Daycare RecordChild care inspection records

Essential Steps

305 E Rusk St, Rockwall, TX 75087 · Rockwall County
Accepts child care subsidies

Essential Steps is a licensed child care center in Rockwall, TX, licensed for up to 63 children and serving infants through school-age children. It has held its Texas license since 1996. Since October 2021, state inspectors have visited 10 times and investigated 2 reports. Inspectors recorded 16 citations, 0 of them high-risk, most often for building & playground safety (9 of 16). 14 citations came in the last 12 months. 6% were corrected during the inspection itself. Measured by risk-weighted citations per inspection, it is #21 of 21 centers in Rockwall and better than 17% of licensed centers statewide.

Inspection record

Better than 17%of 9,147 Texas licensed centers, comparing risk-weighted citations per inspection. More citations than most
#21 of 21 centers in Rockwall
0High risk
11Medium High risk
4Medium risk
0Medium Low risk
1Low risk
16 citations from 10 inspections and 2 reports since Oct 1, 2021 · 14 in the last 12 months · last inspected May 8, 2026

Every state visit

20222023202420252026INSPECTIONS (top) · REPORTS & INVESTIGATIONS (bottom)May 8, 2026 · Inspection · no citationApr 10, 2026 · Inspection · citation foundDec 4, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundNov 18, 2025 · Inspection · citation foundNov 13, 2025 · Inspection · no citationNov 12, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationFeb 3, 2025 · Inspection · no citationJan 30, 2025 · Report/investigation · no citationDec 11, 2024 · Inspection · citation foundJan 18, 2024 · Inspection · no citationFeb 22, 2023 · Inspection · no citationMar 4, 2022 · Inspection · no citation
Citation foundNo citation

What inspectors cited most

Building & playground safety9
Food & feeding3
Training & qualifications2
Transportation1
Other standards1

Citations, newest first

Medium HighApr 10, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Areas Free From Hazards §746.3701
Playground hazard: Children were observed playing on a tree that appeared to damaged from severe weather.
Correction verified May 8, 2026
LowApr 10, 2026InspectionTraining & qualifications
Minimum Qualifications Employees and Caregivers - Affidavit (Form 2985) §746.1105(3)
One staff member did not have the required notorized affidavit.
Correction verified Apr 23, 2026
Medium HighApr 10, 2026InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Proper Depth Maintained §746.4907(d)
The younger playground did not have the required six inches of surfacing (pea gravel).
Correction verified May 8, 2026
Medium HighApr 10, 2026InspectionTransportation
Child Passenger Safety Seat System - Not expired or damaged in accident §746.5607(b)
Two booster seats used to transport children were expired.
Correction verified Apr 23, 2026
Medium HighDec 4, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired §746.4751(c)
The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired.
Correction verified Dec 5, 2025
MediumDec 4, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional §746.2421(a)
1 child observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions signed by parent.
Correction verified Dec 5, 2025
Medium HighNov 18, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Requirements for Feeding Infants - Label Bottles/Cups §746.2419(6)
Bottle were missing labels and the Director corrected it by writing the child's name on their bottles
Corrected during the visit
MediumNov 18, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Documentation of Drills §746.5205(4)
The director did not provide documentation for sheltering or lockdown drills.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
MediumNov 18, 2025InspectionFood & feeding
Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional §746.2421(a)
All infants observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
Medium HighNov 18, 2025InspectionOther standards
Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection §746.5401
The operation does not have a current gas inspection availble for review for CCR.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
Medium HighNov 18, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Acceptable Loose-fill Surfacing §746.4905
The loose-fill located on the playground measured less than one inch.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
MediumNov 18, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Playground Maintenance Records §746.801(8)
The operation did not have a building and ground checklist available for review.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
Medium HighNov 18, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired §746.4751(c)
The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
Medium HighNov 18, 2025InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal §746.5101(b)
The operation does not have an updated fire inspection on file. The Director called the fire marshal and scheduled for Tuesday11-25-2025 and will provide documentation.
Correction verified Dec 4, 2025
Medium HighDec 11, 2024InspectionTraining & qualifications
First Aid Kit - Available in Each Building, on Field Trips, during Transportation §746.4001
One van used to transport children in care did not have the required first aid kit.
Correction verified Jan 9, 2025
Medium HighDec 11, 2024InspectionBuilding & playground safety
Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe §746.3701(5)
Playground hazards: broken plastic slide; wooden storage shed with splinted wood (children observed putting hands in wooden shed).
Correction verified Jan 9, 2025

About this center

Licensed capacity63 children
Ages servedInfant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
Hours06:30 AM-06:30 PM
DaysMon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri
Licensed sinceJun 18, 1996
DirectorRoxane Gregory
Phone9727720011
State operation #520042

Common questions

Does Essential Steps take infants?

Yes. Texas licenses it to care for infants through school-age children.

What are Essential Steps’s hours?

6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday, according to its state licensing record. Confirm holiday and summer hours with the center.

Does Essential Steps accept child care subsidies?

Yes, according to its state licensing record.

Has Essential Steps had any serious violations?

No high-risk citations since 2021. It has 16 lower-risk citations, listed above.

How does Essential Steps compare with other daycares in Rockwall?

It is #21 of 21 centers in Rockwall by risk-weighted citations per inspection, and is better than 17% of licensed centers statewide (out of 9,147 Texas centers with enough inspection history).

When was Essential Steps last inspected?

May 8, 2026. No violations were found during that visit.

Licensed centers nearby

Citations are quoted from Texas HHS inspection records. Many are corrected the same day, and a citation is a finding about one rule, not a judgment about a center overall.

To see the official record, search operation 520042 on Search Texas Child Care. Data refreshed Sep 30, 2026.