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Childery

Willow Creek Child Care

25263 US-385, CUSTER, SD 57730Childery 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 47% violation rate across 7 visits in the last 3 years (most recently inspected February 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

7 Inspection Visits Since 2025 · 21 Findings
Most recent: Mar 11, 2026⤓ Download Inspection History Report (PDF)
21 Important

Across 7 inspections since 2025, the issues cited most often were Building & Premises Safety (5), Food Safety & Allergic Reactions (4), and Emergency Preparedness & Drills (4). None of the 21 findings were critical.

See All 7 Inspection Visits
  1. Mar 11, 20262 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:20 Acenterprovidersupervisingchildrenmustbeinthesameroomwiththechildrenorontheplaygroundwiththe Children,andmustbeabletoseeorhearth…67:42:17:20

      DuringacomplaintinvestigationconductedbytheOfficeofLicensingandAccreditation,itwasdeterminedthatin September2025,a2yearoldchildwasleftoutsideunsupervisedonanencloseddeckforapproximately2minutes.

    • 67:42:17:37 Centerandschool-ageprogramsoperatingoutsideofaschoolbuildingshallfollowapplicableconstructionandfire Safetyrequirements,asoutlin…67:42:17:37

      DuringacomplaintinvestigationconductedbytheOfficeofLicensingandAccreditation,slidelocksanddeadboltswere observedonexitdoors,whichobstructedimmediateegressfromtheexits.

  2. Feb 3, 20262 Findings2 Important
    • 67:42:17:31 Aninfantshallbefedaccordingtotheinfant'sschedule. Theprovidershallholdtheinfant'sbottlewhenfeedingthe Infant. Theprovidermaynotf…67:42:17:31

      Refrigeratortemperaturewas56degrees.

    • 67:42:17:37 Centerandschool-ageprogramsoperatingoutsideofaschoolbuildingshallfollowapplicableconstructionandfire Safetyrequirements,asoutlin…67:42:17:37

      Exitsdoorswereblocked.

  3. Jan 21, 20262 Findings2 Important
    • Areexitsandexitcorridorsmaintainedinasafemanner?61:15:05:05;61:15:06:05 NOTE:Exitscan'tpassthroughstoreroom,bathroom,kit…61:15:05:05

      Areexitsandexitcorridorsmaintainedinasafemanner?61:15:05:05;61:15:06:05 NOTE:Exitscan'tpassthroughstoreroom,bathroom,kitchen;corridor&aislew…

    • Isfood,includingbreastmilkandformula,properlystored,keptatthepropertemperature67:42:17:31

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

  4. May 2, 20253 Findings3 Important
    • 67:42:17:15 Achildcareprovidershallmaintainarecordforeachemployeethatincludes: (1) Theemployee'snameanddateofbirth; (2) Thedatesonwhichtheem…67:42:17:15

      Staffrecordswerenotavailableatthetimeofinspection.Programmustmaintainarecordforeachemployeeandmade availableforverificationofcontentstoOLA.

    • 67:42:17:42 Aprovidershallmaintainarecordforeachchildthatincludes: (1) Thechild'snameanddateofbirth; (2) Theparentorguardian'snameandtelepho…67:42:17:42

      Children'srecordswerenotavailableatthetimeofvisit.Children'srecordsmustbeavailabletothedepartmentupon requestforreview.

    • 67:42:17:43 Aprovidershallhave: 1 (1) Awrittenemergencypreparednessandresponseplanforemergenciesresultingfromanaturaldisasteroraman- Causede…67:42:17:43

      Fire,shelterinplace,andlockdowndrillsfor2024werenotavailableatinspection.Datesofdrillsmustbedocumented andavailable. Theemergencypreparednessplanwasnotavailableattheinspection.Theemergencypreparednessplanmustbe availableandcommunicatedtoemployees. Currentliabilityinsurancewasnotavailableatthetimeofinspection.Proofofcurrentliabilityinsuranceshallbemade availabletothedepartmentuponrequest.

  5. Apr 16, 20254 Findings4 Important
    • Does the Provider Have Documentation Showing Two Fire Evacuation Drills, Two Shelter-in-place
    • Do Employee Records Contain All Required Information? 67:42:17:1567:42:17:15
    • Is There a Written Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan in Place Which Covers All Areas Required to Include:…67:42:17:43

      Is there a written emergency preparedness and response plan in place which covers all areas required to include: evacuation; relocation; she…

    • Does the Program Have Proof of Current Liability Insurance? 67:42:17:4367:42:17:43
  6. Apr 10, 20256 Findings6 Important
    • 67:42:17:26 Anapmat,blanket,orothersleepsurface,otherthanthefloor,forchildrenoveroneyearofagemustbeavailablefor Eachchildduringnaptime. Asle…67:42:17:26

      Duringtheinspectionachildundertheageofonewassleepingonaninclinedsurface.Inspectoraskedthatthechildbe movedtoaflat,hardsurfaceimmediately.

    • 67:42:17:31 Aninfantshallbefedaccordingtotheinfant'sschedule. Theprovidershallholdtheinfant'sbottlewhenfeedingthe Infant. Theprovidermaynotf…67:42:17:31

      Therefrigeratortemperaturewas48degrees.Refrigeratortemperaturemustbemaintainedat41degreesorlower.

    • 67:42:17:32 1 Allwalls,ceilings,floors,andequipmentmustbeeasilycleanable,keptclean,andingoodrepair. Heatingandcooling Systemsmustmaintainate…67:42:17:32

      Thefireextinguisherhadnotbeeninspected.Fireextinguishersmustbeinspectedonanannualbasis.

    • 67:42:17:35 Playgroundsforallchildcaresettingsmustbesafe,ingoodrepair,andfreeofdebris,trash,andweeds.Playground Equipmentmustbeinstalledacco…67:42:17:35

      Aplaygroundstructurewasmissingaboard.

    • 67:42:17:37 Centerandschool-ageprogramsoperatingoutsideofaschoolbuildingshallfollowapplicableconstructionandfire Safetyrequirements,asoutlin…67:42:17:37

      Abouncychairwasblockinganexit.Allexitsmustbeunobstructed.

    • 67:42:17:44 Alltoxicorhazardoussubstancesmustbe: 2 (1) Inaccessibletochildren; (2) Usedaccordingtomanufacturer'sinstructions; (3) Storedinth…67:42:17:44

      Thelidwasmissingonadiaperdisposalcan.Soileddiapersmustbekeptinaleakproof,nonabsorbentcontainerthatis coveredwithatight-fittinglid.

  7. Mar 11, 20252 Findings2 Important
    • Protected From Potential Contamination67:42:17:31

      protected from potential contamination? 67:42:17:31 NOTE: Refrigerator temperature should be maintained at 41 degrees F or below, and the fr…

    • Is There a Designated Area for Diaper Changing That Is Easily Cleanable and Non-absorbent67:42:17:44

      Is there a designated area for diaper changing that is easily cleanable and non-absorbent? 67:42:17:44 Yes Is the diaper changing area clean…

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