Skip to main content
Childery

Step by Step Children's Learning Center

47A LOVETON CIRCLE, SPARKS, MD 21152Childery Rating: 3/5

Data last updated ·

Quality Indicators

See Methodology →
  • Overall Quality
    3 / 5
  • Process Quality
    2 / 5
  • Structural Quality
    5 / 5

Why this rating

This daycare earned 3 out of 5 stars overall. Process quality reflects a Maryland EXCELS rating of Level 1 (out of 5). Structural quality reflects a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes Maryland's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. Maryland caps infant ratios at 1:3, toddler ratios at 1:3, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead teachers must hold a High School Diploma. Teachers must complete 12 hours of annual training.

Quality Recognitions & Accreditations

State Quality Rating
Maryland EXCELS Level 1 (Max 5) 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
117
Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
AgeMax ratioMax group
Infants1:36
Toddlers1:39
Preschool1:1020

Teacher Credentials

Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
High School Diploma

Inspection History

3 Inspection Visits Since 2024 · 14 Findings
Most recent: Oct 1, 2025⤓ Download Inspection History Report (PDF)
14 Important

Across 3 inspections since 2024, the issues cited most often were Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (8), Staff-to-Child Ratios & Group Size (2), and Building & Premises Safety (1). None of the 14 findings were critical.

See All 3 Inspection Visits
  1. Oct 1, 20253 Findings3 Important
    • OCC Had Not Received Any Information on This Employee13A.16.03.06A(1)

      OCC had not received any information on this employee. Owner states that she was hired on September 22, 2025 and fired on September 27, 2025 (Saturday). OCC received on September 30, 2025 a personnel list that was dated September 29, 2025 showing this employee as a new hire with a hire date of Septe

    • The Center Hired a New Employee Who Was on Site. OCC Had Not Received Any Information on This Employee.13A.16.07.06A
    • The Center Hired a New Staff Person on September 2213A.16.08.01A(2)(a)

      The center hired a new staff person on September 22, 2025 and than released them from employment on September 27, 2025 (Saturday). OCC had not received any information on this staff person.

  2. Jul 29, 20252 Findings2 Important
    • One Teacher Did Not Have the Basic Health and Safety 3 Hour Training.13A.16.06.09C
    • Three Aides Did Not Have the 3 Hour Basic Health & Safety Training Within Their Anniversary Period.13A.16.06.12B(3)
  3. Jul 25, 20249 Findings9 Important
    • The Center Has Not Had a Current Fire Inspection13A.16.02.03C(4)

      The center has not had a current fire inspection. The last fire inspection that Licensing has is dated 8/23/2022. Director to contact the Fire Department as soon as possible and submit to Licensing the Fire inspection report.

    • One Child in Care Did Not Have a Lead Screening and Another Child Had Lead Results That Were Pending.13A.16.03.04E
    • The Staffing Patterns Were Not Posted in the Classrooms nor on a Centrally Located Board. Staffing Patterns Were in the Owner's Office.13A.16.03.05B
    • Their Was No Documentation of Substitutes.13A.16.03.05E
    • Staff Were Missing Their Medicals.13A.16.06.04A(1)
    • Two Staff Had Medicals That Were Over 5 Years Old.13A.16.06.04A(4)
    • Aides Were Missing the Aide Orientation Within 6 Months of Their Hire Date.13A.16.06.12C
    • The Staffing Patterns Did Not Have Qualified Teachers on It for the Rooms That the Teachers Were Assigned To13A.16.08.02B

      The staffing patterns did not have qualified teachers on it for the rooms that the teachers were assigned to. Licensing received qualification documents for staff during this inspection. PQE will be sent to the center after completion.

    • The Infant Rooms Had the Activity Plan but the Toddler Room Did Not.13A.16.09.02B

Explore More

Daycares Near This One