Little Gems Learning Academy

GS 110-105 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: LORI HERRICK Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0725-132A Visit Date: 7/11/2025 Number Present: 37 Completed Date: 7/11/2025 Age: From 1 To 12 Total Minutes: 130 Time In: 10:35 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of this unannounced visit was to investigate allegations of violations of child care requirements at this child care facility. Georgiana Hartgrove, administrator, was on site. Ms. Hartgrove accompanied me during a walk-through of the facility. During the visit, I discussed the allegations with Ms. Hartgrove and additional staff members. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. The following violation was confirmed during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On July 9, 2025, a staff member was not aware of children's activities and a one-year-old child sustained multiple bites which required medical attention. .1801(a)(1-5) 1810 There was a substantiation of child maltreatment. Pursuant to its investigation, the Division has confirmed sufficient information to determine child maltreatment based on supervision needs and physical injury. GS 110-105.6(a) Violations must be corrected immediately. Within one week, on or before, July 18, 2025, you must submit documentation of the corrections you made and your plan to maintain compliance with the identified child care requirements to me at Lori Herrick, Investigations Consultant, 828-782-0613, lori.herrick@dhhs.nc.gov. You may contact me at Lori Herrick, Investigations Consultant, 828-782-0613, lori.herrick@dhhs.nc.gov. or Natosha Lambeth, Natosha.lambeth@dhhs.nc.gov Thank you for your time. 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 .0302 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 .0510 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 .0606 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 .1103 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 09.0304 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 09.0802 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 09.1003 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 09.1102 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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

GS 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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

GS110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 2/23/2024 Number Present: 36 Completed Date: 2/23/2024 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 323 Time In: 09:37 AM Time Out: 03:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator, assisted me with the visit. Farran Rhyne, Child Care Consultant, accompanied me on the visit. A checklist was used to note the requirements I monitored today. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Currently no children are being served on 2nd or 3rd shift care. The Secretary of State website was checked on February 23, 2024, and your business Little Gems Learning Academy, Inc., is active and in good standing. If any changes to the corporation need to be made or you decide to sell your business, then you must notify me, your consultant at least thirty days prior to any changes occurring. The license cannot be bought, sold, subleased, transferred to another person or location, or inherited. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time, free play in activity areas, transitions and personal care routines. Infants were engaged in tummy time, napping, and feeding. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history was at 94% prior to 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. A sample of six children’s files were reviewed. A sample of two existing staff files were reviewed. You have no newly hired staff since the last monitoring visit. The last monthly fire drill was practiced on 1/2/24. The last shelter-in-place drill was practiced on 12/18/23. The last monthly playground inspection was completed on 2/1/24. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A superior sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day and night time care. The following violation(s) were observed and discussed with you today: Violation Number Comment Rule 475 Sand and water play activities were not available weekly to each group. In space #2, no sand/water activity was offered on the current week’s activity plan. .0510(c)(3) 852 Incident reports were not completed each time a child was injured, it did not include all the information required in rule, it was not signed by the parent and/or it was not maintained in the child's file. An incident that occurred on 5/25/23 was recorded on the incident log, but there was no incident report in the child’s file. .0802 (e) 887 Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had multiple sleep checks that did not record the sleep position of the child. .0606(g) 895 Infants under the age of 12 months were not placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center had obtained the appropriate written waiver. One child enrolled 12/4/23 and one child enrolled 7/13/23 had the initial position that staff placed in the child in for rest listed as on the child's tummy. No alternative sleep position waiver was on file. .0606(a)(1)(A-B) 1052 Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience. One staff member employed 5/8/20 had verification of 2 of the 10 required on-going training hours. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of any of the required on-going training hours on file. .1103(a) 1125 Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider. One child enrolled 5/15/23, had a written permission that did not include the location for pick up of the child. .1003(i)(j) 1311 Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. One child enrolled 8/22/22 and one child enrolled 3/29/21 did not annual emergency information updated on file. .0802(c) 1321 Medical exam or health assessment record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 2/19/23 had a medical exam completed 5/16/23 on file. GS110-91(1) 1323 Each child was not immunized as per Article 6 of Chapter 130A and an immunization record was not on file before or within 30 days after admission. One child enrolled 10/30/23 had no immunization record on file. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) 1898 Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One staff member employed 5/10/22, did not have verification of health and safety trainings on file. One staff member employed 5/8/22, did not have verification of two of the eleven required topics on file. .1102(a) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before March 8, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Item #1898 Health and Safety Training: Staff must complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment that include all the topics areas covered in 10A NCAC 09.1102(a & b). I encouraged you to track staff progress on the required trainings at intervals during the first year to assure that the requirement can be met with the first year of employment. We discussed that the staff member employed 5/8/22, needs to complete training the topic areas of Handling and storage of hazardous materials/appropriate disposal of biocontaminants and Prevention of shaken baby syndrome, abusive head trauma, and child maltreatment. This training must be completed within the next two weeks. Item #1052 On-Going Training: Staff must receive the required number of on-going training hours, according to their education/experience. Staff may receive training in person or on-line. 10A NCAC 09 .1103(a) Item #475 Sand/Water Activity: Sand and water activities must be available weekly to each group. I suggested reviewing the upcoming week’s/month’s activity plan to make sure that sand and water activities are offered at least once a week. 10A NCAC 09 .0510(c)(3) Item #1125 Transportation Authorization: Before children are transported, parental written permission must include where the child is to be transported. 10A NCAC 09.1003(i)(j). The information of where the child is to be transported was added to the authorization for the child enrolled 5/15/23. This violation was corrected during the visit. Item #1311 Children’s Emergency Information: Emergency information for children in care must be updated annually and when any changes occur. We discussed that the Emergency information should be reviewed with parents and if there are no changes, parents should initial that an annual review has been completed. 10A NCAC 09.0802(c) Item #852 Incident Reports: Incident reports must be maintained in the child’s file. 10A NCAC 09.0802(e ) To ensure that incident information is kept with the child’s file, incident reports should be placed in the child’s file immediately after being recorded on the incident log. Item #887 Sleep Checks: Caregivers must document the sleep position for infants each time that visual checks are completed. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(g). We discussed reviewing the sleep check documentation with staff working with infants. Item #895 Alternative Sleep Position Waiver: Infants under 12 months of age must be placed on their backs for sleeping unless the center has obtained the appropriate written waiver. 10A NCAC 09 .0606(a)(1)(A-B). You reported that staff only place infants on their backs to sleep and that the recorded information must have been a mistake. Item #1321 Children’s Medical Exam: Each child must have a completed medical exam on file for review within thirty (30) days of enrollment. I recommended requiring medical exams for children to be completed and turned in to you prior to enrollment when possible. GS 110-91(1). Item #1323 Immunization Records: Each child must have an immunization record on file before or within 30 days after beginning care. 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(2) GS 110-91(1). We encouraged you to try to have immunization records returned before enrollment if possible. Consultation or other topics discussed today: Per 10A NCAC 09.0304, The operator shall submit the original of the approved annual fire inspection report to the Division within one week of the inspection visit on the form provided by the Division. If the fire inspection report is not submitted to your Child Care Consultant within one week after the fire inspection is conducted, a violation will be cited during the facilities next monitoring visit. Resuming Star Rated License Reassessment Information: As a reminder your facility is in cohort 2 for resuming the star rated license reassessment. Your child care program’s prep year will begin on July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Your child care program’s reassessment year will begin on July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. For more information, please visit the DCDEE website under the providers tab. The link is https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/Provider/Licensing/Star-Rated-License/Resuming-StarRated-License Moodle Support: The Division offers early childhood professionals a wide range of professional development opportunities through our online learning platform Moodle. As we continue expanding our training offerings, DCDEE has established a new email address and phone number for Moodle support. To get help with Moodle, email at DCDEE_Moodle_Support@dhhs.nc.gov or call (919) 814-6326. The Healthy Social Behavior Project is offering technical assistance with challenging behaviors to programs. Please see the link below for more information. Website Link: https://www.childcareresourcesinc.org/challenging-behaviors-helpline To speak to a Healthy Social Behavior Specialist, please contact the helpline at 1-888-600-1685 Option 1. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, a hand written visit summary was prepared, reviewed and given to you for your records. This computer generated visit summary was emailed to you for your records February 26, 2024. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828)748-7893 beth.archer@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 .0803 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/9/2023 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 10/9/2023 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 98 Time In: 09:07 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced routine unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival, the purpose of today’s visit was reviewed with you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. You use Creative Curriculum. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in both the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time and free play in activity areas.. Infants were engaged in feeding time. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history prior to today’s visit was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 95 percent as of September 15, 2023. 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. One new staff member has been hired since the annual compliance visit on April 13, 2023. Limited monitoring of staff files was conducted for the purpose of reviewing training regarding CPR/First Aid, EPR, Playground Safety, ITS-SIDS, Special Training including Health and Safety Training and Criminal Background Checks. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A supervisor sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day time care. The following violation(s) were observed today: Violation Number Comment Rule 541 The written feeding plan did not include the child's name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center. One infant enrolled 10/5/23, had a feeding plan that was not signed by the parent. .0902(a) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In Space #4, one prescription diaper cream brought in on 6/1/23, did not have a parent signature on the medication permission form. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before October 23, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Feeding Plan: When parents complete the written feeding plan and return it to the facility, the signature of the parent must be on the form. Please review forms as parents complete them and prior to the child enrolling. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) Medication Administration: A medication authorization must include the signature of the parent. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The prescription medication, that did not have a signature of the parent, was discarded during this visit. I encouraged you to have a conversation with the parent about whether the prescription cream is still needed. This violation was corrected during the visit. Consultation or other topics discussed today (the following items reviewed were in compliance today): We discussed that you are in Cohort 2 for rated license assessments. We discussed that facilities may begin to prepare for future rated license assessments by making sure that all staff have updated WORKS education evaluations and begin to monitor classrooms for appropriate materials. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed and a copy was emailed to you for your records. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . If I can be of further assistance, you may contact me at: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@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 .0902 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/9/2023 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 10/9/2023 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 98 Time In: 09:07 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced routine unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival, the purpose of today’s visit was reviewed with you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. You use Creative Curriculum. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in both the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time and free play in activity areas.. Infants were engaged in feeding time. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history prior to today’s visit was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 95 percent as of September 15, 2023. 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. One new staff member has been hired since the annual compliance visit on April 13, 2023. Limited monitoring of staff files was conducted for the purpose of reviewing training regarding CPR/First Aid, EPR, Playground Safety, ITS-SIDS, Special Training including Health and Safety Training and Criminal Background Checks. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A supervisor sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day time care. The following violation(s) were observed today: Violation Number Comment Rule 541 The written feeding plan did not include the child's name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center. One infant enrolled 10/5/23, had a feeding plan that was not signed by the parent. .0902(a) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In Space #4, one prescription diaper cream brought in on 6/1/23, did not have a parent signature on the medication permission form. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before October 23, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Feeding Plan: When parents complete the written feeding plan and return it to the facility, the signature of the parent must be on the form. Please review forms as parents complete them and prior to the child enrolling. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) Medication Administration: A medication authorization must include the signature of the parent. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The prescription medication, that did not have a signature of the parent, was discarded during this visit. I encouraged you to have a conversation with the parent about whether the prescription cream is still needed. This violation was corrected during the visit. Consultation or other topics discussed today (the following items reviewed were in compliance today): We discussed that you are in Cohort 2 for rated license assessments. We discussed that facilities may begin to prepare for future rated license assessments by making sure that all staff have updated WORKS education evaluations and begin to monitor classrooms for appropriate materials. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed and a copy was emailed to you for your records. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . If I can be of further assistance, you may contact me at: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LITTLE GEMS LEARNING ACADEMY Facility ID: 23000452 Consultant: BETH ARCHER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 10/9/2023 Number Present: 32 Completed Date: 10/9/2023 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 98 Time In: 09:07 AM Time Out: 10:45 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Routine Unannounced Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s unannounced routine unannounced visit was to monitor your compliance with all applicable child care requirements, including health and safety. Upon arrival, the purpose of today’s visit was reviewed with you, Georgiana Hartgrove, Administrator. Your program currently operates with a five star license effective February 27, 2020. The permit restrictions were in compliance including 1st shift, 2nd shift, 3rd shift, meets enhanced ratios and meets enhanced space. Your program was also monitored for compliance with implementing an approved curriculum as required for all four- and five-star licensed facilities where four-year-old children are enrolled. You use Creative Curriculum. A walk-through of the facility was completed today, all indoor and outdoor areas were monitored. You conducted the walkthrough of the facility with me. I observed children in both the indoor learning environment and found supervision and staff/child ratios to be in compliance. Children throughout the facility were participating in group time and free play in activity areas.. Infants were engaged in feeding time. The caregivers were interacting and meeting the developmental needs for each of the children. The center's compliance history prior to today’s visit was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was 95 percent as of September 15, 2023. 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. One new staff member has been hired since the annual compliance visit on April 13, 2023. Limited monitoring of staff files was conducted for the purpose of reviewing training regarding CPR/First Aid, EPR, Playground Safety, ITS-SIDS, Special Training including Health and Safety Training and Criminal Background Checks. The most recent sanitation inspection for your facility was conducted on May 23, 2023. A supervisor sanitation classification was issued with three demerits. The most recent fire inspection for your facility was conducted on September 22, 2023. The facility was approved for day time care. The following violation(s) were observed today: Violation Number Comment Rule 541 The written feeding plan did not include the child's name, parent signature, and/or was not dated when received by the center. One infant enrolled 10/5/23, had a feeding plan that was not signed by the parent. .0902(a) 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In Space #4, one prescription diaper cream brought in on 6/1/23, did not have a parent signature on the medication permission form. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before October 23, 2023, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is considered legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit may be completed. Mail or email the information to: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@dhhs.nc.gov If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address on file with DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Failure to correct the violations and send the written statement by the due date may result in an unannounced follow-up visit being conducted or an administrative action may be recommended. The Division of Child Development may take administrative action against the license and/or impose civil penalties based on the failure of the operator to correct any documented violations within the established time period. Technical assistance on violations was reviewed with you. Areas discussed included: Feeding Plan: When parents complete the written feeding plan and return it to the facility, the signature of the parent must be on the form. Please review forms as parents complete them and prior to the child enrolling. 10A NCAC 09 .0902(a) Medication Administration: A medication authorization must include the signature of the parent. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) The prescription medication, that did not have a signature of the parent, was discarded during this visit. I encouraged you to have a conversation with the parent about whether the prescription cream is still needed. This violation was corrected during the visit. Consultation or other topics discussed today (the following items reviewed were in compliance today): We discussed that you are in Cohort 2 for rated license assessments. We discussed that facilities may begin to prepare for future rated license assessments by making sure that all staff have updated WORKS education evaluations and begin to monitor classrooms for appropriate materials. For the latest information on child care rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ . This website enables you to view the entire Law and Child Care Requirements for North Carolina as well as download required forms. I encourage you to click on the "What's New" tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed and a copy was emailed to you for your records. Thank you for your time today. If you have any questions about today’s visit, please contact me or my supervisor, Tammy McGalliard, Tammy.McGalliard@dhhs.nc.gov . If I can be of further assistance, you may contact me at: Beth Archer Child Care Consultant P.O. Box 64 Rutherfordton, NC 28139 beth.archer@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