Lil' Explorer'S Child Care Center

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LIL' EXPLORER'S CHILD CARE CENTER Facility ID: 65000222 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/13/2025 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 8/13/2025 Age: From 1 To 4 Total Minutes: 75 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 10:15 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance. Melissa Humphrey, Owner/Operator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a 3-star license issued January 18, 2022, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point. Prior to the visit the compliance history score was 99%. The last sanitation inspection was completed April 4, 2025, and the facility received a superior rating. The last fire inspection was completed July 22, 2025, and the facility was approved for daytime care only. All licensed spaces were monitored today. Children were observed in free play. The activity plan was current and aligned with NC Early Childhood Foundations. Ms. Humphrey had informal conversations with children and engaged in play as well. Adequate materials were available for each age group. Fire drills and shelter in place/lockdown drills are being completed as required. Lunch is brought from home for each child. Adequate materials were available for each age group. You were observed using a calm tone when a child was running and you redirected him by giving him options to either walk or crawl. You also sat in the floor and facilitated clean up time and all children participated and helped. Adequate handwashing was observed after using playdough. The following violations were observed. Violation Number Comment Rule 840 All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Weed and Feed fertilizer was observed outside of the entry door and was labeled "Keep out of reach of children". .2820(b) 1790 A statement acknowledging the parental decision to opt out of the supplemental food provided by the center was not signed by the parent and/or maintained on file at the center. A child 4 years of age, did not have a signed statement acknowledging the parental decision to opt out of the supplemental food provided by the center. .0901(d) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation documented must be corrected immediately. On or before August 27, 2025, 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 registered with the 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 will be conducted. An administrative action may be issued based on a confirmed allegation. Technical Assistance: Please review child care rules regarding storage and accessibility of potentially hazardous items. Items labeled “Keep out of reach of children” with no other warnings must be stored at a minimum of five feet off the floor. Hazardous cleaning supplies, including those kept under pressure in an aerosol can, as well as medications must be kept in locked storage. The definition of locked storage requires that the lock be unlocked with some type of device such as a key or combination. Regular childproofing locks do not meet this requirement. Ensure that all cleaning supplies and other items labeled “Keep out of reach of children” are kept inaccessible while children are in care. Today I suggested getting in to a routine of properly storing all products immediately, even if purchased/brought in outside of operating hours. Nutrition Opt Out forms were observed in children's files; however, one was not completed/signed by the parent. Today we discussed reviewing all children's files periodically to ensure all items are completely filled out and signed. Rated License: The “hold harmless” state of rated license reassessments is ending, and the new Quality Rating Improvement System standards are forthcoming. This means that you will not be required to have a reassessment according to the timelines discussed previously; however, you may request one voluntarily. Today I encouraged you to review information about the new standards as it becomes available and to plan on training your staff on the new assessment tools if you are interested in Environment Rating Scales assessments. I will share more information as I am able. North Carolina Rated License Assessment Project (NCRLAP): As of February 1, 2025, the new and improved Environment Rating Scales – Third Additions will be implemented. Today we discussed the purchase of the new tools, training opportunities, and the NCRLAP website. Please visit www.ncrlap.org for more information and start training your staff now on this new tool! Outreach assessments on the new tools are available now. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed, signed, and left with you today. Contact me at April Lester, Child Care Consultant, 910-824-0954, april.lester@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: LIL' EXPLORER'S CHILD CARE CENTER Facility ID: 65000222 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/26/2024 Number Present: 6 Completed Date: 8/26/2024 Age: From 2 To 4 Total Minutes: 74 Time In: 08:46 AM Time Out: 10:00 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of today’s visit was to monitor your program for compliance with applicable child care requirements for an annual compliance. Melissa Humphrey, Owner/Operator, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a 3-star license issued January 18, 2022, earning 4 points in the education component, 2 points in the program standards component and 1 quality point. Prior to the visit the compliance history score was 100%. The last sanitation inspection was completed February 13, 2024, and the facility received a superior rating. The last fire inspection was completed August 14, 2024, and the facility was approved for daytime care only. All licensed spaces were monitored today. Children were observed in free play. All activity plans were current and aligned with NC Early Childhood Foundations. Ms. Humphrey had informal conversations with children and engaged in play as well. A child was observed arriving this morning and he washed his hands upon entry. Adequate materials were available for each age group. Fire drills and shelter in place/lockdown drills are being completed as required. Lunch is brought from home for each child. Adequate materials were available for each age group. The following violation was observed. Violation Number Comment Rule 1899 Health and safety training topics were not included as part of on-going training within five years of completing the previous health and safety training topics. The provider has not completed the Prevention of Shaken Baby, Abusive Head Trauma and Child Maltreatment since January 18, 2019 and Recognizing and reporting child abuse, child neglect and child maltreatment since March 19, 2019. .1103(b) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. The violation(s) documented must be corrected immediately. On or before September 9, 2024, I must receive a written, dated, and signed compliance letter that describes accurately and in detail, how and when the violations were corrected. Please be aware any information submitted by you is legal documentation. If it is determined the information provided in the letter is not true, this may be considered falsification of information. If sufficient information is not received by the due date, a follow-up visit will be conducted. Email the information to: April Lester Child Care Consultant april.lester@dhhs.nc.gov 910-824-0954 If you email the compliance letter, it must be sent from the email address registered with the DCDEE (this serves as your signature) and the following information must be included: name, position, facility name, and facility ID number. An example is: Jane Doe, Administrator AAA Child Care ID # 12345678 Technical Assistance: Health and Safety trainings are required to be renewed every 5 years. You last took Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head trauma and Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment in early 2019. These trainings must be completed immediately. You can find the Prevention of Shaken Baby and Abusive Head Trauma training for free on Moodle at https://www.dcdee.moodle.nc.gov/. You can find the Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment training at https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/recognizing-responding-online-course/. Rated License Information: The “hold harmless” state of rated license reassessments has been extended until the new Quality Rating Improvement System standards are put in place. This means that you will not be required to have a reassessment according to the timelines discussed previously, however you may request one voluntarily. Today I encouraged you to review information about the new standards as it becomes available and to plan on training your staff on the new assessment tools if you are interested in Environment Rating Scales assessments. I will share more information as I am able. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed, signed, and left with you. Contact me at April Lester, Child Care Consultant, 910-824-0954, april.lester@dhhs.nc.gov or Lynette Robbins, Licensing Supervisor, 910-824-0235, lynette.robbins@dhhs.nc.gov if you have questions. If the operator fails to correct any documented violations within the established time period, the Division of Child Development and Early Education may deny, suspend, terminate, or revoke any permit to operate (10A NCAC 09 .2000). All information in this report has been reviewed with me today.I understand that it is my responsibility to maintaincompliance with applicable NC Child Care Requirements at all times