The Children's Courtyard · Preschool, Lake Forest
The Children's Courtyard is a licensed child care center in Lake Forest, CA, licensed for up to 134 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2021. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 4 complaints, 0 of them substantiated. The state issued 6 citations, 3 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for staff ratios (3 of 6). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #20 of 22 centers in Lake Forest and has more citations per inspection than 92% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 2 counts out of 5 counts staffs' files which poses a potential health, and safety risk to persons in care. Staff # 1, and staff # 4, and staff # 5 were missing the required above immunization on their files.
101212 Reporting Requirements (d) Upon the occurrence...during its normal business hours.... (d)(2) below shall be submitted to the Dept within seven days... (1) Events reported... (D) Any suspected physical or psychological abuse of any child. This requirement is not meet by: 1 Director stated they will make sure they report any unusual incident within 24 hours via phone call and submit a written incident report within 7 days. Director submitted LIC624 unusual incident report for this incident on 09/17/2024. Based on interviews conducted by LPA Nguyen, it was determined that the facility did not report the child abuse report to licensing. This is a potential Health and Safety risk to the children in care. 8
During taking census at 12:05pm LPA observed 9 toddlers from Toddler Option 1 The director, Laura Johnson agreed to rearrange the children's scheduling for toddlers in Toddler Option Room # 7 so there will not be more than 6 toddlers in room # 7 at any time according to the license. Component with 2 staff in Room # 7. The license states 6 toddlers in room # 7 based on the measurement taken on 7/1/2021. The facility failed to comply with the section above. This is potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.
101223(a)(3) Personal Rights. (a) The licensee shall ensure that each child is accorded the following personal rights: (3) To be free from corporal or unusual punishment, infliction of pain, humiliation….. 1 Director stated they will conduct staff trainings on personal rights and S1 will have have three additional trainings on personal rights. Director will submit proof of trainings to LPA by
Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. While touring the facility at 8:55 am, LPA and Director observed S1 inside classroom #4 caring for 13 preschool age children which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation and interview, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above. At 8:24 am, LPA observed 17 preschool age children inside classroom #1 along with staff #3 (S3) and staff #4 (S4). LPA observed S2 remove two children from classroom #1 and bring them into classroom #5. in [count] out of [total count] [(objects) (persons)] [identifiers] which poses an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Complaint investigations
How often are complaints about daycares in Orange County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does The Children's Courtyard take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has The Children's Courtyard had any serious violations?
California issued 3 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Jun 15, 2023, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about The Children's Courtyard?
California investigated 4 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does The Children's Courtyard compare with other daycares in Lake Forest?
It is tied for #20 of 22 centers in Lake Forest by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 92% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Children's Courtyard last inspected?
Apr 20, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does The Children's Courtyard cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask The Children's Courtyard for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Lake Forest, was $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs The Children's Courtyard?
The licensee is Children's Courtyard, INC., The, and the administrator listed with the state is Athinia Huber.
Licensed centers nearby
20651 Lake Forest Drive A101, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 60 spotsAmong the most citedHeritage Hill KinderCare
21791 Lake Forest Dr, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 108 spotsToo few inspections to compareLake Forest Montessori School
25435 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 18 spotsAmong the most citedLake Forest Montessori School
25435 Trabuco Road, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 80 spotsMore citations than mostYMCA-oxford Lake Forest
22882 Loumont Drive, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 140 spotsNo citationsMilestones Academy Childcare Center, INC.
23184 El Toro Frontage Road, Lake Forest · ZIP 92630 away · 44 spotsAmong the most cited
Citations are quoted from California Department of Social Services inspection and complaint reports. Type A citations are the state’s most serious category (an immediate risk to children’s health, safety or personal rights); Type B citations are a potential risk. A citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall. Complaint allegations appear here only when the state substantiated them.
To read the full state reports, search facility number 304371512 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.