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Childery

Smart From the Start Llc

1939 W 79TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60620Childery Rating: 5/5

Data last updated ·

Quality Indicators

See Methodology →
  • Overall Quality
    5 / 5
  • Process Quality
    Not Available
  • Structural Quality
    5 / 5

Why this rating

This daycare earned 5 out of 5 stars overall. Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Illinois's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Illinois caps infant ratios at 1:4, toddler ratios at 1:5, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a Child Development Associate (CDA). Teachers must complete 15 hours of annual training. No objective process measures (e.g., state quality rating or national accreditation) are available for this daycare. The overall rating reflects structural features only.

Quality Recognitions & Accreditations

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
100
Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
AgeMax ratioMax group
Infants1:412
Toddlers1:515
Preschool1:1020

Teacher Credentials

Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
Child Development Associate (CDA)

Inspection History

12 Inspection Visits Since 2018 · 75 Findings
Most recent: Oct 27, 2025⤓ Download Latest Report (PDF)
17 Critical56 Important2 Administrative

Across 12 inspections since 2018, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (32), Children's Records & Files (11), and Building & Premises Safety (7). Of 75 total findings, 17 were critical.

See All 12 Inspection Visits
  1. Oct 27, 202517 Findings7 Critical8 Important2 Administrative
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(8)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(d)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(i)
    • License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6I)
    • License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6II)
    • Licensing standards for child care facilitiesCCASEC 7(A)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
    • Special Requirements for School-Age Children407.220(c)(2)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(3)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(4)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(1)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(2)
    • Fire/Health Safety Code reference (NFPA Life Safety Code, OSFM adoption)FHSEC 305
    • Organization and Administration407.70(i)
    • Organization and Administration407.70(l)
  2. Aug 6, 20257 Findings7 Important
    • Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140(h)
    • Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
    • Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(i)
    • Outdoor Play Area407.390(a)
    • Outdoor Play Area407.390(f)
    • Outdoor Play Area407.390(i)(4)
  3. Apr 10, 20246 Findings1 Critical5 Important
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(1)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
    • Personnel Records407.120(e)(5)
    • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
    • Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(f)(1)(a)
  4. Jan 25, 20233 Findings1 Critical2 Important
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(a)(5)
    • Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(i)(1)
  5. Mar 24, 202225 Findings8 Critical17 Important
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(1)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(2)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(3)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(7)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(8)
    • General Requirements for Personnel407.100(d)
    • Background Checks for Personnel407.110
    • Staffing Structure407.90(a)(2)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
    • Personnel Records407.120(a)(6)
    • Personnel Records407.120(b)
    • Personnel Records407.120(c)
    • Personnel Records407.120(d)
    • Personnel Records407.120(e)(1)
    • Personnel Records407.120(e)(4)
    • Personnel Records407.120(f)(2)
    • Qualifications for Child Care Director407.130(a)
    • Qualifications for Early Childhood Assistants and School-age Assistants407.150(c)
    • Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
    • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
    • Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
    • Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)
  6. Jun 14, 20214 Findings4 Important
    • Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
    • Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
    • Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(i)
    • Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(m)
  7. Jun 3, 20213 Findings3 Important
    • Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140(c)
    • Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(h)
  8. May 4, 20211 Finding1 Important
    • Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
  9. Oct 15, 20204 Findings4 Important
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(6)
    • Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(q)(2)
  10. May 17, 20191 Finding1 Important
    • Guidance and Discipline407.270(c)(6)(a)
  11. Jan 15, 20192 Findings2 Important
    • Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(p)
    • Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
  12. Sep 26, 20182 Findings2 Important
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(h)
    • Health Requirements for Children407.310(i)(1)

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