Kimberly Ratchford's Family Day Care Home
Charlotte, NC 28216 · infants to school-age · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families
The Growing Years Discovery
- licensed capacity
- 174
- open each week
- 5 days
- a week, county median
- $284
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About
About The Growing Years Discovery
The Growing Years Discovery is a licensed child care center in Charlotte, North Carolina. It is licensed by the state, for up to 174 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
It is open Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education made 15 visits in the last 3 years and cited 52 rules across 8 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidy
Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
6 wk
6 mo
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
12 yr
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
- Type
- Child care center
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- Hours today
- Closed today
- Licensed capacity
- 174 children
Hours
Hours
| Monday | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Thursday | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Friday | 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM |
| Saturday | Not listed |
| SundayToday | Not listed |
Programs
Programs and care
| Ages | Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license |
|---|---|
| Child care subsidy | Accepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license |
| Licensed capacity | 174 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
Tuition and costs
The Growing Years Discovery has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Mecklenburg County has a median price of $284 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).
Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Infant
Center$284
Home daycare$189
Toddler
Center$251
Home daycare$180
Preschool
Center$171
Home daycare$180
School age
Center$90
Home daycare$100
State record
Inspection reports for The Growing Years Discovery
License
- Status
- Licensed and operating
- License type
- Five Star Center License
- Capacity
- 174 children
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- License number
- #60004084
Summary
15 visits in the last 3 years · Last visit Jul 20, 2026: no rules cited
Rules cited on 9 of 15 visits · 52 rules in all · 52 corrected
- Records and paperwork 11
- Health, medication and illness 9
- Staff training and qualifications 7
- Building, equipment and play areas 6
- Transportation 5
- Food and nutrition 4
- Discipline and child guidance 4
- Safe sleep 3
- Safety and hazards 3
For comparison: 92% of North Carolina daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8.
A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record
See all 16 visits
- Jul 20, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
May 11, 2026Inspection2 rules cited
Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy.
Corrected during the visit
Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible.
Corrected during the visit
May 11, 2026Inspection2 rules cited
Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy.
Corrected during the visit
Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible.
Corrected during the visit
- Jan 29, 2026InspectionNo rules cited
Dec 9, 2025Inspection20 rules cited
The depth of the loose surfacing was not based on critical height of the equipment.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
Signage was not posted regarding the smoking and tobacco restriction at the entrance of the center and/or in vehicles used to transport children.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
The medical action plan was not updated on an annual basis or when changes to the plan were made by the child's parent or health care professional.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
Application for enrollment did not include all required information.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
Each employee's personnel file did not contain an annual staff evaluation and a staff development plan.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
For routine transport of children to and from the center, a list of all children being transported was not available at the center.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
For routine transport of children to and from the center, staff did not use the list to document attendance as children boarded and departed the vehicle.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
Before children were transported, written permission from a parent was not obtained that included when and where the child was to be transported, expected time of departure and arrival, and the transportation provider.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
Emergency and identifying information, including the child's name, photograph, emergency contact information and/or a copy of the emergency medical care information form was not in the vehicle for each child being transported.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
All vehicles used to transport children were not free of hazards.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care. Verification of staff completion of the CPR course from an approved training organization was not in the staff file.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care. Verification of staff completion of First Aid training from an approved training organization was not in the staff file.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
Application for employment and date of birth was not on file for all staff.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.
Corrected during the visit
Safe pick-up and delivery procedures were not communicated to parents and/or were not posted where they can be seen by the parents.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
Openings in equipment, steps, decks, handrails, and fencing were not less than 3 1/2 inches or greater than 9 inches.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
Equipment and furnishings were not sturdy, stable and free of hazards.
Corrected during the visit
All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair.
The state verified the correction on Jan 15, 2026
Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
When children 3 years and older were in care, screen time was not used to stimulate a developmental domain; was not limited to 30 minutes a day and no more than a total of two and a half hours per week, per child; and/or was not documented on a cumulative log or the activity plan that is available for review.
The state verified the correction on Dec 18, 2025
May 30, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
Center did not maintain a record of daily attendance, Attendance was not posted or captured on the posted sheet, however it was stated that attendance is captured in ProCare and on paper.
Corrected during the visit
Bed, cribs, playpens, cots or mats were not placed at least 18" apart or separated by partitions when in use.
Corrected during the visit
Feb 20, 2025Inspection1 rule cited
Incident logs were not completed and maintained as required.
The state verified the correction on Mar 6, 2025
- Dec 13, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
- Dec 13, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
Dec 10, 2024Inspection15 rules cited
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.
The state verified the correction on Dec 20, 2024
Each staff member did not have the required medical report, proof of tuberculosis test or screening and/or completed health questionnaire in a medical file, maintained separately from the staff member's individual personnel file.
Corrected during the visit
Signage was not posted regarding the smoking and tobacco restriction at the entrance of the center and/or in vehicles used to transport children.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Shelter-in-place or lockdown drills were not practiced every three months and/or drill record was incomplete.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Application for enrollment did not include all required information.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily.
Corrected during the visit
Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.
Corrected during the visit
Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.
Corrected during the visit
Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child.
Corrected during the visit
Menus for all meals and snacks were not current or posted where easily seen by parents and cook.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.
Corrected during the visit
Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division.
The state verified the correction on Dec 13, 2024
Show 6 earlier visits
Apr 16, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care.
Corrected during the visit
Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs.
The state verified the correction on Apr 30, 2024
Apr 16, 2024Inspection2 rules cited
Staff did not model appropriate eating behaviors by consuming food or beverages that meet the nutritional requirements specified in the Meal Patterns for Children in Child Care Programs in the presence of children in care.
Corrected during the visit
Each child was not attended to in a nurturing and appropriate manner, or in keeping with the child's developmental needs.
The state verified the correction on Apr 30, 2024
- Jan 17, 2024InspectionNo rules cited
Dec 12, 2023Inspection10 rules cited
The child care administrator and all staff did not complete the Recognizing and Responding to Suspicions of Child Maltreatment training within 90 days of employment.
The state verified the correction on Dec 22, 2023
Application did not have a medical action plan attached for any child with health care needs such as allergies, asthma, or other chronic conditions that require specialized health services.
Corrected during the visit
Staff required to receive on-going training had not completed the required number of hours according to their education and experience.
The state verified the correction on Dec 22, 2023
All staff did not successfully complete certification in CPR training appropriate to the age of the children in care.
The state verified the correction on Jan 17, 2024
All staff did not successfully complete certification in First Aid appropriate to the age of children in care.
The state verified the correction on Dec 22, 2023
Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age.
Corrected during the visit
Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization.
The state verified the correction on Dec 22, 2023
Parent's medication authorization did not include required information.
Corrected during the visit
Equipment and furnishings not meeting the requirements outlined in child care .0601(b) and (c) were not removed or made inaccessible.
The state verified the correction on Dec 22, 2023
A current activity plan was not posted for each group of children for reference.
Corrected during the visit
- Dec 11, 2023InspectionNo rules cited
- Nov 1, 2023InspectionNo rules cited
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FAQ
Questions about The Growing Years Discovery
Is The Growing Years Discovery licensed?
Yes. The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education lists it as licensed and operating.
When was The Growing Years Discovery last inspected?
The North Carolina Division of Child Development and Early Education lists the most recent visit on July 20, 2026, with no rules cited. It lists 15 visits in the last 3 years.
Has The Growing Years Discovery had rules cited by the state?
Yes. Inspectors cited 52 rules across 9 of 15 visits in the last 3 years; 52 show a correction in the state record. For comparison: 92% of North Carolina daycares had at least one rule cited in the last 3 years; the typical daycare had 8. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
How many children can The Growing Years Discovery care for?
174, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Does The Growing Years Discovery accept child care subsidies?
Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.
What are The Growing Years Discovery's hours?
Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Holiday hours can differ.
How much does The Growing Years Discovery cost?
It has not listed its tuition. Call (704) 399-5077 to ask.
What is The Growing Years Discovery's phone number?
(704) 399-5077.
Where is The Growing Years Discovery?
8425 Discovery Ln, Charlotte, NC 28216. The nearest other daycare we list is Mountain Island Lake Academy Asep, 0.2 miles away.