10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: KIMBERLY GIROUARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/14/2025 Number Present: 48 Completed Date: 1/14/2025 Age: From 0 To 8 Total Minutes: 425 Time In: 08:15 AM Time Out: 03:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with childcare requirements for an annual compliance assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on August 2, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 7-17-24 with a “Superior” classification. The last approved fire inspection was conducted on August 27, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today and this facility’s corporation’s name, A Bright Future Too, Inc. was listed as “Current-Active.” Today’s visit was conducted with you, Allisa Pulley, facility Assistant Director. I monitored the seven (7) classrooms in use for compliance with staff/child ratios, supervision, and staff interaction/discipline. The program was also monitored for health and safety requirements both indoors and outdoors using the annual compliance monitoring checklist. Children completed daily activities with adequate supervision and engagement from the caregivers. The children were observed eating breakfast and interacting in activity centers. For breakfast the children were offered oatmeal, bananas and milk. The children were observed following proper handwashing procedures before and after eating their breakfast. The program requirements, along with equipment and furnishings were observed. Compliance with staff records was documented by you. New staff records, along with children’s records were reviewed today. Medications observed on the premises were monitored. This facility uses two buses to take and pick-up school age children to and from school. Both buses were monitored today and were found to be in compliance. Registration, tags, and insurance were current for both buses. During today’s visit, an assessment of applicable childcare requirements was conducted and the following violations of child care requirements were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 476 Staff did not use the list of participating children to check attendance when leaving the center, periodically when the children were involved in the activity, before leaving the activity to return to the center, and/or upon return to the center. The school age teacher did not check attendance today as the children boarded the bus to go to school or when the children exited the bus when being dropped off at their perspective schools. .1005(b)(6) 846 Over-the-counter medicines were not in their original containers or administered as authorized in writing by parent, physician or authorized health professional. One diaper cream in the infant room was not in the original container. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4) 871 Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. Safe Sleep checks were not consistently being recorded on 6 of the 7 infants sleep charts as required per the Safe Sleep Policy and childcare rule. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a) 1045 New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One employee did not have documentation confirming the required orientation process was completed. .1101(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification that the required First Aid training was completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification of completing the required CPR training on file for review. .1102(d) 1316 Emergency medical care information did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. One child's emergency information (M.W.) did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. .0802 (c)(4) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One employee (S.G.) did not have a valid qualification letter on file for review and may not work with the children and/or at the childcare facility until the required criminal background check is completed and the employee has a valid qualification letter on file for review. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required authorization forms signed by the children's parents giving permission for the caregiver to use the diaper cream on the infants. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One employee (A.S.) had not renewed the required health and safety training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. .1103(b) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than January 28, 2025. Your letter must state how the violations have been corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 1184, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: Kimberly.Girouardl@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by January 28, 2025, a return visit to your program may be made to monitor for compliance of the violations. Additional violations may be documented if the items have not been corrected or addressed. The following was discussed with you during today’s visit: * During the visit today, I spoke with the District Manager, Desmine Burton, via a telephone conversation regarding the needs of this facility. I strongly recommended additional support for the new administrative team. This request was made a year ago during this facility’s last annual compliance visit and I hope to see assistance offered on a continuous basis to assist the new administrative team in implementing internal changes that focus on creating and implementing quality enhancement throughout the program which in turn will help the facility teachers reach the classroom goals they are striving to bring to fruition. Today we identified some sanitation areas that need attention before they turn into an issue, i.e. bathroom cleanliness, and we discussed assisting the staff with classroom organization. I recommend contacting Early Years, formerly Child Care Services, to request assistance from the Quality Enhancement team. Please reach out to Ginger Thomas, State Wide Project Manager with Early Years. She can be reached at 919-403-6950 or 919-969-1919. *Attendance-Transportation During today’s visit KinderCare Learning Center transported school age children to their perspective schools, but no attendance was recorded/documented when the children were getting on or off the bus. Transporting children in childcare is a huge responsibility, high risk activity and must be taken seriously. Transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Any time children are transported there is the potential for problems to occur. Careful planning reduces the risk of harm or injury to children and reduces liability for childcare operators and their programs. When transporting, times when each child boards and departs the vehicle must be recorded on the attendance log. Staff are required to maintain accurate attendance and record the time of all children are picked up and dropped off. Specific attendance times should be recorded for each child that boards the vehicle and for each child that departs the vehicle. All vehicles must be free of hazards to include potentially hazardous products. The same requirements for products inside the facility apply to the vehicles used to transport children. The vehicles should be cleaned out, organized, and prepared to transport children on the vehicle. * Orientation: Staff qualifications and training requirements are essential for adults who interact with and teach children. These requirements protect children in childcare facilities by ensuring these facilities provide a physically safe and healthy environment where the developmental needs of children are being met and where children are cared for by qualified staff. Each staff person shall receive 16 hours of orientation within the first 6 weeks of employment. Six of the hours are required to be completed within the first two weeks of employment. When documenting orientation, please ensure that all required information is entered onto the form. The last 6 weeks of orientation was not documented as completed for one employee (A.C.) This second part of the orientation form must be reviewed with this employee and signed off on. You can conduct orientation training as a group with new staff instead of one on one. Ensure you and applicable staff members reflect the date, hours, and signature on the orientation training form. *Criminal background checks (CBC) are completed to protect the children from abuse and reduce liability risks. The CBC process must be completed before a person can begin work; therefore, a Qualification Letter must be on file prior to employment. Any employee in a licensed childcare facility who is ever left alone with a child or group of children for any length of time must have a background check completed through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). A CBC must be completed every five years. An expiration date is listed on each Qualification Letter. Submissions can be made six months before the expiration date. Operators will need to be proactive and make staffing decisions and arrangements in advance to avoid non-compliance with this and other DCDEE staffing requirements. Having applicants submit a copy of their Qualification Letter along with their resume and application can facilitate a shorter selection and hiring process. Criminal background checks must be completed online. To complete online criminal background check applications, go to www.ncchildcare.nc.gov/general/dhhscrc.asp. The $26.50 payment is a part of the online criminal background check application process. Fingerprints must be completed through LIVESCAN at your local county sheriff’s office. If you have any questions regarding the criminal background check process, dial 1-800-859-0829 and ask for the criminal background unit. One staff member (S.G.) was found to have an expired Criminal Background Check on file today. Consultant informed the Assistant Director that the employee may not return to work until she has her updated Criminal Background Check letter on file at the facility for review. When the employee receives her updated letter, she needs to have it placed in the employee staff file for review when required. *Linking Criminal Background Checks – Staff need to log into the Criminal Background Check Portal on the DCDEE website and link to the facility license number. It is important to do this so staff at DCDEE can contact the center if a random criminal history check uncovers a staff member with a criminal charge or conviction working in a childcare facility. It is also a way for staff at the CBC Unit to keep you updated of the status of out-of-state checks if a new employee has a Provisional Qualification. Instructions on how to link to the facility was provided today. In the future, new staff need to link within five days of hire or transfer to your center. Review Criminal History Record Check Requirements for Child Care Centers in the NC Child Care Requirements 10A NCAC 09 .2703. * CPR/First Aid: a. CPR and F.A training must be conducted by an approved agency which can be found on the DCDEE website. b. Must be Face-to-face only; no on-line or blended courses c. Will count towards Health & Safety Training d. Must be renewed every two years before the expiration date on the certification card (does not count towards on-going training hours) e. At least one person with current CPR/First Aid must be on-site at all times. If transporting children a staff member with current CPR/First must be in the vehicle. * Health & Safety Training: a. Complete training in 11 topic areas (not all may apply to your center) b. Document on Health & Safety Training Record (available on DCDEE website) c. After 1st year, complete training in each topic area at least every five years, except for CPR/First Aid (every 2 years) and Safe Sleep Training (every 3 years) *During today’s visit, the required Safe Sleep Checks were found to be out of compliance. Today we discussed the importance of always documenting that infants are placed on their back when being placed in their crib for nap time, unless there is a Written Waiver on file, signed by the child’s parent/legal guardian. This includes if the infant rolls onto their tummy or side when being placed down for nap. By documenting tummy or side when the infant is being placed in the crib for the first time, the care giver is stating they purposefully placed the infant on their tummy or side when placing them in the crib for nap time. Sleep checks should tell a clear story of how the infant was initially placed in the crib when going down for nap and the time the infant went down for nap, each position the infant was observed in during each sleep check conducted by the infant room staff, and when the infant woke up. I suggested that if an infant does not nap on any given day, that the infant room staff document on their safe sleep chart, NO NAP, on that specific day or if an infant is absent on any given day that the staff record absent on the day. *All medication, including over the counter medication such as diaper creams, are required to be accompanied by the completed Medication Permission form signed by the child’s legal guardian and dated. The medication permission forms for diaper creams are required to be renewed annually and signed off by the parent bi-annually. During today’s visit two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required signed Parent Authorization Form. * Children’s files: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a childcare program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children’s files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. We discussed making sure that you develop a record keeping system for children’s records that promotes organization and efficiency. Administrative staff must allow time to review all necessary documentation prior to children’s start date to confirm all required documentation is complete before the child’s first day of care. It is recommended that the Child’s File Check List (found on the DCDEE website under Provider Forms) is used to confirm all required documents have been received and is kept at the front of each child’s file to confirm the file is complete. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The weather has been very cold and we received snow recently. The ground cover around the play structures outside was hard and frozen. I suggested to the assistant director that when possible she request her ground maintenance team fluff the ground cover on each playground and if necessary add more mulch to maintain a safe outdoor play area. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed childcare centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. A flier with the challenging behaviors hotline information was provided today. *Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Boyles (919-795-2234 or 919-231-5568) as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler and Preschool Specialists as a resource for classroom management. *Child Care Consultant, Kimberly Girouard, recommended the facility administrative team use the file check lists from the DCDEE Program Forms site located on the DCDEE website to maintain all Staff, Children and Program files. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. *Please link your staff asap in the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. *Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for childcare updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Remember your corrective action letter is due to me no later than January 28, 2025. Do not hesitate to contact me at Kimberly.Giroaurd@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-602-2582 if you have any questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

10A NCAC 09 .0606 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: KIMBERLY GIROUARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/14/2025 Number Present: 48 Completed Date: 1/14/2025 Age: From 0 To 8 Total Minutes: 425 Time In: 08:15 AM Time Out: 03:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with childcare requirements for an annual compliance assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on August 2, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 7-17-24 with a “Superior” classification. The last approved fire inspection was conducted on August 27, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today and this facility’s corporation’s name, A Bright Future Too, Inc. was listed as “Current-Active.” Today’s visit was conducted with you, Allisa Pulley, facility Assistant Director. I monitored the seven (7) classrooms in use for compliance with staff/child ratios, supervision, and staff interaction/discipline. The program was also monitored for health and safety requirements both indoors and outdoors using the annual compliance monitoring checklist. Children completed daily activities with adequate supervision and engagement from the caregivers. The children were observed eating breakfast and interacting in activity centers. For breakfast the children were offered oatmeal, bananas and milk. The children were observed following proper handwashing procedures before and after eating their breakfast. The program requirements, along with equipment and furnishings were observed. Compliance with staff records was documented by you. New staff records, along with children’s records were reviewed today. Medications observed on the premises were monitored. This facility uses two buses to take and pick-up school age children to and from school. Both buses were monitored today and were found to be in compliance. Registration, tags, and insurance were current for both buses. During today’s visit, an assessment of applicable childcare requirements was conducted and the following violations of child care requirements were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 476 Staff did not use the list of participating children to check attendance when leaving the center, periodically when the children were involved in the activity, before leaving the activity to return to the center, and/or upon return to the center. The school age teacher did not check attendance today as the children boarded the bus to go to school or when the children exited the bus when being dropped off at their perspective schools. .1005(b)(6) 846 Over-the-counter medicines were not in their original containers or administered as authorized in writing by parent, physician or authorized health professional. One diaper cream in the infant room was not in the original container. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4) 871 Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. Safe Sleep checks were not consistently being recorded on 6 of the 7 infants sleep charts as required per the Safe Sleep Policy and childcare rule. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a) 1045 New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One employee did not have documentation confirming the required orientation process was completed. .1101(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification that the required First Aid training was completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification of completing the required CPR training on file for review. .1102(d) 1316 Emergency medical care information did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. One child's emergency information (M.W.) did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. .0802 (c)(4) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One employee (S.G.) did not have a valid qualification letter on file for review and may not work with the children and/or at the childcare facility until the required criminal background check is completed and the employee has a valid qualification letter on file for review. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required authorization forms signed by the children's parents giving permission for the caregiver to use the diaper cream on the infants. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One employee (A.S.) had not renewed the required health and safety training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. .1103(b) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than January 28, 2025. Your letter must state how the violations have been corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 1184, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: Kimberly.Girouardl@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by January 28, 2025, a return visit to your program may be made to monitor for compliance of the violations. Additional violations may be documented if the items have not been corrected or addressed. The following was discussed with you during today’s visit: * During the visit today, I spoke with the District Manager, Desmine Burton, via a telephone conversation regarding the needs of this facility. I strongly recommended additional support for the new administrative team. This request was made a year ago during this facility’s last annual compliance visit and I hope to see assistance offered on a continuous basis to assist the new administrative team in implementing internal changes that focus on creating and implementing quality enhancement throughout the program which in turn will help the facility teachers reach the classroom goals they are striving to bring to fruition. Today we identified some sanitation areas that need attention before they turn into an issue, i.e. bathroom cleanliness, and we discussed assisting the staff with classroom organization. I recommend contacting Early Years, formerly Child Care Services, to request assistance from the Quality Enhancement team. Please reach out to Ginger Thomas, State Wide Project Manager with Early Years. She can be reached at 919-403-6950 or 919-969-1919. *Attendance-Transportation During today’s visit KinderCare Learning Center transported school age children to their perspective schools, but no attendance was recorded/documented when the children were getting on or off the bus. Transporting children in childcare is a huge responsibility, high risk activity and must be taken seriously. Transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Any time children are transported there is the potential for problems to occur. Careful planning reduces the risk of harm or injury to children and reduces liability for childcare operators and their programs. When transporting, times when each child boards and departs the vehicle must be recorded on the attendance log. Staff are required to maintain accurate attendance and record the time of all children are picked up and dropped off. Specific attendance times should be recorded for each child that boards the vehicle and for each child that departs the vehicle. All vehicles must be free of hazards to include potentially hazardous products. The same requirements for products inside the facility apply to the vehicles used to transport children. The vehicles should be cleaned out, organized, and prepared to transport children on the vehicle. * Orientation: Staff qualifications and training requirements are essential for adults who interact with and teach children. These requirements protect children in childcare facilities by ensuring these facilities provide a physically safe and healthy environment where the developmental needs of children are being met and where children are cared for by qualified staff. Each staff person shall receive 16 hours of orientation within the first 6 weeks of employment. Six of the hours are required to be completed within the first two weeks of employment. When documenting orientation, please ensure that all required information is entered onto the form. The last 6 weeks of orientation was not documented as completed for one employee (A.C.) This second part of the orientation form must be reviewed with this employee and signed off on. You can conduct orientation training as a group with new staff instead of one on one. Ensure you and applicable staff members reflect the date, hours, and signature on the orientation training form. *Criminal background checks (CBC) are completed to protect the children from abuse and reduce liability risks. The CBC process must be completed before a person can begin work; therefore, a Qualification Letter must be on file prior to employment. Any employee in a licensed childcare facility who is ever left alone with a child or group of children for any length of time must have a background check completed through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). A CBC must be completed every five years. An expiration date is listed on each Qualification Letter. Submissions can be made six months before the expiration date. Operators will need to be proactive and make staffing decisions and arrangements in advance to avoid non-compliance with this and other DCDEE staffing requirements. Having applicants submit a copy of their Qualification Letter along with their resume and application can facilitate a shorter selection and hiring process. Criminal background checks must be completed online. To complete online criminal background check applications, go to www.ncchildcare.nc.gov/general/dhhscrc.asp. The $26.50 payment is a part of the online criminal background check application process. Fingerprints must be completed through LIVESCAN at your local county sheriff’s office. If you have any questions regarding the criminal background check process, dial 1-800-859-0829 and ask for the criminal background unit. One staff member (S.G.) was found to have an expired Criminal Background Check on file today. Consultant informed the Assistant Director that the employee may not return to work until she has her updated Criminal Background Check letter on file at the facility for review. When the employee receives her updated letter, she needs to have it placed in the employee staff file for review when required. *Linking Criminal Background Checks – Staff need to log into the Criminal Background Check Portal on the DCDEE website and link to the facility license number. It is important to do this so staff at DCDEE can contact the center if a random criminal history check uncovers a staff member with a criminal charge or conviction working in a childcare facility. It is also a way for staff at the CBC Unit to keep you updated of the status of out-of-state checks if a new employee has a Provisional Qualification. Instructions on how to link to the facility was provided today. In the future, new staff need to link within five days of hire or transfer to your center. Review Criminal History Record Check Requirements for Child Care Centers in the NC Child Care Requirements 10A NCAC 09 .2703. * CPR/First Aid: a. CPR and F.A training must be conducted by an approved agency which can be found on the DCDEE website. b. Must be Face-to-face only; no on-line or blended courses c. Will count towards Health & Safety Training d. Must be renewed every two years before the expiration date on the certification card (does not count towards on-going training hours) e. At least one person with current CPR/First Aid must be on-site at all times. If transporting children a staff member with current CPR/First must be in the vehicle. * Health & Safety Training: a. Complete training in 11 topic areas (not all may apply to your center) b. Document on Health & Safety Training Record (available on DCDEE website) c. After 1st year, complete training in each topic area at least every five years, except for CPR/First Aid (every 2 years) and Safe Sleep Training (every 3 years) *During today’s visit, the required Safe Sleep Checks were found to be out of compliance. Today we discussed the importance of always documenting that infants are placed on their back when being placed in their crib for nap time, unless there is a Written Waiver on file, signed by the child’s parent/legal guardian. This includes if the infant rolls onto their tummy or side when being placed down for nap. By documenting tummy or side when the infant is being placed in the crib for the first time, the care giver is stating they purposefully placed the infant on their tummy or side when placing them in the crib for nap time. Sleep checks should tell a clear story of how the infant was initially placed in the crib when going down for nap and the time the infant went down for nap, each position the infant was observed in during each sleep check conducted by the infant room staff, and when the infant woke up. I suggested that if an infant does not nap on any given day, that the infant room staff document on their safe sleep chart, NO NAP, on that specific day or if an infant is absent on any given day that the staff record absent on the day. *All medication, including over the counter medication such as diaper creams, are required to be accompanied by the completed Medication Permission form signed by the child’s legal guardian and dated. The medication permission forms for diaper creams are required to be renewed annually and signed off by the parent bi-annually. During today’s visit two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required signed Parent Authorization Form. * Children’s files: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a childcare program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children’s files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. We discussed making sure that you develop a record keeping system for children’s records that promotes organization and efficiency. Administrative staff must allow time to review all necessary documentation prior to children’s start date to confirm all required documentation is complete before the child’s first day of care. It is recommended that the Child’s File Check List (found on the DCDEE website under Provider Forms) is used to confirm all required documents have been received and is kept at the front of each child’s file to confirm the file is complete. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The weather has been very cold and we received snow recently. The ground cover around the play structures outside was hard and frozen. I suggested to the assistant director that when possible she request her ground maintenance team fluff the ground cover on each playground and if necessary add more mulch to maintain a safe outdoor play area. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed childcare centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. A flier with the challenging behaviors hotline information was provided today. *Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Boyles (919-795-2234 or 919-231-5568) as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler and Preschool Specialists as a resource for classroom management. *Child Care Consultant, Kimberly Girouard, recommended the facility administrative team use the file check lists from the DCDEE Program Forms site located on the DCDEE website to maintain all Staff, Children and Program files. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. *Please link your staff asap in the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. *Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for childcare updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Remember your corrective action letter is due to me no later than January 28, 2025. Do not hesitate to contact me at Kimberly.Giroaurd@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-602-2582 if you have any 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 .2703 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: KIMBERLY GIROUARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/14/2025 Number Present: 48 Completed Date: 1/14/2025 Age: From 0 To 8 Total Minutes: 425 Time In: 08:15 AM Time Out: 03:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with childcare requirements for an annual compliance assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on August 2, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 7-17-24 with a “Superior” classification. The last approved fire inspection was conducted on August 27, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today and this facility’s corporation’s name, A Bright Future Too, Inc. was listed as “Current-Active.” Today’s visit was conducted with you, Allisa Pulley, facility Assistant Director. I monitored the seven (7) classrooms in use for compliance with staff/child ratios, supervision, and staff interaction/discipline. The program was also monitored for health and safety requirements both indoors and outdoors using the annual compliance monitoring checklist. Children completed daily activities with adequate supervision and engagement from the caregivers. The children were observed eating breakfast and interacting in activity centers. For breakfast the children were offered oatmeal, bananas and milk. The children were observed following proper handwashing procedures before and after eating their breakfast. The program requirements, along with equipment and furnishings were observed. Compliance with staff records was documented by you. New staff records, along with children’s records were reviewed today. Medications observed on the premises were monitored. This facility uses two buses to take and pick-up school age children to and from school. Both buses were monitored today and were found to be in compliance. Registration, tags, and insurance were current for both buses. During today’s visit, an assessment of applicable childcare requirements was conducted and the following violations of child care requirements were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 476 Staff did not use the list of participating children to check attendance when leaving the center, periodically when the children were involved in the activity, before leaving the activity to return to the center, and/or upon return to the center. The school age teacher did not check attendance today as the children boarded the bus to go to school or when the children exited the bus when being dropped off at their perspective schools. .1005(b)(6) 846 Over-the-counter medicines were not in their original containers or administered as authorized in writing by parent, physician or authorized health professional. One diaper cream in the infant room was not in the original container. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4) 871 Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. Safe Sleep checks were not consistently being recorded on 6 of the 7 infants sleep charts as required per the Safe Sleep Policy and childcare rule. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a) 1045 New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One employee did not have documentation confirming the required orientation process was completed. .1101(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification that the required First Aid training was completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification of completing the required CPR training on file for review. .1102(d) 1316 Emergency medical care information did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. One child's emergency information (M.W.) did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. .0802 (c)(4) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One employee (S.G.) did not have a valid qualification letter on file for review and may not work with the children and/or at the childcare facility until the required criminal background check is completed and the employee has a valid qualification letter on file for review. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required authorization forms signed by the children's parents giving permission for the caregiver to use the diaper cream on the infants. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One employee (A.S.) had not renewed the required health and safety training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. .1103(b) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than January 28, 2025. Your letter must state how the violations have been corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 1184, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: Kimberly.Girouardl@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by January 28, 2025, a return visit to your program may be made to monitor for compliance of the violations. Additional violations may be documented if the items have not been corrected or addressed. The following was discussed with you during today’s visit: * During the visit today, I spoke with the District Manager, Desmine Burton, via a telephone conversation regarding the needs of this facility. I strongly recommended additional support for the new administrative team. This request was made a year ago during this facility’s last annual compliance visit and I hope to see assistance offered on a continuous basis to assist the new administrative team in implementing internal changes that focus on creating and implementing quality enhancement throughout the program which in turn will help the facility teachers reach the classroom goals they are striving to bring to fruition. Today we identified some sanitation areas that need attention before they turn into an issue, i.e. bathroom cleanliness, and we discussed assisting the staff with classroom organization. I recommend contacting Early Years, formerly Child Care Services, to request assistance from the Quality Enhancement team. Please reach out to Ginger Thomas, State Wide Project Manager with Early Years. She can be reached at 919-403-6950 or 919-969-1919. *Attendance-Transportation During today’s visit KinderCare Learning Center transported school age children to their perspective schools, but no attendance was recorded/documented when the children were getting on or off the bus. Transporting children in childcare is a huge responsibility, high risk activity and must be taken seriously. Transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Any time children are transported there is the potential for problems to occur. Careful planning reduces the risk of harm or injury to children and reduces liability for childcare operators and their programs. When transporting, times when each child boards and departs the vehicle must be recorded on the attendance log. Staff are required to maintain accurate attendance and record the time of all children are picked up and dropped off. Specific attendance times should be recorded for each child that boards the vehicle and for each child that departs the vehicle. All vehicles must be free of hazards to include potentially hazardous products. The same requirements for products inside the facility apply to the vehicles used to transport children. The vehicles should be cleaned out, organized, and prepared to transport children on the vehicle. * Orientation: Staff qualifications and training requirements are essential for adults who interact with and teach children. These requirements protect children in childcare facilities by ensuring these facilities provide a physically safe and healthy environment where the developmental needs of children are being met and where children are cared for by qualified staff. Each staff person shall receive 16 hours of orientation within the first 6 weeks of employment. Six of the hours are required to be completed within the first two weeks of employment. When documenting orientation, please ensure that all required information is entered onto the form. The last 6 weeks of orientation was not documented as completed for one employee (A.C.) This second part of the orientation form must be reviewed with this employee and signed off on. You can conduct orientation training as a group with new staff instead of one on one. Ensure you and applicable staff members reflect the date, hours, and signature on the orientation training form. *Criminal background checks (CBC) are completed to protect the children from abuse and reduce liability risks. The CBC process must be completed before a person can begin work; therefore, a Qualification Letter must be on file prior to employment. Any employee in a licensed childcare facility who is ever left alone with a child or group of children for any length of time must have a background check completed through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). A CBC must be completed every five years. An expiration date is listed on each Qualification Letter. Submissions can be made six months before the expiration date. Operators will need to be proactive and make staffing decisions and arrangements in advance to avoid non-compliance with this and other DCDEE staffing requirements. Having applicants submit a copy of their Qualification Letter along with their resume and application can facilitate a shorter selection and hiring process. Criminal background checks must be completed online. To complete online criminal background check applications, go to www.ncchildcare.nc.gov/general/dhhscrc.asp. The $26.50 payment is a part of the online criminal background check application process. Fingerprints must be completed through LIVESCAN at your local county sheriff’s office. If you have any questions regarding the criminal background check process, dial 1-800-859-0829 and ask for the criminal background unit. One staff member (S.G.) was found to have an expired Criminal Background Check on file today. Consultant informed the Assistant Director that the employee may not return to work until she has her updated Criminal Background Check letter on file at the facility for review. When the employee receives her updated letter, she needs to have it placed in the employee staff file for review when required. *Linking Criminal Background Checks – Staff need to log into the Criminal Background Check Portal on the DCDEE website and link to the facility license number. It is important to do this so staff at DCDEE can contact the center if a random criminal history check uncovers a staff member with a criminal charge or conviction working in a childcare facility. It is also a way for staff at the CBC Unit to keep you updated of the status of out-of-state checks if a new employee has a Provisional Qualification. Instructions on how to link to the facility was provided today. In the future, new staff need to link within five days of hire or transfer to your center. Review Criminal History Record Check Requirements for Child Care Centers in the NC Child Care Requirements 10A NCAC 09 .2703. * CPR/First Aid: a. CPR and F.A training must be conducted by an approved agency which can be found on the DCDEE website. b. Must be Face-to-face only; no on-line or blended courses c. Will count towards Health & Safety Training d. Must be renewed every two years before the expiration date on the certification card (does not count towards on-going training hours) e. At least one person with current CPR/First Aid must be on-site at all times. If transporting children a staff member with current CPR/First must be in the vehicle. * Health & Safety Training: a. Complete training in 11 topic areas (not all may apply to your center) b. Document on Health & Safety Training Record (available on DCDEE website) c. After 1st year, complete training in each topic area at least every five years, except for CPR/First Aid (every 2 years) and Safe Sleep Training (every 3 years) *During today’s visit, the required Safe Sleep Checks were found to be out of compliance. Today we discussed the importance of always documenting that infants are placed on their back when being placed in their crib for nap time, unless there is a Written Waiver on file, signed by the child’s parent/legal guardian. This includes if the infant rolls onto their tummy or side when being placed down for nap. By documenting tummy or side when the infant is being placed in the crib for the first time, the care giver is stating they purposefully placed the infant on their tummy or side when placing them in the crib for nap time. Sleep checks should tell a clear story of how the infant was initially placed in the crib when going down for nap and the time the infant went down for nap, each position the infant was observed in during each sleep check conducted by the infant room staff, and when the infant woke up. I suggested that if an infant does not nap on any given day, that the infant room staff document on their safe sleep chart, NO NAP, on that specific day or if an infant is absent on any given day that the staff record absent on the day. *All medication, including over the counter medication such as diaper creams, are required to be accompanied by the completed Medication Permission form signed by the child’s legal guardian and dated. The medication permission forms for diaper creams are required to be renewed annually and signed off by the parent bi-annually. During today’s visit two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required signed Parent Authorization Form. * Children’s files: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a childcare program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children’s files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. We discussed making sure that you develop a record keeping system for children’s records that promotes organization and efficiency. Administrative staff must allow time to review all necessary documentation prior to children’s start date to confirm all required documentation is complete before the child’s first day of care. It is recommended that the Child’s File Check List (found on the DCDEE website under Provider Forms) is used to confirm all required documents have been received and is kept at the front of each child’s file to confirm the file is complete. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The weather has been very cold and we received snow recently. The ground cover around the play structures outside was hard and frozen. I suggested to the assistant director that when possible she request her ground maintenance team fluff the ground cover on each playground and if necessary add more mulch to maintain a safe outdoor play area. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed childcare centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. A flier with the challenging behaviors hotline information was provided today. *Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Boyles (919-795-2234 or 919-231-5568) as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler and Preschool Specialists as a resource for classroom management. *Child Care Consultant, Kimberly Girouard, recommended the facility administrative team use the file check lists from the DCDEE Program Forms site located on the DCDEE website to maintain all Staff, Children and Program files. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. *Please link your staff asap in the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. *Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for childcare updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Remember your corrective action letter is due to me no later than January 28, 2025. Do not hesitate to contact me at Kimberly.Giroaurd@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-602-2582 if you have any 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. 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: KIMBERLY GIROUARD Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/14/2025 Number Present: 48 Completed Date: 1/14/2025 Age: From 0 To 8 Total Minutes: 425 Time In: 08:15 AM Time Out: 03:20 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with childcare requirements for an annual compliance assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on August 2, 2023. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 7-17-24 with a “Superior” classification. The last approved fire inspection was conducted on August 27, 2024. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today and this facility’s corporation’s name, A Bright Future Too, Inc. was listed as “Current-Active.” Today’s visit was conducted with you, Allisa Pulley, facility Assistant Director. I monitored the seven (7) classrooms in use for compliance with staff/child ratios, supervision, and staff interaction/discipline. The program was also monitored for health and safety requirements both indoors and outdoors using the annual compliance monitoring checklist. Children completed daily activities with adequate supervision and engagement from the caregivers. The children were observed eating breakfast and interacting in activity centers. For breakfast the children were offered oatmeal, bananas and milk. The children were observed following proper handwashing procedures before and after eating their breakfast. The program requirements, along with equipment and furnishings were observed. Compliance with staff records was documented by you. New staff records, along with children’s records were reviewed today. Medications observed on the premises were monitored. This facility uses two buses to take and pick-up school age children to and from school. Both buses were monitored today and were found to be in compliance. Registration, tags, and insurance were current for both buses. During today’s visit, an assessment of applicable childcare requirements was conducted and the following violations of child care requirements were cited. Violation Number Comment Rule 476 Staff did not use the list of participating children to check attendance when leaving the center, periodically when the children were involved in the activity, before leaving the activity to return to the center, and/or upon return to the center. The school age teacher did not check attendance today as the children boarded the bus to go to school or when the children exited the bus when being dropped off at their perspective schools. .1005(b)(6) 846 Over-the-counter medicines were not in their original containers or administered as authorized in writing by parent, physician or authorized health professional. One diaper cream in the infant room was not in the original container. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4) 871 Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. Safe Sleep checks were not consistently being recorded on 6 of the 7 infants sleep charts as required per the Safe Sleep Policy and childcare rule. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a) 1045 New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One employee did not have documentation confirming the required orientation process was completed. .1101(a) 1048 All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification that the required First Aid training was completed. .1102(c) 1049 All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file. One employee (Q.W.) did not have verification of completing the required CPR training on file for review. .1102(d) 1316 Emergency medical care information did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. One child's emergency information (M.W.) did not contain information needed for safe medical treatment. .0802 (c)(4) 1757 A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One employee (S.G.) did not have a valid qualification letter on file for review and may not work with the children and/or at the childcare facility until the required criminal background check is completed and the employee has a valid qualification letter on file for review. G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) 1882 Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required authorization forms signed by the children's parents giving permission for the caregiver to use the diaper cream on the infants. .0803(6)(a-i); .0803(7)(a-g); .0803(8)(a-d) 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. One employee (A.S.) had not renewed the required health and safety training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. .1103(b) The above violations must be corrected immediately, and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than January 28, 2025. Your letter must state how the violations have been corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 1184, Wake Forest, NC 27588 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: Kimberly.Girouardl@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by January 28, 2025, a return visit to your program may be made to monitor for compliance of the violations. Additional violations may be documented if the items have not been corrected or addressed. The following was discussed with you during today’s visit: * During the visit today, I spoke with the District Manager, Desmine Burton, via a telephone conversation regarding the needs of this facility. I strongly recommended additional support for the new administrative team. This request was made a year ago during this facility’s last annual compliance visit and I hope to see assistance offered on a continuous basis to assist the new administrative team in implementing internal changes that focus on creating and implementing quality enhancement throughout the program which in turn will help the facility teachers reach the classroom goals they are striving to bring to fruition. Today we identified some sanitation areas that need attention before they turn into an issue, i.e. bathroom cleanliness, and we discussed assisting the staff with classroom organization. I recommend contacting Early Years, formerly Child Care Services, to request assistance from the Quality Enhancement team. Please reach out to Ginger Thomas, State Wide Project Manager with Early Years. She can be reached at 919-403-6950 or 919-969-1919. *Attendance-Transportation During today’s visit KinderCare Learning Center transported school age children to their perspective schools, but no attendance was recorded/documented when the children were getting on or off the bus. Transporting children in childcare is a huge responsibility, high risk activity and must be taken seriously. Transporting children requires careful planning and proactive, protective measures to ensure the safety of children and staff. Any time children are transported there is the potential for problems to occur. Careful planning reduces the risk of harm or injury to children and reduces liability for childcare operators and their programs. When transporting, times when each child boards and departs the vehicle must be recorded on the attendance log. Staff are required to maintain accurate attendance and record the time of all children are picked up and dropped off. Specific attendance times should be recorded for each child that boards the vehicle and for each child that departs the vehicle. All vehicles must be free of hazards to include potentially hazardous products. The same requirements for products inside the facility apply to the vehicles used to transport children. The vehicles should be cleaned out, organized, and prepared to transport children on the vehicle. * Orientation: Staff qualifications and training requirements are essential for adults who interact with and teach children. These requirements protect children in childcare facilities by ensuring these facilities provide a physically safe and healthy environment where the developmental needs of children are being met and where children are cared for by qualified staff. Each staff person shall receive 16 hours of orientation within the first 6 weeks of employment. Six of the hours are required to be completed within the first two weeks of employment. When documenting orientation, please ensure that all required information is entered onto the form. The last 6 weeks of orientation was not documented as completed for one employee (A.C.) This second part of the orientation form must be reviewed with this employee and signed off on. You can conduct orientation training as a group with new staff instead of one on one. Ensure you and applicable staff members reflect the date, hours, and signature on the orientation training form. *Criminal background checks (CBC) are completed to protect the children from abuse and reduce liability risks. The CBC process must be completed before a person can begin work; therefore, a Qualification Letter must be on file prior to employment. Any employee in a licensed childcare facility who is ever left alone with a child or group of children for any length of time must have a background check completed through the Division of Child Development and Early Education (DCDEE). A CBC must be completed every five years. An expiration date is listed on each Qualification Letter. Submissions can be made six months before the expiration date. Operators will need to be proactive and make staffing decisions and arrangements in advance to avoid non-compliance with this and other DCDEE staffing requirements. Having applicants submit a copy of their Qualification Letter along with their resume and application can facilitate a shorter selection and hiring process. Criminal background checks must be completed online. To complete online criminal background check applications, go to www.ncchildcare.nc.gov/general/dhhscrc.asp. The $26.50 payment is a part of the online criminal background check application process. Fingerprints must be completed through LIVESCAN at your local county sheriff’s office. If you have any questions regarding the criminal background check process, dial 1-800-859-0829 and ask for the criminal background unit. One staff member (S.G.) was found to have an expired Criminal Background Check on file today. Consultant informed the Assistant Director that the employee may not return to work until she has her updated Criminal Background Check letter on file at the facility for review. When the employee receives her updated letter, she needs to have it placed in the employee staff file for review when required. *Linking Criminal Background Checks – Staff need to log into the Criminal Background Check Portal on the DCDEE website and link to the facility license number. It is important to do this so staff at DCDEE can contact the center if a random criminal history check uncovers a staff member with a criminal charge or conviction working in a childcare facility. It is also a way for staff at the CBC Unit to keep you updated of the status of out-of-state checks if a new employee has a Provisional Qualification. Instructions on how to link to the facility was provided today. In the future, new staff need to link within five days of hire or transfer to your center. Review Criminal History Record Check Requirements for Child Care Centers in the NC Child Care Requirements 10A NCAC 09 .2703. * CPR/First Aid: a. CPR and F.A training must be conducted by an approved agency which can be found on the DCDEE website. b. Must be Face-to-face only; no on-line or blended courses c. Will count towards Health & Safety Training d. Must be renewed every two years before the expiration date on the certification card (does not count towards on-going training hours) e. At least one person with current CPR/First Aid must be on-site at all times. If transporting children a staff member with current CPR/First must be in the vehicle. * Health & Safety Training: a. Complete training in 11 topic areas (not all may apply to your center) b. Document on Health & Safety Training Record (available on DCDEE website) c. After 1st year, complete training in each topic area at least every five years, except for CPR/First Aid (every 2 years) and Safe Sleep Training (every 3 years) *During today’s visit, the required Safe Sleep Checks were found to be out of compliance. Today we discussed the importance of always documenting that infants are placed on their back when being placed in their crib for nap time, unless there is a Written Waiver on file, signed by the child’s parent/legal guardian. This includes if the infant rolls onto their tummy or side when being placed down for nap. By documenting tummy or side when the infant is being placed in the crib for the first time, the care giver is stating they purposefully placed the infant on their tummy or side when placing them in the crib for nap time. Sleep checks should tell a clear story of how the infant was initially placed in the crib when going down for nap and the time the infant went down for nap, each position the infant was observed in during each sleep check conducted by the infant room staff, and when the infant woke up. I suggested that if an infant does not nap on any given day, that the infant room staff document on their safe sleep chart, NO NAP, on that specific day or if an infant is absent on any given day that the staff record absent on the day. *All medication, including over the counter medication such as diaper creams, are required to be accompanied by the completed Medication Permission form signed by the child’s legal guardian and dated. The medication permission forms for diaper creams are required to be renewed annually and signed off by the parent bi-annually. During today’s visit two diaper creams were not accompanied by the required signed Parent Authorization Form. * Children’s files: Record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a childcare program. It is an important part of licensure. Review children’s files often to ensure the program is maintaining accurate licensing records. Organization and completeness of records is important to ensure easy access to information in emergency situations. We discussed making sure that you develop a record keeping system for children’s records that promotes organization and efficiency. Administrative staff must allow time to review all necessary documentation prior to children’s start date to confirm all required documentation is complete before the child’s first day of care. It is recommended that the Child’s File Check List (found on the DCDEE website under Provider Forms) is used to confirm all required documents have been received and is kept at the front of each child’s file to confirm the file is complete. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The weather has been very cold and we received snow recently. The ground cover around the play structures outside was hard and frozen. I suggested to the assistant director that when possible she request her ground maintenance team fluff the ground cover on each playground and if necessary add more mulch to maintain a safe outdoor play area. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed childcare centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. A flier with the challenging behaviors hotline information was provided today. *Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Boyles (919-795-2234 or 919-231-5568) as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler and Preschool Specialists as a resource for classroom management. *Child Care Consultant, Kimberly Girouard, recommended the facility administrative team use the file check lists from the DCDEE Program Forms site located on the DCDEE website to maintain all Staff, Children and Program files. *The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. *The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. *Please link your staff asap in the Automated Background Check Management System (ABCMS), the DCDEE’s criminal background check system. *Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for childcare updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. Thank you for your time and cooperation. Remember your corrective action letter is due to me no later than January 28, 2025. Do not hesitate to contact me at Kimberly.Giroaurd@dhhs.nc.gov or 919-602-2582 if you have any 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 .0604 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: BRIDGGETTE CAMPBELL Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/27/2024 Number Present: 110 Completed Date: 6/27/2024 Age: From 0 To 10 Total Minutes: 195 Time In: 02:00 PM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for a routine unannounced assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License issued on 8-2-23. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 1-19-24. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Janesta Green, Center Director. Upon arrival to the facility, I was greeted by you. Some children were observed at the tables eating snack and completing handwashing routines. Other children were observed on the playground, dancing to music, and on the carpet as the caregiver read a book to the children. A walk-through was completed visiting the ten (10) classrooms where children are in care. Compliance with capacity, supervision, discipline, attendance, program requirements, storage of hazardous substances, CPR & First Aid, permit restrictions, the required postings, and your staff record documentation was monitored as a partial assessment of applicable child care requirements. The following violation of child care requirements was cited during today’s visit and must be corrected immediately. Technical assistance on how to maintain compliance was provided today. Violation Number Comment Rule 1823 The EPR Plan did not include the location of the Ready to Go File and or the required information. The Ready to Go File did not contain all of the current required information. .0607(d)(10) The above violation must be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than 7-11-24 stating how the violation was corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov. The following were discussed with you during today’s visit: • 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. • Technical Assistance was provided with the following suggestion that may be beneficial: • We discussed record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. As an administrator you must allow time to review all necessary documentation to ensure accuracy. Set a reminder to review/update your EPR Plan and Ready to Go File at least monthly. The Ready to Go Checklist is a tool to ensure you have included all the vital information needed in case of an emergency. • A suggestion was made to save the most recent child care requirements in Chapter 9 effective January 2024, to your desktop computer for easy access. • We discussed that play is an important part of a child’s development. Playing outside in the fresh air can be fun and adventurous. With careful planning and monitoring, play environments can be safe for children. There have been numerous reports of snakes on the playground in outdoor environments. Remember child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604 reads that once a day, prior to initial use, the indoor and outdoor premises shall be checked for debris, vandalism, and broken equipment, in addition look for hazards/snakes. As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with hot surfaces on playgrounds. The scorching heat of the sun can turn slides, swings, and other equipment into potential burn hazards, causing burns and discomfort for children of all ages. To lessen these risks and ensure a safe environment for play, it's essential to inspect hot surface areas and implement cooling measures. It is important to routinely inspect all equipment for signs of excessive heat buildup on surfaces, focusing on areas that are exposed to direct sunlight that children could touch with their hands, including handles, rails, platforms, slides, asphalt or concrete (if sitting during chalk play), rubber surfacing in the fall zones, steering wheels, swing seats, chains on swings, tunnels that children can sit on or climb in, and anything metal or dark colored. Using specialized tools like infrared thermometers can help accurately measure surface temperatures and identify potential hot spots. If during inspection hot spots are discovered several strategies can be employed to cool down these areas: Shading: Installing shade structures over playground equipment can significantly reduce direct exposure to sunlight, thereby lowering surface temperatures. This can be achieved through the use of canopies, umbrellas, or natural shade from trees. Cooling Mats: Placing cooling mats or pads on high-temperature surfaces can provide a protective barrier for children. These mats are designed to dissipate heat quickly, keeping the surface cooler and safer to touch. Mist stations may be another preventative measure and also a way to cool off. Water Play: Introducing water play elements such as misters or splash pads near playgrounds can help cool down surrounding areas. Not only does water play provide relief from the heat, but it also adds an element of fun for children. Timed Play: Scheduling playtime during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon, can minimize exposure to hot playground surfaces. Encouraging children to wear appropriate footwear and clothing can also help prevent burns. Educational Awareness: Educating children about the dangers of hot surfaces and encouraging them to test equipment for heat before use can empower them to make safer choices while playing. A copy of the Consumer Safety Products Commission Fact Sheet-Burn Safety Awareness on Playgrounds was reviewed with you and a copy was made for future reference. • Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for child care updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. It has been a pleasure working with you. You have a new child care consultant, Kimberly Girouard effective July 1, 2024. Kimberly Girouard, Child Care Consultant PO BOX 1184 Wake Forest, NC 27588 Office: 919-602-2582 kimberly.girouard@dhhs.nc.gov If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: BRIDGGETTE CAMPBELL Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/27/2024 Number Present: 110 Completed Date: 6/27/2024 Age: From 0 To 10 Total Minutes: 195 Time In: 02:00 PM Time Out: 05:15 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for a routine unannounced assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License issued on 8-2-23. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on 1-19-24. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Janesta Green, Center Director. Upon arrival to the facility, I was greeted by you. Some children were observed at the tables eating snack and completing handwashing routines. Other children were observed on the playground, dancing to music, and on the carpet as the caregiver read a book to the children. A walk-through was completed visiting the ten (10) classrooms where children are in care. Compliance with capacity, supervision, discipline, attendance, program requirements, storage of hazardous substances, CPR & First Aid, permit restrictions, the required postings, and your staff record documentation was monitored as a partial assessment of applicable child care requirements. The following violation of child care requirements was cited during today’s visit and must be corrected immediately. Technical assistance on how to maintain compliance was provided today. Violation Number Comment Rule 1823 The EPR Plan did not include the location of the Ready to Go File and or the required information. The Ready to Go File did not contain all of the current required information. .0607(d)(10) The above violation must be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than 7-11-24 stating how the violation was corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov. The following were discussed with you during today’s visit: • 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. • Technical Assistance was provided with the following suggestion that may be beneficial: • We discussed record keeping is one of the most time-consuming tasks associated with administering a child care program. It is an important part of licensure. As an administrator you must allow time to review all necessary documentation to ensure accuracy. Set a reminder to review/update your EPR Plan and Ready to Go File at least monthly. The Ready to Go Checklist is a tool to ensure you have included all the vital information needed in case of an emergency. • A suggestion was made to save the most recent child care requirements in Chapter 9 effective January 2024, to your desktop computer for easy access. • We discussed that play is an important part of a child’s development. Playing outside in the fresh air can be fun and adventurous. With careful planning and monitoring, play environments can be safe for children. There have been numerous reports of snakes on the playground in outdoor environments. Remember child care rule 10A NCAC 09 .0604 reads that once a day, prior to initial use, the indoor and outdoor premises shall be checked for debris, vandalism, and broken equipment, in addition look for hazards/snakes. As temperatures rise, so do the risks associated with hot surfaces on playgrounds. The scorching heat of the sun can turn slides, swings, and other equipment into potential burn hazards, causing burns and discomfort for children of all ages. To lessen these risks and ensure a safe environment for play, it's essential to inspect hot surface areas and implement cooling measures. It is important to routinely inspect all equipment for signs of excessive heat buildup on surfaces, focusing on areas that are exposed to direct sunlight that children could touch with their hands, including handles, rails, platforms, slides, asphalt or concrete (if sitting during chalk play), rubber surfacing in the fall zones, steering wheels, swing seats, chains on swings, tunnels that children can sit on or climb in, and anything metal or dark colored. Using specialized tools like infrared thermometers can help accurately measure surface temperatures and identify potential hot spots. If during inspection hot spots are discovered several strategies can be employed to cool down these areas: Shading: Installing shade structures over playground equipment can significantly reduce direct exposure to sunlight, thereby lowering surface temperatures. This can be achieved through the use of canopies, umbrellas, or natural shade from trees. Cooling Mats: Placing cooling mats or pads on high-temperature surfaces can provide a protective barrier for children. These mats are designed to dissipate heat quickly, keeping the surface cooler and safer to touch. Mist stations may be another preventative measure and also a way to cool off. Water Play: Introducing water play elements such as misters or splash pads near playgrounds can help cool down surrounding areas. Not only does water play provide relief from the heat, but it also adds an element of fun for children. Timed Play: Scheduling playtime during cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late afternoon, can minimize exposure to hot playground surfaces. Encouraging children to wear appropriate footwear and clothing can also help prevent burns. Educational Awareness: Educating children about the dangers of hot surfaces and encouraging them to test equipment for heat before use can empower them to make safer choices while playing. A copy of the Consumer Safety Products Commission Fact Sheet-Burn Safety Awareness on Playgrounds was reviewed with you and a copy was made for future reference. • Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for child care updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. It has been a pleasure working with you. You have a new child care consultant, Kimberly Girouard effective July 1, 2024. Kimberly Girouard, Child Care Consultant PO BOX 1184 Wake Forest, NC 27588 Office: 919-602-2582 kimberly.girouard@dhhs.nc.gov If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0806 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: BRIDGGETTE CAMPBELL Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0424-215L Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 81 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 9 Total Minutes: 140 Time In: 02:40 PM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to investigate allegations of noncompliance with child care requirements. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Janesta Green, center director. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on 8-2-23. Upon arrival to the facility, I was greeted by you and the complaint allegations regarding sanitation/health, nurture and care, and nutrition were shared with you. In regard to the allegation concerning sanitation/health, it was alleged that when the parent arrived to pick up a 3-month-old infant, that the infant was covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. You indicated that on 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month-old infant was sent home covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. The caregiver did not ensure good hygiene and did not change the infant’s clothing, despite there being a change of clothing provided for the infant. Based on the conversation with you, the allegation concerning sanitation/health is substantiated. See violation below. Regarding the allegation concerning nurture and care, it was alleged that a 3-month-old infant’s face and eyes were swollen from crying for a long period of time without staff attending to the infant’s needs. You explained that this was the infant’s first time in child care and their second day attending the facility. You stated that on 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, an infant was observed crying to the point that their face and eyes were swollen. You further explained that the caregiver in this classroom, only had this one infant in care and was cleaning the classroom instead of adequately caring for the infant. During today’s visit children were attended to in a nurturing manner, in keeping with children’s developmental needs. Based on the conversation with you, the allegation concerning nurture and care is substantiated. See violation below. The concern regarding nutrition was also discussed with you. It was alleged that documentation on 4-8-24 for a 3-month-old infant was incorrect, documenting that three bottles were drank, however there were three bottles brought from home that day and one full bottle was sent home. Documentation was observed showing that the infant drank three bottles throughout the day at 9:15am, 11:27am, and 2:27pm. You stated that you specifically remember on the morning of 4-8-24 having to go outside and chase down the parent because one of the four bottles brought that day were not labeled with the date. It was observed that the bottles were given to the infant as documented per the infant’s feeding schedule. Based on my observations and conversation with you, the allegation regarding nutrition is unsubstantiated. The following violations of child care requirements were cited and must be corrected immediately. Technical assistance on how to maintain compliance was provided. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. On 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month-old infant was observed crying to the point that their face and eyes were swollen, as the caregiver was cleaning the classroom and not attending to the infant's needs. G.S. 110-91(10) 9999 Staff did not provide assistance to each child to ensure good hygiene. On 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month old infant was sent home covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. This is a violation of a requirement in 10A NCAC 09 .0806(e). The above violations must be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than 4-29-24 stating how the violations have corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov. The following were discussed with you during today’s visit: • A follow-up visit will be made in the near future to monitor for compliance. • You stated that you have already put in place measures to prevent these violations from occurring. It was suggested that you look for additional training on infant care, contact Child Care Services Association for resources to assist staff in the classroom for infants and continue to monitor the classroom for infants throughout the day to ensure proper care is being provided. It was mentioned that installing cameras may be an added tool to assist with monitoring and be valuable for going back to see exactly what occurred in a classroom. • Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Hopkins, RN (919) 795-2234 latasha.hopkins@wake.gov as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler Specialist as a resource. • Register asap for the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program required pre-enrollment webinar https://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vmlhG6iRS26BdkV8SZSaDw#/. The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program helps fulfill North Carolina requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816) for public schools and child care facilities related to lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. The goal is to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards where North Carolina children learn and play. • Please visit DCDEE’s website for child care updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Contact me if you have questions or concerns: Bridggette Campbell PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov (919) 819-9357 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.

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: BRIDGGETTE CAMPBELL Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0424-215L Visit Date: 4/15/2024 Number Present: 81 Completed Date: 4/15/2024 Age: From 0 To 9 Total Minutes: 140 Time In: 02:40 PM Time Out: 05:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to investigate allegations of noncompliance with child care requirements. Today’s visit was conducted with you, Janesta Green, center director. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on 8-2-23. Upon arrival to the facility, I was greeted by you and the complaint allegations regarding sanitation/health, nurture and care, and nutrition were shared with you. In regard to the allegation concerning sanitation/health, it was alleged that when the parent arrived to pick up a 3-month-old infant, that the infant was covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. You indicated that on 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month-old infant was sent home covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. The caregiver did not ensure good hygiene and did not change the infant’s clothing, despite there being a change of clothing provided for the infant. Based on the conversation with you, the allegation concerning sanitation/health is substantiated. See violation below. Regarding the allegation concerning nurture and care, it was alleged that a 3-month-old infant’s face and eyes were swollen from crying for a long period of time without staff attending to the infant’s needs. You explained that this was the infant’s first time in child care and their second day attending the facility. You stated that on 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, an infant was observed crying to the point that their face and eyes were swollen. You further explained that the caregiver in this classroom, only had this one infant in care and was cleaning the classroom instead of adequately caring for the infant. During today’s visit children were attended to in a nurturing manner, in keeping with children’s developmental needs. Based on the conversation with you, the allegation concerning nurture and care is substantiated. See violation below. The concern regarding nutrition was also discussed with you. It was alleged that documentation on 4-8-24 for a 3-month-old infant was incorrect, documenting that three bottles were drank, however there were three bottles brought from home that day and one full bottle was sent home. Documentation was observed showing that the infant drank three bottles throughout the day at 9:15am, 11:27am, and 2:27pm. You stated that you specifically remember on the morning of 4-8-24 having to go outside and chase down the parent because one of the four bottles brought that day were not labeled with the date. It was observed that the bottles were given to the infant as documented per the infant’s feeding schedule. Based on my observations and conversation with you, the allegation regarding nutrition is unsubstantiated. The following violations of child care requirements were cited and must be corrected immediately. Technical assistance on how to maintain compliance was provided. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. On 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month-old infant was observed crying to the point that their face and eyes were swollen, as the caregiver was cleaning the classroom and not attending to the infant's needs. G.S. 110-91(10) 9999 Staff did not provide assistance to each child to ensure good hygiene. On 4-8-24 around 5:38pm, in the classroom for infants, space #1, a 3-month old infant was sent home covered in vomit and their clothes were soaking wet. This is a violation of a requirement in 10A NCAC 09 .0806(e). The above violations must be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than 4-29-24 stating how the violations have corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov. The following were discussed with you during today’s visit: • A follow-up visit will be made in the near future to monitor for compliance. • You stated that you have already put in place measures to prevent these violations from occurring. It was suggested that you look for additional training on infant care, contact Child Care Services Association for resources to assist staff in the classroom for infants and continue to monitor the classroom for infants throughout the day to ensure proper care is being provided. It was mentioned that installing cameras may be an added tool to assist with monitoring and be valuable for going back to see exactly what occurred in a classroom. • Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Hopkins, RN (919) 795-2234 latasha.hopkins@wake.gov as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler Specialist as a resource. • Register asap for the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program required pre-enrollment webinar https://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vmlhG6iRS26BdkV8SZSaDw#/. The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program helps fulfill North Carolina requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816) for public schools and child care facilities related to lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. The goal is to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards where North Carolina children learn and play. • Please visit DCDEE’s website for child care updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Contact me if you have questions or concerns: Bridggette Campbell PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov (919) 819-9357 If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

10A NCAC 09 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER Facility ID: 92003914 Consultant: BRIDGGETTE CAMPBELL Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 1/19/2024 Number Present: 74 Completed Date: 1/19/2024 Age: From 0 To 7 Total Minutes: 365 Time In: 10:40 AM Time Out: 04:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced visit was to monitor compliance with child care requirements for an annual compliance assessment. This facility currently operates with a Four (4) Star License that was issued on 8-2-23. The last sanitation inspection was completed on 7-18-23 with an “Approved” classification. The last approved fire inspection was conducted on 8-1-23. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed on 1-19-24 and the corporation’s name, KinderCare Education LLC was listed as “Current-Active.” Today’s visit was conducted with you, Janesta Green, new center director. I monitored the ten (10) classrooms in use for compliance with staff/child ratios, supervision, and staff interaction/discipline. The program was also monitored for health and safety requirements both indoors and outdoors using the annual compliance monitoring checklist. There was monitoring for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum (Early Foundations) as required for all four and five star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. Children completed daily activities with adequate supervision. The children were observed at the table with board games and manipulatives, engaged in activity centers, and at the table eating lunch. Appropriate handwashing and diapering routines were also observed. The program requirements, along with equipment and furnishings were also observed. Compliance with staff records will be documented by you. New staff records, along with children’s records were reviewed today. This facility does provide transportation. The bus and van used for transportation and transportation documentation were observed and in compliance. The following violations of child care requirements were observed during today’s visit and must be corrected immediately. Technical assistance on how to maintain compliance was provided today. Violation Number Comment Rule 445 For children under three years of age, developmentally appropriate toys and activities were not provided as outlined in Rule. In spaces #12, #13, #14, and #15 appropriate music toys, dolls, pretend play, and fine motor toys were not available and offered in sufficient quantities. .0510 (e ) (1)(A-G) 601 Refrigerator(s) did not maintain a temperature of 45 degrees F. or below. The refrigerators in spaces #14 and #15 did not contain a thermometer to verify the temperature. 15A NCAC 18A .2806(j)(2) 620 All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean and in good repair. In several classrooms, the black baseboards have separated from the walls. Walls throughout the facility contained peeling paint. 15A NCAC 18A .2825(a) 716 All stationary equipment, more than 18 inches high, was not installed over protective surfacing. On the playground for the schoolagers, mulch at the end of the slides only measured three inches deep. .0605(j) 808 The outdoor premises were not clean, drained and free of litter and hazardous materials grass and other vegetation in a manner which does not encourage vermin. On the playground for schoolagers, litter was observed that had spilled out of the trash can (did not have a lid). 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) 842 A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #1, there was no permission to administer Up & Up Diaper Rash Paste and Parent's Choice Diaper Rash Ointment (which was not labeled with a child's name). 10A NCAC 09 .0803(1)(a & b) 1322 A written statement from each child's parent giving standing permission which may be valid for up to twelve months for participation in off premise activities that occur on a regular basis was not available. Two children's files did not contain permission to play outside the fenced area. .1005(b)(4) The above violations must be corrected immediately and a corrective action letter must be sent to me no later than 2-2-24 stating how the violations have been corrected and a plan to maintain compliance with the requirements. My mailing address is: PO Box 865, Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 or a corrective action letter can be emailed to: bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov. If I do not receive your letter by 2-2-24, a return visit to your program may be made to monitor for compliance of the violations. Additional violations may be documented if the item has not been corrected or addressed. The following were discussed with you during today’s visit: • Submit your completed staff and training worksheet asap. • During the visit today, I spoke with the District Manager, Maureen Bosman, via a telephone conversation regarding the needs of this facility. I strongly recommend additional support for the new director. Currently the facility is without an assistant director to help with the managerial duties and day to day operations. There is a need for toys, equipment, mulch, cosmetics/items not in good repair to meet sanitation rules, and a thorough cleaning of the entire facility. • Contact Foundations to get the Certificate of Compliance for the two types of cribs that you have in the classrooms for infants. • Another evacuation crib in needed in space #14. • Please register asap for the required pre-enrollment webinar https://rtiorg.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vmlhG6iRS26BdkV8SZSaDw#/ to participate in the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids Program. The Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids program helps fulfill North Carolina requirements (NC 10A NCAC 41C.1001-1007, NC 154A NCAC 18A.2816) for public schools and child care facilities related to lead in water, lead-based paint, and asbestos. The goal is to identify and eliminate exposure to lead and asbestos hazards where North Carolina children learn and play. • The NC Child Care Health and Safety Resource Center is a valuable resource where you can find skills-based training and technical assistance from your Child Care Health Consultant on specific medications or health conditions, as well as the new poster on Stand-Up Changing Procedures. Sign up for their quarterly newsletter and find updated resources at www.healthychildcare.unc.edu or 800-367-2229, choose option 1, then 2. • The Healthy Social Behaviors (HSB) Project supports teachers to promote healthy social-emotional development and reduce the expulsion rate among young children in licensed child care centers across North Carolina. Specialists are available with early childhood education backgrounds who are passionate about empowering teachers to develop learning environments and teaching practices that promote prosocial skills in young children. A flyer with the challenging behaviors hotline information was provided today. • Contact your Child Care Health Consultant, Latasha Hopkins, RN (919) 795-2234 latasha.hopkins@wake.gov as a resource for health and safety practices and reach out to Child Care Services Association’s Infant/Toddler Specialist as a resource for classroom management. • It was suggested to keep your incident log in a binder or folder easily accessible. The incident reports should be maintained in each child’s file. • Please use the Health & Safety Trainings log provided for you today, to ensure that all of the required Health and Safety trainings found for free on the DCDEE Moodle website have been completed. • Please continue to visit DCDEE’s website for child care updates at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/. Thank you for your time and cooperation. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. Bridggette Campbell PO Box 865 Knightdale, NC 27545-0865 bridggette.campbell@dhhs.nc.gov (919) 819-9357 If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

Open Not marked corrected in the state record

Category: supervision. Open / not marked corrected.