Charlotte · Licensed center
Learning Jungle Ballantyne
At a glance
- Large center, licensed for 199 children.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 9 of its 12 licensing inspections since August 2023.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Oct 14, 20264 citations
Citation
“A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. On the preschool playground, there is a sunken place in the surfacing near the climbing structure causing a potential tripping hazard. There is also a hole and two sunken areas in the turf near the playhouse causing potential tripping hazards.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on
Citation
“All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In space #13 (activity room) there was a gallon size can of paint stored in an unlocked cabinet drawer.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #6, there was an insect repellent present for one child without parent authorization.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Potential biocontaminants were not stored properly (locked storage, removed from premises, inaccessible to children, or covered plastic lined receptacle).In space #4, there was a trash bag of dirty diapers sitting beside trash can behind the diaper changing table.”
Violation corrected during visit
Dec 15, 20254 citations
Citation
“All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Two sample size cans of paint with multiple warnings listed was not in locked storage.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. During the walk through, an infant was observed awake in a crib. Documentation had not been completed on the time the child was placed in the crib.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
Citation
“Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Emergency medical care information for five children had not been updated at least annually.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
Citation
“Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. One child had two over-the-counter diaper ointments with expired authorization from the parent. Authorization expired September 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
Oct 13, 20251 citation
Citation
“All beds, cots, or mats with individual linen were not provided for each child. In space #1, a child three years of age was observed sleeping on a child sized cloth sofa in the book area.”
Violation corrected during visit
Sep 30, 20251 citation
Citation
“Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On September 18, 2025, a child four years of age was left unsupervised for approximately five minutes in the bathroom while the Teachers took a group of children outside.”
Violation corrected during visit
Jul 14, 20253 citations
Citation
“A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. A bottle of Benadryl for one child expired June 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/16/2025
Citation
“The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room (space #7).”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Parent authorization to administer emergency medication expired July 7, 2025.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/16/2025
- Jun 17, 2025Nothing cited
- May 19, 2025Nothing cited
Jan 9, 20252 citations
Citation
“All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. All classrooms throughout the building had peeling/chipping paint on the walls and windowsills.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/10/2025
Citation
“Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #9, there were two electrical outlets on the surge protector that were not closed or protected with a safety cover.”
Violation corrected during visit
Aug 27, 20242 citations
Citation
“A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. In Spaces 3 and 4 the safety lock was not tight allowing the doors to be opened slightly. The gap created a pinch point accessible to children.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. In Space 3 a small bingo game marker was observed in dramatic play accessible to children. In Space 6 a sheet was observed in a plastic bag on a low shelf.”
Violation corrected during visit
Jan 24, 20244 citations
Citation
“All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Space 10, a couch in the dramatic play area was observed torn with a small hole and the inside foam exposed. Space 6 the cabinet doors under the food prep sink are in poor repair, the particle board is water damaged and is rough and splintering at the tops and bottoms of the doors.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/2/2024
Citation
“Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Benadryl and Zyrtec for children with medical action plans, were stored with their emergency medications above 5 feet in Space 3 and not in locked storage.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision. While in Space 2, room serving two year olds, foam art products were observed stored accessible to children on the art shelf. Space 1, room serving infants, I observed four foam mirrors with several bite marks on them on the floor accessible to children.”
Violation corrected during visit
Citation
“A record which required a signature of a staff person or parent was not preserved in a format required in rule. A child's file does not have a parent's signature, the parent typed their name and it was not in an electronic format accepted.”
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/2/2024
- Sep 11, 2023Nothing cited
Aug 23, 20231 citation
Citation
“Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was conducted on 8/11/22.”
Violation corrected during visit
The state cited rules at 9 of this center's 12 inspections. Most Charlotte-area centers inspected 10 or more times had rules cited at some but not all of theirs, as this center did: more than 99% of 271.
How all 271 Charlotte-area centers inspected 10 or more times compare
Of the 271 Charlotte-area centers the state inspected 10 or more times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- Someover 99%This center
- Allunder 1%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — North Carolina DCDEE
- Last visit
- October 14, 2026
- On file
- 12 visits since August 2023 — 3 cited nothing, 2 of those unannounced
- Fixed?
- All 22 record a correction, in the licensor’s own words.
- Most serious
- North Carolina DCDEE does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
North Carolina DCDEE describes every citation in the licensor’s own words and records the correction in that same text — the only one of the six states that publishes whether a violation was fixed. It attaches no rule number and no report document.
Oct 2026 Unannounced visit 4 findings
Unannounced visit · October 14, 2026
A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. On the preschool playground, there is a sunken place in the surfacing near the climbing structure causing a potential tripping hazard. There is also a hole and two sunken areas in the turf near the playhouse causing potential tripping hazards.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on
All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. In space #13 (activity room) there was a gallon size can of paint stored in an unlocked cabinet drawer.
Violation corrected during visit
A drug or medication was administered without written authorization and/or instructions from a child's parent or authorized health professional. In space #6, there was an insect repellent present for one child without parent authorization.
Violation corrected during visit
Potential biocontaminants were not stored properly (locked storage, removed from premises, inaccessible to children, or covered plastic lined receptacle).In space #4, there was a trash bag of dirty diapers sitting beside trash can behind the diaper changing table.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Dec 2025 Unannounced visit 4 findings
Unannounced visit · December 15, 2025
All corrosive agents, pesticides, bleaches, detergents, cleansers, polishes, any product which is under pressure in an aerosol dispenser, and any substance which may be hazardous to a child if ingested, inhaled, or handled were not stored in a locked room or cabinet. Two sample size cans of paint with multiple warnings listed was not in locked storage.
Violation corrected during visit
Caregivers did not document compliance with visually checking on sleeping infants aged 12 months or younger and/or the documents were not maintained for a minimum of one month. During the walk through, an infant was observed awake in a crib. Documentation had not been completed on the time the child was placed in the crib.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
Emergency medical care information was not on file in the center on the child's first day of attendance and/or was not updated as changes occurred or at least annually for each child. Emergency medical care information for five children had not been updated at least annually.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. One child had two over-the-counter diaper ointments with expired authorization from the parent. Authorization expired September 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 12/17/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Oct 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · October 13, 2025
All beds, cots, or mats with individual linen were not provided for each child. In space #1, a child three years of age was observed sleeping on a child sized cloth sofa in the book area.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Sep 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · September 30, 2025
Children were not adequately supervised at all times. On September 18, 2025, a child four years of age was left unsupervised for approximately five minutes in the bathroom while the Teachers took a group of children outside.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Jul 2025 Unannounced visit 3 findings
Unannounced visit · July 14, 2025
A drug or medicine was administered after its expiration date. A bottle of Benadryl for one child expired June 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/16/2025
The center's safe sleep policy was not posted in a prominent place in the infant room where parents and caregivers were able to view daily. The safe sleep policy was not posted in the infant room (space #7).
Violation corrected during visit
Medication authorization, giving the caregiver standing authorization did not meet the specifications in rule. Parent authorization to administer emergency medication expired July 7, 2025.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 7/16/2025
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Jan 2025 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · January 9, 2025
All walls and ceilings including doors and windows were not kept clean, free of visible fungal growth, and in good repair. All classrooms throughout the building had peeling/chipping paint on the walls and windowsills.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/10/2025
Electrical outlets and power strips, not in use, which were located in space used by children did not have safety outlets or were not covered with safety plugs unless located behind furniture or equipment that cannot be moved by a child. In space #9, there were two electrical outlets on the surge protector that were not closed or protected with a safety cover.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2024 Unannounced visit 2 findings
Unannounced visit · August 27, 2024
A safe indoor and outdoor environment was not provided for the children. In Spaces 3 and 4 the safety lock was not tight allowing the doors to be opened slightly. The gap created a pinch point accessible to children.
Violation corrected during visit
Plastic bags, materials that could be torn apart and toy parts small enough to be swallowed were accessible to children under three years of age. In Space 3 a small bingo game marker was observed in dramatic play accessible to children. In Space 6 a sheet was observed in a plastic bag on a low shelf.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Jan 2024 Unannounced visit 4 findings
Unannounced visit · January 24, 2024
All equipment and furnishings were not in good repair. Space 10, a couch in the dramatic play area was observed torn with a small hole and the inside foam exposed. Space 6 the cabinet doors under the food prep sink are in poor repair, the particle board is water damaged and is rough and splintering at the tops and bottoms of the doors.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/2/2024
Medications including prescription and non-prescription items were not stored in a locked cabinet or other locked container. Benadryl and Zyrtec for children with medical action plans, were stored with their emergency medications above 5 feet in Space 3 and not in locked storage.
Violation corrected during visit
Prohibited styrofoam and foam rubber products were accessible to children under 3 years of age and/or approved foam products were used without proper supervision. While in Space 2, room serving two year olds, foam art products were observed stored accessible to children on the art shelf. Space 1, room serving infants, I observed four foam mirrors with several bite marks on them on the floor accessible to children.
Violation corrected during visit
A record which required a signature of a staff person or parent was not preserved in a format required in rule. A child's file does not have a parent's signature, the parent typed their name and it was not in an electronic format accepted.
Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 2/2/2024
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
Aug 2023 Unannounced visit 1 finding
Unannounced visit · August 23, 2023
No longer on the state’s site as of August 28, 2026
Operator has not scheduled and obtained a fire inspection within 12 months of the previous inspection. Operator did not submit the original approved report to DCDEE within one week of the inspection visit on a form provided by the Division. The last fire inspection was conducted on 8/11/22.
Violation corrected during visit
DCDEE facility lookup On that page, enter license number 60004097 in the License Number box, choose Search and open the result; the record is listed under Visits.
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
- (704) 540-2250
- Address
- 14115 Lancaster Highway, Charlotte, 28277
- License
- 60004097
- Quality program
- Five Star License
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, sick and biting policies, and who owns it. 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.
All checked July 2026.
State record
From North Carolina DCDEE’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address, License, Quality program ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov. To check it, open ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov/childcaresearch, enter licence 60004097 under License Number, and open the result.
Large means the biggest quarter of Charlotte-area’s 605 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 163 to 528 children. Small is 11 to 50; medium is 51 to 162.