Pennington's Little Friends · Preschool, Los Banos
Pennington's Little Friends is a licensed child care center in Los Banos, CA, licensed for up to 30 children and serving preschool-age children. It has held its California license since 2010. Since February 2021, state licensing staff have inspected it 5 times and investigated 1 complaint, which was not substantiated. The state issued 1 citation, which was not Type A. It came in the last 12 months. Measured by weighted citations per inspection, it is #7 of 18 centers in Los Banos and has fewer citations per inspection than 65% of California licensed centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Based on observation, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. During the outdoor inspection, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) observed that a section of the wrought iron fence surrounding the playground was broken, leaving a large gap/opening in the fence.
Complaint investigations
How often are complaints about daycares in California substantiated? See the county-by-county report →
About this center
Other licenses at this address
Common questions
Does Pennington's Little Friends take infants?
Not under this license, which covers preschool-age children.
Has Pennington's Little Friends had any serious violations?
No Type A citations since 2021. It has 1 Type B citation, listed above.
Have there been complaints about Pennington's Little Friends?
California investigated 1 complaint since 2021 and substantiated 0. Allegations are shown only for substantiated complaints.
How does Pennington's Little Friends compare with other daycares in Los Banos?
It is #7 of 18 centers in Los Banos by weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 65% of California licensed centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Pennington's Little Friends last inspected?
Feb 9, 2026. The state issued at least one citation during that visit.
How much does Pennington's Little Friends cost?
California does not publish individual centers’ prices, so ask Pennington's Little Friends for its current tuition. For comparison, the median full-time price at licensed centers in Merced County, which includes Los Banos, was $730 a month for preschoolers (about $920 today) in the state’s 2021 Regional Market Rate Survey.
Who runs Pennington's Little Friends?
The licensee is Marlene Pennington, and the administrator listed with the state is Marlene Pennington.
Licensed centers nearby
515 Stonewood Drive, Los Banos · under 0.1 mi away · 15 spots No citations San Luis Head Start
129 7th Street, Los Banos · 0.7 mi away · 40 spots About typical San Luis Early Head Start
129 7th Street, Los Banos · 0.7 mi away · 8 spots No citations R.m. Miano Preschool
1129 'B' Street, Los Banos · 0.8 mi away · 22 spots About typical Colleen Menefee Head Start
1951 Mission Dr, Los Banos · ZIP 93635 away · 80 spots About typical Yellow Brick Road Preschool and Daycare
726 I Street, Los Banos · 1.2 mi away · 30 spots About typical
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 243808610 on the California Care Facility Search. Data refreshed Oct 3, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.