Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool
Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool is a licensed child care center in Encinitas, CA, licensed for up to 152 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 1983. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 3 times and investigated 3 complaints, 2 of them substantiated. The state issued 10 citations, 3 of them Type A (the most serious), most often for supervision (3 of 10). 4 citations came in the last 12 months, including 1 Type A. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #19 of 20 centers in Encinitas and has more citations per inspection than 96% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on interviews, and record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above in that, the facility denied a parent access to their child's records, which poses/posed a potential health, safety, or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on interviews, and record review, the facility did not comply with the section cited above in that, the LPA obtained information that (C1) was left in a full diaper for approximately 30 minutes, resulting in a diaper rash requiring medical treatment. This poses/posed as an immediate health, safety, or personal rights risk to children in care.
Based on interviews, and record review, the facility has been combining children enrolled in the toddler program, Room 108, into a preschool room, Room 107, this poses/posed a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care
Based on observation, and interviews, and the facility has run out of disinfectant spray on multiple occasions, and LPA observed children's tables and diaper changing tables not properly wiped and santized. This poses/posed a potential health, safety and personal rights risk to children in care
Based on interviews, observation and review of relevant documentation, on 4/3, Child (C1) was left unsupervised in a classroom for approximately 20-25 minutes during a transition to the playground. This is a potential risk to the health and safety of children in care. 8 A formal staff meeting will be held on 4/17. A copy of the agenda and roster will be provided to Licensing via email.
Based on interviews and records review, child C1 was missing for 1-2 mintues when child went inside their classroom to use the bathroom which poses an potential health and safety risk to children in care.
Based on LPA's interviews and review of relevant documentation, Child #1 was left behind in the classroom without supervision for approximatley 5-7 minutes durng a transition to the playground. As the child was in safe contaned space for a short period of time, this is a potential rather then immediate risk to the health and safety of children in care.
Based on water testing results and interviews, the faucet in the South kitchen area (attached to Room 105) tested over the Action Level Exceedance level. This sink had been used for food prep prior to the pandemic. This was an immediate health, safety or personal rights risk to children in care. 8 has food prep faucets which passed the water sample testing and this is the sink that has been used since they restarted serving snack. The other sink will remain off limits until it passes the testing and Director will inform Licensing when and if the sink passes and will be used again.
Based on interview and review of documentation. Staff #1 restrained Child #1 by putting her arms around the child and her leg across the child's leg in an attempt to stop the child from throwing toys and kicking he for approximately 3-5 minutes, causing the child to become distressed. This is an immediate hazard to the health and safety of children in care. 8 difficult behaviors in the classroom and is in communication with the parents on a solution. All staff were reminded of the upcoming staff meeting this Wednesday, informing them that appropriate discipline will be reviewed. Director is support for the new teacher in the classroom and touches base with parents daily to know what to expect and plan for.
Based on interviews, there is more than one child that takes additional attention due behavioral issues in this classroom. It does not appear staff was knowlegeable on how to manage the behavior and additional staff was necessary to meet the needs of all the children in the classroom. This is a potential hazard to the health and safety of children in care. 8 ensuring that any one classroom doesn't have too many children who require individual attention that would take away from the other chidlren in the classroom. She will provide the agenda and staff roster upon completion of the training and, if she cannot get it completed by 12/17/21, she will ensure to have it at least scheduled by then.
Complaint investigations
Staff denied parent access to daycare children’s records.
Staff are commingling children.
Staff are not meeting children's diapering needs.
Staff are not ensuring classrooms are adequately cleaned.
How often are complaints about daycares in San Diego County substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Common questions
Does Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool had any serious violations?
California issued 3 Type A citations since 2021, its most serious category. The most recent was on Nov 6, 2025, for staff health screening and personnel requirements. Each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool?
California investigated 3 complaints since 2021 and substantiated 2. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool compare with other daycares in Encinitas?
It is tied for #19 of 20 centers in Encinitas by weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 96% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool last inspected?
Oct 16, 2025. No citations were issued during that visit.
How much does Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in San Diego County, which includes Encinitas, was $1,013 a month for preschoolers (about $1,280 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Magdalena Ecke YMCA Preschool?
The licensee is YMCA Of San Diego County, and the administrator listed with the state is Elizabeth Strasswyk.
Licensed centers nearby
511 Saxony Place, Encinitas · 0.3 mi away · 94 spotsToo few inspections to compareSan Dieguito United Methodist Preschool
170 Calle Magdalena, Encinitas · 0.3 mi away · 67 spotsNo citationsBright Kids
511 Encinitas Blvd Suite 114, Encinitas · 0.4 mi away · 57 spotsToo few inspections to compareMagdalena Ecke Family YMCA - School-age (Farm Lab)
441 Quail Gardens Lane, Encinitas · 0.7 mi away · 151 spotsNo citationsSaint John The Evangelist Preschool
1003 Encinitas Boulevard, Encinitas · 1.0 mi away · 89 spotsNo citationsBambini Montessori Spanish Academy
616 North Coast Highway 101, Encinitas · 1.1 mi away · 62 spotsToo few inspections to compare
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 372005598 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
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