Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Learning Jungle Escondido

1748 S. Escondido Blvd., Escondido, CA 92025 · San Diego County
3 substantiated complaintsChild care center (preschool)

Learning Jungle Escondido is a licensed child care center in Escondido, CA, licensed for up to 42 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2018. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 4 times and investigated 6 complaints, 3 of them substantiated. The state issued 16 citations, 2 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for building & playground safety (7 of 16). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #50 of 54 centers in Escondido and has more citations per inspection than 95% of California licensed centers.

Inspection record

More citations than 95%of 10,948 California licensed centers, per inspection, weighted by severity. Among the most cited
Tied for #50 of 54 centers in Escondido
2Type A citations
14Type B citations
4Inspections
3 of 6Complaints substantiated
16 citations from 20 state visits since Feb 8, 2021 · 1 in the last 12 months · last inspected Feb 11, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)Jul 27, 2026 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 11, 2026 · Inspection · no citationApr 3, 2025 · Report/investigation · citation foundFeb 10, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundDec 31, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundDec 31, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationJul 18, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationJul 15, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 19, 2024 · Report/investigation · no citationJun 19, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundMay 31, 2024 · Report/investigation · citation foundOct 16, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundSep 22, 2023 · Report/investigation · no citationSep 19, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundJul 27, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundJun 2, 2023 · Inspection · no citationApr 26, 2023 · Report/investigation · citation foundApr 14, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citationApr 14, 2022 · Report/investigation · citation foundApr 14, 2022 · Report/investigation · no citation
Citation issuedNo citationTop row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety7
Supervision4
Caregiver conduct3
Food & feeding1
Health & medication1

Citations, newest first

Type BJul 27, 2026Case management visit (incident)Food & feeding
Food service §101227(a)(7)(B)
Based on interview, observation and file review, the CCC served a child a food item which the child has a known food allergy to, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Plan of correction due Aug 11, 2026
Type BApr 3, 2025Complaint investigationBuilding & playground safety
Buildings and grounds §101238(a)(1)
, LPA observed 3 cockroaches on kitchen counter and based on interviews 5 out of 8 staff members stated they have seen cockroaches in the kitchen area. This is a potential health andsafety risk to the children in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 11, 2025
Type BFeb 10, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Carbon monoxide detectors §1596.954
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in classroom did not have a working carbon monoxide detector which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 21, 2025
Type BFeb 10, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Disaster and emergency plan §101174(d)
Based on interview and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in facility has not conducted a fire drill in the last 6 months which poses/posed a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Feb 21, 2025
Type BDec 31, 2024Case management visit (other)Caregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(1)
Based on interviews 6 out of 6 staff members stated that they have witnessed S1 yell and mishandle childen in care. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care.
Plan of correction due Jan 3, 2025
Type BJun 19, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Buildings and grounds §101238(a)
Based on observation of the surroundings of Building 1, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above by allowing access to off-limit areas with potentially hazardous items which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Jul 3, 2024
Type BJun 19, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Outdoor activity space §101238.2(d)(2)
Based on observation of playground, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in uneven cement walkways which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Jul 17, 2024
Type BJun 19, 2024InspectionHealth & medication
Children's medical assessments §101220(a)
Based on record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in 2 out of 5 child records reviewed were missing a physican's report which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care.
Plan of correction due Jul 3, 2024
Type BMay 31, 2024Case management visit (other)Building & playground safety
Carbon monoxide detectors §1596.954
Every licensed child day care center shall have one or more carbon monoxide detectors in the facility that meet the standards established in Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 13260) of Part 2 of Division 12. Director will install a carbon monoxide detector in Building 2 and repair carbon monoxide detector in Building 1 by 06/07/24. Director will submit photographs of detectors in working order for both buildings to LPA. This requirement has not been met by: Based on observation, LPA did not see a working carbon monoxide detector in Building 1 or Building 2, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. 8
Plan of correction due Jun 7, 2024
Type BMay 31, 2024Case management visit (other)Building & playground safety
Infant Care General Sanitation §101438.1(b)(4)
101438.1 (b) Each caregiver shall wash his/her hands with soap and water before each feeding and after each diaper change. (4) The diaper changing area...shall be washed and disinfected after each diaper change. Director will provide a staff training of proper diapering sanitation procedures and submit a signed copy of staff attendance to LPA. This requirement has not been met evidenced by: Based on observation, staff did not practice general diapering sanitation, which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care 8
Plan of correction due Jun 14, 2024
Type AOct 16, 2023Case management visit (deficiencies)Supervision
Care and supervision §101229(a)(1)
101229(a)(1) Responsibility for Providing Care and Supervision (a) The licensee shall provide care and supervision as necessary to meet the children’s needs. (1) No child(ren) shall be left without the supervision of a teacher at any time, …… Supervision shall include visual observation. This requirement was 1 Director stated the CCC has suffered and risked alot hirng S1. Director also stated due to lack of supervision S1 failed to provided for the day care children S1 has been terminated as of 10/04/2023. Based on confidential interviews,S1 failed to meet supervision requirements on multiple occasions resulting in S1 termination. 8
Plan of correction due Oct 16, 2023
Type ASep 19, 2023Complaint investigationSupervision
Care and supervision §101229(a)(1)
Based on confidential interviews,S3 does not provide appropriate supervision to children in care. S3 will leave children unattened in the restroom, and speak to children inappropriately.
Plan of correction due Oct 3, 2023
Type BSep 19, 2023Complaint investigationCaregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(3)
Based on four of five confidential interviews revealed S3 speaks inappropriately to children in care.
Plan of correction due Oct 20, 2023
Type BJul 27, 2023Complaint investigationSupervision
Care and supervision §101229(a)(1)
Based on confidential interviews, staff left 9 number of children on the playground without supervision while S3 took their break.
Plan of correction due Aug 7, 2023
Type BApr 26, 2023Case management visit (incident)Supervision
Care and supervision §101229(a)(1)
Director has agreed to provide a written statement to LPA on facility's end of day transition/class combining process to ensure in ratio and adequate supervision. The facility will also provide training on expectations and best practices on reporting incidents and Based information received, a child was left unattended on playground while staff was transitioning the other children to the class. The child was observed in treehouse by a parent. 8 supervision protocols to all staff. Director will provide proof of training, copy of training agenda and statment to LPA Hamilton on or before the
Plan of correction due May 10, 2023
Type BApr 14, 2022Case management visit (deficiencies)Caregiver conduct
Personal rights §101223(a)(3)
Based on confidential interviews S1 denied two children water on two separate occasions which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care.
Plan of correction due Apr 29, 2022

Complaint investigations

SubstantiatedApr 3, 2025Complaint investigationreceived Mar 24, 2025
Substantiated allegation:
Staff do not ensure the facility is free of pests or insects
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
Not substantiatedDec 31, 2024Complaint investigationreceived Dec 2, 2024
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
Not substantiatedJul 18, 2024Complaint investigationreceived May 28, 2024
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.
SubstantiatedSep 19, 2023Complaint investigationreceived Aug 25, 2023
Substantiated allegations:
Child in care was left unsupervised by facility staff
Staff speaks inappropriately to children in care
2 citations issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
SubstantiatedJul 27, 2023Complaint investigationreceived Jul 21, 2023
Substantiated allegation:
Staff did not provide adequate supervision to day care children.
1 citation issued during this investigation, listed under Citations.
Not substantiatedApr 14, 2022Complaint investigationreceived Feb 14, 2022
The state did not substantiate this complaint, so its allegations are not shown.

About this center

Licensed capacity42 children
License typeChild care center (preschool)
License statusLicensed
Licensed sinceMar 28, 2018
LicenseeLearning Jungle Schools (San Diego), INC.
AdministratorKerry Backues
Phone(760) 739-9179
State facility #374844890

Common questions

Does Learning Jungle Escondido take infants?

Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.

Has Learning Jungle Escondido had any serious violations?

California issued 2 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Oct 16, 2023, for care and supervision. Each citation is listed in full above.

Have there been complaints about Learning Jungle Escondido?

California investigated 6 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 3. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.

How does Learning Jungle Escondido compare with other daycares in Escondido?

It is tied for #50 of 54 centers in Escondido by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 95% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.

When was Learning Jungle Escondido last inspected?

Feb 11, 2026. No citations were issued during that visit.

How much does Learning Jungle Escondido cost?

California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Learning Jungle Escondido for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Escondido, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.

Who runs Learning Jungle Escondido?

The licensee is Learning Jungle Schools (San Diego), INC., and the administrator listed with the state is Kerry Backues.

Licensed centers nearby

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 374844890 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 2, 2026.