LIFE BYVardellChildcare
Report

TheVardellReport

Small Steps Learning Academy

Licensed child care center

2305 Kingston Dr
Longview, TX 75604

Report Date
Nov 1, 2026
Data Through
Oct 31, 2026
Report ID
VR-TX-1701741-2611
← Small Steps Learning Academy, free profile

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The Vardell Report.Small Steps Learning Academy

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

Provider Category
Childcare
Location
Longview, TX
Record Period
2021–2026
Source Documents
26
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 25 licensing visits from December 2021 to September 2026, HHSC cited 4 deficiencies at Small Steps Learning Academy; 4 have a recorded correction.

Visits
25
2021–2026, inspections, investigations and assessments
Deficiencies
4
Standards cited by HHSC inspectors
Corrected
4
Of 4 deficiencies, with a recorded correction date
Investigations
9
Licensing investigations, whatever prompted them

Deficiencies by Year

  • Deficiencies
  • Of which, high risk
2021: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020211 visit2022: 0 deficiencies across 3 visits020223 visits2023: 1 deficiency across 11 visits1202311 visits2024: 2 deficiencies across 6 visits; of which, high risk: 1220246 visits2025: 1 deficiency across 3 visits120253 visits2026: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit02026*1 visit2021: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit020211 visit2022: 0 deficiencies across 3 visits020223 visits2023: 1 deficiency across 11 visits1202311 visits2024: 2 deficiencies across 6 visits; of which, high risk: 1220246 visits2025: 1 deficiency across 3 visits120253 visits2026: 0 deficiencies across 1 visit02026*1 visit

* Partial year, through October 31, 2026.

Deficiencies by year
YearVisitsDeficienciesOf which, high risk
2021100
2022300
20231110
2024621
2025310
2026100

What the Record Shows

  • 4 of 4 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.
  • 9 visits in this window included an investigation. HHSC publishes what an investigation cited, not what the report to it alleged.
  • The latest inspection, September 10, 2026, recorded no deficiencies.
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

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132070

  2. 2025

    Inspection

    1 deficiency

    • 746.4907(a)(1)Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Six Inches if Equipment 5 Ft or LessMedium-high riskCorrected Oct 10, 2025

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132069

  3. 2025

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132068

  4. 2025

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231550

  5. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132067

  6. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132066

  7. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132065

  8. 2024

    Investigation

    2 deficiencies

    • 746.3003Field Trips - Notification to ParentsMedium-high riskCorrected Aug 5, 2024
    • 746.2805(3)Prohibited Punishments - Grabbing and PullingHigh riskCorrected Aug 5, 2024

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231549

  9. 2024

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132064

  10. 2024

    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), 905231548

  11. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132063

  12. 2023

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231547

  13. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132062

  14. 2023

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231546

  15. 2023

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231545

  16. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132061

  17. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132060

  18. 2023

    Investigation

    1 deficiency

    • 746.2803(3)Discipline - Teaches Acceptable Behavior and Self-controlMedium-high riskCorrected Jun 2, 2023

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231544

  19. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132059

  20. 2023

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231543

  21. 2023

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132058

  22. 2022

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132057

  23. 2022

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132056

  24. 2022

    Investigation

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905231542

  25. 2021

    Inspection

    No deficiencies

    Source: Inspection, investigation or assessment, with the deficiencies cited (data.texas.gov: m5q4-3y3d and tqgd-mf4x), 905132055

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.

No citation repeats across the 25 visits in this window, and no deficiency is waiting on a verified correction. That is what the record shows; it is not a judgment of care. The questions that follow still apply.

    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 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.

    2. 02

      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 · 1701741

      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 · 905132055

      Visit Dec 2, 2021 · 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 · 905231542

      Visit Jun 2, 2022 · 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 · 905132056

      Visit Jun 7, 2022 · 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 · 905132057

      Visit Nov 29, 2022 · 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 · 905132058

      Visit Feb 15, 2023 · 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 · 905231543

      Visit Feb 28, 2023 · 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 · 905132059

      Visit Mar 3, 2023 · 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 · 905231544

      Visit May 18, 2023 · 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 · 905132060

      Visit May 22, 2023 · 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 · 905132061

      Visit Jun 7, 2023 · 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 · 905231545

      Visit Jul 27, 2023 · 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 · 905231546

      Visit Aug 31, 2023 · 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 · 905132062

      Visit Sep 1, 2023 · 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 · 905231547

      Visit Sep 8, 2023 · 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 · 905132063

      Visit Nov 9, 2023 · 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 · 905231548

      Visit Jun 13, 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 · 905132064

      Visit Jun 17, 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 · 905231549

      Visit Jul 19, 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 · 905132065

      Visit Jul 22, 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 · 905132066

      Visit Aug 14, 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 · 905132067

      Visit Oct 24, 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 · 905231550

      Visit Apr 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 · 905132068

      Visit Apr 14, 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 · 905132069

      Visit Sep 19, 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 · 905132070

      Visit Sep 10, 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.