The Growing Tree Child Care Center
The Growing Tree Child Care Center is a certified child care center in Whitehall, PA, with capacity for 151 children. It holds a Keystone STAR 4 rating. Since August 2021, Pennsylvania certification staff have inspected it 5 times and confirmed violations in 3 complaint investigations. The state cited 25 violations, 9 of them core-safety (supervision, staff ratios, discipline, background checks, child protection or safe sleep), most often for building & playground safety (5 of 25). None of them came in the last 12 months. Measured by topic-weighted citations per inspection, it is #14 of 16 centers in Whitehall and has more citations per inspection than 67% of Pennsylvania certified centers.
Inspection record
Every state visit
What inspectors cited most
Citations, newest first
Staff person #1 started at the facility on 9-3-25 and does not have a FBI or NSOR clearance on file. There is no verification that Staff person #1 was fingerprinted for their FBI clearance prior to starting at the facility.
Staff person #1 started at the facility on 9-3-25 and does not have a health assessment on file.
Staff person #1 started at the facility on 9-3-25 and does not have any written references or verification of education on file.
Staff person #2 started at the facility on 4/22/24 and there is no proof that they were fingerprinted prior to starting at the facility. The FBI clearance for Staff person #2 is dated 7/23/24. Staff person #2 does not have a completed criminal history clearance on file. The criminal clearance for Staff person #2, dated 4/28/23 states "record pending for control".
There is no completed medication log for Child #1's prescription medications. There is no completed medication log for Child #2 prescription & non-prescription medications.
Staff person #1 did not complete the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see LIS code sheet): Health & Safety. Staff person #2 has not completed the following required pre-service training within 90 days of their date of hire (see LIS code sheet): Pediatric First Aid CPR
On 11/1/23 staff person #1 pulled child #1's hair while they were in the bathroom together. Child #1 was crying and upset and told another staff member what happened. On 11/9/23, staff member #1 forcefully picked up child #2 under the arms and sat the child down on the floor. This was observed on video and by another staff member who witnessed the incident. Facility Person #1 is no longer employed at the facility.
Staff Person #1 resided outside of Pennsylvania within the previous 5 years and does not have the child abuse history or state sex offender registry from the previous state of residence. Staff Person #3 has been working in a child care position at the facility for more than 45 days without a National Sex Offender Registry(NSOR) verification on file.
In the school age 2 girls bathroom a cabinet with toxic cleaning products was unlocked allowing access to the toxics.
There were no handwashing reminder signs in the boys bathroom in the school age 2 room.
There was an unsecured sensory bottle with objects with a diameter of less than 1 inch inside in the Preschool 1 room. There are older toddlers in this room.
The refrigerator in the school age 2 room had some spills in it that had not been cleaned up.
Child #3's agreement was not signed by the operator.
Children #1, #2, and #3 were missing their dates of enrollment on their agreeemnts.
Staff Person #4 did not have proof of completion of pediatric first-aid/CPR on file.
On 10/4/22, Staff Person #1 was changing child #1's diaper. Staff Person #2 entered the room and asked Staff Person #1 a question about another child. Staff Person #1 walked away from the changing table, leaving child #1 alone on the table. Staff Person #2 immediately stepped over and stood next to the changing table to make sure child did not roll off.
Staff Person #1, lived in Nebraska within the last 5 years prior to employment at the facility and did not have child abuse, criminal history or state sex offender registry clearances from that state, nor did she have proof they were requested.
During nap time it was observed in toddler 2, preschool 2 and pre-k that staff were not able to see all of the children on their mats while they were napping. Some children were behind furniture and staff could not see them because of this.
There was an area of peeling paint on the wall in the toddler 1 room. There was a small hole in the wall in the infant room. There was water on the floor of the boys bathroom in the school age 2 classroom.
There were several exposed bolts on the fence surrounding the outdoor play space. A ride on toy ramp in the outdoor play space was cracked. A plastic picnic table in the toddler outdoor play space was cracked.
Mats in the walking nursery were had less than 2 feet of space on 3 sides while the children were napping on them.
There was no written log of an emergency drill for 2021.
On 4/7/22, Staff Person #1 grabbed child #1 by her upper arm and pulled her off a stool in the bathroom. This caused child #1 to have a red mark on her upper left arm.
On 4/7/22, Staff Person #1 grabbed child #1 by her upper arm and pulled her off a stool in the bathroom. This caused child #1 to have a red mark on her upper left arm. Staff Persons #2, 3, 4 and 5 all saw the red mark on Child #1's arm and none made a report to Childline.
On 4/7/22, Staff Person #1 grabbed child #1 by her upper arm and pulled her off a stool in the bathroom. This caused child #1 to have a red mark on her upper left arm. Staff Person #1 was instructed to notify Child #1's parents about the incident but never did.
“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 |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (6 Weeks-12 mos.) | $48.00 | $48.00 |
| Young Toddler (13-24 mos.) | $47.00 | $47.00 |
| Older Toddler (25-36 mos.) | $46.00 | $46.00 |
| Preschool (37 mos.- Entering K) | $45.00 | $45.00 |
| Young School-Age (K-3rd gr.) | $26.00 | $26.00 |
| Older School-Age (4th gr.-15 yrs.) | $26.00 | $26.00 |
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 The Growing Tree Child Care Center had any serious violations?
Pennsylvania cited 9 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 Sep 29, 2025 (background checks): “Staff person #1 started at the facility on 9-3-25 and does not have a FBI or NSOR clearance on file. There is no verification that Staff person #1 was fingerprinted for their FBI clearance prior to starting at the…” Pennsylvania’s records don’t grade violations by severity; each citation is listed in full above.
Have there been complaints about The Growing Tree Child Care Center?
Pennsylvania lists 3 complaint investigations 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 The Growing Tree Child Care Center’s Keystone STARS rating?
STAR 4, effective Sep 26, 2025. 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 The Growing Tree Child Care Center compare with other daycares in Whitehall?
It is #14 of 16 centers in Whitehall by topic-weighted citations per inspection, and has more citations per inspection than 67% of Pennsylvania certified centers with enough inspection history to compare.
When was The Growing Tree Child Care Center last inspected?
Sep 29, 2025 (renewal). The state cited at least one violation during that visit.
How much does The Growing Tree Child Care Center cost?
It reported full-time daily rates of $48.00 for infant, $47.00 for young toddler, $46.00 for older toddler, $45.00 for preschool in Pennsylvania’s COMPASS search. Rates can change; confirm with the center.
Who runs The Growing Tree Child Care Center?
The legal entity on its Pennsylvania certificate is Nlcjam LLC.
Certified centers nearby
3614 Lehigh St, Whitehall · 0.4 mi away · 93 spots About typical Kids Kingdom Day Care Center
3730 Lehigh St, Whitehall · 0.5 mi away · 39 spots About typical Petite Scholars Learning Center
915 Chestnut St, Coplay · 0.8 mi away · 55 spots More citations than most Rcymca at Gockley Elementary
2940 Macarthur Rd, Whitehall · 0.9 mi away Fewer citations than most Petite Scholars Learning Center
3355 Macarthur Rd, Whitehall · 0.9 mi away · 92 spots About typical Salem Ucc Preschool LLC
615 3rd St, Catasauqua · 0.9 mi away · 33 spots Fewer citations than most
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.