THE Children'S Courtyard

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE CHILDREN'S COURTYARD Facility ID: 65001043 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 6/17/2026 Number Present: 57 Completed Date: 6/17/2026 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 210 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 12:15 PM 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 visit. You, Heather Hinson, Director, assisted with the visit. he program currently operates with a five-star license, issued February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component meeting enhanced space and enhanced ratios and 1 quality point for having an infrastructure of parent involvement and a staff benefits package. 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. The last annual compliance visit was conducted on July 9, 2025. The last sanitation inspection was conducted on April 13, 2026, and the program received a supervisor classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on May 28, 2026, and the program was approved for day time care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was one hundred (100) percent as of June 16, 2026. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today, and THE CHILDREN'S COURTYARD, INC., was listed as current- active. You visited licensed spaces with me. Toddler aged children in space 1 prepared for morning snack that consisted of crackers, mandarin oranges, and water. Preschool aged children in spaces 2-5 participated in free play indoors and/or outdoors. Age-appropriate materials and activities were observed for all age groups. Routine toileting and handwashing procedures were monitored, and requirements were met. Staff/child ratios were in compliance in all classrooms. All children were adequately supervised. Caregivers and children interacted with children. The program provides snacks and lunches are brought from home. The preschool playground has a structure in the middle of the mulched area that has been roped off and placed not in use. The blue slides are cracking and need to be replaced before the equipment can be used again. Staff and Training Worksheets- There were nineteen (19) staff members employed at this facility. There were three (3) new staff; all new staff and a percentage of veteran staff’s files were reviewed. Health & Safety Training –New staff are in the process of completing these training courses. Health and safety trainings are required to be completed during the first year of employment and renewed every 5 years. Remember, the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training must be taken at www.preventchildabusenc.org, within the first 90 days of employment. Completing, refreshing, and updating the required Health and Safety Training increases your awareness and knowledge regarding child development and safety. Ensure this information in completed, recorded on the required form, and on file for review. The following violations were 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. Seven (7) staff members have not renewed their Recognizing and Responding to Child Maltreatment training within five (5) years of completion. .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 July 1, 2026, 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. Please email the information to: April.Lester@dhhs.nc.gov. Be sure the email is 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 Child care licensing requirements are established to ensure a safe and healthy child care environment. Therefore, it is important for you to be knowledgeable of all the licensing requirements that apply to your type of program. It is your responsibility to maintain compliance with all the applicable laws and rules always whether they have been monitored or specifically discussed with you in the past. The best way for you to make sure that you meet all requirements is to periodically review the child care law and rules. Technical Assistance: Remember, the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training must be taken at www.preventchildabusenc.org, but the rest of the topics (except CPR/First Aid) are available on Moodle. Please let me know if you need assistance with the Moodle platform. Completing, refreshing, and updating the required Health and Safety Training increases your awareness and knowledge regarding child development and safety. Today we discussed ensuring all Health and Safety Trainings are prevented every 5 years by checking the training log annually. Other Information: The facility has completed the ABCMS training and has entered staff. This information should be updated in ABCMS on an ongoing basis as staff members are hired and when their employment is terminated. This satisfies the requirement to notify the Division of new child care providers working who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. Should you need assistance with the portal or the training, please contact the Criminal Background Check Unit at (919) 814-6401and someone will assist you. QRIS: Clarification of Requirements During our meeting, we addressed the distinction between Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plans and the 3-month self-studies. To clarify: • Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Plans focus on ongoing, annual goal-setting for individual staff and the overall facility. • 3-Month Self-Studies are a specific prerequisite required only if your program selects the Program Assessment pathway. Licensure Pathway Options We evaluated the three available quality pathways to help determine the best fit for your facility: • Pathway 1 (Program Assessment): Involves formal environment rating scale assessments and requires the completion of the baseline self-study. • Pathway 2 (Classroom and Instructional Quality): Focuses on curriculum implementation, staff coaching, and child-focused planning. • Pathway 3 (Accreditation): This path aligns with your corporate office's recommendation to pursue NAEYC accreditation to fulfill state quality standards. Recommended Action Items To support your decision-making process over the next few weeks, I highly recommend utilizing the following resources: 1. Review Official Guidelines: Revisit the NC DCDEE QRIS Modernization Page to review detailed rules and pathway frameworks. 2. Engage Local Support: Connect with New Hanover County Smart Start for regional technical assistance and localized provider resources. 3. Network with Peers: Reach out to fellow directors who have already successfully navigated and submitted their modernization applications for first-hand guidance. Please take the next few weeks to carefully weigh these options and determine the most strategic plan for your program. I am available to answer any questions or provide further guidance as you review these materials. You can contact the NC Resource Center for information, resources, and referrals on topics related to child health and health and safety in child care. Anyone in the greater early care and education community is welcome to call 1(800) 367-2229 (choose 1 then 2). Stay up to date with the Division of Child Development and Early Education by visiting www.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. Click on the “What’s New” tab for important updates impacting child care in North Carolina. For the latest information on childcare rules and regulations, please visit the Division of Child Development and Early Education's website at: https://ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/ At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was left with you. Contact me at April.Lester@dhhs.nc.gov at (910)824-0954 with any questions or concerns or Licensing Supervisor, Kim Sherry at 910-824-0470 or kim.sherry@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: THE CHILDREN'S COURTYARD Facility ID: 65001043 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 7/25/2024 Number Present: 55 Completed Date: 7/25/2024 Age: From 0 To 6 Total Minutes: 165 Time In: 09:00 AM Time Out: 11:45 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 visit. Heather Hinson, Director, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component meeting enhanced space and enhanced ratios and 1 quality point for having an infrastructure of parent involvement and a staff benefits package. 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. The last annual compliance visit was completed August 8, 2023. The sanitation inspection was completed on May 28, 2024, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on July 16, 2024, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety five percent as of July 31, 2023. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today, and The Children’s Courtyard, Inc. was listed as current- active. Children were observed in both indoor and outdoor spaces participating in free play with age-appropriate materials and activities. Proper handwashing routines prior to morning snack and during arrival were observed. Children are enrolled in all licensed spaces. All activity plans were current and align with NC Early Childhood Foundations. Informal conversations and positive staff/child interactions were observed. Children bring food from home. The following violations were observed and corrected during the visit. 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. Shaving cream was observed in space 2 in an unlocked cabinet. .2820(b) 858 Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. Plastic bags were observed in a cabinet accessible to children one year of age in space 1. .0604(q) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Technical Assistance: For the safety of the children, ensure any plastic bags used for storage are kept inaccessible to children under the age of three years old by keeping them at a minimum height of five feet off the floor. Today we discussed that the first level shelf is not 5 feet high; therefore, plastic bags must be stored on the second shelf or higher in the classrooms that have children enrolled under 3 years of age. Today we talked about adjusting the dampers for the HVAC to assist with proper cooling in space 4. Also, the vents need to be dusted. There is a substantial amount of pooling water from the recent heavy rains. Today we discussed using the small swing set playground in small groups until the drainage issue can be resolved. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was printed, reviewed, and a copy was 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

NC GS 110-90 · Violation

Name of Operation: THE CHILDREN'S COURTYARD Facility ID: 65001043 Consultant: APRIL LESTER Operation Type: Center Case Number: Visit Date: 8/1/2023 Number Present: 55 Completed Date: 8/1/2023 Age: From 1 To 5 Total Minutes: 135 Time In: 08:45 AM Time Out: 11:00 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 visit. Heather Hinson, Director, assisted me with the visit. Your program currently operates with a five-star license, issued February 24, 2022, earning 7 points in the education component, 6 points in the program standards component meeting enhanced space and enhanced ratios and 1 quality point for having an infrastructure of parent involvement and a staff benefits package. 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. The last annual compliance visit was completed August 15, 2022. The sanitation inspection was completed on June 26, 2023, with a “Superior” classification. The last fire inspection was conducted on July 17, 2023, and your facility was approved for daytime care only. The center's compliance history was reviewed with the operator. The program’s compliance history was ninety eight percent as of July 31, 2023. The NC Secretary of State website was reviewed today, and The Children’s Courtyard, Inc. was listed as current- active. Children were observed in both indoor and outdoor spaces participating in free play with age-appropriate materials and activities. Children returning indoors from outdoor play were observed practicing proper handwashing routines prior to morning snack. Children are enrolled in all licensed spaces. All activity plans were current, posted, and align with NC Early Childhood Foundations. Administration is working in one classroom due to a staffing shortage. Children bring food form home. The following violation was observed and corrected during the visit. Violation Number Comment Rule 858 Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. Plastic bags housing extra clothes for children were stored in cabinets, not 5 feet high and out of reach of children in spaces 1, 4, and 5. All of the plastic bags were properly stored by administration during the visit. .0604(q) Child Care programs are expected to achieve and maintain compliance at all times and are required by NC GS 110-90(4) (d) to achieve and maintain an eighteen-month compliance history score of at least seventy-five percent. Any violation(s) documented may impact the compliance history score. Technical Assistance: For the safety of the children, ensure any plastic bags used for storage are kept inaccessible to children under the age of three years old by keeping them at a minimum height of five feet off the floor. Today we discussed that the first level shelf is not 5 feet high; therefore, plastic bags must be stored on the second shelf or higher in the classrooms that have children enrolled under 3 years of age. Reminder: A. Williams needs 5 on-going training hours and T. Love needs 10 on-going training hours. You must email me by August 15, 2023, confirming all training hours have been completed. Please scan and email the training certificates to me. At the completion of the visit, this visit summary was reviewed and emailed to 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