JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More than a dozen local day cares faced Department of Children and Families inspections last week, and while most were fully compliant with DCF standards, some received violations that could put children at risk.
Two day cares between them racked up 25 violations.
Little Miracles Early Learning Academy on West 48th Street in the North Shore area was cited for 13 violations during its latest inspection.
According to the inspection report, a DCF counselor found three bottles of formula that were kept in a diaper bag and not refrigerated. The owner was told not to use the milk and threw it out.
The counselor went out to the playground to find concrete sticking out from under the slide. A broken chair, several broken toy blocks and a cracked slide also posed safety risks. The owner put hay under the slide in the fall zone and repaired or removed the broken toys.
The report also said at least two children at the day care had expired shot records.
The owner of Little Miracles said she submitted a corrective action plan to DCF. All of their violations have been corrected, and they expect to ace their next inspection, she said.
Unique Childcare and Learning Academy on Soutel Drive in Northwest Jacksonville received 12 violations during its latest inspection.
A DCF counselor found a plastic couch that was cracked and a cracked wall in the kitchen with dry wall jutting out, according to the inspection report. The owner removed the couch and was told to fix the dry wall.
The report also noted that a child was sleeping on the floor with a blanket, but day cares are required to use a mat or other bedding.
Unique Childcare was also cited for several paperwork-related issues, including enrollment and employment forms.
The owner of Unique Childcare said all of their violations were corrected during the inspection.
Other day cares hit with violations this week were:
- A Magical Beginning Learning Academy on Blanding Boulevard: Seven violations, including safety, staffing and paperwork-related issues
- KinderCare Learning Center on Baymeadows Road: Three violations, including training and paperwork-related violations
- San Carlos Learning Center on Gilmore Street: One violation for not logging when fire drills were conducted
Day cares that were fully compliant on their most recent inspections were:
- Wonderland Learning Center Inc. on East 25th Street
- South Jacksonville Presbyterian Preschool on Hendricks Avenue
- Emerald City Learning Center on Soutel Drive
- Murray Hill Baptist Child Care on Post Street
- Merry Pop-Ins Child Care Center on St. Johns Avenue
- A Bright Beginning Child Care on Baymeadows Road
- Kids Hour on Monument Road
- Kidz Quest Academy Inc. on University Boulevard North
Each week, News4Jax will review reports provided by DCF. To report concerns or complaints about a child care facility, call 904-485-9564.
You can also go to http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-care/parent-resources and select "Provider Search" to search for any local child care facility.