Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0626-062L Visit Date: 6/8/2026 Number Present: 0 Completed Date: 6/8/2026 Age: From 0 To 0 Total Minutes: 105 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 12:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Self Report Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced visit is to investigate an allegation regarding inappropriate discipline. Childcare requirements pertinent to this visit type were monitored. The allegation of this report was discussed with Administrators Gary Boettcher and Meg Glover. You were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation and to share any pertinent information. This facility currently operates with a Five-Star License issued May 22, 2024. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. The last annual compliance visit was conducted by Child Care Consultant Shereen Pickett on October 20, 2025. Prior to the visit, the facility had an eighteen-month compliance history score of 100%. The program was only operating for a staff professional development day; therefore, children were not present. Investigation: The allegation was reviewed with three administrators and three classroom staff members. You were all given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation. The facility does have a camera system. Video footage was provided and reviewed today. Findings - Allegation: There are concerns that inappropriate discipline was used with a child. According to video footage reviewed today, the incident took place on June 1, 2026, at approximately 5:14 pm. The footage shows six children, four years old and one staff member transitioning from outdoor play. The children are seen walking in and individually placing their water bottles in their cubbies. Following, the children were directed to be seated on the carpet area where activities such as reading, and group time take place daily. The footage shows a child repeatedly kicking his feet around and kicking another classmate that was sitting by him. At that time, the staff member was observed across the classroom, before walking over to the group of children. The staff member is then seen roughly grabbing the child who was kicking by his left ankle to move him. The child then began kicking with his other foot. The staff member is then observed grabbing the child by the bicep and dropping his ankle. He was almost off the floor and was resisting. At that point, it is visible that both the staff member and child’s emotions escalated, and the staff member is observed trying to drag him on his tippy toes through the crowd of children. The staff member is observed pulling out a child sized chair and aggressively placing the child in it. The child immediately gets up and runs across the room and away from the staff member, before circling back around to the group of children still seated on the carpet. During the struggle between the staff member and child, the child is observed kicking a classmate in the chest, causing her to fall and hit her head on the bookshelf. It was later determined the child that was kicked in the chest did not receive any serious injuries. An incident report was completed by the program. Both children remain enrolled with the program. Due to on-going behavioral issues, the program requested support from Kelly Puzon, Early Care and Education Consultant with Smart Start of New Hanover County. Ms. Puzon agreed to conduct weekly observations and provide strategies to assist in the child’s care. The staff member involved in this incident was given the opportunity to watch the video and explain her actions. At that point, the staff member agreed she did not handle the incident well and asked to be dismissed. Her resignation was received and approved by administration on June 4, 2026. Based on information received, staff interviews and observation, this allegation is confirmed. One violation was observed and must be corrected immediately. Violation Number Comment Rule 904 A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking. On June 1, 2026, a child in the classroom for four-year-old children was aggressively kicking his feet while seated at the carpeted area of the classroom, which led to another classmate being kicked in the chest. In response to the child's kicking, the staff member is observed roughly grabbing the child who was kicking by his left ankle to move him. The child then began kicking with his other foot. The staff member is then observed grabbing the child by the bicep and dropping his ankle. As the child kicking escalated, the staff member is observed trying remove the child by dragging him on his tippy toes through the crowd of children. .1803(a)(1) 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 June 19, 2026, 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED FOR VIOLATION CITED: Guidance is about building an encouraging setting for every person in the group. It means helping young children understand they can learn from their mistakes, and it starts with showing them how. To give this help successfully, we need to build relationships with every child—especially with the children we find difficult to connect with and understand. We build these relationships from day one, outside of conflict situations. It is only when children know and trust us in day-to-day interactions that they will listen to us when conflicts happen (after we have helped everyone calm down). To assist with challenging behaviors, modify the learning/play environment (schedule, routine, activities, transitions, etc) to support appropriate behavior in a child. Recognize and accept age-appropriate behaviors. Understand the stages of development in which the children in your care fall. For example, those that cry may not have the verbal ability to express their needs and/or wants. Or, they may not have the skills yet to do so. At the completion of the visit, findings were reviewed with Mr. Boettcher and Ms. Glover, and a copy of the visit summary was provided to you. Reach me with questions at Shereen.Pickett@dhhs.nc.gov or (910) 508-3228. Kim Sherry, Licensing Supervisor, can be reached at Kim.Sherry@dhhs.nc.gov or (910) 824-0470. 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: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0626-062L Visit Date: 6/8/2026 Number Present: 0 Completed Date: 6/8/2026 Age: From 0 To 0 Total Minutes: 105 Time In: 10:15 AM Time Out: 12:00 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Self Report Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced visit is to investigate an allegation regarding inappropriate discipline. Childcare requirements pertinent to this visit type were monitored. The allegation of this report was discussed with Administrators Gary Boettcher and Meg Glover. You were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation and to share any pertinent information. This facility currently operates with a Five-Star License issued May 22, 2024. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. The last annual compliance visit was conducted by Child Care Consultant Shereen Pickett on October 20, 2025. Prior to the visit, the facility had an eighteen-month compliance history score of 100%. The program was only operating for a staff professional development day; therefore, children were not present. Investigation: The allegation was reviewed with three administrators and three classroom staff members. You were all given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation. The facility does have a camera system. Video footage was provided and reviewed today. Findings - Allegation: There are concerns that inappropriate discipline was used with a child. According to video footage reviewed today, the incident took place on June 1, 2026, at approximately 5:14 pm. The footage shows six children, four years old and one staff member transitioning from outdoor play. The children are seen walking in and individually placing their water bottles in their cubbies. Following, the children were directed to be seated on the carpet area where activities such as reading, and group time take place daily. The footage shows a child repeatedly kicking his feet around and kicking another classmate that was sitting by him. At that time, the staff member was observed across the classroom, before walking over to the group of children. The staff member is then seen roughly grabbing the child who was kicking by his left ankle to move him. The child then began kicking with his other foot. The staff member is then observed grabbing the child by the bicep and dropping his ankle. He was almost off the floor and was resisting. At that point, it is visible that both the staff member and child’s emotions escalated, and the staff member is observed trying to drag him on his tippy toes through the crowd of children. The staff member is observed pulling out a child sized chair and aggressively placing the child in it. The child immediately gets up and runs across the room and away from the staff member, before circling back around to the group of children still seated on the carpet. During the struggle between the staff member and child, the child is observed kicking a classmate in the chest, causing her to fall and hit her head on the bookshelf. It was later determined the child that was kicked in the chest did not receive any serious injuries. An incident report was completed by the program. Both children remain enrolled with the program. Due to on-going behavioral issues, the program requested support from Kelly Puzon, Early Care and Education Consultant with Smart Start of New Hanover County. Ms. Puzon agreed to conduct weekly observations and provide strategies to assist in the child’s care. The staff member involved in this incident was given the opportunity to watch the video and explain her actions. At that point, the staff member agreed she did not handle the incident well and asked to be dismissed. Her resignation was received and approved by administration on June 4, 2026. Based on information received, staff interviews and observation, this allegation is confirmed. One violation was observed and must be corrected immediately. Violation Number Comment Rule 904 A child was handled in a rough way, including shaking, pushing, shoving, pinching, slapping, biting, kicking, or spanking. On June 1, 2026, a child in the classroom for four-year-old children was aggressively kicking his feet while seated at the carpeted area of the classroom, which led to another classmate being kicked in the chest. In response to the child's kicking, the staff member is observed roughly grabbing the child who was kicking by his left ankle to move him. The child then began kicking with his other foot. The staff member is then observed grabbing the child by the bicep and dropping his ankle. As the child kicking escalated, the staff member is observed trying remove the child by dragging him on his tippy toes through the crowd of children. .1803(a)(1) 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 June 19, 2026, 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED FOR VIOLATION CITED: Guidance is about building an encouraging setting for every person in the group. It means helping young children understand they can learn from their mistakes, and it starts with showing them how. To give this help successfully, we need to build relationships with every child—especially with the children we find difficult to connect with and understand. We build these relationships from day one, outside of conflict situations. It is only when children know and trust us in day-to-day interactions that they will listen to us when conflicts happen (after we have helped everyone calm down). To assist with challenging behaviors, modify the learning/play environment (schedule, routine, activities, transitions, etc) to support appropriate behavior in a child. Recognize and accept age-appropriate behaviors. Understand the stages of development in which the children in your care fall. For example, those that cry may not have the verbal ability to express their needs and/or wants. Or, they may not have the skills yet to do so. At the completion of the visit, findings were reviewed with Mr. Boettcher and Ms. Glover, and a copy of the visit summary was provided to you. Reach me with questions at Shereen.Pickett@dhhs.nc.gov or (910) 508-3228. Kim Sherry, Licensing Supervisor, can be reached at Kim.Sherry@dhhs.nc.gov or (910) 824-0470. 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 .1801 · Violation

Name of Operation: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: 1024-046L Visit Date: 10/7/2024 Number Present: 53 Completed Date: 10/7/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 155 Time In: 08:40 AM Time Out: 11:15 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced visit is to investigate a report alleging violations of childcare requirements. Childcare requirements pertinent to this visit type were monitored. The allegation of this report was discussed with Regina Steigerwald, Administrator and Gary Boettcher, Executive Director. You were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation and to share any pertinent information. This facility currently operates with a Five-Star License issued May 22, 2024. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. Prior to this visit, the facility’s eighteen-month compliance history was 94%. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the corporation’s status, Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC is current and active. All spaces approved for use with children were visited. Infants were observed receiving care based on individual needs, including diapering, feeding and napping routines. Toddlers were observed during outdoor play. Preschool-aged children were seated for breakfast, which consisted of raisin bread, bananas and milk. Staff/child ratios were monitored and found to be in compliance. Allegation: There is a concern that children were not adequately supervised. This report is specific to the waddler classroom. Five staff members (R. Steigerwald, G. Boettcher, l. Freedle, A. High and C. Cane) were interviewed separately. Staff members reported that on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, a one-year-old child crawled out of a partially opened exit door, located in the back of the L-shaped classroom. From the outside, that door leads to the front entrance of the program, which is open to the main parking lot. The program offered the video footage from the day of the incident. Two videos were observed. The first video showed two staff members and five children, ranging in age from nine months to one years old. One staff member is observed changing diapers. The other staff member was cleaning up the tables following lunch routines and moving the cribs around the room to set up the space for rest time. Two children are observed crawling down the hallway (within the classroom) that leads to the back exit door. One of the staff members is seen going after one of the children and bringing him back to the main classroom space. Less than a minute later, the same staff member is seen hurrying over to the back exit door with another child in her arms. The second video showed the incident from the outside. The video showed a child crawling out of the back exit door and moving about right outside the front entrance of the main door. Approximately one minute later, a staff member, who had been in her car during lunch break, is seen walking up to the entrance, retrieving the child, knocking on the back door to the waddler classroom and handing the child over to the staff member. The parents were immediately notified of the incident. The child was unharmed and remains enrolled with the program. Based on interviews with staff and my investigation, the allegation regarding children not being adequately supervised was substantiated. The following violation was observed and must be corrected immediately. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, a one-year-old child crawled out of a partially opened exit door, located in the back of the L-shaped classroom. The child was unsupervised for approximately one minute before he was retrieved by a staff member and brought back to the classroom. .1801(a)(1-5) 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 October 16, 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 considered legal documentation. Due to the severity of the violation cited, follow-up visits will take place. 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING VIOLATION CITED: 10A NCAC 09 .1801 – Requires that children are adequately supervised at all times. Adequate supervision means: Staff must be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize their ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance; (2) Staff must interact with the children while moving about the indoor or outdoor area; (3) Staff must know where each child is located and be aware of children’s activities at all times; (4) Staff must provide supervision appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. As discussed, supervision is paramount to quality child care as it is basic to the safety of children and the prevention of injury while maintaining quality child care. Parents have a contract with the facility and its staff to supervise their children. The importance of supervision is not only to protect children from physical injury, but from harm that can occur from teasing/bullying/inappropriate topics discussed, or inappropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of staff to regularly count children (name to face recognition) on a routine basis, at every transition, and whenever leaving one area and arriving at another. Active and positive supervision involves knowing each child’s abilities and developmental milestones, establishing clear and simple safety rules, being aware of potential hazards, standing in strategic positions, and scanning play areas and circulating around the space. Focus on the positive rather than the negative whenever possible as staff guide children in appropriate behavior. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed, signed and a copy was left with you. Reach me at (910) 508-3228 or Shereen.pickett@dhhs.nc.gov with questions/concerns. 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: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: 1024-046L Visit Date: 10/7/2024 Number Present: 53 Completed Date: 10/7/2024 Age: From 0 To 4 Total Minutes: 155 Time In: 08:40 AM Time Out: 11:15 AM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Complaint Visit Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced visit is to investigate a report alleging violations of childcare requirements. Childcare requirements pertinent to this visit type were monitored. The allegation of this report was discussed with Regina Steigerwald, Administrator and Gary Boettcher, Executive Director. You were given the opportunity to state your perceptions of the allegation and to share any pertinent information. This facility currently operates with a Five-Star License issued May 22, 2024. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. Prior to this visit, the facility’s eighteen-month compliance history was 94%. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the corporation’s status, Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC is current and active. All spaces approved for use with children were visited. Infants were observed receiving care based on individual needs, including diapering, feeding and napping routines. Toddlers were observed during outdoor play. Preschool-aged children were seated for breakfast, which consisted of raisin bread, bananas and milk. Staff/child ratios were monitored and found to be in compliance. Allegation: There is a concern that children were not adequately supervised. This report is specific to the waddler classroom. Five staff members (R. Steigerwald, G. Boettcher, l. Freedle, A. High and C. Cane) were interviewed separately. Staff members reported that on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, a one-year-old child crawled out of a partially opened exit door, located in the back of the L-shaped classroom. From the outside, that door leads to the front entrance of the program, which is open to the main parking lot. The program offered the video footage from the day of the incident. Two videos were observed. The first video showed two staff members and five children, ranging in age from nine months to one years old. One staff member is observed changing diapers. The other staff member was cleaning up the tables following lunch routines and moving the cribs around the room to set up the space for rest time. Two children are observed crawling down the hallway (within the classroom) that leads to the back exit door. One of the staff members is seen going after one of the children and bringing him back to the main classroom space. Less than a minute later, the same staff member is seen hurrying over to the back exit door with another child in her arms. The second video showed the incident from the outside. The video showed a child crawling out of the back exit door and moving about right outside the front entrance of the main door. Approximately one minute later, a staff member, who had been in her car during lunch break, is seen walking up to the entrance, retrieving the child, knocking on the back door to the waddler classroom and handing the child over to the staff member. The parents were immediately notified of the incident. The child was unharmed and remains enrolled with the program. Based on interviews with staff and my investigation, the allegation regarding children not being adequately supervised was substantiated. The following violation was observed and must be corrected immediately. Violation Number Comment Rule 303 Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On Wednesday, October 2, 2024, a one-year-old child crawled out of a partially opened exit door, located in the back of the L-shaped classroom. The child was unsupervised for approximately one minute before he was retrieved by a staff member and brought back to the classroom. .1801(a)(1-5) 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 October 16, 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 considered legal documentation. Due to the severity of the violation cited, follow-up visits will take place. 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REGARDING VIOLATION CITED: 10A NCAC 09 .1801 – Requires that children are adequately supervised at all times. Adequate supervision means: Staff must be positioned in the indoor and outdoor environment to maximize their ability to hear or see the children at all times and render immediate assistance; (2) Staff must interact with the children while moving about the indoor or outdoor area; (3) Staff must know where each child is located and be aware of children’s activities at all times; (4) Staff must provide supervision appropriate to the individual age, needs and capabilities of each child. As discussed, supervision is paramount to quality child care as it is basic to the safety of children and the prevention of injury while maintaining quality child care. Parents have a contract with the facility and its staff to supervise their children. The importance of supervision is not only to protect children from physical injury, but from harm that can occur from teasing/bullying/inappropriate topics discussed, or inappropriate behavior. It is the responsibility of staff to regularly count children (name to face recognition) on a routine basis, at every transition, and whenever leaving one area and arriving at another. Active and positive supervision involves knowing each child’s abilities and developmental milestones, establishing clear and simple safety rules, being aware of potential hazards, standing in strategic positions, and scanning play areas and circulating around the space. Focus on the positive rather than the negative whenever possible as staff guide children in appropriate behavior. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed, signed and a copy was left with you. Reach me at (910) 508-3228 or Shereen.pickett@dhhs.nc.gov with questions/concerns. 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 .0701 · Violation

Name of Operation: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/6/2023 Number Present: 56 Completed Date: 11/6/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 08:30 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to this visit type. This facility currently operates with a Four Star License issued May 6, 2023. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. Prior to this visit, the facility’s eighteen-month compliance history was 100%. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the corporation’s status, Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC is current and active. Sanitation Inspection – 10/26/2023 - Superior Fire inspection – 03/10/2023 - Facility was approved for daytime only R. Steigerwald, Administrator was present. All approved indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored today. Infants in space 2 received care based on individual need, including napping, diapering and feeding routines. Safe sleep charts and infant feeding schedules were monitored and found to be in compliance. Children in spaces 3, 5 and 6b were engaged in outdoor play. Children in space 4 were observed during music/movement activities. Children in space 6a were engaged in free choice, accessing a variety of age-appropriate materials. Space 1 is currently being used as a multi-purpose room. Breakfast served consisted of corn muffins, sausage, mixed fruit and milk. Lunch consisted of vegetable soup with noodles, cheese, pears and milk. The following violations were observed and must be corrected immediately: Violation Number Comment Rule 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In space 2, a permission form for a diaper cream used with a child was missing information. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A staff member, hired on March 1, 2023 had a medical report dated February 8, 2019 and a TB test form dated November 13, 2018. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Eight staff members did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatnet training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) 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 November 15, 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 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. 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO VIOLATIONS CITED: For the health and safety of children in your care, all medication permission forms must be reviewed to ensure completion and accuracy each time, prior to accepting from parents and prior to using the medication with the child. Moving forward, I encourage you to charge one person to review all permission forms as parents submit them to you. Medical and TB forms for new employees must be received prior to the first day of employment and the forms must be dated less than 12 months old from hire date, by a medical professional. Each new employee must complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within the first 90 days of employment, regardless of when they took it last before becoming employed with you. The training is available at: https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/services/trainings-and-professional-development/rrcourse. A certificate of each staff member's completion of this course shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. REMINDERS: We discussed at length today, the requirements for health and safety trainings. Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment, unless the staff member has completed the trainings within the year prior to beginning employment. The topics must be repeated every five years of employment. You have fifteen new staff members. I would strongly encourage you to review files closely, set up due dates and ensure all topics are completed and certificates are provided to you/placed in the staff’s file. A monthly fire drill and playground inspections are due in November. As discussed today, ensure the big bolts on the plastic borders of each playground are hammered down as they begin to rise up. Multiple runny noses were observed in the toddler classroom today. Staff members were asked to wipe the children’s noses by myself and administration. Remember, for the health of all children enrolled, it is important for staff members to remain diligent in wiping children’s noses followed by proper hand washing. While outdoors, I would recommend the use of hand sanitizer in between wiping noses. Please note, hand sanitizer may be used to clean hands temporarily while outdoors. Hand sanitizers must be stored five feet above ground on a shelf outside for ease of use. As discussed, cords from CD players, etc. must always be inaccessible to children in care. Tree roots must be painted a bright color to avoid possible tripping. At the completion of this visit, the visit summary was reviewed, signed and a copy was left with you. Reach me with questions or concerns at (910) 508-3228 or Shereen.pickett@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: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/6/2023 Number Present: 56 Completed Date: 11/6/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 08:30 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to this visit type. This facility currently operates with a Four Star License issued May 6, 2023. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. Prior to this visit, the facility’s eighteen-month compliance history was 100%. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the corporation’s status, Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC is current and active. Sanitation Inspection – 10/26/2023 - Superior Fire inspection – 03/10/2023 - Facility was approved for daytime only R. Steigerwald, Administrator was present. All approved indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored today. Infants in space 2 received care based on individual need, including napping, diapering and feeding routines. Safe sleep charts and infant feeding schedules were monitored and found to be in compliance. Children in spaces 3, 5 and 6b were engaged in outdoor play. Children in space 4 were observed during music/movement activities. Children in space 6a were engaged in free choice, accessing a variety of age-appropriate materials. Space 1 is currently being used as a multi-purpose room. Breakfast served consisted of corn muffins, sausage, mixed fruit and milk. Lunch consisted of vegetable soup with noodles, cheese, pears and milk. The following violations were observed and must be corrected immediately: Violation Number Comment Rule 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In space 2, a permission form for a diaper cream used with a child was missing information. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A staff member, hired on March 1, 2023 had a medical report dated February 8, 2019 and a TB test form dated November 13, 2018. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Eight staff members did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatnet training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) 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 November 15, 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 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. 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO VIOLATIONS CITED: For the health and safety of children in your care, all medication permission forms must be reviewed to ensure completion and accuracy each time, prior to accepting from parents and prior to using the medication with the child. Moving forward, I encourage you to charge one person to review all permission forms as parents submit them to you. Medical and TB forms for new employees must be received prior to the first day of employment and the forms must be dated less than 12 months old from hire date, by a medical professional. Each new employee must complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within the first 90 days of employment, regardless of when they took it last before becoming employed with you. The training is available at: https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/services/trainings-and-professional-development/rrcourse. A certificate of each staff member's completion of this course shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. REMINDERS: We discussed at length today, the requirements for health and safety trainings. Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment, unless the staff member has completed the trainings within the year prior to beginning employment. The topics must be repeated every five years of employment. You have fifteen new staff members. I would strongly encourage you to review files closely, set up due dates and ensure all topics are completed and certificates are provided to you/placed in the staff’s file. A monthly fire drill and playground inspections are due in November. As discussed today, ensure the big bolts on the plastic borders of each playground are hammered down as they begin to rise up. Multiple runny noses were observed in the toddler classroom today. Staff members were asked to wipe the children’s noses by myself and administration. Remember, for the health of all children enrolled, it is important for staff members to remain diligent in wiping children’s noses followed by proper hand washing. While outdoors, I would recommend the use of hand sanitizer in between wiping noses. Please note, hand sanitizer may be used to clean hands temporarily while outdoors. Hand sanitizers must be stored five feet above ground on a shelf outside for ease of use. As discussed, cords from CD players, etc. must always be inaccessible to children in care. Tree roots must be painted a bright color to avoid possible tripping. At the completion of this visit, the visit summary was reviewed, signed and a copy was left with you. Reach me with questions or concerns at (910) 508-3228 or Shereen.pickett@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: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: SHEREEN PICKETT Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 11/6/2023 Number Present: 56 Completed Date: 11/6/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 255 Time In: 08:30 AM Time Out: 12:45 PM Time In: Time Out: List to Use: Center Type Of Visit: Annual Comp Full Announced/Unannounced: Unannounced The purpose of my unannounced annual compliance visit was to monitor compliance with applicable child care requirements pertinent to this visit type. This facility currently operates with a Four Star License issued May 6, 2023. Restrictions on the permit include a capacity of 101 children, daytime care only, meets enhanced ratios and space requirements, limited to twelve hours of operation daily and age range of 0 to 12 years old. Prior to this visit, the facility’s eighteen-month compliance history was 100%. According to the Secretary of State’s website, the corporation’s status, Quality Childcare Northchase, LLC is current and active. Sanitation Inspection – 10/26/2023 - Superior Fire inspection – 03/10/2023 - Facility was approved for daytime only R. Steigerwald, Administrator was present. All approved indoor and outdoor spaces were monitored today. Infants in space 2 received care based on individual need, including napping, diapering and feeding routines. Safe sleep charts and infant feeding schedules were monitored and found to be in compliance. Children in spaces 3, 5 and 6b were engaged in outdoor play. Children in space 4 were observed during music/movement activities. Children in space 6a were engaged in free choice, accessing a variety of age-appropriate materials. Space 1 is currently being used as a multi-purpose room. Breakfast served consisted of corn muffins, sausage, mixed fruit and milk. Lunch consisted of vegetable soup with noodles, cheese, pears and milk. The following violations were observed and must be corrected immediately: Violation Number Comment Rule 847 Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. In space 2, a permission form for a diaper cream used with a child was missing information. 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) 1032 Child care providers and uncompensated providers who are not substitute providers or volunteers, including the director did not have a medical report on file prior to employment that was signed by a health care professional and/ or the medical report was older than 12 months. A staff member, hired on March 1, 2023 had a medical report dated February 8, 2019 and a TB test form dated November 13, 2018. 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) 1897 The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment. Eight staff members did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatnet training within 90 days of employment. .1102(g) 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 November 15, 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 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. 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. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RELATED TO VIOLATIONS CITED: For the health and safety of children in your care, all medication permission forms must be reviewed to ensure completion and accuracy each time, prior to accepting from parents and prior to using the medication with the child. Moving forward, I encourage you to charge one person to review all permission forms as parents submit them to you. Medical and TB forms for new employees must be received prior to the first day of employment and the forms must be dated less than 12 months old from hire date, by a medical professional. Each new employee must complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment within the first 90 days of employment, regardless of when they took it last before becoming employed with you. The training is available at: https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/services/trainings-and-professional-development/rrcourse. A certificate of each staff member's completion of this course shall be maintained in the staff member's file in the center. REMINDERS: We discussed at length today, the requirements for health and safety trainings. Child care administrators and staff members shall complete health and safety trainings within one year of employment, unless the staff member has completed the trainings within the year prior to beginning employment. The topics must be repeated every five years of employment. You have fifteen new staff members. I would strongly encourage you to review files closely, set up due dates and ensure all topics are completed and certificates are provided to you/placed in the staff’s file. A monthly fire drill and playground inspections are due in November. As discussed today, ensure the big bolts on the plastic borders of each playground are hammered down as they begin to rise up. Multiple runny noses were observed in the toddler classroom today. Staff members were asked to wipe the children’s noses by myself and administration. Remember, for the health of all children enrolled, it is important for staff members to remain diligent in wiping children’s noses followed by proper hand washing. While outdoors, I would recommend the use of hand sanitizer in between wiping noses. Please note, hand sanitizer may be used to clean hands temporarily while outdoors. Hand sanitizers must be stored five feet above ground on a shelf outside for ease of use. As discussed, cords from CD players, etc. must always be inaccessible to children in care. Tree roots must be painted a bright color to avoid possible tripping. At the completion of this visit, the visit summary was reviewed, signed and a copy was left with you. Reach me with questions or concerns at (910) 508-3228 or Shereen.pickett@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

G.S. 110-91 · Violation

Name of Operation: QUALITY CHILDCARE NORTHCHASE, LLC Facility ID: 65001072 Consultant: ALLISON DAVIS Operation Type: Center Case Number: 0823-078A Visit Date: 8/11/2023 Number Present: 54 Completed Date: 8/11/2023 Age: From 0 To 5 Total Minutes: 295 Time In: 09:25 AM Time Out: 02:20 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. I conducted a walk-through of the facility unaccompanied. During the visit, I discussed the allegations with Gary Boettcher, Administrator; Regina Steigerwald, Administrator, and an additional staff member. Limited monitoring of child care requirements occurred during today’s visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 902 Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs. In April 2023, a staff member told children in the classroom for children ages zero months to one year old to “shut up” and used other harsh language. On August 1, 2023, a staff member swept their arm across the table in an attempt to deter a one-year-old child from climbing on the table causing the child to fall and hit their head on a stack of wooden chairs which did not result in injuries to the child. G.S. 110-91(10) 904 Child was handled roughly. A staff member treated a child in a rough manner by picking up a ONE-YEAR-OLD child incorrectly, specifically pulling the child by one arm WHEN REDIRECTING or pushing the child away. .1803(a)(1) You may contact me at Allison Davis, Investigations Consultant, allison.davis@dhhs.nc.gov, 910-800-0079 or Melissa Loehr, Southeastern Investigations Supervisor, melissa.loehr@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