Chicago · Licensed center
Little Inspirations
At a glance
- Medium Montessori center, licensed for 80 children.
What to know
The license is the range the state allows. It does not say which ages have openings.
What the state has found
The state cited rules at 5 of its 7 licensing inspections since September 2015.
See each inspection
Licensing inspections
Aug 2, 202412 citations
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(1)
Background Checks for Personnel
Background Checks for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(7)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(f)(7)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b)
Napping and Sleeping
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(h)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(h)(2)
Napping and Sleeping
Napping and Sleeping
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(j)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
Dec 21, 20221 citation
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Dec 1, 202111 citations
Organization and Administration
Organization and Administration
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(d)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(3)
Personnel Records
Personnel Records
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(4)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Guidance and Discipline
Guidance and Discipline
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
- Feb 9, 2021Nothing cited
- Feb 9, 2020Nothing cited
Nov 5, 20196 citations
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(5)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Medications
Medications
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(g)
Sep 29, 20158 citations
Application for Renewal of License
Application for Renewal of License
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(f)
General Requirements for Personnel
General Requirements for Personnel
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1)
Equipment and Materials
Equipment and Materials
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4)
Health Requirements for Children
Health Requirements for Children
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6)
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(k)(1)
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2)
Outdoor Play Area
Outdoor Play Area
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(2)
The state cited rules at 5 of this center's 7 inspections. Most Chicago-area centers inspected 7 times had more: 66% of 149 had rules cited at 6 or more.
How all 149 Chicago-area centers inspected 7 times compare
Of the 149 Chicago-area centers the state inspected 7 times, how many of those inspections cited a rule:
- 2 of 71%
- 3 of 75%
- 4 of 714%
- 5 of 714%This center
- 6 of 726%
- All 740%
Read every record and the state’s reports
State record — Illinois DCFS
- Last visit
- August 2, 2024
- On file
- 7 visits since September 2015 — 2 cited nothing
- Fixed?
- The latest correction deadline was September 2, 2024. Illinois DCFS does not publish whether it was made.
- Most serious
- Illinois DCFS does not publish a severity level for a citation, so there is no most-serious to name.
Illinois DCFS cites each subsection of a rule separately, so one audit of a filing cabinet can produce ten citations. It publishes the rule’s title and a correction deadline, but no description of what was observed.
Aug 2024 Monitoring visit 12 findings
Monitoring visit · August 2, 2024
General Requirements for Personnel
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (f) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(c)(7) · 407.100(f)
Special Requirements for Infants and Toddlers
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) through (h)(2) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.210(b) · 407.210(f)(7) · 407.210(h)(2)
Napping and Sleeping
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c) through (j) · Violation corrected · Violation corrected on site
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.350(c) · 407.350(j)
Background Checks for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.110 · Violation corrected
Physical Plant/Indoor Space
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.370(q)(1) · Violation corrected
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(h) · Violation corrected on site
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 510251 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2022 Monitoring visit 1 finding
Monitoring visit · December 21, 2022
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 510251 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Dec 2021 Monitoring visit 11 findings
Monitoring visit · December 1, 2021
Personnel Records
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) through (4) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.120(a)(1) · 407.120(a)(3) · 407.120(a)(4)
General Requirements for Personnel
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) through (d) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(6) · 407.100(d)
Organization and Administration
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.70(e) · Violation corrected
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · Violation corrected
Guidance and Discipline
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.270(a) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6) · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, CCASEC4.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
A citation the state’s report lists only by its code, FHSEC305.
0 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 510251 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Nov 2019 Monitoring visit 6 findings
Monitoring visit · November 5, 2019
Health Requirements for Children
3 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) through (6) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a) · 407.310(a)(5) · 407.310(a)(6)
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(f) · Violation corrected
Medications
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.360(e) · Violation corrected
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(g) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 510251 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
Sep 2015 Monitoring visit 8 findings
Monitoring visit · September 29, 2015
Diapering and Toileting Procedures
2 citations · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) through (k)(1) · Violation corrected
89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.340(a)(2) · 407.340(k)(1)
Application for Renewal of License
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.55(f) · Violation corrected
General Requirements for Personnel
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.100(c)(1) · Violation corrected
Enrollment and Discharge Procedures
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.250(i)(1)(g) · Violation corrected
Health Requirements for Children
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.310(a)(6) · Violation corrected
Equipment and Materials
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.380(j)(4) · Violation corrected
Outdoor Play Area
1 citation · 89 Ill. Adm. Code 407.390(i)(2) · Violation corrected
DCFS compliance lookup On that page, enter provider number 510251 in the Provider box and choose Search; the compliance report downloads from the button on the result row.
What it costs
- Application fee
- $25
How they teach
Montessori and Reggio Emilia–inspired
“We also aspire to the natural aesthetics and collaborative community orientation found in Reggio Emilia approach to schooling.”
Who cares for your child
Iris Branch (East Hyde Park Site Director), 10 years in early childhood and Peg Dunne Pavelec (Founder), 15 years in early childhood.
Details
- Phone
- (773) 817-1274
- Address
- 5480 S Kenwood Ave, Chicago, 60615
- Established
- 2008
We couldn’t find some information that may matter to your decision: openings, child care subsidies, tuition, hours and late pickup, 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.
How they teach
- Approach — Checked August 2026 little-inspirations.com
Who cares for your child
- Staff little-inspirations.com
What it costs
- Application fee — Checked August 2026 little-inspirations.com
State record
From Illinois DCFS’s published reports, last checked November 8, 2026.
Details
- Phone, Address — Checked July 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "LITTLE INSPIRATIONS" under Provider Name and 60615 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 510251).
- Website — Checked August 2026 little-inspirations.com
- License — Checked October 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "LITTLE INSPIRATIONS" under Provider Name and 60615 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 510251).
- Ages on the license — Checked November 2026 sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov/…/ProviderLookup.aspx. To check it, open sunshine.dcfs.illinois.gov's Licensed Provider Lookup, enter "LITTLE INSPIRATIONS" under Provider Name and 60615 under Zip, and press Search (DCFS provider 510251).
- Ages they serve, Established — Checked August 2026 little-inspirations.com
Medium means the middle half of Chicago-area’s 1,948 licensed centers by state-licensed capacity: 49 to 118 children. Small is 8 to 48; large is 119 to 487.
The ages on the license are what the state licenses it to care for, which can be wider than the ages it takes.