Description: FIRST STEPS CHILDCARE & LEARNING CENTER is a Four Star Center License in HOPE MILLS NC, with a maximum capacity of 89 children. This child care center helps with children in the age range of 0 through 12. The provider also participates in a subsidized child care program.
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns, as the provider may have already addressed some or all issues. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date | Type | Violations | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-15 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-11-15 | Violation | 209 | GS 110-91(1)&(4-5) |
| Children used space that was not approved. It was stated that a child was taken into the kitchen while a staff prepared sanitation solution. This was corrected. No children were observed in the kitchen during today's visit and the provider stated that a procedure has been put in place to ensure it does accrue again. | |||
| 2023-11-15 | Violation | 401 | 10A NCAC 09 .0806(a) |
| Diapers were not changed whenever they were soiled or wet and/or were changed on a shift basis. It was stated that one child having a soiled diaper had accrue on one occasion. This was corrected by observing staff changing diapers during the visit and by staff completing documentation for the time a child is changed and providing that document to the parents daily. | |||
| 2023-11-15 | Violation | 445 | .0510 (e ) (1)(A-G) |
| For children under three years of age, developmentally appropriate toys and activities were not provided as outlined in Rule. It was stated that a child was taken into the kitchen with a staff member while the staff prepared sanitation solution. This was corrected during today's visit. All children were in an approved space where developmentally appropriate toys and activities were provided. | |||
| 2023-11-15 | Violation | 1842 | .0713(a)(8) |
| Staff members and child care administrators who were counted in meeting the staff/child ratios concurrently performed food preparation or other duties that are not direct child care responsibilities. It was stated that one staff member who were responsible for children did take a child in to the kitchen while the staff prepared sanitation solution. This was corrected by the provider putting a procedure in place to ensure it does not happen again. | |||
| 2023-10-06 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-10-06 | Violation | 840 | .2820(b) |
| 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. Accessible to children in space #5, a staff member's bag was stored on the floor behind the changing table. | |||
| 2023-10-06 | Violation | 858 | .0604(q) |
| 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. In space # 5 Ziplock bags were found in three (3) cubbies, two others holding art material, plastic bags hanging from the bathroom door handle, and rubber gloves on top of a shelf were found accessible to children all located under 5 feet | |||
| 2023-09-07 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-09-07 | Violation | 1032 | 10A NCAC 09 .0701(a) |
| 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 medical report for one new staff member was older than 12 months. The staff hire date was 7/17/2023, and the date of the report was 3/22/2022. | |||
| 2023-07-06 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2023-04-11 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2023-02-16 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2022-08-18 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2022-05-17 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
If you are a provider and you believe any information is incorrect, please contact us. We will research your concern and make corrections accordingly.
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I am writing to express my profound disappointment and utter disbelief in the manner in which my recent interaction with First Steps Daycare has been handled. The events that have transpired have left me feeling not only deceived but also appalled by the lack of professionalism and concern for the well-being of the children entrusted to your care. As the President of the Hope Mills Chamber of Commerce, I have had the privilege of working closely with various local businesses, and I must emphasize that I have never encountered such a disheartening and unprofessional experience as I have with First Steps Daycare. This situation not only reflects poorly on your establishment but also undermines the trust that the community places in businesses such as yours. I had made the careful decision to enroll my daughter, Harper, in the "Private Pre-K" class at First Steps Daycare based on information I received during our initial discussions. We don't qualify for NC Pre K, and I was ENSURED the 'other' class they had would be the same as Pre-K, she would be with all her friends and that this program would provide her with the educational advancement and curriculum needed to ensure her growth and development at this crucial stage of her early education. I had inquired extensively about the curriculum, the necessary school supplies, and the nature of the class to ensure a seamless transition for my daughter. Imagine my shock when, on what was meant to be Her first day of school, I discovered that she was placed in the same class she had been a part of for the last year and a half! Doing the SAME THINGS she's been doing since she was three! This blatant misrepresentation has not only caused tremendous emotional distress to my four-year-old daughter but has also disrupted the trust and faith I had in the professionalism of First Steps Daycare. My daughter, had to witness EVERY OTHER CHILD IN HER CLASS excitedly meet their teachers for their first day of school, while she was relegated to a class with the 3 year olds - a situation she had already outgrown. The very foundation of trust upon which educational institutions are built has been shattered by this situation, leaving me with no choice but to express my extreme discontent. Furthermore, my attempt to address this issue with the director was met with shocking unprofessionalism. Clearly I am upset, especially now two days AFTER the school year starts with EVERY other ACTUAL pre k FULL.... Instead of acknowledging the gravity of the situation and the impact it had on my family, the director responded with callousness and outright hostility. To be told that I should "unenroll Harper right now" due to my "attitude" is an unacceptable response, particularly when the situation was created by the mismanagement and misinformation provided by the school itself. The fact that I am now left with no suitable option for my daughter's education is a reflection of the negligence that runs rampant in your institution. I strongly encourage parents to look elsewhere for their childcare needs, as this situation exemplifies a severe lack of professionalism and care that no family should have to endure.
Facility has bugs, kids look dirty and unkept. No structure and staff is constantly exposing kids to social media.
Not a good center. Schoolage/ pre k assistant teacher abuses the children. She has been seen jerking the children by one arm and lifting them up off the ground by one arm with their feet dangling in air. Director is aware of this and allows it. Parents be aware
The child care center is a 4 star but thats mostly because of the education. But the employees are very unprofessional and screams and yells at the children. One teacher in the after school room even snatched a child up by there shrit. PLEASE DONT BRING CHILDREN HERE there more focused on disipline a child than loving and caring for them.