Giant Step Learning Center
Giant Step Learning Center is a licensed child care center in Costa Mesa, CA, licensed for up to 42 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2011. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 2 times and investigated 3 complaints, 2 of them substantiated. The state issued 10 citations, 1 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for records & paperwork (3 of 10). 4 citations came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #45 of 47 centers in Costa Mesa and better than 3% of licensed centers statewide.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Facility to submit director's packet to RO. Oservation, interview, and record review, the child care center (CCC) has not reported the new director's information to the Department. This poses as a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.
Facility to submit LIC200A Facility to submit Facility Sketch LPA observation, interview, and record review, the CCC did not report the structural changes of the outdoor play area to the Department. This poses as a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.
Based on LPA observations, interview, and record review 2 out of 3 staff did not have a complete personnel file. This poses as a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.
Facility to have a staff training to review Personal Rights. Facility to complete TSP referral. Discuss a POC with Staff 1 Will discuss further training CCC Consultant LPA observations and interview. LPA observed Staff 1 (S) to speak to children in a harsh tone and language. Interviews stated S1 speaks in a stern manner and yells at children.
Based on observation and interview the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 10 out of 30 mats which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on interview and observation the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 2 out of 3 staff files which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Based on observation, interview, and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Director stated they implemented a new diaper changing log and she will email LPA Dianna Valdez Santana at dianna.valdezsantana@dss.ca.gov by
(a) Drinking water from a noncontaminating fixture or container shall be readily available both indoors and in the outdoor activity area. (1) Children shall be free to drink as they wish. This requirement is not met as evidence by: 1 Licensee will submit a plan of correction in writing to assure compliance to LPA Valdez Santana by due date. dianna.valdezsantana@dss.ca.gov Based on LPA’s interviews, two staff members disclosed witnessing a teacher said “not right now” because the teachers were busy when the children asked for water. 8 Licensee will submit a plan of correction in writing to assure compliance LPA Valdez Santana by due date. dianna.valdezsantana@dss.ca.gov
Complaint investigations
Personal Rights
Daycare child is not being allowed access to fluids while in care
About this center
Common questions
Does Giant Step Learning Center take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Giant Step Learning Center had any serious violations?
California issued 1 Type A citation since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Mar 26, 2024, for personal rights. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Giant Step Learning Center?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Giant Step Learning Center compare with other daycares in Costa Mesa?
It is tied for #45 of 47 centers in Costa Mesa by weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 3% of licensed centers statewide (out of 10,948 California centers with enough inspection history).
When was Giant Step Learning Center last inspected?
Sep 9, 2025. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Giant Step Learning Center cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Giant Step Learning Center for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Orange County, which includes Costa Mesa, was $1,098 a month for preschoolers (about $1,390 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Giant Step Learning Center?
The licensee is Bambini Preschool LLC, and the administrator listed with the state is Maria Torres.
Licensed centers nearby
758 Saint Clair St, Costa Mesa · under 0.1 mi away · 42 spotsToo few inspections to compareNmusd Sonora Preschool
966 Sonora Road, Costa Mesa · 0.5 mi away · 48 spotsNo citationsFrontiers Academy
102 Baker Street, Costa Mesa · 0.6 mi away · 50 spotsAbout typicalNmusd Paularino Preschool
1060 Paularino Avenue, Costa Mesa · 0.9 mi away · 24 spotsNo citationsCentral Orange Coast YMCA - Davis
1050 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa · 1.0 mi away · 75 spotsMore citations than mostNmusd Davis Preschool
1050 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa · 1.0 mi away · 24 spotsNo citations
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 304370713 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.