Little Sprouts Learning Center
Data last updated · May 2026
Quality Indicators
See Methodology →- Overall QualityCombines daily care quality (interactions, learning, environment) with structural features like staff-to-child ratios and teacher qualifications.4 / 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.3 / 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 4 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects a Parent Aware rating of Level 2 (out of 4). Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Minnesota's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Minnesota caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:7, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA). Teachers must complete 24 hours of annual training.
Quality Recognitions & Accreditations
- State Quality Rating
- Parent Aware Level 2 (Max 4) Learn more →
- Accreditations
- National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)Not Accredited
- National Accreditation Commission (NAC)Not Accredited
- National Early Childhood Program Accreditation (NECPA)Not Accredited
- National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC)Not Accredited
Facility Info
- Facility type
- Child Care Center
- Age groups served
- Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, School-Age
- Licensed capacity
- 92
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 8 Toddlers 1:7 14 Preschool 1:10 20
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
Inspection History
Across 10 inspections since 2023, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (14), Staff-to-Child Ratios & Group Size (9), and Discipline & Adult-Child Interaction (7). Of 72 total findings, 8 were critical.
See All 10 Inspection Visits
May 12, 20262 Findings1 Critical1 Important
- FacilityStat. 142B.54 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
- Parent PermissionsMinn. R. 9503.0105
Parental permission was not obtained before a research or public relations activity.
Mar 31, 202610 Findings10 Important
- Nap and RestMinn. R. 9503.0050 subp. 3
Children were confined to napping equipment longer than 30 minutes.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 1
The program's behavior guidance policies and procedures were not complete.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 3
Children were subjected to prohibited disciplinary actions.
- Children's RecordsMinn. R. 9503.0125
Children's files did not contain all required items.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 9
The program's space was not clean.
- Food and WaterMinn. R. 9503.0145 subp. 4
Meals did not comply with the nutritional requirements of the USDA.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 142B.10 subd. 21(b)(1) 142B.65 subd. 1
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Attendance RecordsMinn. Stat. 142B.41 subd. 10(a)
Attendance records did not contain all required items.
- Transporting of ChildrenMinn. Stat. 142B.51 subd. 1
The program did not comply with all seat belt and child passenger restraint system requirements.
- Program PracticesStat. 142B.01 subd. 27 R. 9503.0045 subp. 1 item A
Staff did not supervise the children at all times.
Oct 15, 20256 Findings1 Critical5 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study for an individual when required, however the program submitted a study before DCYF discovered the error.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 19
Equipment and furniture were not in good repair.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 20
Areas used by children were not in good repair.
- Risk Reduction PlanMinn. Stat. 142B.54 subd. 2(f)
The Risk Reduction Plan did not include policies and procedures for supervising children when required by DCYF.
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 7
The program did not follow background study requirements for a legal name change.
- Staff TrainingStat. 142B.65 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements.
Apr 3, 20253 Findings1 Critical2 Important
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. R. 9503.0130 subp. 1
The program did not comply with the reporting requirements for abuse and neglect.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 3
Children were subjected to prohibited disciplinary actions.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 4
The program violated the behavior guidance policy for separating children from the group.
Feb 26, 20259 Findings9 Important
- Program Plan/Interest AreasMinn. R. 9503.0045 subp. 1 item F
The program did not meet the developmental needs of each child as required in the child care program plan.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 3
Children were subjected to prohibited disciplinary actions.
- Behavior GuidanceMinn. R. 9503.0055 subp. 3
Children were subjected to prohibited disciplinary actions.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 13
Children's hands were not washed with soap and water.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 14
Staff did not wash their hands with soap and water.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. R. 9503.0145 subp. 7
A child was fed the wrong bottle.
- Food and WaterMinn. Stat. 245A.14 subd. 17
The program used water bottles to provide water to children and did not have or follow a policy.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. Stat. 245A.1435(b)
Crib mattresses and/or sheets did not meet safety requirements, and/or items were in a crib for an infant under 12 months.
- Program PracticesStat. 245A.02 subd. 18 R. 9503.0045 subp. 1 item A
Staff did not supervise the children at all times.
Nov 5, 20247 Findings1 Critical6 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study request to DHS when required.
- Staff QualificationsMinn. R. 9503.0032 subp. 2 9503.0120 item B
Documentation was not available to show that a teacher met qualifications.
- Food and WaterMinn. R. 9503.0145 subp. 2
Menus did not comply with the nutritional requirements of the USDA.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.04 subd. 14(b)(1) 245A.40 subd. 1
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 7
All staff did not complete ongoing training requirements.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 1(d)
Food allergy information was not available to staff.
- Program PracticesStat. 245A.02 subd. 18 R. 9503.0045 subp. 1 item A
Staff did not supervise the children at all times.
Aug 20, 202410 Findings2 Critical8 Important
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.04 subd. 1(b) and (h)
The program did not submit a background study request to DHS when required.
- Background StudiesMinn. Stat. 245C.13 subd. 2(a)(1), (ii)
The program did not supervise an individual with a background study that required supervision.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0034 subp. 1 9503.0040 subp. 2 item D
A teacher or assistant teacher did not directly supervise an aide.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0040 subp. 1
Staff-to-child ratios were not maintained.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0040 subp. 2.
The correct number of qualified staff were not present.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0040 subp. 4
Children were not placed within the correct age category.
- Program PracticesMinn. Stat. 245A.04 subd. 7a(a)
The program was not operating within the terms of the license.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 1 245A.04 subd. 14(b)(1)
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 3 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with CPR training requirements.
Feb 2, 20241 Finding1 Critical
- FacilityStat. 245A.66 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
Sep 28, 20231 Finding1 Important
- Reporting RequirementsMinn. R. 9503.0130 subp. 2
The program did not report a death, serious injury, fire or emergency as required.
Jul 12, 202323 Findings1 Critical22 Important
- FacilityStat. 245A.66 subd. 2(e) R. 9503.0140 subp. 17
Hazardous objects were accessible to children.
- Program PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0034 subp. 1 9503.0040 subp. 2 item D
A teacher or assistant teacher did not directly supervise an aide.
- Documentation LogsMinn. R. 9503.0110 subp. 3 item D and E and subp. 4 item B
The program did not have documentation of fire and/or tornado drills.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 12
Diaper changing procedures were not posted in the diaper changing area.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 13
Children's hands were not washed with soap and water.
- Health PracticesMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 14
Staff did not wash their hands with soap and water.
- FacilityMinn. R. 9503.0140 subp. 9
The program's space was not clean.
- Food and WaterMinn. R. 9503.0145 subp. 2
The program did not have a menu available on site.
- Program PracticesMinn. Stat. 245A.04 subd. 7a(a)
The program was not operating within the terms of the license.
- Food and WaterMinn. Stat. 245A.14 subd. 17
The program used water bottles to provide water to children and did not have or follow a policy.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. Stat. 245A.1435(b)
Crib mattresses and/or sheets did not meet safety requirements, and/or items were in a crib for an infant under 12 months.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. Stat. 245A.146 subd. 3
Cribs were not checked annually against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website's listing of unsafe cribs.
- Infant and Toddler CareMinn. Stat. 245A.146 subd. 4
The program did not complete monthly crib safety inspections.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 1 245A.04 subd. 14(b)(1)
Staff orientation training did not include all required items.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 2
Child development and learning training did not contain all required items.
- Staff TrainingMinn. Stat. 245A.40 subd. 7
All staff did not complete ongoing training requirements.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 1
The program's policy on preventing and responding to allergies did not include all required items.
- Health PracticesMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 2
The program did not have a policy for handling and disposing of bodily fluids.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 3(d)
The emergency preparedness plan was not updated each calendar year.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 3(e)
The emergency preparedness plan was not included with other program policies and/or given to parents.
- Emergency PreparednessMinn. Stat. 245A.41 subd. 3(f)
The relocation site and evacuation route from the emergency preparedness plan was not posted.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 3 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with first aid training requirements.
- Staff TrainingStat. 245A.40 subd. 4 R. 9503.0120 subp. D
The program did not comply with CPR training requirements.