Daycare Record Child care inspection records

Firm Foundations

1295 Marshallton, Downingtown, PA 19335 · Chester County
Keystone STAR 1

Firm Foundations is a certified child care center in Downingtown, PA, with capacity for 39 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 1 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times. The state cited 9 violations, none of them core-safety, most often for records & paperwork (4 of 9). 1 citation came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is tied for #7 of 23 centers in Downingtown and has fewer citations per inspection than 81% of Pennsylvania certified centers.

Inspection record

Fewer citations than 81% of 4,789 Pennsylvania certified centers, per inspection, weighted by topic. Fewer citations than most
Tied for #7 of 23 centers in Downingtown
0 Core-safety citations
9 Other citations
5 Inspections
0 Complaint investigations that found violations
9 citations from 5 state visits since Aug 16, 2021 · 1 in the last 12 months · last inspected Aug 27, 2026

Every state visit

2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom) Aug 27, 2026 · Inspection · no citation Oct 22, 2025 · Inspection · citation found Sep 24, 2024 · Inspection · citation found Nov 29, 2023 · Inspection · citation found Nov 22, 2022 · Inspection · citation found
Violation found No violation Top row: inspections · bottom row: complaint investigations, self-reported incidents and other visits

What inspectors cited most

Records & paperwork 4
Transportation 2
Health & medication 2
Building & playground safety 1

Citations, newest first

Citation Oct 22, 2025 Inspection Transportation
Safe routes posted 55 Pa. Code §3270.171(c)
During the renewal inspection on 10/22/25, the operator did not have Pick-up and Drop-off procedures posted for the parents to reference.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Nov 3, 2025): “I made a copy of Pick-up and Drop-off procedures and posted in the upstairs area where parents can visually see each day at pick-up and drop-off.”
Citation Sep 24, 2024 Inspection Records & paperwork
Updated every 6 months 55 Pa. Code §3270.124(f)
During the renewal inspection on 9/27/24, child #1 had emergency contact information dated 9/8/23. Emergency contact information must be updated every 6-months.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Oct 16, 2024): “I placed the copy of child's emergency contact with parents updated signature in the emergency operation plan binder.”
Citation Nov 29, 2023 Inspection Building & playground safety
Building Surfaces 55 Pa. Code §3270.76
During the renewal inspection on 11/29/23: 1. There was an unwound water hose accessible to the children in the outside play area. 2. There was frayed electrical tape on the corner of the cabinet in the downstairs childcare space. 3. There tarp roofing on the slide housing had a hole and was in poor repair.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 6, 2023): “We removed the hose from the playground and placed it in the locked shed. We completely removed the tarp with the holes from the playset. We removed the frayed electrical tape from the corner of our cabinet and replaced it with a bumper for protection for the children.”
Citation Nov 29, 2023 Inspection Transportation
Safe routes posted 55 Pa. Code §3270.171(c)
During the renewal inspection on 11/29/23, the provider did not have Pick-up and Drop- off instructions posted conspicuously for parents to view.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 6, 2023): “I immediately made a copy of our pickup and drop off instructions and posted it on our upstairs board so that it is noticeable for parents.”
Citation Nov 29, 2023 Inspection Records & paperwork
Updated every 6 months 55 Pa. Code §3270.124(f)
During the renewal inspection on 11/29/23, the emergency contact information for child #1 was dated 9/6/22. The emergency contact information must be updated every 6 months.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 6, 2023): “We immediately made a photo copy of the child's emergency contact and replaced the older signed form within the emergency plan binders.”
Citation Nov 29, 2023 Inspection Records & paperwork
Availability of certificate of compliance and applicable regulations 55 Pa. Code §3270.25(a)
During the renewal inspection on 11/29/23, the director indicated that she had not provided instructions to the parents for accessing the regulations electronically or instructions for contacting the appropriate regional office.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 6, 2023): “I provided all parents with the appropriate link for parents to access regulations electronically and instructions for contacting the appropriate regional office.”
Citation Nov 22, 2022 Inspection Health & medication
Exemption documentation from parent/guardian/Exemption documentation from parent/guardian 55 Pa. Code §3270.131(e)(1)/3270.131(e)(2)(i)
Observed 11/22/2022 children # 1 & 2 files were missing exemption letters from their parents, physician or physician assistant or CRNP stating or opting to not receive their annual influenza vaccinations due to religious belief or strong personal objection equated to a religious belief.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 7, 2022): “Both parents wrote a note of exemption letters and signed and dated it. I have attached both in #1 & #2 files.”
Citation Nov 22, 2022 Inspection Health & medication
Exam communicable disease 55 Pa. Code §3270.151(c)(3)
Observed 11/22/2022 staff #1 file had a printout of their health assessment conducted from their physician but did not include an examination for communicable diseases and the results of that examination.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 7, 2022): “Staff #1 obtained a new physical on correct childcare employee physical form.”
Citation Nov 22, 2022 Inspection Records & paperwork
Transcript, diploma and letters 55 Pa. Code §3270.192(2)(iv)
Observed 11/22/2022 staff # 2 was missing a transcript, diploma or a letter signed by a representative of the experiential, educational or training entity.
Center’s plan of correction (implemented, Dec 7, 2022): “Staff #2 brought in documentation of received H.S. diploma. It is now in staff #2's file”

“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

Capacity 39 children
Certificate status Regular (COMPASS: awaiting renewal)
Certificate valid through Dec 17, 2026
Keystone STARS STAR 1
since Jan 29, 2020 · what STARS means
Operator Harvest Worship CNTR-A Full Gospel Assem
Phone —
State certificate # CER-00249689
Parent reviews Google Maps reviews
Not checked by Daycare Record

Common questions

Has Firm Foundations had any serious violations?

No citations on supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep since 2021. It has 9 other citations, listed above.

Have there been complaints about Firm Foundations?

Pennsylvania lists no complaint investigation that found a violation at Firm Foundations since 2021. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.

What is Firm Foundations’s Keystone STARS rating?

STAR 1, effective Jan 29, 2020. 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 Firm Foundations compare with other daycares in Downingtown?

It is tied for #7 of 23 centers in Downingtown by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 81% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.

When was Firm Foundations last inspected?

Aug 27, 2026 (allocated unannounced monitoring). No violations were cited during that visit.

Who runs Firm Foundations?

The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Harvest Worship CNTR-A Full Gospel Assem.

Certified centers nearby

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.