LIFE BYVardellChildcare
Report

TheVardellReport

Little Oaks Discovery School

Licensed child care center

12134 Bandera Rd
Helotes, TX 78023

Report Date
Nov 1, 2026
Data Through
Oct 31, 2026
Report ID
VR-TX-1802149-2611
← Little Oaks Discovery School, free profile

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The Vardell Report.Little Oaks Discovery School

The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.

Provider Category
Childcare
Location
Helotes, TX
Record Period
2024–2026
Source Documents
16
Read the report

This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.

01

The Essentials

Summary

Across 15 licensing visits from September 2024 to October 2026, HHSC cited 9 deficiencies at Little Oaks Discovery School; 9 have a recorded correction.

Visits
15
2024–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments
Deficiencies
9
Standards cited by HHSC inspectors
Corrected
9
Of 9 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date
Investigations
3
Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them

Deficiencies by Year

  • Deficiencies
  • Of which, high risk
2021: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020210 visits2022: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020220 visits2023: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020230 visits2024: 0 deficiencies across 2 visits020242 visits2025: 5 deficiencies across 5 visits; of which, high risk: 1520255 visits2026: 4 deficiencies across 8 visits42026*8 visits2021: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020210 visits2022: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020220 visits2023: 0 deficiencies across 0 visits020230 visits2024: 0 deficiencies across 2 visits020242 visits2025: 5 deficiencies across 5 visits; of which, high risk: 1520255 visits2026: 4 deficiencies across 8 visits42026*8 visits

* Partial year, through October 31, 2026.

Deficiencies by year
YearVisitsDeficienciesOf which, high risk
2021000
2022000
2023000
2024200
2025551
2026840

What the Record Shows

  • 9 of 9 deficiencies have a recorded correction date.
  • HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
  • 3 visits in this window included an investigation. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
  • The latest inspection, October 5, 2026, recorded 1 deficiency (most serious: Medium-high risk).
02

Chronology

Inspection History

Every visit in the record window, newest first. A deficiency is a licensing standard Texas inspectors found was not met. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.

  1. 2026

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.1601Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More ChildrenMedium-high riskCorrected Oct 5, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177592

  2. 2026

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Opened on a report the operation made itself.

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905246527

  3. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177591

  4. 2026

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.1601Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More ChildrenMedium-high riskCorrected Aug 28, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177590

  5. 2026

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.2909(1)Arrangement of Napping Equipment - Not Blocking Entrances or ExitsMedium-high riskCorrected Mar 11, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177589

  6. 2026

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177588

  7. 2026

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905246526

  8. 2026

    Assessment

    1 deficiency

    • 746.3407Maintenance of Building, Grounds and EquipmentMedium-high riskCorrected Feb 13, 2026

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905254958

  9. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177587

  10. 2025

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    • 746.3407Maintenance of Building, Grounds and EquipmentMedium-high riskCorrected Dec 31, 2025

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905246525

  11. 2025

    Inspection

    4 deficiencies

    • 746.4907(a)(2)Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Nine Inches if Equipment Greater Than 5 Ft.Medium-high riskCorrected Sep 16, 2025
    • 746.5101(a)Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 MonthsHigh riskCorrected Sep 16, 2025
    • 746.4907(a)(1)Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Six Inches if Equipment 5 Ft or LessMedium-high riskCorrected Sep 16, 2025
    • 746.5307(a)Inspect Fire Extinguishers MonthlyMedium-high riskCorrected Sep 2, 2025

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177586

  12. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177585

  13. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177584

  14. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177583

  15. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905177582

Texas gives every licensing standard one of five risk levels, from low to high, by how likely a deficiency is to harm a child.

03

Context

Patterns Worth Examining

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

  1. 1

    Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children, Cited in Two Visits

    HHSC inspectors cited 746.1601 in August 2026 and October 2026. The agency describes it this way: Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children. None rose above medium-high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

    242425252525252626262626262626746.1601 across all 15 visits, oldest to newest
  2. 2

    Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment, Cited in Two Visits

    HHSC inspectors cited 746.3407 in November 2025 and January 2026. The agency describes it this way: Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment. None rose above medium-high risk. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.

    242425252525252626262626262626746.3407 across all 15 visits, oldest to newest
04

For Your Next Visit

Questions to Ask on Your Visit

Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.

  1. 01

    What changed after 746.1601 was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Child/ Caregiver Ratio - 13 or More Children: cited in two visits, most seriously at medium-high risk.

  2. 02

    What changed after 746.3407 was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment: cited in two visits, most seriously at medium-high risk.

  3. 03

    What is the ratio in the room my child would join, and how is every child accounted for at nap time, pickup and on the playground?

    Ratios change through the day, so they are worth counting yourself on a visit.

  4. 04

    Has the center ever been under corrective or adverse action, and what changed afterward?

    HHSC’s files name no enforcement action in this window. They say whether a program is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.

05

The Evidence

Sources and Coverage

Program details, licensing visits and the deficiencies cited at each are published by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Child Care Regulation in its daily files on data.texas.gov.

  • Child Care Licensing operations (data.texas.gov)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 1802149

    Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177582

    Visit Sep 10, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177583

    Visit Nov 20, 2024 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177584

    Visit Jan 10, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177585

    Visit Feb 20, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177586

    Visit Sep 2, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905246525

    Visit Nov 18, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177587

    Visit Nov 20, 2025 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905254958

    Visit Jan 30, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905246526

    Visit Feb 27, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177588

    Visit Mar 2, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177589

    Visit Mar 11, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177590

    Visit Aug 28, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177591

    Visit Sep 4, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905246527

    Visit Oct 2, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x)

    Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation · 905177592

    Visit Oct 5, 2026 · Published Oct 31, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗

Coverage

Record windowNovember 1, 2021 – October 31, 2026

  • This record is HHSC's list of operations as of October 2026, with the inspections, investigations and assessments in HHSC's files, which run from November 2021.
  • Listed family homes (one caregiver with up to three unrelated children, listed with HHSC but not inspected on a schedule) are not in this record.
  • HHSC's narrative for each deficiency is left out because it can name children, parents and staff; the rule cited, its risk level and the correction dates are kept.

What This Report Cannot Tell You

Inspector narratives
Published by HHSC but left out of this record because they can name people.
Enforcement actions
HHSC's files say whether an operation is under corrective or adverse action, not what the action was.
Complaints not investigated
Reports HHSC screened out without an investigation are not published.
Staff qualifications and turnover
Not part of the published licensing record.

Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.

Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.