Registered Child Care Home · Houston, TX 77082
Between Nov 18, 2021 (the first state visit on record) and Oct 20, 2026, the state cited Va Lau for 11 deficiencies — the Texas HHSC term for rule violations — over 3 routine inspections; 1 was under rules the state weights High. The rule cited most often here is 747.605 (2 times, most recently Dec 12, 2024).
The state lists Va Lau as serving infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, and school-age children, open 08:00 AM to 07:00 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun). Programs on file: Weekend Care.
Registered child care homes in Texas care for up to 6 children in the caregiver’s own residence, plus up to 6 more school-age children after school (12 at most). They follow the Minimum Standards in Chapter 747 and get an unannounced state inspection at least once every two years. The state lists Va Lau with a capacity of 12.
Of the 11 violations at Va Lau, 1 falls under rules Texas weights High and 7 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 | 1 | 9% |
| Medium High | 7 | 64% |
| Medium | 2 | 18% |
| Medium Low | 1 | 9% |
| Low | 0 | 0% |
Va Lau had 11 violations since Nov 18, 2021, a shorter record than most, more than the five-year median of 6 across Houston’s 355 registered child care homes, and 3.7 per routine inspection against a median of 2.2 — a count of state records, not a rating.
1 rule was cited more than once at Va Lau since Nov 18, 2021.
| Rule | Times | What the rule covers |
|---|---|---|
| 747.605 Medium High | 2 | Before admitting a child, the home 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 home offers them. Official rule text Most recent: Dec 12, 2024 · first: Dec 12, 2024 |
| Year | Routine inspections | All state visits | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 (from Nov 18) | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 visits on record since Nov 18, 2021, newest first, including visits that found nothing.
| Date | Type | Rules checked | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 12, 2024 | Inspection | 1061 | 2 |
| Dec 6, 2022 | Inspection | 972 | 3 |
| Nov 18, 2021 | Inspection | 969 | 6 |
3 rules cited at Va Lau 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 Low · Dec 12, 2024 · Inspection
One out of four records did not have date of admission. This was corrected during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 12, 2024 · Inspection
One out of four records did not have any school age information. This was corrected during inspection.
Plain-English explanation above
Medium High · Dec 6, 2022 · Inspection
Fire extinguisher was not mounted put placed on top of the fire place.
In plain English: Fire extinguishers must be mounted on the wall with a hanger or bracket, with the top no higher than five feet and the bottom at least four inches above the floor, unless the fire marshal or manufacturer gives different instructions. They must be readily available for immediate use by household members and caregivers. Official rule text
Medium · Dec 6, 2022 · Inspection
One out of four records checked did not have completed enrollment information.
In plain English: The child-care home 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 medication records when they apply. These records must be kept at the home, available during operating hours, generally until three months after the child's last day. Official rule text
Medium High · Dec 6, 2022 · Inspection
Licensing did not observe any documentation of monthly fire drill.
In plain English: The child-care home must hold a fire drill every month, and the children must be able to get out of the home within three minutes. It must also hold a severe-weather sheltering drill and a lock-down drill at least four times a year each. Official rule text
Medium High · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
Emergency evacuation diagram not available at time of inspection.
Official text of rule 747.5007
High · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
No emergency preparedness plan was available at time of inspection.
In plain English: The child-care home must have written policies on set topics, including how children are released, illness and exclusion, medication, medical emergencies, discipline, infant sleep, physical activity, parent rights, and its emergency plan. The policies must also tell parents how to find the state minimum standards, the Texas Abuse and Neglect Hotline, and the HHSC website. Official rule text · rule revised August 2024
Medium · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
Pet vaccinations were not available at time of inspection.
In plain English: The child-care home must keep certain records ready for state review during operating hours, including children's records, staff and training records, menus, medication records, pet vaccination records, and records of emergency drills, fire extinguishers, and smoke detectors. It must also keep crib documentation, a signed form showing it reviewed federal product recall notices, and proof of liability insurance or written notice to parents that it has none. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023
Medium High · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
Parent handbook/Operational polices were not availible at time of inspection.
In plain English: The primary caregiver of a child-care home must set and follow policies that meet the standards, make sure assistants, substitutes, and household members follow the rules that apply to them, start required background checks, and report suspected abuse directly to the state hotline. The caregiver must also let parents visit any time during operating hours without prior approval and never go over the home's licensed or registered capacity. Official rule text · rule revised March 2023
Medium High · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
No usable fenced outdoor area was available at time of inspection.
Official text of rule 747.4105
Medium High · Nov 18, 2021 · Inspection
Required trainings were not available at time of inspection.
In plain English: The primary caregiver of a registered child-care home must be at least 21, have a high school diploma or equivalent, have completed the state's pre-application course within the year before applying, meet the background check rules, and hold current pediatric first aid and CPR certificates. The caregiver must also show proof of training in set topics, including recognizing and reporting child abuse, shaken baby syndrome, infant sleep practices and SIDS, child development, emergency preparedness, and giving medication. Official rule text
Based on the kinds of rules cited at Va Lau:
More in ZIP 77082 and all of Houston.
This page reports the state’s records for Va Lau; 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).