Inspection records · South Carolina
What South Carolina daycare inspectors cite
South Carolina inspectors cited at least one rule at 61% of the 2,150 daycares they visited since October 2023. Supervision and ratio rules are cited most, and the single rule cited at the most daycares, direct supervision, was cited at 678 of them.
- Daycares visited
- 2,150
- Visits in the records
- 12,310
- Had at least one rule cited
- 61%
- Median cited rules per daycare
- 1
How it works
How daycare inspections work in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education, licenses daycare centers and home daycares and inspects them. Routine visits are unannounced, and the state also makes follow-up visits and investigates complaints from parents and the public.
Each finding names the rule area that was not met. South Carolina also records when a cited rule was corrected, so you can see on a daycare's record whether a problem was put right.
- Who inspects: South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education.
- Routine visits: South Carolina reported inspecting licensed centers once a year, without notice (national survey of state licensing agencies, 2017).
- Visits in the records since October 2023: 7,879 inspections, 575 follow-up visits, 1,447 complaint investigations, 2,409 other visits, at 2,150 daycares (1,514 centers and 636 home daycares).
- Records on each listing go back to: 2023.
How common
How often inspectors cite a rule
- of the 2,150 daycares visited had at least one rule cited
- 61%
- cited rules for the middle daycare over three years
- 1
- of cited rules have a correction on record
- 95%
These figures describe South Carolina's own inspection records since October 2023. States write and cite their rules in different ways, so a figure here cannot be compared with another state's. A cited rule is one finding at one visit, not a rating of a daycare.
What gets cited
What South Carolina's cited rules are about
Share of the 9,583 rules cited since October 2023, sorted into plain groups.
Supervision is the largest group by a wide margin: supervision and ratio rules make up 26% of the rules South Carolina inspectors cited, and 35% of the daycares visited had at least one cited. These rules cover watching every child and keeping enough adults in each room.
Health, medication and illness rules come next (14.5%), close to staff training and qualifications (13.8%), which reached 31% of daycares visited. Records and paperwork make up 11.8%; a paperwork citation usually means a form was missing or out of date, not that a child was in danger.
Most cited
The rule areas South Carolina cites most
Ordered by how many daycares had the rule cited since October 2023. The wording is the state's rule; no daycare is named here.
- Supervision and ratios678 daycares (31.5% of those visited)
Watching children directly at all times
The state's rule: Direct Supervision
Staff must be able to see and hear the children in their care and stay close enough to step in, indoors, outside and at nap time. A citation means an inspector found children who were not being directly watched.
Ask on a tour: How do staff keep every child in sight during outdoor play and nap time?
- Staff training and qualifications593 daycares (27.6% of those visited)
Staff who meet the state's requirements
The state's rule: Staff Requirements
Each staff member must meet the state's requirements for age, orientation and yearly training, and a director must hold the required qualifications. A citation often means training hours or proof of training were missing.
Ask on a tour: How many hours of training do your teachers complete each year, and what does it cover?
- Supervision and ratios483 daycares (22.5% of those visited)
Enough adults for the number of children
The state's rule: Ratios
Each room must have enough staff for the number and ages of the children in it. A citation means an inspector counted more children per adult than the rules allow.
Ask on a tour: How many adults and children are in my child's room at drop-off and at pick-up?
- Health, medication and illness417 daycares (19.4% of those visited)
Health records for staff
The state's rule: Staff Health
Staff need health records on file showing they are fit to work with children, kept current. A citation usually means a staff health record was missing or out of date.
Ask on a tour: Do all staff have current health records on file before they start working with children?
- Background checks255 daycares (11.9% of those visited)
Background checks for everyone hired
The state's rule: 63-13-40 Background checks for employment
State law requires criminal history and child abuse registry checks for daycare staff before they work with children. A citation means a check was missing, late or incomplete for someone on staff.
Ask on a tour: Has every staff member and volunteer cleared the South Carolina background check?
- Records and paperwork242 daycares (11.3% of those visited)
Complete records for every child
The state's rule: Child Records
Each child's file must hold enrollment forms, emergency contacts, health and immunization records and who may pick the child up. A citation means part of a child's file was missing or out of date.
Ask on a tour: How do you keep my emergency contacts and pick-up list current?
- Discipline and child guidance215 daycares (10% of those visited)
Kind, age-appropriate discipline
The state's rule: Discipline and Behavior Management
Staff must guide behavior calmly and may not use harsh or physical punishment or withhold food as a penalty. A citation means an inspector saw or learned of discipline the rules do not allow.
Ask on a tour: What do teachers do when a child hits, bites or will not listen?
- Safety and hazards207 daycares (9.6% of those visited)
Indoor rooms free of hazards
The state's rule: Indoor Space and Conditions - Environmental Hazards
Indoor space must be clean and safe, with cleaning products and medicines locked away, outlets covered and broken furniture removed. A citation means an inspector found a hazard within children's reach.
Ask on a tour: Where do you keep cleaning products and medicines, and can I see the rooms my child would use?
On the tour
What to ask when you visit
Direct supervision and ratios are what South Carolina cites at the most daycares, so start there. Ask how many adults and children are in your child's room, and watch how staff keep track of children while you are there, especially outside and at pick-up.
Then ask about staff training and background checks, and ask the director to talk you through anything on the daycare's state record.
The full tour checklist for South Carolina puts these questions on one printable page.
On each listing
How to read a daycare's record
Each South Carolina listing on DaycarePal shows the state's inspection visits for that daycare, with the rule areas cited and whether each one was corrected. The middle daycare had 1 cited rule over three years, and 95% of cited rules have a correction on record.
Look at what was cited and when. A paperwork citation fixed two years ago tells you less than a supervision or ratio citation at a recent visit, and the same rule cited visit after visit is worth a question. If something worries you, ask about it on the tour.
More detail: how to read a daycare inspection report. Find a daycare's record on its listing from daycares in South Carolina, or search the state's records.
Questions
Questions about South Carolina daycare inspections
How often are South Carolina daycares inspected?
South Carolina reported inspecting licensed centers once a year, without notice, in a 2017 national survey of state licensing agencies. Since October 2023, the state made 12,310 visits to the 2,150 daycares listed here, including follow-ups and complaint checks.
How do I look up a South Carolina daycare's inspection record?
Open the daycare's listing on DaycarePal and go to its inspection section, or search the South Carolina child care records by name or city.
What does a correction mean on a South Carolina record?
It means the daycare fixed the cited problem and the state recorded it. 95% of the rules cited since October 2023 have a correction on record.
Does a cited rule mean a daycare is unsafe?
No. A cited rule is one finding at one visit, and 61% of South Carolina daycares visited had at least one. Look at what was cited, how often and whether it was corrected.
Can I compare these numbers with another state's?
No. Each state writes and cites its own rules in its own way, so the numbers do not line up across state lines. Compare daycares within South Carolina instead.
Source: South Carolina Department of Social Services, Division of Early Care and Education, inspection records October 2023 to September 2026, for the daycares listed on DaycarePal. Inspection schedule: National Database of Child Care Licensing Regulations (ACF), from a 2017 survey of state licensing agencies.