Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77026
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward for 18 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 20 routine inspections and 5 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 10 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.1205 (4 times, most recently Apr 1, 2026).
The state lists Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward as serving toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 08:00 AM to 05:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: Accredited, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 18 violations at Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward, 10 fall under rules Texas weights High and 6 under Medium High; the state sets each rule’s weight by the risk a violation poses to children. How weights work
| Weight | Violations | Share |
|---|---|---|
| High | 10 | 56% |
| Medium High | 6 | 33% |
| Medium | 2 | 11% |
| Medium Low | 0 | 0% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward had 18 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 0.7 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
3 rules were cited more than once at Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.1205 High | 4 | Each caregiver must know which children they are responsible for, how many there are, and each child's name and age. The caregiver must stay close enough to see or hear what each child is doing, as the situation calls for, and be able to step in when needed. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 1, 2026 · first: Oct 12, 2023 |
| 746.5617 High | 3 | Each vehicle used to transport children must carry a list of the children on board, their emergency medical authorization forms, parent and emergency phone numbers, the center's name and phone number, a fire extinguisher approved by a fire marshal, and a first-aid kit. The driver must have a current driver's license. Official rule text Most recent: Aug 25, 2026 · first: Jan 6, 2022 |
| 746.3819 Medium High | 2 | For each child with a food allergy diagnosed by a health-care professional, the center must have a food allergy emergency plan signed and dated by the child's health-care professional and parent. A copy must be kept in the child's file. Official rule text Most recent: Aug 25, 2026 · first: Oct 22, 2025 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 2025 | 4 | 5 | 4 |
| 2026 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
25 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2026 | Inspection | 97 | None |
| Aug 31, 2026 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Inspection | 507 | 2 |
| May 20, 2026 | Inspection | 209 | 1 |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 1, 2026 | Investigation (self-report) | 3 | 1 |
| Dec 3, 2025 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 12, 2025 | Inspection | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Investigation (self-report) | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 22, 2025 | Inspection | 681 | 2 |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2024 | Inspection | 592 | 3 |
| Oct 16, 2024 | Inspection | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 14, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 1 | 1 |
| Aug 26, 2024 | Inspection | 3 | None |
| Dec 5, 2023 | Inspection | 641 | 1 |
| Nov 15, 2023 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 18, 2023 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 12, 2023 | Investigation (self-report) | 4 | 1 |
| Dec 8, 2022 | Inspection | 554 | None |
| Oct 28, 2022 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Oct 4, 2022 | Inspection | — | None |
| Sep 30, 2022 | Investigation (report) | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | Inspection | 740 | 2 |
One rule cited at Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward changed after some of these citations (marked “rule revised”), so the wording that applied at the time may differ from our plain-English explanation.
High · Aug 25, 2026 · Inspection
12 children transported were missing the Emergency Medical Authorization forms in the van.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Aug 25, 2026 · Inspection
2 children with a diagsnosed food allergy were missing medication that the health care provider says needs to be part of the plan.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 20, 2026 · Inspection
The policy on file that was documented on 10/16/24 had expired on 9/19/25. Note: this was corrected at inspection when the director entered the updated policy in the on line provider portal account.
In plain English: Unless it has an acceptable reason not to, the center must carry liability insurance of $300,000 per occurrence of negligence, covering injury to a child on its premises or in its care. It must send proof of coverage to the state each year by the anniversary of its permit. Official rule text
High · Apr 1, 2026 · Investigation (report)
A self-report by the operation was made that a child was left unsupervised in the hallway for a minute.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Nov 12, 2025 · Inspection
The operation did not complete an incident report or share the report with the parent within 48 hours of the incident.
In plain English: When the center fills out an incident or illness report for a child, it must give the parent a copy and get the parent's signature showing they reviewed or received it within 48 hours of the incident. Official rule text
High · Nov 10, 2025 · Investigation (report)
One child was left unsupervised in the classroom for several minutes.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 22, 2025 · Inspection
4 out of 6 children with diagnosed food allergies did not have a complete and current food allergy emergency plan. 1 kid is missing Benadryl, 2 kids had expired epi-pens, 1 kid missing medication and authorization form.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Oct 22, 2025 · Inspection
Two tv monitors in 2 classrooms were unfastended to the children's bookshelf, posing as a tipping hazard.
In plain English: All areas children can reach must be free of hazards. The rule lists examples such as childproof covers on outlets for children under five, heaters and fans mounted out of reach or guarded, poisonous plants kept out of reach, pools, buckets, and other water kept away from children, and TVs anchored so they cannot tip over. Official rule text
High · Nov 13, 2024 · Inspection
The transportation binder is missing Emergency medical transport and treatment authorization forms for 3 children being transported.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Nov 13, 2024 · Inspection
8 medications did not have the date received written on the container. Note; this was corrected at inspection when the director wrote on each medication the date it was received from the parent.
In plain English: Medication must be given as the label directs or as the child's health-care professional changes in writing, only to the child it is meant for, from the original container labeled with the child's full name and the date it was brought in, and never after it expires. Each dose must be recorded with the child's name, the medication, the date, time, and amount, and the employee's full name, and the records kept for at least three months. Official rule text
Medium High · Nov 13, 2024 · Inspection
The Emergency Prepardeness Plan is missing the address of the alternate shelter away from the center.
In plain English: The center's written emergency plan must explain how staff will evacuate, relocate, or shelter and lock down children, including children under 24 months and those who need extra help, and how every child will be accounted for. It must also cover how the center will contact authorities and parents, bring each child's emergency contacts and medical authorization, keep caring for children until they are picked up, and reunite them with parents. Official rule text
High · Oct 16, 2024 · Inspection
2 student volunteers, 1 caregiver and 1 contract vendor were with children without approved background checks.
In plain English: An operation must get notice from the state's background check unit that a person is eligible, eligible with conditions, or provisionally eligible with conditions before letting that person be at the operation. While waiting, the person may attend orientation or pre-service training only if they have no contact with children in care. Official rule text
High · Oct 14, 2024 · Investigation (report)
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 5, 2023 · Inspection
The director did not have current transportation training, the last training was taken in 2021.
In plain English: If the center transports children younger than nine (by age or development), each employee must complete two hours of transportation training each year before transporting a child, and the director must complete it too. These two hours are separate from orientation, pre-service, and annual training hours. Official rule text
High · Oct 12, 2023 · Investigation (report)
It was determined that a child was left alone for approximately five minutes.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Sep 30, 2022 · Investigation (report)
Caregivers left a child on the outside patio of the classroom.
In plain English: Caregivers must know and follow the state minimum standards and supervise children at all times. They must not be pulled away by tasks unrelated to caring for children, such as paperwork, janitorial work, or personal use of phones and other devices, and must pass along each child's information and parent instructions to the next shift. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023
High · Jan 6, 2022 · Inspection
During review of transportation the operation was found to not have emergency medical information on van used to transport children. This was corrected when the director updated the transportation binder.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Jan 6, 2022 · Inspection
During the walkthrough I observed four buckets of disinfectant wipes and spray bottles with cleaning solution in the reach of children. This was corrected when the director removed the buckets and placed the bottles out of reach.
In plain English: The center must clean, repair, and maintain its building, grounds, and equipment to protect children's health. This includes sanitizing toys that children put in their mouths, keeping garbage out of children's reach, keeping floors, walls, and ceilings clean and in good repair, and labeling cleaning supplies and storing them away from food and out of children's reach. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward:
More in ZIP 77026 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Small Steps Nurturing Center-5th Ward; it is not a rating, a recommendation, or a background check, and may not be used for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions.
Explanations follow the current rules (HHSC minimum standards, revised December 2025).