Step By Step School for Early Learning

During the inspection, the NSOR certificate was not received prior to working with children for Staff #1, Staff #2 and Staff #5. The child abuse clearance was not received prior to working with children for Staff #2 and Staff #5. The state police clearance was received after the 45-day provisional hire period for Staff #1 who continued to work with children. The state police clearance for Staff #5 was in "request still pending status" with no dissemination date and the FBI clearance was obtained after Staff #5 began working with children. The DHS FBI clearance, child abuse clearance and NSOR certificate were not updated within 60 months for Staff #7.

During the inspection, the operator had no written documentation showing that the emergency plan had been reviewed in 2025 or 2026.

During the inspection, the vent near the bulletin board in the school-age room was covered with accumulated dust/dirt.

During the inspection, peeled/damaged paint was observed throughout the center including by the changing table in the infants/ones room; by the closet and window in the ones/twos room. In the school age room on the wall under the bulletin board, the baseboard near the kitchen, the windowsills and walls near the windows; the classroom wall leading to the bathroom; on windowsill in girls bathroom; on wall by toilet in boys bathroom. Also, outside on the upper playground windowsill and storage shed; lower playground on office building lower wall; middle playground on corner wall.

During the inspection, the health assessment for Staff #2 and Staff #5 were conducted after providing initial service in the childcare setting and not within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a childcare. The health assessment for Staff #6 dated 6/3/25 was not updated within 24 months of the prior health assessment dated 3/21/23.

During the inspection, testing of the fire alarms system was not being consistently conducted every 30 days.

During the inspection, the annual emergency drill was conducted 6/12/24 and 7/9/26 but had not been conducted in 2025.

During the inspection, the 6-hour "Health and Safety Basics" dated 9/26/18, for Staff #3, did not meet the current pre-service training requirements. Staff #3 was past the 90-day deadline.

During the inspection, the file for Child #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, and #10 contained an agreement, developed by the operator, that did not include the operator's signature or a section for the persons designated by a parent to whom the child may be released.

During the inspection, the financial agreement for Child #9 was last updated on 9/15/25.

During the inspection, the file for Staff # 1 and Staff #4 did not contain any nonfamily references. The file for Staff #2 contained only one nonfamily reference.

On September 30, 2025 Child #1 wet themself on the playground and was escorted to the restroom by Staff #2. Once at the restroom child #1 entered and Staff #2 proceeded to go to the classroom and retrieve dry clothes. Staff#1 noticed the other staff walking away from bathroom that child was in and went to the restroom door until the child's staff returned. It was approximately30-45 seconds in break of supervision.

During renewal inspection 8-1-25, there was multiple areas of peeling paint on the building next to the children's playground accessible to the children. Pictures were taken and shown to the Executive Director.

The complaint investigation revealed Staff #1 inappropriately disciplined a child in her care on 4-7-25.

Unannounced investigation on 6-13-25 revealed that Staff#1 would do dishes in another room while the children she was to be supervising were in another adjacent room.

Unannounced investigation on 6-13-25 revealed that Staff#1 during transportation of children in the facilities van, on one occasion, children were moving about and not secured in proper vehicle restraints while the van was in motion.

During an Unannounced Monitor on 2-3-25, Staff #1 and #2 did not have a Health Assessment on file.

During an Unannounced Monitor on 2-3-25, Staff #3 and #4 did not have completed Health and Safety components within their first 90 days of hire.

During the Renewal Inspection 7-10-24, Staff 1person #1, Date of Hire 3-14-24, did not have Pediatric First-Aide/Pediatric CPR training complete and on file.