Licensed Child Care Center · Houston, TX 77080
Between Oct 20, 2021 and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Spring Branch KinderCare for 50 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 27 routine inspections and 13 other visits (investigations or paperwork reviews); 11 were under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 746.605 (7 times, most recently Apr 2, 2026).
The state lists Spring Branch KinderCare as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 06:00 AM to 06:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri). Programs on file: School Age Care, Before School Care, Accredited, Meals Provided, After School Care, Snacks Provided, Drop-In Care, Part Time Care, Transportation to/from School, Field Trips. Program type: Child Care Program.
Of the 50 violations at Spring Branch KinderCare, 11 fall under rules Texas weights High and 22 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 | 11 | 22% |
| Medium High | 22 | 44% |
| Medium | 13 | 26% |
| Medium Low | 2 | 4% |
| Low | 2 | 4% |
Spring Branch KinderCare had 50 violations in five years, more than the median of 11 across Houston’s 923 licensed child care centers, and 1.3 per routine inspection against a median of 1.0 — a count of state records, not a rating.
13 rules were cited more than once at Spring Branch KinderCare in the last five years.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 746.605 Medium High | 7 | Before admitting a child, the center must collect set information, including the child's name and birth date, how to reach the parents, an emergency contact for when parents can't be reached, the people allowed to pick up the child, and permission to get emergency medical care. It must also record the child's special care needs, any allergies with a food allergy emergency plan if needed, and permission for transportation, field trips, or water activities if the center offers them. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 2, 2026 · first: Dec 3, 2025 |
| 746.3407 Medium High | 4 | 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 Most recent: Jun 8, 2026 · first: Jan 12, 2023 |
| 746.1315 Medium High | 3 | Each caregiver and the center director must hold a current certificate in pediatric first aid (including rescue breathing and choking) and in pediatric CPR. A new caregiver may work with children before getting the CPR certificate, but at least one employee or caregiver with a current pediatric CPR certificate must be on the premises whenever children are in care. Official rule text Most recent: Jan 15, 2026 · first: Jan 12, 2023 |
| 746.305 High | 3 | The center must tell the state licensing office as soon as possible, and within two days, about events such as a child injury that needs medical treatment or hospitalization, an illness that needs hospitalization, a reportable disease, the arrest or criminal charge of a person who needs a background check, or any unusual situation that puts a child at risk, such as a child left in a vehicle or wandering off. A child's death in care must be reported immediately. Official rule text Most recent: Oct 27, 2025 · first: Apr 10, 2024 |
| 746.1601 Medium High | 3 | In centers licensed for 13 or more children, one caregiver may supervise at most 4 infants under 12 months, 5 children 12 to 17 months, 9 children 18 to 23 months, 11 two-year-olds, 15 three-year-olds, 18 four-year-olds, 22 five-year-olds, or 26 children ages 6 to 13. The limit is based on the group's specified age as the rules define it. Official rule text (single-rule page) Most recent: Feb 6, 2025 · first: Apr 10, 2024 |
| 746.2421 Medium | 3 | For an infant who is not yet eating table food, the center must get written feeding instructions signed and dated by a parent or health-care professional, and must follow them. The center must review and update the instructions with the parent every 30 days until the infant can eat table food. Official rule text Most recent: Dec 19, 2024 · first: Jan 28, 2022 |
| 746.1105 Low | 2 | Each center employee must meet the background check rules, have a current tuberculosis exam record if the health department requires it, and complete two state affidavit forms (a notarized Form 2985 and Form 2912) before being hired. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 2, 2026 · first: Apr 2, 2026 |
| 746.909 Medium | 2 | Access to Personnel Records Most recent: Apr 2, 2026 · first: Dec 3, 2025 |
| 745.641 High | 2 | 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 Most recent: Jan 15, 2026 · first: Oct 6, 2022 |
| 746.1311 Medium | 2 | A center director must complete 30 hours of training each year that fits the ages of the children served, including at least six hours on topics such as child development or guidance and discipline, at least one hour on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect, and three to six hours on management or staff supervision depending on experience. At least six of the hours must be instructor-led. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023 Most recent: Dec 19, 2024 · first: Jan 12, 2023 |
| 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: May 24, 2024 · first: Apr 17, 2024 |
| 746.2805 High | 2 | No child may be treated in a harsh, cruel, or unusual way. Banned methods include physical punishment or threats of it, punishment tied to food, naps, or toilet training, grabbing or pulling a child, yelling at or humiliating a child, and putting a child in a locked or dark room. Official rule text Most recent: Apr 10, 2024 · first: Mar 21, 2024 |
| 746.3505 Medium High | 2 | Caregivers must wash their own hands, wash the child's hands after each diaper change, throw away disposable gloves after each change, and sanitize the changing surface after each use (or use a disposable paper liner between back-to-back changes). Soiled diapers must go in covered or sealed containers, soiled clothing must go home in a sealed plastic bag, and caregivers with open wounds or casts or bandages that get in the way of handwashing may not change diapers. Official rule text Most recent: Jun 6, 2023 · first: Jun 6, 2023 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Oct 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 6 | 9 | 5 |
| 2023 | 5 | 8 | 10 |
| 2024 | 6 | 10 | 11 |
| 2025 | 4 | 6 | 13 |
| 2026 | 6 | 7 | 11 |
40 visits on record since Oct 20, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 8, 2026 | Inspection | 176 | 1 |
| May 6, 2026 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Apr 2, 2026 | Inspection | 376 | 5 |
| Feb 20, 2026 | Inspection | — | None |
| Feb 12, 2026 | Investigation (report) | 2 | Pending with the state |
| Jan 29, 2026 | Inspection | 2 | None |
| Jan 15, 2026 | Inspection | 6 | 5 |
| Dec 3, 2025 | Inspection | 836 | 7 |
| Oct 30, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 27, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 5 | 3 |
| Mar 20, 2025 | Inspection | 5 | None |
| Feb 10, 2025 | Inspection | — | None |
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 6, 2025 | Investigation (report) | 4 | 3 |
| Dec 19, 2024 | Inspection | 430 | 3 |
| Jun 13, 2024 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| May 24, 2024 | Inspection | 3 | 1 |
| May 14, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 19, 2024 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 17, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 3 | 3 |
| Apr 10, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 4 | 3 |
| Mar 21, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 3 | 1 |
| Feb 26, 2024 | Inspection | 3 | None |
| Feb 19, 2024 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Dec 29, 2023 | Inspection | 584 | 1 |
| Nov 7, 2023 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 23, 2023 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Oct 12, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 4 | 1 |
| Sep 12, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 1 | None |
| Jun 6, 2023 | Inspection | 79 | 2 |
| Apr 12, 2023 | Investigation (report) | 3 | 1 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | Inspection | 617 | 5 |
| Dec 12, 2022 | Inspection | — | None |
| Oct 20, 2022 | Inspection | 1 | None |
| Oct 6, 2022 | Inspection | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 24, 2022 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Jun 7, 2022 | Inspection | 1 | 1 |
| May 31, 2022 | Investigation (report) | 1 | None |
| May 2, 2022 | Inspection | — | None |
| Apr 22, 2022 | Investigation (report) | 2 | None |
| Jan 28, 2022 | Inspection | 568 | 2 |
“Pending”: the state has not posted the outcome.
2 rules cited at Spring Branch KinderCare changed after some of these citations (marked “rule revised”), so the wording that applied at the time may differ from our plain-English explanation.
Medium High · Jun 8, 2026 · Inspection
An observed classroom that children have access to has missing floor tiles. This was corrected during the inspection when the director placed a rug over the area with the missing tiles. A request has also been submitted for the new floor tiles.
Plain-English explanation above
Low · Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection
One of the caregiver files did not have a notarized affidavit form.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection
Two of the reviewed children files did not have the updated immunization records.
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
Medium Low · Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection
Three of the children's files did not have the date of admission. This standard was corrected during the inspection when the operation provided the date of admission.
Plain-English explanation above
Low · Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection
A caregiver file did not have a completed pre- employment affidavit.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Apr 2, 2026 · Inspection
Two affidavit forms and a hands on CPR training certificate was not available for review during the inspection.
Medium High · Jan 15, 2026 · Inspection
A child on the allergy list does not have a food allergy plan completed.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 15, 2026 · Inspection
A reviewed child's file did not have the completed water activity permission.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Jan 15, 2026 · Inspection
A caregiver was present in the classroom with a pending background check. This was corrected when the caregiver was removed from the classroom.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 15, 2026 · Inspection
The operation was not able to provide the certificate of completion including all of the requirements such as the trainer's qualifications.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 15, 2026 · Inspection
There is a drain cover with a large hole torn in it.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
During an inspection, Child Care Regulation (CCR) did not have access to review personnel files at the operation to ensure that 5 of 8 staff had required annual training and to ensure that 3 of 4 staff had required transportation training.
Medium High · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
Two children with known food allergies did not have completed food allergy plans or required medication.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
A reviewed child's file did not have the completed water activity permission.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
A reviewed school age child's file did not have transportation permission completed.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
Three of the caregivers had cpr trainings that expired on 6.25, 8.25, and 1.25.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
There was a large hole that could cause a tripping hazard in the outdoor playground area. There is also a drain cover with a large hole torn in it.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Dec 3, 2025 · Inspection
Three of the reviewed school age children files did not have the school information.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Oct 27, 2025 · Investigation (report)
A caregiver did not demonstrate good judgment when leaving a child alone in the front foyer for a few seconds the child had access to the front door and an open parking lot.
In plain English: Every center employee, including staff not counted in the child-to-caregiver ratio, must show competency, good judgment, and self-control around children and treat them with courtesy, respect, and patience. Employees must make sure no child is abused, neglected, or exploited in care, and must report suspected abuse or neglect to the state. Official rule text
Medium · Oct 27, 2025 · Investigation (report)
The operation did not provide an incident report for a child that was placed at risk.
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 · Oct 27, 2025 · Investigation (report)
The operation did not make a report when a child was left alone for a few seconds in the front foyer of the operation.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Feb 6, 2025 · Investigation (report)
The director failed to actively monitor and maintain the operations adherence to all necessary regulations and safety standards set by the relevant licensing body, in the area of ratio and staffing.
In plain English: The director must make sure the center's daily operation and all employees follow the minimum standards, that staff assignments match their skills and training, and that employees are supervised. Caregivers may not be regularly scheduled for more than ten hours of direct child care in a 24-hour period, and qualified substitutes must be called in when needed to meet the standards. Official rule text
Medium High · Feb 6, 2025 · Investigation (report)
The operations classrooms have been out of ratio.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Feb 6, 2025 · Investigation (report)
The operation had a mixed age group classroom with infants and school age children in the same classroom.
In plain English: In a center with 13 or more children in care, infants may be grouped with older children only if the oldest child in the group is no more than 18 months older than the youngest. Centers with 12 or fewer children in care may combine ages under a separate rule. Official rule text
Medium · Dec 19, 2024 · Inspection
The director did not have all of the required annual training topics.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Dec 19, 2024 · Inspection
5 out of 9 caregivers did not have all of the required annual training topics.
In plain English: A caregiver's 24 hours of yearly training must fit the ages of the children in their care and cover set topics, including at least six hours on areas such as child development or guidance and discipline, and at least one hour on preventing, recognizing, and reporting child abuse and neglect. At least five of the hours must be instructor-led, and caregivers of children under 24 months must also have one hour on shaken baby syndrome, infant sleep practices and SIDS, and early brain development. Official rule text
Medium · Dec 19, 2024 · Inspection
One infant classroom is not updating the infant feeding instructions every 30 days as required.
Plain-English explanation above
High · May 24, 2024 · Inspection
The caregiver could not visually see all of the children on the playground at her post.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Apr 17, 2024 · Investigation (report)
The operation failed to notify Licensing that a child was left on a playground without their caregiver.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 17, 2024 · Investigation (report)
The operations classrooms are out of ratio at times.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Apr 17, 2024 · Investigation (report)
A child was unsupervised for approximately 7-8 minutes after being left on the playground without the caregiver’s knowledge.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 10, 2024 · Investigation (report)
The operations classrooms are out of ratio at times.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Apr 10, 2024 · Investigation (report)
The operation failed to notify Licensing of a situation that placed a child in harm's way.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Apr 10, 2024 · Investigation (report)
A caregiver was observed hitting a child on her buttocks.
Plain-English explanation above
High · Mar 21, 2024 · Investigation (report)
A caregiver disciplined children by use of corporal punishment. A caregiver threatened to withhold active play, use of a belt and to take a child to the restroom to address discipline.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium · Dec 29, 2023 · Inspection
The two infant classrooms are not updating the infant feeding instructions as required.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium Low · Oct 12, 2023 · Investigation (report)
The operation could not provide a child's full record upon request.
Medium High · Jun 6, 2023 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed that the child did not wash their hands after a diaper change. Corrected: The child was instructed to wash her hands.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 6, 2023 · Inspection
During the inspection I observed that the caregiver did not conduct handwashing between diaper changes. Corrected: The caregiver washed her hands after changing the diaper.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Apr 12, 2023 · Investigation (report)
The times of the diaper changes and feeding times were not accurately documented on infant daily reports.
In plain English: By the time an infant is picked up, the center must give the parent a written or electronic report for the day showing when the infant slept, when and how much the infant ate, when diapers were changed, the infant's general mood, and a short summary of activities. Official rule text
Medium High · Jan 12, 2023 · Inspection
The walls in the infant, toddler, and school age classrooms were chipped in multiple areas.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 12, 2023 · Inspection
One out of eight caregivers did not have documentation showing the written and hands on portion of the CPR certification was completed.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jan 12, 2023 · Inspection
Two out of ten children records evaluated were missing current immunization records on file for review.
In plain English: Each child from birth through age 14 must meet and keep meeting the state health department's immunization requirements, and the center must keep current immunization records, including any exemptions or exceptions. Required immunizations must be complete by the admission date, unless an exemption is verified by then or a homeless or foster child is admitted provisionally for up to 30 days. Official rule text
Medium · Jan 12, 2023 · Inspection
The director has completed twenty one out of thirty hours of annual training for the last annual training year.
Plain-English explanation above · rule revised March 2023
Medium · Jan 12, 2023 · Inspection
The cots in the preschool and pre-k classrooms were not labeled.
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 · Oct 6, 2022 · Inspection
Children were observed climbing on top of the tables during the walk through and there was no activity schedule posted in 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 · Oct 6, 2022 · Inspection
A caregiver was observed with direct access to 11 children in a classroom during the inspection. The operation has not obtained an eligibility notification from CBCU. Note: The caregiver left the classroom during the inspection. It was discussed that until the background check results come back from CBCU caregivers cannot have direct access to children.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Jun 7, 2022 · Inspection
The operation has not had an annual fire marshal inspection conducted since April of 2020.
In plain English: The center must have a fire inspection by a state or local fire marshal before its first permit is issued and at least once every 12 months. Centers in public school buildings run by the local school district are exempt, and if no inspection is available the center must get written proof of that from a fire marshal or county judge. Official rule text
Medium High · Jan 28, 2022 · Inspection
The operation didn't have documentation of their most recent fire inspection.
In plain English: When a fire inspection is required, the center must keep a copy of the most recent fire inspection report, letter, or checklist at the center during operating hours. The report must show the inspection date and findings and include the inspector's name and phone number. Official rule text
Medium · Jan 28, 2022 · Inspection
In infant A classroom five infants and in infant B three infants didn't have an updated feeding instruction form on file. The feed instruction forms were from December of 2021.
Plain-English explanation above
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Spring Branch KinderCare:
More in ZIP 77080 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Spring Branch KinderCare; 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).