G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003906 Consultant: WANDA FOWLER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/1/2026 Number Present: 91 Completed Date: 6/1/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to assess applicable child-care requirements during a routine unannounced visit. The new director, Candice Alston, assisted me with today’s visit. Candice was assisting in a classroom when I arrived, so with her permission, I conducted a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor learning environments. I observed groups of children engaged in free play outdoors or in their classrooms. I also observed infant rest time and some large group activities. RATED LICENSE STATUS The program operates with a 5 star rated license issued on 7/26/24 through the Accreditation Pathway. The program’s NAEYC Accreditation is valid through 4/1/29. INSPECTIONS The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 7/9/25. The last fire inspection was conducted on 2/27/26. The last documented fire drill was conducted on 5/14/26. The last documented shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was conducted on 3/16/26. The last documented playground inspection was conducted on 5/13/26. The status of the owners, Kindercare Education, LLC., is listed as current and active on the NC Secretary of State website. Limited monitoring of childcare requirements was assessed during today’s visit. I reviewed 1 new staff files and confirmed staff have current CPR, First Aid, and ITS SIDS certificates, as required. The program does not transport children or enroll school-aged children; and the staff reported that no children had emergency medications, therefore, these requirements were not assessed. The following violations were observed and recorded during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. A pedal was missing from a tricycle on the playground used by the older preschool aged children. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. The unattended kitchen was unlocked during today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Diaper creams were stored in an unlocked cabinet in Infant 1. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member's qualification letter expired on 4/29/26. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 1065 Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years. Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. One infant staff member's training expired in January 2026. .1102(f) The above violations must be corrected immediately. By 6/15/26 please email me a signed letter of compliance. Before the letter is sent, all violations should be corrected; please contact me if additional time is needed to correct a specific violation. Include the following in your letter: facility ID number, list the item number describing how and when the violations were corrected and tell me how you plan to maintain compliance in the future with each item. If you prefer to mail your letter, you may send it to 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2201 If the compliance action letter is not received by the due date another visit to the center may be made and additional violations may be added. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history was 89%. According to NC General Statute 110-90 (4) (d) all facilities must maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past 18 months. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Making potentially hazardous materials inaccessible to young children is one of many practices that help to protect children. During today’s visit, the kitchen was unlocked. Sanitation rules require that the kitchens remain locked, when no staff member is present in the kitchen, because of burn hazards related to the water temperatures and the stove. Typically, chemicals used for dishwashing and cleaning products are also stored in the kitchen. Please remind all center staff to keep the kitchen door locked. Keeping equipment and furnishings in good repair is another way to ensure that children remain safe. One tricycle was missing a pedal, which poses a potential puncture risk. Pedals and handlebar guards can be purchased through a vendor. Please replace the pedal on this tricycle or remove it from the playground. ITS SIDS training is required for all staff working in the infant classroom. This ensures that all staff understand basic safe sleep practices. One staff member, who was working alone in the infant classroom, did not have documentation that she completed ITS SIDS training, when her current certificate expired 1/25/26. One staff member’s qualification letter expired 4/25/26 and a new letter was not on file. This employee may continue working in the center for up to 14 calendar days. If her new qualification letter is not received by 6/15/26 she will be unable to work until her letter is obtained. REMINDERS You have 3 staff members due to renew their criminal records by the end of the year. Staff should renew their criminal records prior to the expiration date and the criminal records can be renewed up to 6 months before it is due. CONSULTATION I left a copy of the Pre-Service Requirements for Center Administrator’s form with you. Please complete this form and return it to me as soon as possible. Centers are required to notify the Division of new employees within 5 days of hire. This is completed by linking employees to the program in the criminal records system. A search of the center’s roster from ABCMS indicates that no employees are linked to the program. Center directors can now access the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. This access will allow providers to: See the real-time background check status of staff members. Run a printable report of the staff roster to assist with compliance visits. See new background check applicants and add to staff roster. Access to the ABCMS requires the successful completion of a Moodle course consisting of a short video followed by a test. The course is titled ABCMS Child Care Provider Portal Training - under the Early Childhood Professional Development Tab, then under the Criminal Background (CBC) tab. If you have questions regarding the PROVIDER PORTAL contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-6401 or email: DCDEE_ABCMS_Provider@dhhs.nc.gov. For general questions regarding APPLICANTS, applications, or other CBC questions email: DHHS.CBC.Unit@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6401. To access your staff criminal records, they must have your program listed as their place of employment in ABCMS. This requirement is indicated as Item #7 on the staff and training worksheet and replaces the Data Change form that was previously required to be submitted to the Criminal Records Unit. It is recommended that staff add your program as their place of employment during the first few days of orientation. This change should be documented and placed in their file. The documentation could be a screenshot after the change is made or documented on the Orientation Form in the Other section. The date the change was made should be indicated in Item #7 on the staff and training worksheet during the staff member’s first year of employment. There are tutorials on the Criminal Records homepage to assist you with using the features on the website. All childcare facilities are required to test their drinking and cooking water for led every three years. Your water was last tested, 12/27/23. For more information, you should contact Clean Water for Carolina Kids. Contact www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org for more information. In addition, childcare facilities are now required to test for lead and asbestos hazards in their buildings. This center is determined to be exempt from testing for lead-based paint and asbestos. AGENCY UPDATES Please remember to check the Division of Child Development and Early Education website: ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov frequently to stay updated on rule requirements. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me at wanda.fowler@dhhs.nc.gov or by phone at 919 218-0988. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0601 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003906 Consultant: WANDA FOWLER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/1/2026 Number Present: 91 Completed Date: 6/1/2026 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 09:15 AM Time Out: 12:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to assess applicable child-care requirements during a routine unannounced visit. The new director, Candice Alston, assisted me with today’s visit. Candice was assisting in a classroom when I arrived, so with her permission, I conducted a walk-through of the indoor and outdoor learning environments. I observed groups of children engaged in free play outdoors or in their classrooms. I also observed infant rest time and some large group activities. RATED LICENSE STATUS The program operates with a 5 star rated license issued on 7/26/24 through the Accreditation Pathway. The program’s NAEYC Accreditation is valid through 4/1/29. INSPECTIONS The last sanitation inspection was conducted on 7/9/25. The last fire inspection was conducted on 2/27/26. The last documented fire drill was conducted on 5/14/26. The last documented shelter-in-place or lockdown drill was conducted on 3/16/26. The last documented playground inspection was conducted on 5/13/26. The status of the owners, Kindercare Education, LLC., is listed as current and active on the NC Secretary of State website. Limited monitoring of childcare requirements was assessed during today’s visit. I reviewed 1 new staff files and confirmed staff have current CPR, First Aid, and ITS SIDS certificates, as required. The program does not transport children or enroll school-aged children; and the staff reported that no children had emergency medications, therefore, these requirements were not assessed. The following violations were observed and recorded during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 721 All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. A pedal was missing from a tricycle on the playground used by the older preschool aged children. G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) 807 A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. The unattended kitchen was unlocked during today's visit. 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) 841 Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Diaper creams were stored in an unlocked cabinet in Infant 1. 15A NCAC 18A .2820(d) 1044 Prior to the expiration date of the qualification letter, the child care provider did not complete and submit required forms to complete a criminal background check (a qualification letter is valid for a maximum of five years for the date of issuance). One staff member's qualification letter expired on 4/29/26. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & .2703(n)&(o) 1065 Child care providers scheduled to work in the infant room, did not complete ITS-SIDS training within two months of employment or did not complete the training every three years. Child care administrators did not complete the ITS-SIDS training within 90 days of employment and every three years thereafter. One infant staff member's training expired in January 2026. .1102(f) The above violations must be corrected immediately. By 6/15/26 please email me a signed letter of compliance. Before the letter is sent, all violations should be corrected; please contact me if additional time is needed to correct a specific violation. Include the following in your letter: facility ID number, list the item number describing how and when the violations were corrected and tell me how you plan to maintain compliance in the future with each item. If you prefer to mail your letter, you may send it to 2201 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2201 If the compliance action letter is not received by the due date another visit to the center may be made and additional violations may be added. COMPLIANCE HISTORY Prior to today’s visit, the program’s compliance history was 89%. According to NC General Statute 110-90 (4) (d) all facilities must maintain a compliance history of at least seventy-five percent (75%) for the past 18 months. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Making potentially hazardous materials inaccessible to young children is one of many practices that help to protect children. During today’s visit, the kitchen was unlocked. Sanitation rules require that the kitchens remain locked, when no staff member is present in the kitchen, because of burn hazards related to the water temperatures and the stove. Typically, chemicals used for dishwashing and cleaning products are also stored in the kitchen. Please remind all center staff to keep the kitchen door locked. Keeping equipment and furnishings in good repair is another way to ensure that children remain safe. One tricycle was missing a pedal, which poses a potential puncture risk. Pedals and handlebar guards can be purchased through a vendor. Please replace the pedal on this tricycle or remove it from the playground. ITS SIDS training is required for all staff working in the infant classroom. This ensures that all staff understand basic safe sleep practices. One staff member, who was working alone in the infant classroom, did not have documentation that she completed ITS SIDS training, when her current certificate expired 1/25/26. One staff member’s qualification letter expired 4/25/26 and a new letter was not on file. This employee may continue working in the center for up to 14 calendar days. If her new qualification letter is not received by 6/15/26 she will be unable to work until her letter is obtained. REMINDERS You have 3 staff members due to renew their criminal records by the end of the year. Staff should renew their criminal records prior to the expiration date and the criminal records can be renewed up to 6 months before it is due. CONSULTATION I left a copy of the Pre-Service Requirements for Center Administrator’s form with you. Please complete this form and return it to me as soon as possible. Centers are required to notify the Division of new employees within 5 days of hire. This is completed by linking employees to the program in the criminal records system. A search of the center’s roster from ABCMS indicates that no employees are linked to the program. Center directors can now access the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. This access will allow providers to: See the real-time background check status of staff members. Run a printable report of the staff roster to assist with compliance visits. See new background check applicants and add to staff roster. Access to the ABCMS requires the successful completion of a Moodle course consisting of a short video followed by a test. The course is titled ABCMS Child Care Provider Portal Training - under the Early Childhood Professional Development Tab, then under the Criminal Background (CBC) tab. If you have questions regarding the PROVIDER PORTAL contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-6401 or email: DCDEE_ABCMS_Provider@dhhs.nc.gov. For general questions regarding APPLICANTS, applications, or other CBC questions email: DHHS.CBC.Unit@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6401. To access your staff criminal records, they must have your program listed as their place of employment in ABCMS. This requirement is indicated as Item #7 on the staff and training worksheet and replaces the Data Change form that was previously required to be submitted to the Criminal Records Unit. It is recommended that staff add your program as their place of employment during the first few days of orientation. This change should be documented and placed in their file. The documentation could be a screenshot after the change is made or documented on the Orientation Form in the Other section. The date the change was made should be indicated in Item #7 on the staff and training worksheet during the staff member’s first year of employment. There are tutorials on the Criminal Records homepage to assist you with using the features on the website. All childcare facilities are required to test their drinking and cooking water for led every three years. Your water was last tested, 12/27/23. For more information, you should contact Clean Water for Carolina Kids. Contact www.cleanwaterforcarolinakids.org for more information. In addition, childcare facilities are now required to test for lead and asbestos hazards in their buildings. This center is determined to be exempt from testing for lead-based paint and asbestos. AGENCY UPDATES Please remember to check the Division of Child Development and Early Education website: ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov frequently to stay updated on rule requirements. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me at wanda.fowler@dhhs.nc.gov or by phone at 919 218-0988. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: ratio. Open / not marked corrected.