Five Star Center License
✓ Licensed
Open Door School
Charlotte, NC
· Mecklenburg County
234 NORTH SHARON AMITY ROAD,
Charlotte, NC 28211
Quick Facts
Capacity
37 children
Age Range
2 through 5
Subsidized Program
Participates
State Rating
5
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Contact Information
📞 (704) 364-1521
Licensed Five Star Center License
Active License
License Number
6055153
License Holder
OF CHARLOTTE, UNITARIAN CHURCH
License Issued
Jul 30, 2026
Issued By
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Accreditation
Yes
District Office
North Carolina Dept of Health and Human Services - Division of Child Development
License Conditions: Other - Meets reduced enhanced ratios
Reviews
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About the Provider
Open Door School, located in the Cotswold area, is a non-profit, non-sectarian preschool for children ages two to five. Open Door School follows a discovery learning philosophy from progressive education — the belief that learning, growing, and developing are natural, intuitive, and inevitable processes. Open Door School strives to guard the dignity of each individual so that children feel free to explore, question, experiment and play. The School encourages children to work on resolving conflicts peacefully, to cooperate rather than compete, and to accept and honor the differences among us.
Founded in 1966, Open Door School is the first program in Charlotte–Mecklenburg to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.) Open Door has six half-day preschool classes ranging from age 2–5 and one full-day, year-round, multi-age class.
Founded in 1966, Open Door School is the first program in Charlotte–Mecklenburg to be accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC.) Open Door has six half-day preschool classes ranging from age 2–5 and one full-day, year-round, multi-age class.
Additional Information:
Five Star Center License
Hours of Operation
- Days of Operation Monday–Friday
- Open HoursM–F | 9:00 am-3:00 pm
Inspection/Report History
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. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Date | Type | Violations | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-13 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2026-01-13 | Violation | 807 | 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) |
| A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. The gate to the garden did not close properly creating a hazard. The stumps in the garden area and near the shed on the near outdoor play area are decomposing and have sharp edges protruding creating a safety risk. The root on in the corner of the far play area near the shed has sharp edges protruding and is beginning to rot. The mud kitchen has weathered boards which are splintering creating a safety risk. | |||
| 2026-01-13 | Violation | 808 | 15A NCAC 18A .2832(a) |
| The child care center premises, including the outdoor learning environment, was not clean, drained to minimize standing water, free of litter and hazards, and/or maintained in a manner which does not create conditions that attract or harbor pests. Both outdoor play areas have leaves and debris piled up around fences, tables and gates. | |||
| 2026-01-13 | Violation | 1757 | G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) |
| A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One (1) staff member had a qualifying letter on file dated 1/12/2026. | |||
| 2026-01-13 | Violation | 1867 | .0605(k)(1-4) |
| The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment. The resilient surfacing under the stationary equipment on both outdoor play areas was compacted under the slides. The mulch on the far outdoor area under the tire swing did not meet the critical height depth. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 106 | 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) |
| Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The annual fire inspection was due on or before April 20, 2025. The inspection on file is dated August 29, 2025. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 847 | 10A NCAC 09 .0803(4)(6-9) |
| Parent's medication authorization did not include required information. One (1) child requiring emergency medication had a permission to administer form for Benadryl on file expired 7/8/2025. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 1067 | .1101(a)(b) |
| Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One (1) employee hired 8/11/2025 did not have the required six hours of training within first two weeks documented. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 1805 | G.S. 110-90.2 & .2703(r) |
| A child care operator did not notify the Division of any new child care providers, as defined in G.S. 110-90.2(a)(2), who were hired or moved into the child care facility within five business days. The provider doens not hace a current roster completed in ABCMS. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 1874 | .0608(d)(1-4) |
| The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One (1) employee hired 8/11/2025 did not have the policy on file on or before caring for children. The policy is dated 8/25/2025. | |||
| 2025-09-08 | Violation | 1898 | .1102(a) |
| Staff did not complete the health and safety training within one year of employment. One (1) employee hired 8/25/2025 did not have required health and safety training documented and on file. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 114 | GS 110-102 |
| A summary of the NC Child Care Law was not given to a parent of every child enrolled in the center. A parent signature stating receipt of the summary of law was not on file for two (2) children. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 705 | .0601(c) |
| Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards. The fence to the garden area and the boat on the outdoor play area has a nail protruding. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 805 | .0604(t); .0302(d)(5) |
| Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. A fire drill for September, 2024 was not documented on the fire drill log. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | 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. One staff member hired 8/26/2024 does not have a health assessment signed by a physician on file. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1045 | .1101(a) |
| New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One staff member hired 8/26/2024 did not have a completed staff orientation form on file. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1067 | .1101(a)(b) |
| Each new employee did not complete, within the first two weeks of employment, six clock hours of training in required topic areas. One staff member hired 8/26/2024 did not have a completed staff orientation form on file. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1324 | .1804(c) |
| Signed and dated statement by parent that discipline policy received and explained at enrollment was not in child's file. A signed parent statement was not on file for two (2) children. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1811 | .0604(u);.0302(d)(8) |
| Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete. A shelter-in-place drill dated 12/20/2024 was not conducted at least every three months. The previous drill was conducted 9/16/2024. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1824 | .0607(e) |
| The trained staff did not review the EPR Plan annually or when information in the plan changed to ensure all information was current. The facility has an expired EPR plan dated 8/11/2023 on file. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1825 | .0607(f) |
| All staff did not review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review was not maintained on file. All staff did not review the center's EPR plan. There is not a current EPR on file for staff review. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1850 | .0604(i) |
| Signage was not posted regarding the smoking and tobacco restriction at the entrance of the center and/or in vehicles used to transport children. A smoking and tobacco restriction sign was not posted at the entrance of the facility. | |||
| 2025-02-10 | Violation | 1871 | .0608(b) |
| The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with parents of currently enrolled children 0-5 within 30 days of adopting the policy. A signed statement and the date of enrollment was not on file for two (2) children. | |||
| 2024-10-03 | Unannounced Inspection | No | |
| 2024-08-12 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2024-08-12 | Violation | 106 | 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) |
| Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The fire inspection was not submitted to DCDEE within one week of receiving the inspection. The inspection was conducted April 20, 2024. | |||
| 2024-02-15 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2024-02-15 | Violation | 125 | 10A NCAC 09 .0302(d)(4) |
| Daily records of arrival and departure times for children enrolled at the center were not maintained as children arrive and depart and/or were not made available for review. In space #2, the arrival times for two children had not been documented for today. | |||
| 2023-10-02 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-10-02 | 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. One new staff member did not have a medical report on file. | |||
| 2023-10-02 | Violation | 1045 | .1101(a) |
| New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. Two new staff did not have verification on file that orientation had been completed. | |||
| 2023-10-02 | Violation | 1757 | G.S. 110-90.2(b) & (d) & .2703(e) |
| A valid qualification letter was not on file and available to review at the facility. One new staff member did not have a qualification letter on file however, I was able to confirm through the ABCMS that the staff member's qualification letter is valid through October 28, 2024. | |||
| 2023-10-02 | Violation | 1825 | .0607(f) |
| All staff did not review the center's EPR Plan during orientation and/or on an annual basis with the trained staff. Documentation of the review was not maintained on file. One new staff member did not have verification on file that the EPR plan had been reviewed. | |||
| 2023-10-02 | Violation | 1874 | .0608(d)(1-4) |
| The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One new staff member did not have verification on file that the Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was reviewed. | |||
| 2023-02-21 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2023-02-21 | Violation | 106 | 10A NCAC 09 .0304(a) |
| Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. You have not had a fire inspection conducted since 2/16/2022. | |||
| 2023-02-21 | Violation | 807 | 10A NCAC 09 .0601(a) |
| A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. Indoor area was fine. The outdoor area I observed tree roots sticking up above the ground and are considered tripping hazards. Gumballs were observed on both playgrounds and are sharp and rough, and there were extra wood panels stacked by a shed on the "near" playground that were observed splintering. | |||
| 2023-02-21 | Violation | 824 | GS 110-91(6); .0605((i) |
| Outdoor play area was not enclosed by fence with a minimum height of 4 feet. The top of the fence, less than six feet, was not free from protrusions. The fencing surrounding both playgrounds measures 3 feet 7 inches and 3 feet 2 inches in areas. | |||
| 2022-09-14 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2022-09-14 | Violation | 1899 | .1103(b) |
| 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. One staff did not complete Administration of Medication and Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Maltreatment within 5 years of last completion. | |||
| 2022-02-28 | Unannounced Inspection | Yes | |
| 2022-02-28 | Violation | 721 | G.S. 110-91(6); .0601(b) |
| All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Outdoors I observed the picnic table and the boarder around a sand box that is wooden, weathered and splintering. Also around the same sandbox I observed tree roots exposed causing a tripping hazard. | |||
| 2022-02-28 | Violation | 859 | .0605(q) |
| Monthly playground inspections were not completed and/or they were not completed by an individual trained in playground safety requirements. Completed monthly playground inspections were not available for review for January 2022. | |||
| 2022-02-28 | Violation | 1054 | 10A NCAC 09 .1106(a) |
| Documentation of staff's on-going training was not on file and/or was not current. One staff hired October 2004, does not have proof of completing 8 hours of annual on-going training since September 2020. | |||
| 2022-02-28 | Violation | 1232 | 10A NCAC 09 .0514(f) |
| Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan. Annual staff development plans and annual evaluations were not on file for 3 teaching staff, the lasts ones on file are dated 8/26/19 | |||
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