Palo Alto · Licensed center
Heffalump School
At a glance
- Small center, licensed for 20 children.
- Run by a for-profit business, which holds the license.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 1 of its 4 licensing inspections since May 2022.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
- Oct 31, 2025Nothing cited
- Sep 27, 2024Nothing cited
Jul 5, 20231 citation
HSC 1596.8662(b)(1)Type B
“(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. LPA observed Staff members mandated reporter certificate expired on 6/27/23. Director stated that director was aware of the expired mandated reporter. Director also stated staff forgot complete updated mandated reporter certificate.”
HSC 1596.8662(b)(1)
- May 11, 2022Nothing cited
The state cited rules at 1 of this center's 4 inspections. Bay Area centers inspected 4 times split three ways: 41% had fewer, 38% the same, and 21% more (569 centers).
How all 569 Bay Area centers inspected 4 times compare
Of the 569 Bay Area centers the state inspected 4 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- None41%
- 1 of 438%This center
- 2 of 415%
- 3 of 46%
- All 41%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — California CDSS Community Care Licensing
- Last visit
- October 31, 2025
- On file
- 4 visits since May 2022 — 3 cited nothing · 1 complaint investigation
- Most serious
- No finding carrying a severity level in the last 24 months.
California CDSS publishes the full investigation narrative for a complaint, including its disposition, and classifies a citation Type A — an immediate risk to a child — or Type B.
May 2024 Complaint Unsubstantiated
Complaint · May 8, 2024
Unsubstantiated
ALLEGATION(S): One (1) Personal Rights violation INVESTIGATION FINDINGS: On 06/24/2024 at 9:10am, Licensing Program Analyst (LPA) J.Z. and Licensing Program Manager (LPM) C.C. conducted an unannounced visit for the purpose of a complaint investigation for the above allegation of a personal rights violation and met with director, M.T. LPA and LPM introduced themselves and the purpose of today’s visit. Also present during the inspection was six (6) children and one (1) staff. This agency has investigated the complaint allegation that a staff dragged a screaming child by an arm. During the course of the investigation, LPA Z. obtained relevant documents and conducted interviews with facility staff and parents. Although the allegation may have happened or is valid, there is not a preponderance of evidence to prove that the alleged violation did or did not occur, therefore the allegation is unsubstantiated. Notice of Site Visit was given and must be posted for 30 days. Exit interview was conducted and report was reviewed with director, M.T. Unsubstantiated Estimated Days of Completion:
Jul 2023 Licensing visit 1 finding
Licensing visit · July 5, 2023
HSC 1596.8662(b)(1) · Type B
(1) On or before March 30, 2018, a person who, on January 1, 2018, is a licensed child day care provider, administrator, or employee of a licensed child day care facility shall complete the mandated reporter training provided pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (3) of subdivision (a), and shall complete renewal mandated reporter training every two years following the date on which he or she completed the initial mandated reporter training. This requirement is not met as evidenced by: Based on observation and record review, the licensee did not comply with the section cited above in which poses a potential health, safety or personal rights risk to persons in care. LPA observed Staff members mandated reporter certificate expired on 6/27/23. Director stated that director was aware of the expired mandated reporter. Director also stated staff forgot complete updated mandated reporter certificate.
Shortlist replaces people’s names in the state’s text with initials. This is done by rule, not by hand, so it can miss a name or shorten a word that isn’t one. The state’s report, linked on each row, has the original.
Details
- Phone
- (415) 425-4340
- Address
- 3990 Ventura Court, Palo Alto, 94306
- License
- 435700743
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, cost, hours and late pickup, teaching approach, ratios and staff, a typical day, and sick and biting policies. We can ask the program for you and copy you in.
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.
State record
From California CDSS Community Care Licensing’s published reports, last checked November 5, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address, License — Checked July 2026 ccld.dss.ca.gov
- Website — Checked July 2026 heffalumpschool.com
- Who runs it — Checked November 2026 ccld.dss.ca.gov
Small means the smallest quarter of Bay Area’s 439 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 8 to 30 children. Medium is 31 to 75; large is 76 to 312.