The Learning Nest

10A NCAC 09.1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/4/2026 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/4/2026 Age: From 2 To 5 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 11:10 AM Time Out: 03:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 5/1/26. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/1/26 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were riding toys and playing in the sand and water in the outdoor space. The children transitioned into the indoor space, washed their hands, and sat at the table for lunch. After lunch, children completed personal care routines and rested on child sized mats covered with sheets. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. A garden was observed with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken, whole grain rice, cucumbers, pineapples, and milk. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 1104 Operator or other transportation provider did not comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning vehicles and the transportation of passengers. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. G.S.110-91 & .1723(2) 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. .1703(a)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 5/18/26, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Capacity Increase: Today, I monitored your family child care home to verify compliance with the five building code requirements outlined in SL 2025-36 to increase your capacity and issue a new permit. 1. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be on the same level of exit discharge. This was found to be in compliance. 2. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be located on the same level with, and within a maximum of 40 feet travel distance to, at least one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher. Your fire extinguisher is located on the wall beside the front door and was found to be in compliance with this requirement. 3. A family child care home shall have and maintain a Fire Safety, Evacuation, and Lockdown Plan compliant with Section 404 of the North Carolina Fire Code. I reviewed your Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and found it to meet the requirements. 4. A family child care home shall have carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems compliant with Section 915 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R315 of the North Carolina Residential Code. Your home does not have a fuel-fired appliance, nor does it have an attached garage. This requirement has been met. 5. A family child care home shall have smoke alarms compliant with Section R907 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R314 of the North Carolina Residential Code. A wired smoke detector and a battery operated smoke detector is located in the caregiving space, in the kitchen, in the hallway beside the bathroom that the children use, and in the in each of the three bedrooms. This requirement is met. 6. We discussed that once I must receive information from zoning that states that there are no restrictions or ordinances from the County preventing an increase in childcare capacity on the property to meet this requirement. We discussed that If there are no restrictions from zoning or HOA, a capacity of ten will be noted with an age range of 0-12. This will allow FCCH Operators flexibility in which capacity option they meet as the ages of children they serve and days of the week children attend may vary. A family child care home may provide care for one of the following groups of children, including the operator's own preschool-age children and excluding the operator's own school-age children up to 13 years of age: • A maximum of eight children, with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school-age children. • A maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age, for a total of nine children. Note: Mixed age groups consisting of children aged zero-twenty four months, children aged 2-5 years, and school-aged children will be monitored as follows: A maximum of nine children, with no more than three children aged zero to twenty-four months and of the six additional children, three must be school age. • A maximum of 10 children if all children are older than 24 months of age. Once all the requirements above are met, your capacity will be increased to ten (10) and a new license will be mailed to you. Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. The vehicle used to transport children needs to be free of hazards and have current insurance and inspection. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. You stated that you thought that you had a 15-day grace period and we discussed that grace period was for the payment of the registration. Submit the registration card with the compliance letter to correct the violation. Add the annual registration date to your digital calendar to send you a remind well in advance of the registration expiration date. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had brought in the shot records and will request a medical report. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. ITS/SIDS Training: Completing ITS/SIDS training at hire and every three years provides staff with the most current information and required practices to protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidents that may occur while sleeping. Family Child Care Home Operators must Renew ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion of previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. You stated that you were unable to find SIDS training before the certificate expired on 4/24/26. We discussed using a digital calendar to put the expiration dates of trainings to send a reminder months in advance of expiration. Place the Verification of Required Information for Operator at the front of your staff file that you can review regularly for the expiration dates of trainings and criminal background checks. 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. NC Health & Safety Resource Center publishes a quarterly newsletter which provides topical information on a variety of health and safety topics. If you are not receiving these emails and newsletters, then please go to https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/resources/nc-child-care-health-and-safety-e-news/ and click on ‘Newsletter Signup’ to join their mailing list. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org , has resources to help you and your staff prepare for the third editions of the Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Visit the website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, self-assessments and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. At this time the SACERS-U will continue to be the program assessment tool for school-age programs and classrooms. Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org, Child Care Resources Inc., https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ and Early Years, https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/ offer DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced and virtual real-time training and CEUs. SWCDC also offers affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have decided to follow Pathway #2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway. We reviewed all forms for pathway #2 and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You recently began using the Gee Whiz curriculum and we discussed formative assessment choices. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a science center with the sand area with a thermometer, and rain gauge, and a music center with pots and pans. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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

G.S.110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/4/2026 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/4/2026 Age: From 2 To 5 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 11:10 AM Time Out: 03:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 5/1/26. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/1/26 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were riding toys and playing in the sand and water in the outdoor space. The children transitioned into the indoor space, washed their hands, and sat at the table for lunch. After lunch, children completed personal care routines and rested on child sized mats covered with sheets. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. A garden was observed with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken, whole grain rice, cucumbers, pineapples, and milk. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 1104 Operator or other transportation provider did not comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning vehicles and the transportation of passengers. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. G.S.110-91 & .1723(2) 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. .1703(a)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 5/18/26, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Capacity Increase: Today, I monitored your family child care home to verify compliance with the five building code requirements outlined in SL 2025-36 to increase your capacity and issue a new permit. 1. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be on the same level of exit discharge. This was found to be in compliance. 2. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be located on the same level with, and within a maximum of 40 feet travel distance to, at least one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher. Your fire extinguisher is located on the wall beside the front door and was found to be in compliance with this requirement. 3. A family child care home shall have and maintain a Fire Safety, Evacuation, and Lockdown Plan compliant with Section 404 of the North Carolina Fire Code. I reviewed your Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and found it to meet the requirements. 4. A family child care home shall have carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems compliant with Section 915 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R315 of the North Carolina Residential Code. Your home does not have a fuel-fired appliance, nor does it have an attached garage. This requirement has been met. 5. A family child care home shall have smoke alarms compliant with Section R907 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R314 of the North Carolina Residential Code. A wired smoke detector and a battery operated smoke detector is located in the caregiving space, in the kitchen, in the hallway beside the bathroom that the children use, and in the in each of the three bedrooms. This requirement is met. 6. We discussed that once I must receive information from zoning that states that there are no restrictions or ordinances from the County preventing an increase in childcare capacity on the property to meet this requirement. We discussed that If there are no restrictions from zoning or HOA, a capacity of ten will be noted with an age range of 0-12. This will allow FCCH Operators flexibility in which capacity option they meet as the ages of children they serve and days of the week children attend may vary. A family child care home may provide care for one of the following groups of children, including the operator's own preschool-age children and excluding the operator's own school-age children up to 13 years of age: • A maximum of eight children, with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school-age children. • A maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age, for a total of nine children. Note: Mixed age groups consisting of children aged zero-twenty four months, children aged 2-5 years, and school-aged children will be monitored as follows: A maximum of nine children, with no more than three children aged zero to twenty-four months and of the six additional children, three must be school age. • A maximum of 10 children if all children are older than 24 months of age. Once all the requirements above are met, your capacity will be increased to ten (10) and a new license will be mailed to you. Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. The vehicle used to transport children needs to be free of hazards and have current insurance and inspection. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. You stated that you thought that you had a 15-day grace period and we discussed that grace period was for the payment of the registration. Submit the registration card with the compliance letter to correct the violation. Add the annual registration date to your digital calendar to send you a remind well in advance of the registration expiration date. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had brought in the shot records and will request a medical report. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. ITS/SIDS Training: Completing ITS/SIDS training at hire and every three years provides staff with the most current information and required practices to protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidents that may occur while sleeping. Family Child Care Home Operators must Renew ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion of previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. You stated that you were unable to find SIDS training before the certificate expired on 4/24/26. We discussed using a digital calendar to put the expiration dates of trainings to send a reminder months in advance of expiration. Place the Verification of Required Information for Operator at the front of your staff file that you can review regularly for the expiration dates of trainings and criminal background checks. 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. NC Health & Safety Resource Center publishes a quarterly newsletter which provides topical information on a variety of health and safety topics. If you are not receiving these emails and newsletters, then please go to https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/resources/nc-child-care-health-and-safety-e-news/ and click on ‘Newsletter Signup’ to join their mailing list. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org , has resources to help you and your staff prepare for the third editions of the Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Visit the website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, self-assessments and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. At this time the SACERS-U will continue to be the program assessment tool for school-age programs and classrooms. Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org, Child Care Resources Inc., https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ and Early Years, https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/ offer DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced and virtual real-time training and CEUs. SWCDC also offers affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have decided to follow Pathway #2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway. We reviewed all forms for pathway #2 and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You recently began using the Gee Whiz curriculum and we discussed formative assessment choices. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a science center with the sand area with a thermometer, and rain gauge, and a music center with pots and pans. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/4/2026 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/4/2026 Age: From 2 To 5 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 11:10 AM Time Out: 03:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 5/1/26. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/1/26 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were riding toys and playing in the sand and water in the outdoor space. The children transitioned into the indoor space, washed their hands, and sat at the table for lunch. After lunch, children completed personal care routines and rested on child sized mats covered with sheets. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. A garden was observed with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken, whole grain rice, cucumbers, pineapples, and milk. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 1104 Operator or other transportation provider did not comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning vehicles and the transportation of passengers. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. G.S.110-91 & .1723(2) 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. .1703(a)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 5/18/26, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Capacity Increase: Today, I monitored your family child care home to verify compliance with the five building code requirements outlined in SL 2025-36 to increase your capacity and issue a new permit. 1. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be on the same level of exit discharge. This was found to be in compliance. 2. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be located on the same level with, and within a maximum of 40 feet travel distance to, at least one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher. Your fire extinguisher is located on the wall beside the front door and was found to be in compliance with this requirement. 3. A family child care home shall have and maintain a Fire Safety, Evacuation, and Lockdown Plan compliant with Section 404 of the North Carolina Fire Code. I reviewed your Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and found it to meet the requirements. 4. A family child care home shall have carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems compliant with Section 915 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R315 of the North Carolina Residential Code. Your home does not have a fuel-fired appliance, nor does it have an attached garage. This requirement has been met. 5. A family child care home shall have smoke alarms compliant with Section R907 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R314 of the North Carolina Residential Code. A wired smoke detector and a battery operated smoke detector is located in the caregiving space, in the kitchen, in the hallway beside the bathroom that the children use, and in the in each of the three bedrooms. This requirement is met. 6. We discussed that once I must receive information from zoning that states that there are no restrictions or ordinances from the County preventing an increase in childcare capacity on the property to meet this requirement. We discussed that If there are no restrictions from zoning or HOA, a capacity of ten will be noted with an age range of 0-12. This will allow FCCH Operators flexibility in which capacity option they meet as the ages of children they serve and days of the week children attend may vary. A family child care home may provide care for one of the following groups of children, including the operator's own preschool-age children and excluding the operator's own school-age children up to 13 years of age: • A maximum of eight children, with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school-age children. • A maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age, for a total of nine children. Note: Mixed age groups consisting of children aged zero-twenty four months, children aged 2-5 years, and school-aged children will be monitored as follows: A maximum of nine children, with no more than three children aged zero to twenty-four months and of the six additional children, three must be school age. • A maximum of 10 children if all children are older than 24 months of age. Once all the requirements above are met, your capacity will be increased to ten (10) and a new license will be mailed to you. Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. The vehicle used to transport children needs to be free of hazards and have current insurance and inspection. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. You stated that you thought that you had a 15-day grace period and we discussed that grace period was for the payment of the registration. Submit the registration card with the compliance letter to correct the violation. Add the annual registration date to your digital calendar to send you a remind well in advance of the registration expiration date. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had brought in the shot records and will request a medical report. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. ITS/SIDS Training: Completing ITS/SIDS training at hire and every three years provides staff with the most current information and required practices to protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidents that may occur while sleeping. Family Child Care Home Operators must Renew ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion of previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. You stated that you were unable to find SIDS training before the certificate expired on 4/24/26. We discussed using a digital calendar to put the expiration dates of trainings to send a reminder months in advance of expiration. Place the Verification of Required Information for Operator at the front of your staff file that you can review regularly for the expiration dates of trainings and criminal background checks. 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. NC Health & Safety Resource Center publishes a quarterly newsletter which provides topical information on a variety of health and safety topics. If you are not receiving these emails and newsletters, then please go to https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/resources/nc-child-care-health-and-safety-e-news/ and click on ‘Newsletter Signup’ to join their mailing list. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org , has resources to help you and your staff prepare for the third editions of the Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Visit the website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, self-assessments and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. At this time the SACERS-U will continue to be the program assessment tool for school-age programs and classrooms. Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org, Child Care Resources Inc., https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ and Early Years, https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/ offer DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced and virtual real-time training and CEUs. SWCDC also offers affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have decided to follow Pathway #2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway. We reviewed all forms for pathway #2 and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You recently began using the Gee Whiz curriculum and we discussed formative assessment choices. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a science center with the sand area with a thermometer, and rain gauge, and a music center with pots and pans. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/4/2026 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 5/4/2026 Age: From 2 To 5 Total Minutes: 260 Time In: 11:10 AM Time Out: 03:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 5/1/26. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/1/26 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were riding toys and playing in the sand and water in the outdoor space. The children transitioned into the indoor space, washed their hands, and sat at the table for lunch. After lunch, children completed personal care routines and rested on child sized mats covered with sheets. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. A garden was observed with tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken, whole grain rice, cucumbers, pineapples, and milk. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) 1104 Operator or other transportation provider did not comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations concerning vehicles and the transportation of passengers. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. G.S.110-91 & .1723(2) 1306 Operator has not completed ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion date of the previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. .1703(a)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 5/18/26, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Capacity Increase: Today, I monitored your family child care home to verify compliance with the five building code requirements outlined in SL 2025-36 to increase your capacity and issue a new permit. 1. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be on the same level of exit discharge. This was found to be in compliance. 2. Rooms and areas within a family child care home where occupants receive care shall be located on the same level with, and within a maximum of 40 feet travel distance to, at least one 2A:10B:C fire extinguisher. Your fire extinguisher is located on the wall beside the front door and was found to be in compliance with this requirement. 3. A family child care home shall have and maintain a Fire Safety, Evacuation, and Lockdown Plan compliant with Section 404 of the North Carolina Fire Code. I reviewed your Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan and found it to meet the requirements. 4. A family child care home shall have carbon monoxide alarm and detection systems compliant with Section 915 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R315 of the North Carolina Residential Code. Your home does not have a fuel-fired appliance, nor does it have an attached garage. This requirement has been met. 5. A family child care home shall have smoke alarms compliant with Section R907 of the North Carolina Building Code and Section R314 of the North Carolina Residential Code. A wired smoke detector and a battery operated smoke detector is located in the caregiving space, in the kitchen, in the hallway beside the bathroom that the children use, and in the in each of the three bedrooms. This requirement is met. 6. We discussed that once I must receive information from zoning that states that there are no restrictions or ordinances from the County preventing an increase in childcare capacity on the property to meet this requirement. We discussed that If there are no restrictions from zoning or HOA, a capacity of ten will be noted with an age range of 0-12. This will allow FCCH Operators flexibility in which capacity option they meet as the ages of children they serve and days of the week children attend may vary. A family child care home may provide care for one of the following groups of children, including the operator's own preschool-age children and excluding the operator's own school-age children up to 13 years of age: • A maximum of eight children, with no more than five children who are from birth to 5 years of age, plus three school-age children. • A maximum of three children from birth to 24 months of age, plus three children from 2 to 5 years of age and three school-age children up to 13 years of age, for a total of nine children. Note: Mixed age groups consisting of children aged zero-twenty four months, children aged 2-5 years, and school-aged children will be monitored as follows: A maximum of nine children, with no more than three children aged zero to twenty-four months and of the six additional children, three must be school age. • A maximum of 10 children if all children are older than 24 months of age. Once all the requirements above are met, your capacity will be increased to ten (10) and a new license will be mailed to you. Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. The vehicle used to transport children needs to be free of hazards and have current insurance and inspection. The operator’s vehicle used to transport children had registration that expired 4/26. You stated that you thought that you had a 15-day grace period and we discussed that grace period was for the payment of the registration. Submit the registration card with the compliance letter to correct the violation. Add the annual registration date to your digital calendar to send you a remind well in advance of the registration expiration date. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled on 3/16/26 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had brought in the shot records and will request a medical report. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. ITS/SIDS Training: Completing ITS/SIDS training at hire and every three years provides staff with the most current information and required practices to protect infants from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and other accidents that may occur while sleeping. Family Child Care Home Operators must Renew ITS-SIDS training every three years from the completion of previous ITS-SIDS training. The operator had certification of ITS-SIDS that expired 4/24/26 and renewal certification dated 4/30/26. You stated that you were unable to find SIDS training before the certificate expired on 4/24/26. We discussed using a digital calendar to put the expiration dates of trainings to send a reminder months in advance of expiration. Place the Verification of Required Information for Operator at the front of your staff file that you can review regularly for the expiration dates of trainings and criminal background checks. 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. NC Health & Safety Resource Center publishes a quarterly newsletter which provides topical information on a variety of health and safety topics. If you are not receiving these emails and newsletters, then please go to https://healthychildcare.unc.edu/resources/nc-child-care-health-and-safety-e-news/ and click on ‘Newsletter Signup’ to join their mailing list. The North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP), www.ncrlap.org , has resources to help you and your staff prepare for the third editions of the Environment Rating Scales (ECERS-3 and ITERS-3). Visit the website for more information about updated resources, credit hour trainings, self-assessments and outreach assessment opportunities to help you become familiar with these tools. At this time the SACERS-U will continue to be the program assessment tool for school-age programs and classrooms. Southwestern Child Development Commission, www.swcdcinc.org, Child Care Resources Inc., https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/ and Early Years, https://www.earlyyearsnc.org/ offer DCDEE approved, on-line, self-paced and virtual real-time training and CEUs. SWCDC also offers affordable annual packages allowing you to take as many courses as you need or want for one price. The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® North Carolina Scholarship Program provides educational scholarships to early care professionals and those who perform specialized functions in the early care system. https://www.childcareservices.org/programs/teach-north-carolina/ Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template with a focus on the selected pathway. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have decided to follow Pathway #2: Classroom and Instructional Quality Pathway. We reviewed all forms for pathway #2 and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. You recently began using the Gee Whiz curriculum and we discussed formative assessment choices. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a science center with the sand area with a thermometer, and rain gauge, and a music center with pots and pans. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 .1714 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 12/17/2025 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 12/17/2025 Age: From 2 To 3 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 12/12/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/12/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. I observed the indoor and outdoor spaces. Upon arrival, children were creating Christmas crafts. Next, the children completed personal care routines before transitioning to the outdoor space. In the outdoor space, children investigated ice and played in the sand with toys. The children transitioned inside, washed their hands and sat at the table to eat a lunch that consisted of peanut butter on whole wheat bread, carrots, cheese slices, applesauce, and milk. The outdoor space was observed to have a large sand area, a portable slide, riding toys, and hula hoops to engage in gross motor activities. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 709 Equipment and toys were not in good repair and developmentally appropriate. In the outdoor space, there were two large dump truck toys that had peeling paint with exposed rust. The green shelf in the outdoor space, that holds blocks, was collapsing with sagging boards and peeling paint. 10 A NCAC 09.1720(a)(7) 2056 Documentation of the operator's Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was not completed and/or maintained on the template provided by the Division of Emergency Management. The operator had not completed the EPR Plan. 10A NCAC 09 .1714(c) & .1721(e)(1) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/31/25, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Outdoor Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Children are able to play freely with peers, expand their imagination beyond restraints of indoor activities, release energy and explore their sense of touch, smell, taste and their sense of motion. It is important that the outdoor area is checked daily and proper upkeep is conducted to ensure the environment is safe for use. In the outdoor space, there were two large dump truck toys that had peeling paint with exposed rust. The green shelf in the outdoor that holds blocks, was collapsing with sagging boards and peeling paint. During the visit, you removed the dump truck toys and you stated that you are looking for a replacement shelf as this shelf blocks the wires behind it. Check the outdoor area each day before the children arrive to ensure that hazards are removed. EPR Plan: Your program’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was created to assist you with following a plan in the event of an emergency. You must update your plan yearly or update the plan whenever changes occur in your program. The operator had not completed the EPR Plan. Today, the operator was able to show me the draft of the plan but had sections that needed to be completed in order to finalize the plan. You stated that you were having difficulties uploading information which had stopped you from completing the plan. Complete the EPR Plan and reach out to Craven Smart Start for aid in the completion of the plan. Send me a copy of the revision page of the plan with your compliance letter. Place a reminder in your calendar to review the plan annually. Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have not decided which pathway you will choose. We reviewed all forms for all the pathways and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a books to the reading center and replenishing the art materials. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 12/17/2025 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 12/17/2025 Age: From 2 To 3 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 02:30 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 5/22/25. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was eighty eight percent as of 12/12/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 12/12/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. I observed the indoor and outdoor spaces. Upon arrival, children were creating Christmas crafts. Next, the children completed personal care routines before transitioning to the outdoor space. In the outdoor space, children investigated ice and played in the sand with toys. The children transitioned inside, washed their hands and sat at the table to eat a lunch that consisted of peanut butter on whole wheat bread, carrots, cheese slices, applesauce, and milk. The outdoor space was observed to have a large sand area, a portable slide, riding toys, and hula hoops to engage in gross motor activities. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 709 Equipment and toys were not in good repair and developmentally appropriate. In the outdoor space, there were two large dump truck toys that had peeling paint with exposed rust. The green shelf in the outdoor space, that holds blocks, was collapsing with sagging boards and peeling paint. 10 A NCAC 09.1720(a)(7) 2056 Documentation of the operator's Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was not completed and/or maintained on the template provided by the Division of Emergency Management. The operator had not completed the EPR Plan. 10A NCAC 09 .1714(c) & .1721(e)(1) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 12/31/25, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Outdoor Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Children are able to play freely with peers, expand their imagination beyond restraints of indoor activities, release energy and explore their sense of touch, smell, taste and their sense of motion. It is important that the outdoor area is checked daily and proper upkeep is conducted to ensure the environment is safe for use. In the outdoor space, there were two large dump truck toys that had peeling paint with exposed rust. The green shelf in the outdoor that holds blocks, was collapsing with sagging boards and peeling paint. During the visit, you removed the dump truck toys and you stated that you are looking for a replacement shelf as this shelf blocks the wires behind it. Check the outdoor area each day before the children arrive to ensure that hazards are removed. EPR Plan: Your program’s Emergency Preparedness and Response plan was created to assist you with following a plan in the event of an emergency. You must update your plan yearly or update the plan whenever changes occur in your program. The operator had not completed the EPR Plan. Today, the operator was able to show me the draft of the plan but had sections that needed to be completed in order to finalize the plan. You stated that you were having difficulties uploading information which had stopped you from completing the plan. Complete the EPR Plan and reach out to Craven Smart Start for aid in the completion of the plan. Send me a copy of the revision page of the plan with your compliance letter. Place a reminder in your calendar to review the plan annually. Additional Comments: QRIS (Quality Rating Improvement System) Technical Assistance: All information on the QRIS rated license assessments and documents will be posted at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/QRISModernization and will also be provided through emails and Raise NC newsletters. During the visit we completed the QRIS Conversation Template. Your QRIS assessment is due by 12/31/2026. You have not decided which pathway you will choose. We reviewed all forms for all the pathways and accessed them at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. 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. NCID: Did you know that if you do not login on 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 every 6 months to login and out at https://myncid.nc.gov to keep your account activated and it will NOT be archived. Outdoor Outdoor Learning Environments Work Plan: Bring nature to children by naturalizing childcare centers and family child care homes, schools, residential neighborhoods, parks and greenways, community centers, cultural facilities, botanical gardens, museums and other nonformal education institutions. Today, we discussed adding a books to the reading center and replenishing the art materials. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, and technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, 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 09.1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/22/2025 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 5/22/2025 Age: From 1 To 6 Total Minutes: 150 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 6/10/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety four percent as of 5/20/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/20/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were filling and playing in the water table in the outdoor space. The children were transported to a local school to pick up an enrolled child. When the children returned, they washed their hands and sat at the table to eat lunch. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, salad, rice, pineapples, and milk. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Operator did not successfully complete a first aid course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) First aid training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of First Aid expired 3/25. .1703(a)(2) 511 Operator did not successfully complete a CPR course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) CPR training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of CPR expired 3/25. .1703(a)(3) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/5/25, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: CPR/First Aid: Knowing what to do in an emergency medical situation can mean the difference between life or death. Being trained in CPR and first aid can be invaluable when someone is in serious medical distress. Therefore, it is very important that all staff working directly with children have current CPR and First Aid Certification. The operator’s certification of CPR and First Aid expired 3/25. You stated that you had trouble finding a training before it expires and are scheduled to take a training this weekend. Place a reminder in your digital calendar several months in advance of the expiration date of the certification to ensure that certification remains current. Attach a copy of the certification with the compliance letter. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had left and returned. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. Additional Comments: Take the next steps to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards in your facility! Check your program’s status in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ Facility Data Mapper to determine next steps: 1. Enroll in all three sections of the program - lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. 2. View available results on your dashboard or on the facility data mapper. 3. List any mitigation actions taken at your facility from your dashboard. Remember, NC public school and child care facilities are required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ is designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements, receive direct support throughout the participation process, and have access to communication resources. This program is free, covers testing, inspections, and mitigation, and is intended to improve child-occupied facilities across North Carolina. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: NCRLAP’s mission is to promote the quality of child care by consistently and reliably assessing environments for the North Carolina Star Rated License. We collaborate with professionals in the early childhood education field to foster the development and learning of young children. The website ncrlap.org offers resources, trainings, videos, worksheets, and getting ready for FCCERS-3. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/22/2025 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 5/22/2025 Age: From 1 To 6 Total Minutes: 150 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 6/10/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety four percent as of 5/20/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/20/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were filling and playing in the water table in the outdoor space. The children were transported to a local school to pick up an enrolled child. When the children returned, they washed their hands and sat at the table to eat lunch. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, salad, rice, pineapples, and milk. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Operator did not successfully complete a first aid course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) First aid training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of First Aid expired 3/25. .1703(a)(2) 511 Operator did not successfully complete a CPR course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) CPR training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of CPR expired 3/25. .1703(a)(3) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/5/25, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: CPR/First Aid: Knowing what to do in an emergency medical situation can mean the difference between life or death. Being trained in CPR and first aid can be invaluable when someone is in serious medical distress. Therefore, it is very important that all staff working directly with children have current CPR and First Aid Certification. The operator’s certification of CPR and First Aid expired 3/25. You stated that you had trouble finding a training before it expires and are scheduled to take a training this weekend. Place a reminder in your digital calendar several months in advance of the expiration date of the certification to ensure that certification remains current. Attach a copy of the certification with the compliance letter. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had left and returned. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. Additional Comments: Take the next steps to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards in your facility! Check your program’s status in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ Facility Data Mapper to determine next steps: 1. Enroll in all three sections of the program - lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. 2. View available results on your dashboard or on the facility data mapper. 3. List any mitigation actions taken at your facility from your dashboard. Remember, NC public school and child care facilities are required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ is designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements, receive direct support throughout the participation process, and have access to communication resources. This program is free, covers testing, inspections, and mitigation, and is intended to improve child-occupied facilities across North Carolina. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: NCRLAP’s mission is to promote the quality of child care by consistently and reliably assessing environments for the North Carolina Star Rated License. We collaborate with professionals in the early childhood education field to foster the development and learning of young children. The website ncrlap.org offers resources, trainings, videos, worksheets, and getting ready for FCCERS-3. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 5/22/2025 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 5/22/2025 Age: From 1 To 6 Total Minutes: 150 Time In: 10:30 AM Time Out: 01:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 6/10/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety four percent as of 5/20/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 5/20/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were filling and playing in the water table in the outdoor space. The children were transported to a local school to pick up an enrolled child. When the children returned, they washed their hands and sat at the table to eat lunch. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, salad, rice, pineapples, and milk. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 508 Operator did not successfully complete a first aid course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) First aid training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of First Aid expired 3/25. .1703(a)(2) 511 Operator did not successfully complete a CPR course as referenced in Rule.1702(b)(2) CPR training was not renewed on or before the expiration of the certification. The operator’s certification of CPR expired 3/25. .1703(a)(3) 910 Copy of each child's health assessment, including the operator's own preschool child(ren), was not on file within 30 days of enrollment. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. GS 110-91(1); 10A NCAC 09.1721(a)(1) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/5/25, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: CPR/First Aid: Knowing what to do in an emergency medical situation can mean the difference between life or death. Being trained in CPR and first aid can be invaluable when someone is in serious medical distress. Therefore, it is very important that all staff working directly with children have current CPR and First Aid Certification. The operator’s certification of CPR and First Aid expired 3/25. You stated that you had trouble finding a training before it expires and are scheduled to take a training this weekend. Place a reminder in your digital calendar several months in advance of the expiration date of the certification to ensure that certification remains current. Attach a copy of the certification with the compliance letter. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. A child enrolled 9/3/24 did not have a medical report on file. You stated that the child had left and returned. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document when you receive documents to ensure that you have all documents on file when they are due. Additional Comments: Take the next steps to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards in your facility! Check your program’s status in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ Facility Data Mapper to determine next steps: 1. Enroll in all three sections of the program - lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. 2. View available results on your dashboard or on the facility data mapper. 3. List any mitigation actions taken at your facility from your dashboard. Remember, NC public school and child care facilities are required to meet rule requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816). Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ is designed to ensure facilities meet all requirements, receive direct support throughout the participation process, and have access to communication resources. This program is free, covers testing, inspections, and mitigation, and is intended to improve child-occupied facilities across North Carolina. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project: NCRLAP’s mission is to promote the quality of child care by consistently and reliably assessing environments for the North Carolina Star Rated License. We collaborate with professionals in the early childhood education field to foster the development and learning of young children. The website ncrlap.org offers resources, trainings, videos, worksheets, and getting ready for FCCERS-3. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 .1719 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2025 Number Present: 3 Completed Date: 1/13/2025 Age: From 2 To 2 Total Minutes: 205 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 12:10 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 6/10/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety six percent as of 1/7/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 1/7/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. I observed the indoor and outdoor spaces. Upon arrival, children were sitting at the table to eat fruit loops cereal, oranges, and milk. After breakfast, personal care routines were completed before the children were engaged in free play in activity centers. The operator assisted the children in creating snowflake crafts with paper and scissors. The children transitioned to the outdoor space and engaged in gross motor activities before coming inside to have lunch. Lunch was observed and consisted of turkey on whole wheat bread, corn, green beans, grapes, and milk. The outdoor space was observed to have a large sand area, portable slide, riding toys, stepping stones, and hula hoops to engage in gross motor activities. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 709 Equipment and toys were not in good repair and developmentally appropriate. The Monkey Bars Toddler Gym Tower in the outdoor space was made for children (3) three to (8) years of age. 10 A NCAC 09.1720(a)(7) 1101 Operator or other transportation provider did not have written permission from each child's parents or guardian to transport the child. Six (6) out of six (6) children enrolled did not have written permission forms on file. .1723(5) 1856 The operator did not complete the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training within the required timeframe and/or documentation of completion of the training was not on file. The operator completed the EPR in Child Care training on 11/21/24 and was required to complete it by 7/6/24. .1714(b) 2022 Operator and/or staff members did not complete the required health and safety trainings within the specified time frame. The operator completed health and safety trainings on 12/16/24 and was required to complete them by 7/6/24. .1703(b) 2048 Products that are labeled “keep out of reach of children” with an additional warning(s) on the label, were not kept in locked storage while children were in care. A bottle of White Out was located on the art shelf beside other art materials. 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 1/27/25, 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 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 may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. Six (6) out of six (6) children enrolled did not have written permission forms on file. We discussed that transportation permission forms are needed for every time that children are transported. Without an additional caregiver available to stay at the home while you transport children, you stated that all the children travel with you to take children to and from a local school. You have copies of the transportation permission forms in your transportation binder that we reviewed during the visit. You had updated your written plan of care to reflect the transportation times as required. Ensure that each child has a transportation permission form on file for the routine transportation that you provide daily. Outdoor Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Children are able to play freely with peers, expand their imagination beyond restraints of indoor activities, release energy and explore their sense of touch, smell, taste and their sense of motion. It is important that the outdoor area has materials that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the children in care. The Monkey Bars Toddler Gym Tower in the outdoor space was made for children (3) three to (8) years of age. You stated that you purchased the climber from Target and thought that it would be appropriate for the children since it is labeled for toddlers. We discussed that it is important to read the manual for any equipment that is added. You stated that you will remove the climber until all the children have reached the age of three. EPR Plan: Family child care homes need to develop an EPR Plan that will address how the operator will respond to emergency situations. The operator shall take the EPR in Child Care training to help them prepare this plan within one year of the effective date of new license. This plan should be created on the template provided by the division within four months of the completion of EPR training which will include all of the necessary procedures and documents needed. The template can be found at this web address https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/#. The operator completed the EPR in Child Care training on 11/21/24 and was required to be completed by 7/6/24. You stated that it was difficult to find a training. We discussed that that EPR plan needs to be completed by 3/21/25. Storage of Hazardous Items: Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. A bottle of White Out was located on the art shelf beside other art materials. We discussed that since the product has keep out of reach of children and additional warnings that it needs to be locked and you immediately placed it in locked storage. I emailed you a copy of hazardous storage for child care to review when checking learning environments daily to ensure that hazardous products are stored correctly. Health & Safety Training: Health & Safety (H&S) Training includes training in 9 topic areas plus Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid. New staff are required to complete 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. The operator completed health and safety trainings on 12/16/24 and was required to be completed by 7/6/24. We discussed that the trainings will not need to be completed again for five years. Additional Comments: First Aid and CPR: First Aid and CPR are required within three months of hire and then every two years. This ensures the staff are skilled at up-to-date techniques for first aid or other lifesaving skills. It also provides a refresher so that you are confident to act in a medical emergency. You need to complete CPR and First aid training by 3/25. You stated that you will look for a training to complete. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the deadline for enrolling in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids testing for lead in water, lead paint, and asbestos has been extended to May 31, 2025. If you have not completed the online enrollment, online training, and initial survey, complete this for your facility as soon as possible. Funding is available for licensed facilities that need lead paint or asbestos mitigation. Enroll today athttps://www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org/enroll. If you have enrolled for only one or two of the program sections, log back in to complete surveys for the remaining section(s) to comply with the rule requirements. November Rule Changes: Training Modules Available in DCDEE Moodle- The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the November 2024 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission adopted changes to child care rule .0713 Staff/Child Ratios for Centers. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note some of the changes may or may not impact your facility. The major change is related to the staff/child ratios for centers located in a residence. You can access a summary of the changes, but for specific details regarding these changes please ensure you are using the updated November 1, 2024 rule book and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, go to the MyNCID Portal and select Register Now. After creating the MyNCID account, wait approximately 1 hour, then login on Moodle. Allow 24-36 hours for a reply. Do NOT try to log in with your email address. Use your MyNCID username and password. Your MyNCID username is NOT your email address. You will not be able to log in with your email address. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and are enrolling for the first time, learn how to navigate Moodle. You can also access Moodle through DCDEE's website homepage. Need help? Email DCDEE_MOODLE_SUPPORT@dhhs.nc.gov, or call (919) 814-6339 or (800) 722-3946. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 1/13/2025 Number Present: 3 Completed Date: 1/13/2025 Age: From 2 To 2 Total Minutes: 205 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 12:10 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for a routine unannounced visit. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 6/10/24. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety six percent as of 1/7/25. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 1/7/25 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. I observed the indoor and outdoor spaces. Upon arrival, children were sitting at the table to eat fruit loops cereal, oranges, and milk. After breakfast, personal care routines were completed before the children were engaged in free play in activity centers. The operator assisted the children in creating snowflake crafts with paper and scissors. The children transitioned to the outdoor space and engaged in gross motor activities before coming inside to have lunch. Lunch was observed and consisted of turkey on whole wheat bread, corn, green beans, grapes, and milk. The outdoor space was observed to have a large sand area, portable slide, riding toys, stepping stones, and hula hoops to engage in gross motor activities. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 709 Equipment and toys were not in good repair and developmentally appropriate. The Monkey Bars Toddler Gym Tower in the outdoor space was made for children (3) three to (8) years of age. 10 A NCAC 09.1720(a)(7) 1101 Operator or other transportation provider did not have written permission from each child's parents or guardian to transport the child. Six (6) out of six (6) children enrolled did not have written permission forms on file. .1723(5) 1856 The operator did not complete the Emergency Preparedness and Response in Child Care training within the required timeframe and/or documentation of completion of the training was not on file. The operator completed the EPR in Child Care training on 11/21/24 and was required to complete it by 7/6/24. .1714(b) 2022 Operator and/or staff members did not complete the required health and safety trainings within the specified time frame. The operator completed health and safety trainings on 12/16/24 and was required to complete them by 7/6/24. .1703(b) 2048 Products that are labeled “keep out of reach of children” with an additional warning(s) on the label, were not kept in locked storage while children were in care. A bottle of White Out was located on the art shelf beside other art materials. 10A NCAC 09 .1719(a)(7) Child care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 1/27/25, 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 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 may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Violations: Transportation: Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in children two to fourteen years of age in the United States. It is necessary for the safety of children to require that the caregiver/teacher comply with requirements governing the transportation of children in care, in the absence of the parent/guardian. Six (6) out of six (6) children enrolled did not have written permission forms on file. We discussed that transportation permission forms are needed for every time that children are transported. Without an additional caregiver available to stay at the home while you transport children, you stated that all the children travel with you to take children to and from a local school. You have copies of the transportation permission forms in your transportation binder that we reviewed during the visit. You had updated your written plan of care to reflect the transportation times as required. Ensure that each child has a transportation permission form on file for the routine transportation that you provide daily. Outdoor Environment: The outdoor learning environment offers a sense of freedom for children. Children are able to play freely with peers, expand their imagination beyond restraints of indoor activities, release energy and explore their sense of touch, smell, taste and their sense of motion. It is important that the outdoor area has materials that are developmentally appropriate for the age of the children in care. The Monkey Bars Toddler Gym Tower in the outdoor space was made for children (3) three to (8) years of age. You stated that you purchased the climber from Target and thought that it would be appropriate for the children since it is labeled for toddlers. We discussed that it is important to read the manual for any equipment that is added. You stated that you will remove the climber until all the children have reached the age of three. EPR Plan: Family child care homes need to develop an EPR Plan that will address how the operator will respond to emergency situations. The operator shall take the EPR in Child Care training to help them prepare this plan within one year of the effective date of new license. This plan should be created on the template provided by the division within four months of the completion of EPR training which will include all of the necessary procedures and documents needed. The template can be found at this web address https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/#. The operator completed the EPR in Child Care training on 11/21/24 and was required to be completed by 7/6/24. You stated that it was difficult to find a training. We discussed that that EPR plan needs to be completed by 3/21/25. Storage of Hazardous Items: Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. A bottle of White Out was located on the art shelf beside other art materials. We discussed that since the product has keep out of reach of children and additional warnings that it needs to be locked and you immediately placed it in locked storage. I emailed you a copy of hazardous storage for child care to review when checking learning environments daily to ensure that hazardous products are stored correctly. Health & Safety Training: Health & Safety (H&S) Training includes training in 9 topic areas plus Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid. New staff are required to complete 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. The operator completed health and safety trainings on 12/16/24 and was required to be completed by 7/6/24. We discussed that the trainings will not need to be completed again for five years. Additional Comments: First Aid and CPR: First Aid and CPR are required within three months of hire and then every two years. This ensures the staff are skilled at up-to-date techniques for first aid or other lifesaving skills. It also provides a refresher so that you are confident to act in a medical emergency. You need to complete CPR and First aid training by 3/25. You stated that you will look for a training to complete. Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids: Due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, the deadline for enrolling in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids testing for lead in water, lead paint, and asbestos has been extended to May 31, 2025. If you have not completed the online enrollment, online training, and initial survey, complete this for your facility as soon as possible. Funding is available for licensed facilities that need lead paint or asbestos mitigation. Enroll today athttps://www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org/enroll. If you have enrolled for only one or two of the program sections, log back in to complete surveys for the remaining section(s) to comply with the rule requirements. November Rule Changes: Training Modules Available in DCDEE Moodle- The Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) is excited to share information about the November 2024 child care rule changes. The Child Care Commission adopted changes to child care rule .0713 Staff/Child Ratios for Centers. Consultants will assist as you begin to review and implement the changes, but please note some of the changes may or may not impact your facility. The major change is related to the staff/child ratios for centers located in a residence. You can access a summary of the changes, but for specific details regarding these changes please ensure you are using the updated November 1, 2024 rule book and view information in the DCDEE Moodle. You will need to have an NCID - the same NCID that you use for the health & safety training, WORKS login, and/or the CBC Portal - to participate in Moodle training. If you do not have an NCID, go to the MyNCID Portal and select Register Now. After creating the MyNCID account, wait approximately 1 hour, then login on Moodle. Allow 24-36 hours for a reply. Do NOT try to log in with your email address. Use your MyNCID username and password. Your MyNCID username is NOT your email address. You will not be able to log in with your email address. Rule training modules can be found in the same course as the October 2017 Child Care Rule Rollout. If you are unfamiliar with the Child Care Rule Rollout within Moodle and are enrolling for the first time, learn how to navigate Moodle. You can also access Moodle through DCDEE's website homepage. Need help? Email DCDEE_MOODLE_SUPPORT@dhhs.nc.gov, or call (919) 814-6339 or (800) 722-3946. Natural Learning Initiative: https://naturalearning.org/resources/ Resources are created, often in collaboration with the Natural Learning Initiative’s interdisciplinary partners, to support technical assistance, professional development, and generally to promote the importance of the natural environment in the daily experience of all children. Please use and share. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, 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 .1721 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 6/10/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 6/10/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 215 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:35 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 7/6/23. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety seven percent as of 6/4/24. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 6/4/24 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were finishing a breakfast of pancakes, strawberries, and milk. After breakfast, personal care routines were completed before the children sat at the table for circle time. The operator read the children the book A Father’s Love and then they created a Father’s Day craft. Next, the children transitioned to the outdoor space where they watered the garden with squash, watermelon, and peppers and played with toys in the water table. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, salad, blueberries, bread, and milk. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. A jug of Up and Up Disinfecting Bleach was stored on top of the refrigerator. .1719 (a)(7) 2033 Signed discipline statement did not include the required information, as outlined in rule. Three (3) out of the five (5) children’s files reviewed did not have the date of enrollment on the statement signed by the parent that discipline policy received and explained. .1727(c )(1-3) 2047 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The incident log had not been maintained since 11/15/23. 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/24/24, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Incident Report Log: When an injury occurs in the facility that results in first aid or medical attention for a child or adult, the facility should complete an incident report. An incident log must be completed any time an incident report is completed. It must include the child’s name, date of the incident, the date the incident report was submitted to the Division (if applicable), the name of the staff member who completed the incident report, be cumulative and maintained in a separate file and available for review by a representative of the Division. Injury patterns and child abuse and neglect can be discerned from such records and can be used to prevent future problems. The incident log had not been maintained since 11/15/23. We discussed that anytime an incident report is completed, it must be written on the incident log. You stated that you will be sure to log incidents on the log moving forward. After you get the parent’s signature, log the report before filing it in the child’s file. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. When enrolling children into the facility, a statement regarding the facility’s discipline policy must be signed by parents and include the child’s name and date of enrollment. Three (3) out of the five (5) children’s files reviewed did not have the date of enrollment on the statement signed by the parent that discipline policy received and explained. We discussed that the checklist that parents sign to acknowledge that policies have been reviewed and discussed has a place to put the the child’s date of enrollment, but it was missing. You stated that you will add the date of enrollment to all signature pages. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document the child’s date of enrollment and the dates of all the documentation on the list to ensure that you have the necessary documents when they are due. Storage of Hazardous Items: Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. A jug of Up and Up Disinfecting Bleach was stored on top of the refrigerator. We discussed that bleach must be kept in locked storage. You stated that you keep cleaning products locked in your bedroom but had been using it this morning but may add a lock to the laundry room door. You placed the bleach in locked storage during the visit to correct the violation. I provided you with a hazardous storage flyer during the visit to post for review. Check the caregiving space each day before the children arrive to ensure that all hazardous products are stored properly. Additional Comments: EPR Plan: The operator shall take the EPR in Child Care training to help them prepare this plan within one year of the effective date of new license (by 7/6/24). This plan should be created on the template provided by the division within four months of the completion of EPR training which will include all of the necessary procedures and documents needed. The template can be found at this web address https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/#. During the visit, you stated that you were unable to take the class that was held in May as it was canceled and will reach out to Craven Smart Start to see when the next training will be held. Health & Safety Training: Health & Safety (H&S) Training includes training in 9 topic areas plus Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid. New staff are required to complete 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. You must complete the health and safety trainings by 7/6/24. You stated that you are unable to log in to Moodle and have contacted the help desk for assistance. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. Southwestern Child Development Commission https://www.swcdcinc.org/ offers a variety of online courses and trainings, including BSAC. We discussed this site being a resource for completing on-going training hours, BSAC, and orientation. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: BRITTANY JONES Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 6/10/2024 Number Present: 5 Completed Date: 6/10/2024 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 215 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 12:35 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home 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. T. Bryant, Operator, assisted me with today’s visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued 1/7/24, earning 6 points in the education component, 7 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point for infant capacity restricted to no more than two children under one year of age. The last annual compliance visit was conducted 7/6/23. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety seven percent as of 6/4/24. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 6/4/24 and this facility is not currently owned or operated by a corporation. Please contact me prior to any changes regarding ownership of this facility. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. All indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored. Upon arrival, the children were finishing a breakfast of pancakes, strawberries, and milk. After breakfast, personal care routines were completed before the children sat at the table for circle time. The operator read the children the book A Father’s Love and then they created a Father’s Day craft. Next, the children transitioned to the outdoor space where they watered the garden with squash, watermelon, and peppers and played with toys in the water table. The outdoor space was observed to have a portable slide, riding toys, balls, and hula hoops for the children to engage in gross motor activities. Lunch was observed and consisted of chicken nuggets, salad, blueberries, bread, and milk. The following violation(s) were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. A jug of Up and Up Disinfecting Bleach was stored on top of the refrigerator. .1719 (a)(7) 2033 Signed discipline statement did not include the required information, as outlined in rule. Three (3) out of the five (5) children’s files reviewed did not have the date of enrollment on the statement signed by the parent that discipline policy received and explained. .1727(c )(1-3) 2047 Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required. The incident log had not been maintained since 11/15/23. 10A NCAC 09 .1721(e)(4) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 6/24/24, 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 any information submitted by you is 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: Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant PO Box 3272 New Bern, NC 28564 Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 Technical Assistance with Documented Violations: Incident Report Log: When an injury occurs in the facility that results in first aid or medical attention for a child or adult, the facility should complete an incident report. An incident log must be completed any time an incident report is completed. It must include the child’s name, date of the incident, the date the incident report was submitted to the Division (if applicable), the name of the staff member who completed the incident report, be cumulative and maintained in a separate file and available for review by a representative of the Division. Injury patterns and child abuse and neglect can be discerned from such records and can be used to prevent future problems. The incident log had not been maintained since 11/15/23. We discussed that anytime an incident report is completed, it must be written on the incident log. You stated that you will be sure to log incidents on the log moving forward. After you get the parent’s signature, log the report before filing it in the child’s file. Children’s Records: Children's records consist of various documentation such as a child's medical and immunization history, emergency medical care information and parental permission to participate in specific activities. This information is the basis for meeting each child's physical, emotional, cognitive and social needs. When enrolling children into the facility, a statement regarding the facility’s discipline policy must be signed by parents and include the child’s name and date of enrollment. Three (3) out of the five (5) children’s files reviewed did not have the date of enrollment on the statement signed by the parent that discipline policy received and explained. We discussed that the checklist that parents sign to acknowledge that policies have been reviewed and discussed has a place to put the the child’s date of enrollment, but it was missing. You stated that you will add the date of enrollment to all signature pages. Use the Children’s File Checklist to document the child’s date of enrollment and the dates of all the documentation on the list to ensure that you have the necessary documents when they are due. Storage of Hazardous Items: Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. A jug of Up and Up Disinfecting Bleach was stored on top of the refrigerator. We discussed that bleach must be kept in locked storage. You stated that you keep cleaning products locked in your bedroom but had been using it this morning but may add a lock to the laundry room door. You placed the bleach in locked storage during the visit to correct the violation. I provided you with a hazardous storage flyer during the visit to post for review. Check the caregiving space each day before the children arrive to ensure that all hazardous products are stored properly. Additional Comments: EPR Plan: The operator shall take the EPR in Child Care training to help them prepare this plan within one year of the effective date of new license (by 7/6/24). This plan should be created on the template provided by the division within four months of the completion of EPR training which will include all of the necessary procedures and documents needed. The template can be found at this web address https://rmp.nc.gov/portal/#. During the visit, you stated that you were unable to take the class that was held in May as it was canceled and will reach out to Craven Smart Start to see when the next training will be held. Health & Safety Training: Health & Safety (H&S) Training includes training in 9 topic areas plus Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment and CPR/First Aid. New staff are required to complete 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. You must complete the health and safety trainings by 7/6/24. You stated that you are unable to log in to Moodle and have contacted the help desk for assistance. To get help with Moodle, email DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-9326. Southwestern Child Development Commission https://www.swcdcinc.org/ offers a variety of online courses and trainings, including BSAC. We discussed this site being a resource for completing on-going training hours, BSAC, and orientation. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at Brittany Jones, Child Care Consultant, (252) 947-1036, Brittany.j.jones@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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 LEARNING NEST Facility ID: 25000621 Consultant: LAKISHA SKINNER Operation Type: Family CC Home Case Number: Visit Date: 8/23/2023 Number Present: 4 Completed Date: 8/23/2023 Age: From 1 To 3 Total Minutes: 262 Time In: 08:53 AM Time Out: 01:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Family CC Home Type Of Visit: Temp Time Period Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced * The purpose of today's visit was to monitor your program for compliance with all applicable child care requirements during the first temporary time period visit (TTP). You, Tamasharay Bryant, Owner/Operator, assisted me with the visit. This facility was issued a temporary license on July 6, 2023, providing first and second shift care. We reviewed your facility contact information listed on the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE) website and all information is current. Contact me if you need to make any changes to your contact information, e.g., phone numbers, mailing address. A walk through of the entire facility was completed. I observed the indoor and outdoor environment and completed a full assessment of the licensed space. Children were observed engaged in free play activities, personal care routines, and group time. The outdoor play area provided additional space and materials to promote physical development and gross motor skills. Garden beds have been added. Tomatoes, watermelon, and green onions have been planted. Lunch was observed today, and it included turkey, rice, orange slices, and milk. We discussed the rated license process. You were reminded a compliance history score of seventy five percent or above must be maintained in order to receive a rated license. You completed the Application for Assessment for a Two Component Star Rated License and requested the Environment Rating Scales (ERS). The ERS Request Form was completed during the visit. I explained the process to register and submit information in the DCDEE WORKS System. Only the information reflected in WORKS will be used to determine the number of points earned in the education component. We discussed the quality point options. For continued eligibility in the subsidized child care program, you must achieve a three star or higher rated license at the end of the temporary licensed period. The following violations were documented. Violation Number Comment Rule 706 Corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, and products under pressure in an aerosol dispenser and any substance that may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not kept in locked storage when children were in care. The unlocked laundry room located in the designated childcare space contained detergents. .1719 (a)(7) 714 Monthly check for hazards on the outdoor play area was not completed using a form supplied by the Division. Documentation of a monthly fire drill for July 2023 was not available for review. 10A NCAC .1721(e)(5)(A-F) 1718 The written plan of care was not given and explained to parents of children in care on or before the first day the child attended the home. Parents did not sign a statement acknowledging the receipt and explanation of the plan. Parents did not give written permission for their child to be transported by the operator for specific routine tasks that are included on the written schedule. A written plan of care was not provided and explained to each parent before the first day the children attended the home. .1712(e )(6) 1853 The operator did not conduct a monthly fire drill. Documentation of a monthly fire drill for July 2023 was not available for review. .1719(a)(15) & .1721( e)(2) * Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4)(d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before 9/6/23, 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 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: Lakisha Skinner, Child Care Consultant PO BOX 431 Grimesland, NC 27837 Lakisha.Skinner@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) 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 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WITH THE DOCUMENTED VIOLATION (S): Plastic Bags - Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. Plastic bags have been recognized for many years as a suffocation hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has received average annual reports of twenty-five deaths per year to children due to suffocation from plastic bags. Plastic bags must be inaccessible to children less than three years of age. A box of trash bags and plastic bags were stored in a lower kitchen cabinet that included a safety latch and not an approved locking device. All plastic bags must be stored out of reach of the children. A product is considered inaccessible to children when stored in a locked space, on a shelf or in an unlocked cabinet that is mounted a minimum vertical distance of five feet above a finished floor. Storage of Hazardous Products - Intentional planning of the environment ensures a safe environment has been created which prevents and reduces injuries to young children. Laundry detergents were observed in the unlocked laundry room located in the designated childcare space. Prevention is the key to prevent poisonings by making sure cleaning supplies are kept in locked storage. You indicated you had taken the basket out to give to your daughter and forgotten it was on the bench. Thank you for taking immediate action by storing the basket in a locked room. Outdoor Inspections - Outdoor inspections must be completed and documented monthly on the Outdoor Inspection Checklist for Family Child Care Homes form. Documentation of the completion of a monthly outdoor inspection was not on file for the month of July 2023. The monthly checklist must be maintained for 12 months in your files. Completing your fire drill and monthly playground inspections on the same day is a great way to ensure compliance with this requirement. Fire Drills - Facilities must develop a plan for responding in the event of a fire in or near the facility that includes your responsibilities and protocols regarding evacuation and notifying emergency personnel and families. Documentation of the completion of a fire drill for the month of July 2023 was not available for review. Planning drills on your activity plan each month will help to ensure they are completed within required timeframes. ADDITIONAL COMMENTS/ REMINDERS: Be knowledgeable of the child care laws and rules, review the with your center staff, and assist your staff with maintaining compliance with the laws and rules. The most recent version of laws and rules regarding child care facilities in North Carolina are available on the DCDEE website, https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Craven Smart Start is also able to provide you with resources and information, training opportunities, technical assistance on childcare issues. Their phone number is (252) 636- 3198 or check out their website at www.cravensmartstart.org. NITTO - The Birth-to-Three Quality Initiative and DCDEE are offering a New Infant Toddler Teacher Orientation (NITTO). * Free online format, with 14 credit hours upon completion * Comprehensive training completed in 7 weeks * Practical knowledge that you can apply in a birth-to-three classroom Understand your value as a birth-to-three teacher and ways to care for yourself while caring for our youngest. Find the course at dcdee.moodle.nc.gov. Individuals will need to have an NCID to access the Moodle site. The NC Early Childhood Credential Equivalency Exam is another pathway option comparable to a NC Early Childhood Credential. This equivalency exam assesses the foundations of culturally responsive, equitable and inclusive early childhood education, planning intentional developmentally appropriate experiences, learning activities, and teaching strategies for indoor and outdoor environments for all young children, guidance techniques, and professionalism. Moodle Support – The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, 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. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at (252) 820-5976, Lakisha.Skinner@dhhs.nc.gov or Jennifer Linhardt, Licensing Supervisor, (252) 373-4199, 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