Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77074
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton for 19 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 13 routine inspections and 3 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 7 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.1205 (2 times, most recently Sep 30, 2025).
The state lists Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton as serving toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 08:00 AM to 03:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: School Age Care, Meals Provided, Snacks Provided, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 19 violations at Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton, 7 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 | 7 | 37% |
| Medium High | 6 | 32% |
| Medium | 4 | 21% |
| Medium Low | 1 | 5% |
| Low | 1 | 5% |
Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton had 19 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 1.4 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-Gulfton in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.1205 High | 2 | 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: Sep 30, 2025 · first: May 14, 2024 |
| 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: May 6, 2025 · first: May 14, 2024 |
| 746.5617 High | 2 | 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: May 6, 2025 · first: May 14, 2024 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| 2025 | 5 | 7 | 9 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
16 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | Inspection | 491 | None |
| Dec 5, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 1 | None |
| Nov 10, 2025 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Oct 2, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Sep 30, 2025 | Investigation (self-report) | 1 | 1 |
| Jul 21, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| May 6, 2025 | Inspection | 840 | 8 |
| Jun 20, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| May 29, 2024 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| May 14, 2024 | Inspection | 366 | 9 |
| May 19, 2023 | Inspection | 346 | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 27, 2022 | Inspection | 426 | None |
| Apr 27, 2022 | Inspection | 2 | 1 |
| Apr 26, 2022 | Investigation (self-report) | 2 | None |
| Dec 15, 2021 | Inspection | 426 | None |
High · Sep 30, 2025 · Investigation (report)
Based on the information obtained, it was determined supervision was not maintained when a two-year-old child left the classroom.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
The operation does not have documentation showing the carbon monoxide detection system was tested.
In plain English: If the center uses electric or battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors, it must test them monthly, put in new batteries at least once a year, and record the dates and the name of the employee who did the work. If the detectors are tied into an alarm system, the monitoring company or fire marshal must test the system at least once a year, and the center must keep the latest report and make any fixes it calls for. Official rule text
Medium · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
Records were evaluated for eight children enrolled and the following was determined: Three children needed a statement of special needs. Two children needed an address for the emergency contact. One child needed emergency care information such as name, address, and phone number of the child's physician or emergency care facility. One child needed authorization for emergency medical treatment.
In plain English: The center must keep a record for each enrolled child, including the enrollment agreement, admission information, a health statement from a health-care professional, and immunization records, plus items such as sign-in and sign-out records and medication records when they apply. These records must be kept at the center, available during operating hours, generally until three months after the child's last day. Official rule text
Low · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
While evaluating eight personnel files, I observed several files missing signed and dated statement from the employee/trainer.
In plain English: The center must keep the original certificate or letter for each employee's annual training in the employee's file, showing the person's name, the date, topic, trainer and trainer's qualifications, and length. Pediatric first aid and CPR certificates must also show an expiration or renewal date, and orientation and pre-service training need a signed, dated statement from the employee and the trainer or a certificate. Official rule text
Medium High · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
The last gas leak inspection was conducted on 2/7/2023.
In plain English: A center that uses natural or LP gas must be inspected for gas leaks before its first permit and every two years after that, unless it is in a public school building run by the local school district. Official rule text
High · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
Emergency medical treatment information is needed for five children who are transported.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
During today's inspection I observed a bottle of medication stored on a counter that was accessible to children. Note: This was corrected during inspection.
Official text of rule 746.3807
Medium · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
The annual certification was last completed 01/22/2024 Note: This was corrected during inspection.
In plain English: The center must check the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall list and keep recalled children's products out of the center, except antiques or items being repaired that children cannot use or reach. Each year it must certify in writing on a state form that it has done this, and it must post a notice telling parents and staff how to find the recall list. Official rule text
Medium High · May 6, 2025 · Inspection
A parent signature is needed on one child's food allergy emergency plan.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
The food allergy emergency plan forms for 2 children with documented food allergies was not signed by the parent.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium Low · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Training certificates in the following topics were not available for review for 2 staff: Handling, Storing and Disposing of Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness
Official text of rule 746.1317
High · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Documentation showing the smoke detector and carbonoxide detectors have been tested within the last month was not available for review.
In plain English: The director or a designee must test all smoke detectors every month and record the date and the name of the employee who did the test. These records must be kept at the center for review during operating hours. Official rule text
High · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Observed a caregiver in the Three's classroom who had direct access to children in care. The caregivers background check is pending and the operation has not received an eligiblity notification from CBCU stating the caregiver can be present.
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 · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Multiple caregivers did not know the number of children they were responsible for during the inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
The operation did not have a thermometer in the first aid kit in van used to transport children. Note: The provider obtained an extra thermometer and placed it in the first aid kit in the van during the inspection.
In plain English: Each first-aid kit must hold a first-aid guide, adhesive tape, antiseptic, adhesive bandages, scissors, sterile gauze pads, a thermometer, tweezers, and waterproof disposable gloves. None of the supplies may be expired. Official rule text
High · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Authorization for emergency medical treatment for children was not observed in the vehicle used to transport children.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Nap mats were missing labels during the inspection.
In plain English: Each walking child through age four must have an individual waterproof or washable cot, bed, or mat to sleep or rest on, provided by the center or the parent. Each must be labeled with the child's name (or a number with an assignment map), and floor mats must be marked so the sleeping side can be told apart from the floor side. Official rule text
Medium High · May 14, 2024 · Inspection
Documentation stating a sanitation inspection is not required was not available for review during the inspection.
In plain English: The center must have a sanitation inspection by a local sanitation official before its first permit and at least once every 12 months, unless it is in a public school building run by the local school district. If no inspection is available, the center must get written proof of that from a sanitation official or county judge and keep it at the center. Official rule text
Medium High · Apr 27, 2022 · Inspection
There were 2 classrooms on the playground that did not have access to the tracking system for children in their care. Note: The Interim Director brought the sign in/out logs to the caregivers druing the inspection.
In plain English: The center must have a system that tracks each child's arrival and departure every day, with the child's name, the date and times, and the initials or unique code of the employee or parent. All caregivers must be able to use it to see which children are in care during their shift, at caregiver changes, and during an evacuation. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton:
More in ZIP 77074 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Small Steps Nurturing Center-Gulfton; 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).