VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES

Step By Step Early Learning Center
4545 South Amherst HWY
Madison heights, VA 24572
(434) 847-4400

Current Inspector: Rebecca Forestier (540) 309-2835

Inspection Date: Oct. 23, 2025

Complaint Related: No

Areas Reviewed:

Areas of Standards Reviewed: 8VAC20-780 Administration 8VAC20-780 Staff Qualifications and Training 8VAC20-780 Physical Plant 8VAC20-780 Staffing and Supervision 8VAC20-780 Programs 8VAC20-780 Special Care Provisions and Emergencies 8VAC20-780 Special Services 8VAC20-820 The License 8VAC20-820 The License Process 8VAC20-820 Hearing Procedures 8VAC20-770 Background Checks 20 Access to Minor?s Records 22.1 Background Checks, Code, Carbon Monoxide 63.2 Child Abuse and Neglect During the inspection, the licensing representatives reviewed the areas listed above to include standards found out of compliance during the previous inspection. Unless otherwise noted as a violation within this inspection report, the provider was in compliance with the standards reviewed. If there were any serious injuries or fatalities related to a violation, the details will be included in the description of the violation.

Comments:

An unannounced, on-site monitoring inspection was initiated and completed on 10/23/2025, as part of the licensure period. The on-site inspection began at 09:12 AM and ended at 11:45 AM. The inspectors reviewed compliance in the areas listed above. There were 52 children present and 9 staff. The inspectors reviewed 5 children?s records and 5 staff records on-site. This inspection included document review, a tour of the facility, interviews, observations, and measurements. Information gathered during the inspection determined non-compliance with applicable standard or law, and violations are documented on the violation notice issued to the program. Please complete the plan of correction (POC) and date to be corrected sections for each violation cited on the violation notice. Specify how the violation will be or has been corrected. Submit your POC within 5 business days from today, which will be the close of business on 10/30/2025. A POC submitted after this date will not appear on the public website.

Violations:

Standard #:	22.1-289.035-B-4
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION The center is required to obtain background checks from any state in which the individual has resided in the preceding five years. The record for Staff 5, who has been employed for more than 2 months, did not have documentation of requesting a child abuse and neglect registry check nor a sex offender registry check in one state that the staff member has resided in within the preceding 5 years.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION Documentation of the screening shall be submitted at the time of employment and prior to coming into contact with children. Staff #5 did not submit documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening prior to coming into contact with children. The documentation of a negative tuberculosis screening for Staff 5 was submitted more than 3 weeks after employment.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-160-C
Description:	Staff members shall submit the results of a follow-up tuberculosis screening at least every two years from the date of the initial screening. The tuberculosis screening for Staff 1 was overdue by 3 months.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-60-A
Description:	REPEAT VIOLATION The center shall maintain a separate record for each child enrolled that contains all of the information required by the standards. Child #4 and Child #5 did not have an annual update on file.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-330-B
Description:	Playground equipment with moving parts or climbing apparatus must have appropriate fall zones that encompass sufficient area to include the child's trajectory in the event of a fall. The required fall zone for the double-slide was 9 feet; the fall zone measured 7 feet.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.
Standard #:	8VAC20-780-340-D
Description:	In each grouping of children at least one staff member who meets the qualifications of a program leader or program director shall be regularly present. Staff #2 did not meet qualifications of a program lead.
Plan of Correction:	Not available online. Contact Inspector for more information.