The Learning Experience

Center · Belmont · 2016 Middleton Farm Dr

What kind of place is this?

Size 186 children licensed Larger than the middle half of Charlotte centers, where the middle half licenses 50–162. Measured across 598 Charlotte centers, 2026-08-17.
Approach steam, play-based, developmental

In the program’s own words

“STEM Integration Hands-on learning in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.” thelearningexperience.com, July 2026
“Toddlers 1 - 2 years Encouraging independence and social skills through play-based learning and exploration.” thelearningexperience.com, July 2026
“L.E.A.P.® Curriculum Our proprietary, whole-child approach to intellectual, social, and cognitive development.” thelearningexperience.com, July 2026

Who runs it

Ownership For-profit North Carolina DCDEE names a limited company as the licensee, and it is not in the IRS register of tax-exempt organisations. ncchildcare.ncdhhs.gov
Chain The Learning Experience
Owner Harvest Partners — as of 2025, may have changed since Majority acquired by private-equity firm Harvest Partners in 2025 (from Golden Gate Capital; founder Weissman family and Golden Gate retain stakes). prnewswire.com

The Learning Experience runs 9 licensed locations in Charlotte.

How this compares

North Carolina DCDEE cited something at 4 of the 14 visits below. Across Charlotte centers it cites something at about 57% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Charlotte with Charlotte and never with another state.

Who will be with our child?

Will it fit our family?

Ages served 6 weeks to 6 years
Hours 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
Days / week 5

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Three Star License
License status Active

State record — North Carolina DCDEE

Last visit
June 3, 2026
On file
14 visits since April 2024 — 10 cited nothing, 9 of those unannounced
Fixed?
All 9 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.

Jun 2026 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · June 3, 2026

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 #5, one (1) can of Super Sorb Premium Absorbent with multiple warnings was on a shelf in the restroom used by children, accessible to children.

Violation corrected during visit

DCDEE facility lookup

Feb 2026 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Dec 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jun 2025 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · June 11, 2025

Leftover medicines were not returned to the parent after the course of treatment was completed, after authorization was withdrawn or after authorization had expired and/or medication was not discarded within 72 hours of completion of treatment or withdrawal of authorization. In Space #5, the permission to administer medication form for one (1) tube of Flanders Buttocks Ointment expired on May 12, 2025.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 6/18/2025

DCDEE facility lookup

Jan 2025 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Dec 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Sep 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jul 2024 Unannounced visit 6 findings

Unannounced visit · July 23, 2024

Fire drills were not practiced monthly and/or the drill record was incomplete. No fire drill was conducted in May 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/6/2024

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#10, one (1) bottle of Wizard Naturals Aromatherapy Fine Fragrance Mist, with multiple warnings, was in an unlocked cabinet to the right of the refrigerator.

Violation corrected during visit

Center staff did not comply with the safe sleep policy. In Space #10, one (1) infant, seven (7) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 11:10am and not again until 11:34am. In Space #10, two (2) infants, both ten (10) months of age, both had a visual sleep check at 12:45pm and not again until 1:10pm. In Space #10, one (1) infant, seven (7) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 18, 2024, at 10:00am and not again until 10:20am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 9:28am and not again until 9:45am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 8:43am and not again until 9:00am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, four (4) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 9:44am and not again until 10:00am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, four (4) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 1:25pm and not again until 1:55pm. In Space #11, one (1) infant, four (4) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 22, 2024, at 1:25pm and not again until 1:45pm. In Space #11, one (1) infant, four (4) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 19, 2024, at 10:22am and not again until 10:45am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 19, 2024, at 8:25am and not again until 8:48am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 19, 2024, at 10:40am and not again until 11:00am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 19, 2024, at 1:20pm and not again until 1:45pm. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 19, 2024, at 3:22pm and not again until 3:45pm. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 18, 2024, at 9:40am and not again until 10:00am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 18, 2024, at 8:28am and not again until 8:45am. In Space #11, one (1) infant, five (5) months of age, had a visual sleep check on July 18, 2024, at 9:25am and not again until 9:45am, and at 11:28am and not again until 11:45am.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/6/2024

On or before the first day of work, all staff, including the director and individuals who volunteer more than once per week did not provide results indicating that they were free of active TB and/or TB test or screening was older than 12 months. One (1) staff member, employed on May 13, 2024, had the results of a negative TB test on file dated July 14, 2022. One (1) staff member, employed on October 23, 2023, had the results of a negative TB test on file dated November 6, 2023.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/6/2024

New staff, who had contact with children, did not receive at least 16 hrs. orientation within first 6 weeks. One (1) staff member, employed on May 13, 2024, only received six (6) hours of orientation within the first six weeks of employment. A second staff member, employed on May 13, 2024, did not complete sixteen (16) hours of orientation until July 17, 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/6/2024

The Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma policy was not reviewed with new staff prior to providing care with children and/or a signed acknowledgement with all the required information was not maintained in the staff person's file. One (1) staff member, employed on January 29, 2024, did not sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma Policy until March 6, 2024. One (1) staff member, employed on October 23, 2023, did not sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma Policy until July 23, 2024. One (1) staff member, employed on June 18, 2024, did not sign an acknowledgement of receipt of the facility’s Prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Abusive Head Trauma Policy until July 8, 2024.

Violation confirmed corrected by letter received from provider on 8/6/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Jul 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Jun 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
May 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited
Apr 2024 Unannounced visit 1 finding

Unannounced visit · April 30, 2024

Enhanced staff/child ratios and group sizes were not met. Today I observed, in space #7, fifteen (15) children, all two (2) years of age, with one (1) staff member. Based on program records, on April 24, 2024, eleven (11) children, all three (3) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #1, ten (10) children, two (2) to three (3) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #4, nine (9) children, zero (0) to two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #6, ten (10) children, all two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #7, and eleven (11) children, all one (1) year of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #8, on April 25, 2024, thirteen (13) children, two (2) to three (3) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #4, thirteen (13) children, all two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #5, and eleven (11) children, all two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #7, on April 26, 2024, twelve (12) children, two (2) to three (3) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #4, twelve (12) children, all two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #5, and ten (10) children, all two (2) years of age, were present with one (1) staff member in space #7.

Violation confirmed corrected by follow-up visit made by consultant on 5/9/2024

DCDEE facility lookup

Apr 2024 Announced visit nothing cited
Apr 2024 Unannounced visit nothing cited

Before you tour

The Learning Experience hasn’t published

Cost, sick and biting policies.

Ask which of these findings were serious.North Carolina DCDEE records the correction in its own words, but never says how serious it was.

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.

What kind of place is this

Not yet reported: established.

Who runs it

Who will be with our child

Not yet reported: children per teacher.

Will it fit our family

Not yet reported: schedule, holiday closures.

Licensing and contact

State record

Every state visit and complaint on file, shown in full and never edited. Open a date to read what the state wrote.

Do you run The Learning Experience? Shortlist has no tuition, hours or ratios for it, because the state does not publish that. Add what is missing. It is free and takes about ten minutes.