, the salt air and the children. Inspecting play equipment and removing it from the playground when broken keeps children safe. On the playground multiple plastic items were broken and cracked creating sharp edges and pinch points which could injure a child as they handle the toy. Discard the following toys: blue and yellow cozy coupe, pink and yellow cozy coup (rusted bolts and pedals), light blue portable teeter totter, several items observed in sandbox – orange toy piece, yellow Mercedes truck cab, blue loader, shopping cart stroller combo with no handle. These items need to be discarded. *Clean out graveyard of broken toys from under the deck to prevent places for vermin to live or hide. *Maintain surfacing in the fall zone of the complex climber and remove grass and weeds before they spread. Medication Administration – Medication was stored appropriately – either locked or stored out of reach of children. Medication permission forms were available and completed. On your workday this week, have staff verify that they have a current medication permission form for each diaper cream and sunscreen before the big transition when school starts. Other Items – 1. Label spray bottles with soapy solution (or detergent), sanitizer or disinfectant. This helps all staff know which spray bottle to use. 2. Do not store items on cots. A pink bean bag chair and a pillow were stored on the top cot in Space 2. This prevents the spread of germs from materials in the classroom to the cots. 3. Remove sand and grime build up from diaper tables. We do live and play in a sandy environment so cleaning disinfecting the diapering surface may need to include a quick sweep to remove sand. 4. Clean cubbies and toys to remove dirt and sand. 5. Styrofoam cups may not be used to serve beverages to children younger than three years of age. They can bite the cup and accidentally inhale the Styrofoam piece. 6. Update your EPR Plan in the Emergency Management Portal as needed. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I shared information on the following topics: 1. Annual Licensing Fee 2. Environmental Health Rules Update 3. New Rules – July 2023 – enhanced outdoor space, cooperative arrangements, multi-age grouping 4. NC Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP) Resources TRANSITION BACK TO RATED LICENSE ASSESSMENTS AND COHORTS To transition back to rated license assessments, the Division has created a two-year Cohort Model. All facilities are assigned to one of three cohorts based on their current rated license assessment due date. Each cohort will have a year for preparation and a year for assessment. (However, you are encouraged to begin preparations now so that you are ready when your cohort group is due!) Your child care center was due for a three-year rated license reassessment by 5/29/2023 and has been assigned to Cohort 2. The Cohort 2 Rated License Preparation Year is from 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2025. During your preparation year, if you are interested in having the Environment Rating Scales completed, review the ITERS-R and ECERS-R by obtaining the manuals for each classroom and looking for assessment related resources at ncrlap.org. Request technical assistance and training for your staff from Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County. You can request and complete an ITERS-R and ECERS-R during your preparation year. If your scores help you meet or exceed your current star rating and you are ready to move forward with your rated license assessment, you may choose to do so during your preparation year. Your preparation year is also the time to work on staff education and ensure that Works accounts are completed and up to date for staff members. Look at options to help staff earn the NC Early Childhood Credential (NCECC) – EDU 119, Early Educator Certification, the new NCECC Equivalency Exam option available on Moodle. Encourage staff to enroll in additional college coursework to meet or increase points in Education. TEACH Scholarships are available to help staff pay for educational expenses. Go to https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ . The Cohort 2 Rated License Assessment Year is from 7/1/2025 – 6/30/2026. During your assessment year you may choose to complete the ITERS-R and ECERS-R again at no cost even if you completed them during your preparation year. Use the feedback from your preparation year scores to create a plan to improve your scores. During this year, all education needs to be posted in Works. At some point during that year, you will have your rated license assessed. Thank you for your time and assistance today. Refer to this visit summary for a refresher of our discussions today, and I encourage you to share with staff and use the information as a teaching tool. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to call or email me at the contact information listed above. 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