Step By Step Child Care · Lansdowne
Step By Step Child Care is a certified child care center in Lansdowne, PA, with capacity for 91 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 6 times and confirmed violations in 1 complaint investigation. The state cited 4 violations, 2 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for records & paperwork (2 of 4). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #1 of 13 centers in Lansdowne and has fewer citations per inspection than 90% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
At the time of the renewal inspection the certification representative observed that the facility had a policy known as Shaken Baby policy that did not address the prevention and identification of child maltreatment.
On 3/13/23 a parent witnessed and reported to the facility's administrative team, that staff #1 threw a toy at her toddler child #1 while yelling "NO" at her. Upon review of the toddler classroom on the recorded video, children were observed unsupervised. Staff person #1 stated she was not assigned responsibility for specific children in the group. Children were observed climbing on furniture, leaving out of the activity areas and out of staff view. Per the recorded video, the additional staff person assigned to the group was not able to be observed, also preventing her from observing full view of the additional children and the newly hired staff #1 in the room.
On 3/13/23 a parent witnessed and reported to the facility's administrative team, that staff#1 threw a toy at her toddler child#1 while yelling "NO" at her. The allegation as reported by the parent was verified after conducting an investigation at the facility which included viewing the recorded video captured on camera, as per the parent's request. Following my facility visit the operator (LE) immediately terminated the child's enrollment. Parent was sent an email of termination effective immediately and remove all child's belongings from the facility. There was no written or verbal reason provided.
As a result of an investigation conducted by the DHS-OCDEL office, a parent was emailed notice of immediate termination of service for her child. No explanation was documented or verbally discussed, despite the facility's termination policy as provided and discussed with parent at the time of the child's enrollment.
“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.
Complaint investigations and reported incidents
Pennsylvania’s search lists complaint investigations in which the state found at least one violation (“verified complaints”). It does not say what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it. Incident investigations look into something that happened at the center; self-reported violations are ones the center reported to the state itself.
Daily rates
| Age group | Full time, per day | Part time, per day |
|---|---|---|
| Newborn (Under 6 Weeks) | $68.00 | $68.00 |
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $68.00 | $68.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $64.00 | $64.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $61.00 | $61.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $57.00 | $57.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $57.00 | $46.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $57.00 | $46.00 |
The daily price the center lists in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search for families paying privately. The state notes that rates are subject to change and programs don’t have to share them, so confirm with the center. See what daycare costs in Pennsylvania.
About this center
Common questions
Has Step By Step Child Care had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 2 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 Mar 30, 2023 (supervision): “On 3/13/23 a parent witnessed and reported to the facility's administrative team, that staff #1 threw a toy at her toddler child #1 while yelling "NO" at her. Upon review of the toddler classroom on the recorded video…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about Step By Step Child Care?
Pennsylvania lists 1 complaint investigation since 2021 in which it found at least one violation; the violations are listed above. Its search shows these “verified complaints” but not what a complaint alleged, or whether every violation relates to it.
What is Step By Step Child Care’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Mar 26, 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 Step By Step Child Care compare with other daycares in Lansdowne?
It is #1 of 13 centers in Lansdowne by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has fewer citations per inspection than 90% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was Step By Step Child Care last inspected?
Jul 10, 2026 (renewal). No violations were cited during that visit.
How much does Step By Step Child Care cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $68.00 for newborn, $68.00 for infant, $64.00 for young toddler, $61.00 for older toddler in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs Step By Step Child Care?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Step By Step Learning Center INC.
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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.