Children's Day Center and Preschool
525 MADISON AVE, BARABOO, WI 53913Childery Rating: 5/5
Data last updated ·
Quality Indicators
See Methodology →- Overall QualityCombines daily care quality (interactions, learning, environment) with structural features like staff-to-child ratios and teacher qualifications.5 / 5
- Process QualityThe quality of daily care — caregiver-child interactions, learning activities, and the emotional climate. Drawn from the state QRIS rating, accreditations, and Head Start CLASS observations.4 / 5
- Structural QualityMeasurable features like staff-to-child ratios, group sizes, license status, and teacher qualifications. Provider-level data when available; otherwise the state regulatory baseline.5 / 5
Why this rating
This daycare earned 5 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects a YoungStar rating of 3 Star and accreditation from NAEYC and NAC. Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Wisconsin's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Wisconsin caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:4, and preschool ratios at 1:13. Lead teachers must hold a High School Diploma. Teachers must complete 15 hours of annual training.
Quality Recognitions & Accreditations
- State Quality Rating
- YoungStar 3 Star (Max 5) Learn more →
- Accreditations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Accredited
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)Accredited
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)Not Accredited
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)Not Accredited
Facility Info
- Facility type
- Group Child Care Home
- Age groups served
- Infants
- Licensed capacity
- 50
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 8
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- High School Diploma
Inspection History
Across 7 inspections since 2024, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (9), Licensing & Administrative Compliance (6), and Discipline & Adult-Child Interaction (4). Of 29 total findings, 1 was critical.
See All 7 Inspection Visits
Jan 5, 202612 Findings12 Important
- Policy Submitted & Implemented - Child Guidance251.04(2)(h)8.
Center staff are not following their written policies, which state time-out is not used. During the course of a complain
- Report - Prohibited Actions251.04(3)(jm)
Former managerial Staff A failed to report many instances of inappropriate child guidance to the department, including t
- Time Out - Age251.07(2)(c)1.
During the course of a complaint investigation, staff admitted they and former Staff D and former Staff E put one- and t
- Time Out - Time251.07(2)(c)3.
Based on staff interviews during a complaint investigation, former Staff D put a 17-month-old child in time-out in the o
- Time Out - Not Removed From Classroom251.07(2)(c)5.
During the course of a complaint investigation, on 11/26/25 former Staff B grabbed a four-year-old child who was not a d
- Prohibited Actions - Physical Restraint, Restriction, Enclos251.07(2)(e)3.
During the course of a complaint investigation, staff reported that former Staff F, who worked in early 2025, used to pu
- Prohibited Actions - Cruel, Aversive, Frightening, Humiliati251.07(2)(e)5.
Former Staff B, C, D and E yelled at children, some daily. On 11/26/25 former Staff B screamed at a child, took them int
- Meals & Snacks - Minimum Meal Requirements251.07(5)(a)4.
During the course of a complaint investigation, menus were reviewed for an eight-week period. During that timeframe, the
- Menus - Plan251.07(5)(a)5.b.
Based on menu reviews and an interview with former Staff C during a complaint investigation, none of the center's menus
- Menus - Changes251.07(5)(a)6.
Based on an interview with former Staff C, and on menu observations during the 12/16/25 licensing visit, menu changes we
- Infant & Toddler - Responding To Crying Children251.09(2)(a)
During the course of a complaint investigation, it was discovered that former Staff F, who worked in early 2025, did not
- Infant & Toddler - Individual Sleep Patterns251.09(2)(b)
During the course of a complaint investigation, according to staff interviews, former Staff E, who worked in the Red Roo
Oct 13, 20259 Findings1 Critical8 Important
- Staff Record - Completed Background Check251.05(2)(a)2.
Management staff have been allowing two volunteers to work alone with children in the capacity of assistant child care t
- Staff Record - Maintenance & Availability251.05(2)(a)
The files for two volunteers who are being used in the capacity of assistant child care teachers were unavailable during
- Staff Record - Physical Examination251.05(2)(a)3.a.
Two volunteers who have been working with children at the center more than 30 days are missing a physical examination re
- Staff Record - Days & Hours Worked251.05(2)(a)6.
The center does not maintain a record of the days and hours worked for two volunteers who have been working in the capac
- Child Abuse & Neglect - Biennial Training251.05(3)(cm)
Two volunteers who have been working alone with children are missing documentation of having completed training in child
- Assistant Child Care Teacher - Supervision251.05(3)(g)1.
Two under-age volunteers are being used as assistant child care teachers; management staff have been allowing them to wo
- Assistant Child Care Teacher - Qualifications251.05(3)(g)2.
Two under-age volunteers who have been working alone with children in the capacity of assistant child care teachers do n
- Volunteers, Student Teachers - Orientation251.05(3)(j)1.
Two volunteers who have been working alone with children are missing documentation of having completed a volunteer orien
- Supervision Of Children251.055(1)(a)
On 10/09/25, management staff asked a 14-year-old child to take a three-year-old child alone into the building to the ba
Aug 25, 20252 Findings2 Important
- Staff Record - Physical Examination251.05(2)(a)3.a.
Staff A and Staff B, who have been employed longer than 30 days, are missing a physical examination report.
- Staff Orientation - Develop, Implement, Document251.05(4)(a)
Staff B is missing documentation of having completed an orientation during their first week at the center.
Jul 10, 20251 Finding1 Important
- Report - Incident Or Accident251.04(3)(a)
The department was notified of a child injury that resulted in professional medical evaluation 15 days after the inciden
Apr 24, 20252 Findings2 Important
- Policies Submitted & Implemented251.04(2)(h)
On 4/23/25 the Department discovered that the center updated its written policies in July 2024 - and possibly in 2018 -
- Policy Submitted & Implemented - Health Care251.04(2)(h)5.
The center did not follow its written health policy, which states, "Children may return to Children's Day Center when th
Oct 22, 20242 Findings2 Important
- Child Record - Health History251.04(6)(a)6.
Child 1, who has been enrolled nearly one year, is missing documentation of a health history.
- Infant & Toddler - Soft Materials In Cribs251.09(1)(L)
During the visit, several infants under one year of age were sleeping with soft swaddling blankets in cribs. One infant'
Jul 2, 20241 Finding1 Important
- Staff Record - Days & Hours Worked251.05(2)(a)6.
The center does not maintain documentation of staff days and hours worked, and in which classroom, when the person is in
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