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Childery

Stepping Stones Preschool Center

412 SD-38, HARTFORD, SD 57033Childery Rating: 3/5

Data last updated ·

Quality Indicators

See Methodology →
  • Overall Quality
    3 / 5
  • Process Quality
    Not Available
  • Structural Quality
    3 / 5

Why this rating

This daycare earned 3 out of 5 stars overall. Structural quality reflects a 60% violation rate across 5 visits in the last 3 years (most recently inspected March 2026) and a license in good standing. The structural rating also includes South Dakota's licensing baseline — what every licensed daycare in the state must meet. South Dakota caps infant ratios at 1:5, toddler ratios at 1:5, and preschool ratios at 1:10. Lead-teacher education isn't regulated. Teachers must complete 10 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
Not Available
Teacher-child ratios & group sizesState Minimum Displayed
AgeMax ratioMax group
Infants1:520
Toddlers1:520
Preschool1:1020

Teacher Credentials

Lead teacher credentialState Minimum Displayed
Not Regulated

Inspection History

6 Inspection Visits Since 2025 · 19 Findings
Most recent: Mar 26, 2026⤓ Download Inspection History Report (PDF)
19 Important

Across 6 inspections since 2025, the issues cited most often were Medication Administration (8), Staff Qualifications & Background Checks (4), and Staff-to-Child Ratios & Group Size (3). None of the 19 findings were critical.

See All 6 Inspection Visits
  1. Mar 26, 20262 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:15 Achildcareprovidershallmaintainarecordforeachemployeethatincludes: (1) Theemployee'snameanddateofbirth; (2) Thedatesonwhichtheem…67:42:17:15

      Atthetimeofinspection,onestaffmemberdidnothavecurrentdocumentationofCPRcertification.

    • 67:42:17:27 Beforeanymedicationisadministeredtoachild,permissionoftheparentorguardianmustbedocumentedandmust Includethenameofthechild,thenam…67:42:17:27

      Atthetimeofinspection,onechild’smedicationadministrationformexceededtheenddateandthemedicationwas notstoredinitsoriginalcontainerwiththeoriginallabel,onechild’smedicationformdidnotindicateanenddate,and onechild’sprescriptionmedicationdidnothaveacorrespondingmedicationadministrationformavailable. Atthetimeofinspection,achild’sprescriptionmedicationhadexpiredandhadnotbeenreturnedtotheparents.

  2. Mar 5, 20266 Findings6 Important
    • Doemployeerecordscontainallrequiredinformation?67:42:17:1567:42:17:15
    • Iswrittenconsentobtainedfromeachchild'sparentbeforeadministeringallprescriptionand non-prescriptionmedication?Doesthecon…67:42:17:27

      Iswrittenconsentobtainedfromeachchild'sparentbeforeadministeringallprescriptionand non-prescriptionmedication?Doestheconsentincludethechild'…

    • Ismedicationadministeredtoeachchilddocumented,whichincludesthechild'sname,dose67:42:17:27

      Ismedicationadministeredtoeachchilddocumented,whichincludesthechild'sname,dose, time,dategiven,andnameoftheindividualadministeringthemedicat…

    • Aremedicationsprovidedbytheparentkeptintheiroriginalcontainerwiththeoriginallabel67:42:17:27

      Aremedicationsprovidedbytheparentkeptintheiroriginalcontainerwiththeoriginallabel? Forprescriptionmedications,doesthelabelincludethechild'sn…

    • Aremedicationsreturnedtotheparentwhennolongerneededorthemedicationhas expired?67:42:17:2767:42:17:27
    • Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:…67:42:17:45

      Iftransportationisprovided,doestheprogramhaveproofofliabilityinsuranceforthe vehicle(s)usedtotransportchildren?67:42:17:45 Yes Comments Addi…

  3. Aug 11, 20252 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:33 Aprovidershallmeetthefollowingrequirementsregardingbathrooms: (1) Bathroomfacilitiesmustbeeasilyaccessiblebychildrenandproviders…67:42:17:33

      Duringinspection,atoiletseatinthepreschoolroomwasobservedtobebroken.

    • 1 67:42:17:38 Thefollowingmustbeinaccessibletoachild: (1) Firearms; (2) Pelletguns,BBguns,andcapguns; (3) Matchesandlighters; (4) Tobaccopro…67:42:17:38

      Atthetimeofinspection,thebalconyaccessibletochildreninthepreschoolroomhadabenchnexttothehandrail, creatingapotentialfallinghazard.

  4. Aug 5, 20253 Findings3 Important
    • Isfood,includingbreastmilkandformula,properlystored,keptatthepropertemperature67:42:17:31

      Isfood,includingbreastmilkandformula,properlystored,keptatthepropertemperature, andprotectedfrompotentialcontamination?67:42:17:31 NOTE:Refr…

    • Aretoiletsandhandsinkskeptcleanandingoodrepair?67:42:17:3367:42:17:33
    • Areallopen-sidedfloorandwallopenings,andplatformsinside&outsidethefacility,which aremorethan30inchesabovegroundlevel,gua…67:42:17:38

      Areallopen-sidedfloorandwallopenings,andplatformsinside&outsidethefacility,which aremorethan30inchesabovegroundlevel,guardedbyabarrierthatis…

  5. May 16, 20252 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:15 Achildcareprovidershallmaintainarecordforeachemployeethatincludes: (1) Theemployee'snameanddateofbirth; (2) Thedatesonwhichtheem…67:42:17:15

      Atthetimeofinspection,twoemployeesdidnothavecurrentCPR.

    • 67:42:17:27 Beforeanymedicationisadministeredtoachild,permissionoftheparentorguardianmustbedocumentedandmust Includethenameofthechild,thenam…67:42:17:27

      Duringtheinspection,achild'smedicationauthorizationdocumentationdidnotincludea30-daytimeframe. Additionally,medicationsnolongerneededhadnotbeenreturnedtotheparents.

  6. Apr 9, 20254 Findings4 Important
    • Do Employee Records Contain All Required Information? 67:42:17:1567:42:17:15
    • Are Medications Provided by the Parent Kept in Their Original Container with the Original Label67:42:17:27

      Are medications provided by the parent kept in their original container with the original label? For prescription medications, does the labe…

    • Are Medications Returned to the Parent When No Longer Needed or the Medication Has Expired? 67:42:17:2767:42:17:27
    • If Transportation Is Provided67:42:17:45

      If transportation is provided, does the program have proof of liability insurance for the vehicle(s) used to transport children? 67:42:17:45…

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