Step by Step Child Care Center, Inc.
861 CENTER CT UNIT A # D, SHOREWOOD, IL 60404Childery 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.Not Available
- 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. 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
- Not Available
- Licensed capacity
- 48
- Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
Age Max ratio Max group Infants 1:4 12 Toddlers 1:5 15 Preschool 1:10 20
Teacher Credentials
- Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
- Child Development Associate (CDA)
Inspection History
15 Inspection Visits Since 2018 · 130 Findings
Most recent: Feb 10, 2026⤓ Download Latest Report (PDF)
31 Critical89 Important10 Administrative
Across 15 inspections since 2018, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (40), Children's Records & Files (29), and Licensing & Administrative Compliance (14). Of 130 total findings, 31 were critical.
See All 15 Inspection Visits
Feb 10, 20267 Findings5 Critical2 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(1)
- Staffing Structure407.90(e)(4)
- Staffing Structure407.90(f)(1)
- Staffing Structure407.90(f)(2)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(1)
Jan 13, 20262 Findings2 Important
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(g)
Apr 5, 20246 Findings2 Critical2 Important2 Administrative
- License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6I)
- License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6II)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Fire/Health Safety Code reference (NFPA Life Safety Code, OSFM adoption)FHSEC 305
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)
- Organization and Administration407.70(k)
Oct 24, 20232 Findings1 Critical1 Important
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(r)
Mar 16, 20232 Findings2 Important
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
Mar 2, 20224 Findings1 Critical3 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(1)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Hand Washing407.320(a)(1)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(o)
Feb 2, 20219 Findings1 Critical8 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(m)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(h)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(10)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(k)(4)
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(k)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(b)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(g)
Mar 3, 202014 Findings5 Critical9 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(5)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(7)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(d)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(f)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(5)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(c)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(f)(7)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(h)
- Equipment and Materials407.380(e)
Mar 12, 201933 Findings8 Critical22 Important3 Administrative
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(5)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(6)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(7)
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(5)
- Staffing Structure407.90(d)(1)
- Staffing Structure407.90(f)(1)
- License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6I)
- License requirement; application; noticeCCASEC 4(6II)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(5)
- Personnel Records407.120(b)
- Qualifications for Early Childhood Teachers and School-age Workers407.140(h)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(d)
- Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers407.210(f)(20)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(2)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(d)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(g)(1)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(2)(a)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(11)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(2)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(3)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(g)(1)
- Fire/Health Safety Code reference (NFPA Life Safety Code, OSFM adoption)FHSEC 305
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(1)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(2)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(3)
Nov 19, 20182 Findings1 Critical1 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(7)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
Aug 13, 20188 Findings8 Important
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(c)(14)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(1)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(4)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Diapering and Toileting Procedures407.340(a)(2)
- Fire/Health Safety Code reference (NFPA Life Safety Code, OSFM adoption)FHSEC 305
Jul 16, 20187 Findings5 Important2 Administrative
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Swimming and Wading407.290(b)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(5)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(6)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(e)(7)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(1)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(3)
Jun 18, 20186 Findings1 Critical5 Important
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(d)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(4)
May 10, 201820 Findings6 Critical11 Important3 Administrative
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(5)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(6)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(7)
- General Requirements for Personnel407.100(c)(8)
- Background Checks for Personnel407.110
- Staffing Structure407.90(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(1)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(2)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(3)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(4)
- Personnel Records407.120(a)(6)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Guidance and Discipline407.270(a)
- Health Requirements for Children407.310(a)(5)
- Hand Washing407.320(a)(2)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(f)(2)
- Outdoor Play Area407.390(i)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(1)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(2)
- Organization and Administration407.70(e)(3)
Apr 10, 20188 Findings8 Important
- Grouping and Staffing407.190(a)
- Program Requirements for All Ages407.200(d)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(d)
- Enrollment and Discharge Procedures407.250(i)(4)(a)
- Daily Arrival and Departure of Children407.260(d)
- Nutrition and Meal Service407.330(g)(1)
- Napping and Sleeping407.350(c)
- Physical Plant/Indoor Space407.370(d)(3)
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