Austin · Licensed center
Children's Courtyard
A play-based center in Austin, licensed for 281 children.
Large center. Large means the biggest quarter of Austin-area’s 928 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 154 to 731 children. Small is 12 to 61; medium is 62 to 153.
How they teach
Play-based
“Playful Learning When children are playing, every moment is filled with discovery and wonder. Playing includes experimenting, researching, and more. It is the foundation of all learning.”In their words. childrenscourtyard.com, July 2026
One of 104 Austin-area providers that describe a play-based approach, out of 226 that describe any approach at all.
Shortlist doesn’t have these yet: cost, ratios and staff, sick and biting policies.
What the state has found
This state publishes the visits that cited something but not the ones that cited nothing, so there is no city rate to set this beside.
From Texas HHSC’s published reports, last checked September 25, 2026.
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Texas HHSC
- Last visit
- October 14, 2025
- On file
- 10 visits since October 2021 — all of them cited findings · 5 complaint investigations
- Most serious
- High —
One child was unsupervised while in care at the operation.
· January 6, 2025
Texas HHSC describes each deficiency in writing and weights the standard behind it from high to low by the risk a violation presents to children. It publishes no inspection document.
Oct 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · October 14, 2025
746.2421(b) - Written Feeding Instructions - Review and Update Every 30 Days · Medium
7 of the 9 infants that required feeding sheets had not been updated by a parent in over 30 days.
Jan 2025 Complaint
Complaint · January 6, 2025
Reported to the state by the program
Self-report is Texas HHSC’s own field on its complaint investigation record.
746.1205(a)(4) - Supervision ensures each child?s safety, well-being, including physical proximity and auditory or visual awareness of each child?s on going activity · High
One child was unsupervised while in care at the operation.
Jan 2025 Licensing visit 2 findings
Licensing visit · January 6, 2025
746.2203(a) - Written Activity Plans · Medium
The operation did not have an activity plan for one classroom of children in care.
746.2207(c)(2) - Screen Time Activities - Age-appropriate · Medium
Six children were on YouTube watching videos that were not part of a planned activity that is working towards meeting educational goals. This was corrected when the staff had the children shut off the cell phones and tablets.
Dec 2024 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · December 11, 2024
746.1205(a)(3) - Responsibilities of Caregivers - Know children's names and ages · Medium High
One caregiver was unsure of the ages of the children that she was caring for and walked away as I tried to obtain this information from her. This was corrected when the director assisted her with providng the children's ages during the inspection to help determine if the group was in ratio.
Nov 2024 Complaint 2 findings
Complaint · November 18, 2024
746.2805(5) - Prohibited Punishments - Humiliating, Rejecting, Yelling · High
A caregiver disciplined a child by loudly telling the child to stop while cupping the child's face.
746.305(a)(6) - Report Situation Placing Children at Risk · High
The operation did not report an incident that placed a child at risk for injury or harm to CCR.
Feb 2024 Licensing visit 12 findings
Licensing visit · February 7, 2024
746.1315(b) - Each Caregiver and the Director Must Have Current Training in pediatric CPR · Medium High
Two caregivers did not have current Pediatric CPR Training that was taken in person.
746.2421(a) - Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional · Medium
Three infants did not have feeding instructions. This was corrected at inspection when the director had the parents provide feeding instructions for the infants.
746.3301(b) - Nutrition and Food Service - Follow Meal Patterns · Medium High
The operation was not serving all of the required components for breakfast.
746.3407(8) - Garbage Inaccessible to Children; Maintained in Sanitary Manner · Medium High
Two classrooms had a trash can without lids that had trash accessible to children in care. This was corrected at inspection when the director covered the two trash cans with lids.
746.3701(1) - Safety - Electrical Outlets Covered · Medium High
Two classrooms with children under 5 years of age did not have electrical outlets covered. This was corrected at inspection when all outlets were covered by the staff.
746.3805(b)(1) - Administering Medication - Original Container with Child's Name, Date · Medium High
One child's Epinephrine auto-injector and allergy medication was not in original packaging. The medications were both in ziploc bags.
746.401(2) - Posting Requirements - Letter or form from the most recent Licensing Inspection or Investigation · Medium
The operation did not have the letter or form from the most recent Licensing inspection or investigation posted. This was corrected at inspection when the staff posted the last 2936 inspection form.
746.401(9) - Posting Requirements - List entitled "Current Employees"--sized at least 81/2 X 11 inches, printed legibly, include employee first and last name · Medium Low
The operation did not have a current employees list posted. This was corrected at inspection when the staff posted a current list of employees.
746.4907(a)(1) - Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Six Inches if Equipment 5 Ft or Less · Medium High
Two areas underneath two slides outside on the playground did not have the required amount of loose-fill.
746.5205(2) - Sheltering Drill For Severe Weather-Four times a calendar year · Medium High
The operation had only completed two severe weather drills for 2023.
746.5617(a)(6) - Required Equipment in Vehicles - First-aid Kit · High
Two busses used for transporting children did not have first aid kits.
746.909 - Access to Personnel Records · Medium
The director was having technical difficulties and was not able to access staff training files during the inspection.
Sep 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · September 1, 2023
746.2805(8) - Prohibited Punishments - Restrictive device for time out · High
Observed a child in care sitting in a floor seat with the tray attached for timeout. This was corrected when the child was removed out of the chair.
Jul 2023 Complaint
Complaint · July 28, 2023
Reported to the state by the program
Self-report is Texas HHSC’s own field on its complaint investigation record.
746.2205(a)(4) - Written Activity Plan - No Long Waiting Periods · Medium
It was found during the investigation, that after snack time the children were sent to the carpet to wait for an unknown amount of time without an activity.
Feb 2023 Complaint
Complaint · February 22, 2023
746.2607(1) - Activities for Pre-Kindergarten Age - Outdoor Play · Medium High
There was enough evidence throughout the course of the investigation to determined that the operation was not allowing children to engage in outdoor play prior to the ice storm.
Feb 2023 Licensing visit 5 findings
Licensing visit · February 9, 2023
746.3401(a) - Annual Sanitation Inspection · Medium High
Current sanitation inspection was not available for review.
746.3407 - Maintenance of Building, Grounds and Equipment · Medium High
Observed fallen tree and tree branches obstructing the playground area. The operation has submitted a work order to have the tree branches and fallen tree removed and the fence repaired.
746.5101(a) - Annual Fire Inspection - Before Initial Permit Issued and Every 12 Months · High
Current fire inspection was not available for review.
746.5205(1) - Fire Drill Monthly - Exit in 3 Minutes · Medium High
Last fire drill completed at the operation was in December.
746.613(b) - Immunization Records, Exceptions, and Exemptions Current · Medium High
Current immunization records was not available for review for three of the ten children records reviewed.
Jan 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · January 13, 2023
745.641 - AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation · High
Observed a staff member supervising a group of children without an active background check on file.
Jan 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · January 3, 2023
746.3701(9) - Safety - Televisions Anchored to Prevent Tip Over · Medium High
TV in the I'click room was not anchored to the shelf. This was corrected when the staff member removed the Televison set.
Sep 2022 Licensing visit 2 findings
Licensing visit · September 26, 2022
745.641 - AP Background check results - Must receive notification prior to allowing subject to be present at your operation · High
A staff member at the operartion does not have a current background check on file.
746.303(a)(4) - Report Change in Director · Medium High
Change in director was not reported to CCR.
Oct 2021 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · October 26, 2021
746.1203(4) - Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children · High
Inappropriate supervision was found at the operation. A child was left unsupervised.
Sep 2021 Complaint
Complaint · September 10, 2021
Reported to the state by the program
Self-report is Texas HHSC’s own field on its complaint investigation record.
746.1203(4) - Responsibilities of Caregivers- Supervision of Children · High
Inappropriate supervision was found at the operation. A child was left unsupervised.
A day here
- Meals
- Nutritious meals and snacks included in tuition (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
- Updates for parents
- SproutAbout family app — live streaming video and real-time updates (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
- Hours
- 6:30 AM to 6:30 PM, 5 days a week, year round
- Schedule
- full-time and part-time enrollment offered (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
- Closed
- Closed New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the day after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day; also closed for in-service training on Presidents' Day and Columbus Day (the brand’s policy for all its schools)
Details
- Phone
- 5123390727
- Website
- childrenscourtyard.com
- Address
- 12336 N Mopac Expy
- License
- 551505- 810, active
- Ages
- 6 Weeks - 12 Years
Do you run Children's Courtyard? Shortlist has no ratios or policies for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.
Sources and dates
Where every fact on this page came from, and when Shortlist last checked it against that source. Anything Shortlist could not source is named here rather than left blank.
All checked July 2026.
How they teach
- Approach — childrenscourtyard.com
State record
Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.
A day here
- Meals, Schedule — childrenscourtyard.com
- Updates for parents — childrenscourtyard.com
- Hours — childrenscourtyard.com
- Calendar, Closed — childrenscourtyard.com
Details
- Phone, Address, License — childcare.hhs.texas.gov
- Website — childrenscourtyard.com
- Ages — childrenscourtyard.com