Stepping Stones Learning Academy, LLC

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: STEPPING STONES LEARNING ACADEMY, LLC Facility ID: 47000318 Consultant: ALECIA PASCHAL Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/3/2024 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 5/3/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 190 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 12:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an unannounced annual compliance visit. Erika Brown-Campbell, Administrator, was on the premises and I reviewed this visit summary documentation with Ms. Brown-Campbell at the end of today’s visit. This program currently operates with a three-star license, issued November 28, 2022. License restrictions include first and second shift and meets enhanced ratios. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on May 10, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed on March 4, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on May 12, 2023. The center's compliance history was ninety-nine percent (99%) on May 3, 2024, and it was reviewed with the operator. I visited each indoor and outdoor space. The infants were observed participating in tummy-time. The toddlers were observed playing freely indoors. The rest of the children were observed playing on the playground. Lunch was observed and the menu consisted of the following: ground beef with taco seasoning, corn taco shells, sweet corn, pineapple tidbits, and milk. The Children's Records Worksheet, and the Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist were completed during the visit. The Staff and Training Worksheet was completed today. Staff/child ratio, group size, supervision, use of licensed space, space capacity, license restrictions, and the outdoor environment were monitored. The license and emergency care plan were posted. Fire drills, medication administration, and storage of hazardous products were also monitored. Rated license requirements were reviewed to ensure compliance was maintained with current program and education components as well as the quality point. The following violations were observed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Metal bolts and stakes were rusted. Three stakes were not flush with the plastic barrier, and six plastic barriers were cracked. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) Child Care programs are expected to always achieve and maintain compliance 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 May 17, 2024, 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: Alecia Paschal, Child Care Consultant, 509 Pilot Avenue, NC 28303 or to alecia.paschal@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 CONSULTATION: You are aware that your fire inspections are to be done annually. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to contact your local fire inspector, pay your fee and schedule an appointment for the Fire Marshall to come out and conduct your fire inspection by May 12, 2024. Prior to that, have all staff complete their annual fire extinguisher training. Have documentation available for review for the Fire Marshall. This training is free online. The following was verified during today’s visit: The program’s mailing address: 403 W. Donaldson Avenue Raeford, NC 28376. The program’s telephone number: (910) 916-6918. The program’s email address is center is erika_browncampbell@yahoo.com. The NC Secretary of State was reviewed today, and Stepping Stones Child Care Academy, LLC was listed on the Secretary of State website as current - active. Technical assistance: You can get health and safety trainings through multiple avenues to include the DCDEE platform for professional development known as Moodle. Here is the link: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/index.php. Log In (upper right-hand corner) with your NCID and go to Professional Development. Go to Navigation on the left-hand side and open the Regulatory drop-down box. Go to 2024 Medication Administration. Go to 2024 CCDF Health and Safety. Sign up for both. In addition, you will need to take the recognizing and responding to the signs and symptoms of child maltreatment training through prevent Child Abuse NC. Here is the link: https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/online-trainings/. This covers all the training you must have at least every 5 years except for ITS/SIDS, CPR and First Aid which is until they expire. If you have trouble with your NCID, you will need to contact them through their help line to reset your password. Go to ncid.nc.gov and follow the prompts. It is important to remember that you can get training in the listed topics (see the attached cover sheet) from other sources if they are approved DCDEE trainings. For example: The Beyond Band-Aids offered through Hoke County Smart Start covers many of the topics. Penn State Extensions Better Kid Care offers the Required Health and Safety Training for $15. Here is the link: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/ccdbg . I hope this information helps! Let me know if I may be of assistance! Today we discussed how children develop. You were also concerned about how to help parents track their own child’s development. I suggested a free resource through the Center for Disease Prevention to explain to parents how to track their own child’s milestones. Here is the address: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/wicguide/pdf/WIC-Implementation-Guide-Full-2021-P.pdf There is also a milestone app for parents to use on their smartphone. This will make it easier to partner with parents to provide children with additional help when they are not meeting milestones. They should be referred to their pediatrician or other professional to determine of additional services are needed. It is essential for teachers and parents of children to be purposeful in the way they interact with children in order to promote brain development. We discussed a simple term that can help you with parent engagement opportunities. Today we discussed serve and return and why making this connection with others is the “secret sauce” that encourages children to grow and develop. Teachers should plan activities that help the children through the zone of proximal development. NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development is a free resource tool for early educators to begin the process of assessing the developmental goals for their classroom lesson plan. Here is the link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Foundations-for-Early-Learning-and-Development I provided you a reproduceable hand-out from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University because “Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back-and-forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called “serve and return,” and it take two to play” (5 steps for brain-building serve and return. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 29).) There are many songs and fingerplays available to use in the classroom setting. Time honored favorites include pat-a-cake, this little piggy and peek-a-boo. The game of peek-a-boo is all about serve and return. “Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers breaks down the research-backed ways parents and caregivers can support children's healthy brain development. In this TEDTalk, Wright highlights the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior, and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five.” (Wright, M. (n.d.). How every child can thrive by five. Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five | TED Talk). When you are having a parent or staff meeting, this TEDtalk can assist you in illustrating this brain building concept. “The earliest years are all about relationships. Infants and toddlers crave and develop attachments to the special people in their lives. Depending on how parents, early childhood educators, and others treat them, babies also develop expectations about people and themselves. •Young infants (0 to 9 months) seek security. •Mobile infants (8 to 18 months) are eager to explore. •Toddlers (16 to 36 months) are working on their identity; they want to know who they are and who’s in charge. In childcare programs, relationships with families are critical. Caring teachers and caregivers learn from the experiences, knowledge, culture, and childrearing beliefs of family members.” (DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.). DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.).) 5 steps for brain-building serve and return. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 29). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/. Wright, M. (n.d.). How every child can thrive by five. Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five | TED Talk. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.ted.com/talks/molly_wright_how_every_child_can_thrive_by_five?fbclid=IwAR3jB-arYAdkPkaeAiKSfwD9G4OAS9D0Xwm-DMLaeoL9-p-5XQ4eU-m9XZA#t-48744 DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/dap/infants-and-toddlers To keep up with the newest updates from DCDEE please subscribe to receive emails at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed with you, signed and a copy was left with you. A copy of the Staff and Training Worksheet, Children's Records Worksheet, and the Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist were also left with you. Contact me at Alecia Paschal, Child Care Consultant, by phone at 910-489-0413, or by email at alecia.paschal@dhhs.nc.gov or Janet Edwards, Licensing Consultant, by phone at (910) 709-4160, or by email at Janet.Edwards@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: STEPPING STONES LEARNING ACADEMY, LLC Facility ID: 47000318 Consultant: ALECIA PASCHAL Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 5/3/2024 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 5/3/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 190 Time In: 09:30 AM Time Out: 12:40 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an unannounced annual compliance visit. Erika Brown-Campbell, Administrator, was on the premises and I reviewed this visit summary documentation with Ms. Brown-Campbell at the end of today’s visit. This program currently operates with a three-star license, issued November 28, 2022. License restrictions include first and second shift and meets enhanced ratios. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on May 10, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed on March 4, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on May 12, 2023. The center's compliance history was ninety-nine percent (99%) on May 3, 2024, and it was reviewed with the operator. I visited each indoor and outdoor space. The infants were observed participating in tummy-time. The toddlers were observed playing freely indoors. The rest of the children were observed playing on the playground. Lunch was observed and the menu consisted of the following: ground beef with taco seasoning, corn taco shells, sweet corn, pineapple tidbits, and milk. The Children's Records Worksheet, and the Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist were completed during the visit. The Staff and Training Worksheet was completed today. Staff/child ratio, group size, supervision, use of licensed space, space capacity, license restrictions, and the outdoor environment were monitored. The license and emergency care plan were posted. Fire drills, medication administration, and storage of hazardous products were also monitored. Rated license requirements were reviewed to ensure compliance was maintained with current program and education components as well as the quality point. The following violations were observed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Metal bolts and stakes were rusted. Three stakes were not flush with the plastic barrier, and six plastic barriers were cracked. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) Child Care programs are expected to always achieve and maintain compliance 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 May 17, 2024, 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: Alecia Paschal, Child Care Consultant, 509 Pilot Avenue, NC 28303 or to alecia.paschal@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 CONSULTATION: You are aware that your fire inspections are to be done annually. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to contact your local fire inspector, pay your fee and schedule an appointment for the Fire Marshall to come out and conduct your fire inspection by May 12, 2024. Prior to that, have all staff complete their annual fire extinguisher training. Have documentation available for review for the Fire Marshall. This training is free online. The following was verified during today’s visit: The program’s mailing address: 403 W. Donaldson Avenue Raeford, NC 28376. The program’s telephone number: (910) 916-6918. The program’s email address is center is erika_browncampbell@yahoo.com. The NC Secretary of State was reviewed today, and Stepping Stones Child Care Academy, LLC was listed on the Secretary of State website as current - active. Technical assistance: You can get health and safety trainings through multiple avenues to include the DCDEE platform for professional development known as Moodle. Here is the link: https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/course/index.php. Log In (upper right-hand corner) with your NCID and go to Professional Development. Go to Navigation on the left-hand side and open the Regulatory drop-down box. Go to 2024 Medication Administration. Go to 2024 CCDF Health and Safety. Sign up for both. In addition, you will need to take the recognizing and responding to the signs and symptoms of child maltreatment training through prevent Child Abuse NC. Here is the link: https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/online-trainings/. This covers all the training you must have at least every 5 years except for ITS/SIDS, CPR and First Aid which is until they expire. If you have trouble with your NCID, you will need to contact them through their help line to reset your password. Go to ncid.nc.gov and follow the prompts. It is important to remember that you can get training in the listed topics (see the attached cover sheet) from other sources if they are approved DCDEE trainings. For example: The Beyond Band-Aids offered through Hoke County Smart Start covers many of the topics. Penn State Extensions Better Kid Care offers the Required Health and Safety Training for $15. Here is the link: https://extension.psu.edu/programs/betterkidcare/early-care/ccdbg . I hope this information helps! Let me know if I may be of assistance! Today we discussed how children develop. You were also concerned about how to help parents track their own child’s development. I suggested a free resource through the Center for Disease Prevention to explain to parents how to track their own child’s milestones. Here is the address: https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/wicguide/pdf/WIC-Implementation-Guide-Full-2021-P.pdf There is also a milestone app for parents to use on their smartphone. This will make it easier to partner with parents to provide children with additional help when they are not meeting milestones. They should be referred to their pediatrician or other professional to determine of additional services are needed. It is essential for teachers and parents of children to be purposeful in the way they interact with children in order to promote brain development. We discussed a simple term that can help you with parent engagement opportunities. Today we discussed serve and return and why making this connection with others is the “secret sauce” that encourages children to grow and develop. Teachers should plan activities that help the children through the zone of proximal development. NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development is a free resource tool for early educators to begin the process of assessing the developmental goals for their classroom lesson plan. Here is the link: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Foundations-for-Early-Learning-and-Development I provided you a reproduceable hand-out from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University because “Child-adult relationships that are responsive and attentive—with lots of back-and-forth interactions—build a strong foundation in a child’s brain for all future learning and development. This is called “serve and return,” and it take two to play” (5 steps for brain-building serve and return. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 29).) There are many songs and fingerplays available to use in the classroom setting. Time honored favorites include pat-a-cake, this little piggy and peek-a-boo. The game of peek-a-boo is all about serve and return. “Molly Wright, one of the youngest-ever TED speakers breaks down the research-backed ways parents and caregivers can support children's healthy brain development. In this TEDTalk, Wright highlights the benefits of play on lifelong learning, behavior, and well-being, sharing effective strategies to help all kids thrive by the age of five.” (Wright, M. (n.d.). How every child can thrive by five. Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five | TED Talk). When you are having a parent or staff meeting, this TEDtalk can assist you in illustrating this brain building concept. “The earliest years are all about relationships. Infants and toddlers crave and develop attachments to the special people in their lives. Depending on how parents, early childhood educators, and others treat them, babies also develop expectations about people and themselves. •Young infants (0 to 9 months) seek security. •Mobile infants (8 to 18 months) are eager to explore. •Toddlers (16 to 36 months) are working on their identity; they want to know who they are and who’s in charge. In childcare programs, relationships with families are critical. Caring teachers and caregivers learn from the experiences, knowledge, culture, and childrearing beliefs of family members.” (DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.). DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.).) 5 steps for brain-building serve and return. Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2020, October 29). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return/. Wright, M. (n.d.). How every child can thrive by five. Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five | TED Talk. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.ted.com/talks/molly_wright_how_every_child_can_thrive_by_five?fbclid=IwAR3jB-arYAdkPkaeAiKSfwD9G4OAS9D0Xwm-DMLaeoL9-p-5XQ4eU-m9XZA#t-48744 DAP with infants and toddlers. NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.naeyc.org/resources/topics/dap/infants-and-toddlers To keep up with the newest updates from DCDEE please subscribe to receive emails at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Whats-New. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed with you, signed and a copy was left with you. A copy of the Staff and Training Worksheet, Children's Records Worksheet, and the Annual Compliance Monitoring Checklist were also left with you. Contact me at Alecia Paschal, Child Care Consultant, by phone at 910-489-0413, or by email at alecia.paschal@dhhs.nc.gov or Janet Edwards, Licensing Consultant, by phone at (910) 709-4160, or by email at Janet.Edwards@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