Bright Horizons at University City
Bright Horizons at University City is a certified child care center in Philadelphia, PA, with capacity for 336 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 (accredited) rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 6 times. The state cited 17 violations, 4 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #445 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia and has fewer citations per inspection than 64% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
During an allocated unannounced inspection conducted on 04/16/25, the Certification Representative reviewed the content of records of Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #5. Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #5 content of records did not include a Child Abuse Clearance.
During an allocated unannounced inspection conducted on 4/16/25, the Certification Representative reviewed the content of records of Staff #4. Staff #4 content of records included an expired Pediatric First Aid Certificate.
During an allocated unannounced inspection conducted on 04/16/25, the Certification Representative reviewed the content of records of Staff # 3. Staff #3 content of records included an expired mandating reporting certificate.
At the time of renewal inspection, staff person #8 was observed to be caring for children unsupervised. File of staff person #8 did not include Pediatric First aid and CPR training.
At the time of renewal inspection, file of staff person #1 did not include NSOR certificate and Virginia state police, Verginia child abuse, and Verginia sex offender clearances. Staff person #1 provisional hired period ended on 8/28/24. File of staff person #4, who is a provisional hire, did not include verification that staff person #4 applied for NJ child abuse clearance. File of staff person #5 did not include NSOR certificate and DHS required FBI clearance. Staff person #5 provisional hire period ended on 10/2/24. File of staff person #6, who is provisional hire, did not include verification that staff person #6 applied for California child abuse, California state police and California sex offender clearances. File of staff person #9 did not include complete PA child abuse clearance required at the time of hire. File of staff person #9 did not include application for PA state police clearance, California child abuse, California state police and California sex offender clearances. At the time of renewal inspection, file of staff person #10, who is not a provisional hire, did not include all pages of rap sheet of DHS required FBI clearance. File of staff person #10 did not…
At the time of renewal inspection, written verification that staff person #1 received training regarding the emergency plan at the time of initial employment was not observed in file of staff person #1.
At the time of renewal inspection observed that staff person in Toddler 2 room did not wash her hands after diapering and did not ensure that a child's hands are washed after diapering.
At the time of renewal inspection, health assessment of staff person #3 did not include an examination for communicable diseases and the results of that examination.
At the time of renewal inspection, emergency plan did not include accommodations during evacuation for infants and toddlers.
At the time of renewal inspection observed that hypothetical locations of the fire are not rotated around the facility for each drill.
At the time of renewal inspection observed that emergency information was not updated in Toddler 1, Toddler 3, Twos 1, Twos 3, Kindergarten, and Preschool 1 rooms. These classrooms had emergency contact forms that were updated by parents more than 6 months ago.
At the time of the inspection, file of staff person #1, #2, #7 did not include verification of age.
At the time of renewal inspection record of staff person #6 did not include two written nonfamily references from individuals attesting to the person's suitability to serve as a facility person.
At the time of renewal inspection, file of staff person #8 did not include verification that staff person #8 completed pediatric first aid and CPR training within 90 days of hire. Pediatric first aid and CPR of staff person #10 was not from and PA approved curriculum and PQAS certified trainers.
During the renewal inspection on 09/15/22, there were missing outlet covers observed in preschool #1 room and in k prep #2 room.
During the renewal inspection on 09/15/22, there was bleach/water solution observed on the sink in toddler #2 room and twos #1 room accessible to children.
At the time of renewal inspection, file of staff person #1 hired on 3/18/19 did not include child abuse clearance from the state of Connecticut, where staff person #1 lived within the last 5 years. At the time of the inspection staff person #1 was working alone with children in Twos 1 room.
“Core safety” marks citations about supervision and staff ratios, discipline and caregiver conduct, background checks, child protection and safe sleep, the topics our score weights most. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity. “Follow-up” marks a violation re-cited at a follow-up visit, counted once. How scores work.
About this center
Common questions
Has Bright Horizons at University City had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 4 violations since 2021 on the topics Daycare Record treats as core safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep). The most recent, on Apr 16, 2025 (background checks): “During an allocated unannounced inspection conducted on 04/16/25, the Certification Representative reviewed the content of records of Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #5. Staff #1, Staff #2, and Staff #5 content of records…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Bright Horizons at University City?
Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Bright Horizons at University City since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Bright Horizons at University City’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4 (accredited), effective Aug 7, 2026. Keystone STARS is Pennsylvania’s quality rating program for child care, from STAR 1 to STAR 4. It measures program quality, not inspection results, so read both.
How does Bright Horizons at University City compare with other daycares in Philadelphia?
It is tied for #445 of 1,163 centers in Philadelphia by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 64% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Bright Horizons at University City last inspected?
Sep 16, 2025 (renewal). No violations were cited during that visit.
Who runs Bright Horizons at University City?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Bright Horizons Childrens Centers LLC.
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Citations are quoted from Pennsylvania Department of Human Services inspection records (Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Certification Services), including each finding and the center’s plan of correction. Rule numbers refer mostly to 55 Pa. Code Chapter 3270, the rules for child care centers; a few cite Chapter 20, which covers every certified facility. Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; the “core safety” label and the score are Daycare Record’s.
To check the state’s own record, search the center’s name on COMPASS Child Care Provider Search and open its inspection history. Data refreshed Oct 16, 2026.
Comparing centers? See how to choose a daycare: 30 questions to ask and a printable checklist.
Concerned about this center? See how to report a daycare: which state line to call, what to write down and what happens next.