Small Steps Childcare LLC

Home · Sammamish

What kind of place is this?

Size 12 children licensed In the middle half for Seattle home daycares, where the middle half licenses 6–12. Measured across 1,532 Seattle home daycares, 2026-08-17.

Who runs it

Ownership For-profit Washington DCYF issued this licence to an individual, not to a company. A licence held by a person is a sole proprietorship. findchildcarewa.org

How this compares

Washington DCYF cited something at 5 of the 5 visits below. Across Seattle home daycares it cites something at about 63% of visits. Each state decides what gets written up, so this compares Seattle with Seattle and never with another state.

Will it fit our family?

Not yet reported: ages served, hours, days / week, schedule, holiday closures.

What will it cost us?

This provider does not publish pricing.

What Shortlist has verified

State quality rating Early Achievers Enrolled
License status Active

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
September 22, 2025
On file
5 visits since August 2023 — all of them cited findings
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
SeriousA child's file indicates a list of food allergies but a complete ICP is not on file with the required information. · September 22, 2025

Washington DCYF publishes the licensor’s own observation and a risk level for every citation it issues at a licensing visit, with the inspection report attached as a PDF.

Sep 2025 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · September 22, 2025

Outdoor early learning program space

WAC 110-300-0145(11) · Short Term

The exit gate is not self closing.

Food allergies and special dietary needs

WAC 110-300-0186(1) · Serious

A child's file indicates a list of food allergies but a complete ICP is not on file with the required information.

First-aid—CPR certification and supplies

WAC 110-300-0230(1) · Short Term

A current first aid/CPR card is not on file for W.Z.

Individual employees are shown by initials. The state’s report, linked above, names them in full.

Report (PDF)

Apr 2025 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · April 24, 2025

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(4) · Serious

The trampoline is not locked to prevent child access.

Family home capacity, ratio, and group size

WAC 110-300-0355(3) · Short Term

Provider has exceeded the capacity as stated on the license. The licensed capacity is 6 children. Provider had 9 children in attendance.

Report (PDF)

Mar 2025 Licensing visit 7 findings

Licensing visit · March 20, 2025

Equipment and surfaces in outdoor early learning space

WAC 110-300-0146(1)(a)(b) / 110-300-0146(4) · Serious

1a,b) Two slides are placed in the yard without following CPSC playground guidelines. A 6 foot use zone does not surround each equipment. 4) A trampoline is in the backyard. It is not secured or made inaccessible to children.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) · Serious

2b) The sliding door has vertical blinds with a pull cord capable of forming a loop. 3g) outside- plastic outdoor fencing panels were broken and falling down, there was a broken easle, the face on the pink car was broken. 4e) the water temperature tested above 125 degrees F

Fire safety

WAC 110-300-0170(2) · Short Term

The fire safety inspection checklist has not been completed annually.

Immunizations and exempt children

WAC 110-300-0210(1)(2) · Long Term

5 child files were reviewed. child 2 and 3 did not immunization records at all. Child 5 did not have a CIS form.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

1a) cleaners were observed stored under the kitchen sink and bathroom sink accessible to children. The cupboards are not locked or secured.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(b) · Short Term

2) the licensed capacity was not met. They had 8 children in care, but are licensed for only 6 children. 5b) the back sliding door is not able to be heard when opened.

Attendance records

WAC 110-300-0455(3) · Long Term

2) children attendance records do not reflect all 8 children in attendance on this day, only 6 children were signed in. 3) staff attendance records were not available to reflect the 3 staff present on this day.

Report (PDF)

Feb 2024 Licensing visit 5 findings

Licensing visit · February 15, 2024

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) · Serious

Diaper creams did not have the child's full names on all of them. The authorization form does not have the start and end dates on it.

Outdoor early learning program space

WAC 110-300-0145(11) · Short Term

The exit gate is not self closing and is getting stuck. The white fence has an opening on the bottom larger than 3 1/2 inches.

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(c) · Short Term

The cord for the vertical blinds is accessible to the children.

Postings

WAC 110-300-0505(1)(2) · Long Term

Diaper changing procedure is not posted. Floor plan was not posted. Where location of emergency medical information is kept is not posted.

Supervising children

WAC 110-300-0345(5)(b) · Short Term

The front door's bell was not working during the visit.

Report (PDF)

Aug 2023 Licensing visit 6 findings

Licensing visit · August 21, 2023

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(2)(b) / 110-300-0165(2)(a) / 110-300-0165(3)(b) / 110-300-0165(5)(b) / 110-300-0165(5)(g) · Serious

There are blinds in the nap room, living room and kitchen that form a loop. The blind in the play room also forms a loop. There are small toys that are choking hazards for children. There is no sticker or artwork on the sliding glass door. There are too many cords accessible to children in nap room. There is a hand dryer in the bathroom by a sink. There is no gate to prevent children from access the stairs. The laundry room needs to be locked and inaccessible to children. The lights are not shatter proof in the bathroom. The outlets are not tamper resistant. The outlets are not GFCI by the kitchen sink. There is a knife block on the kitchen counter.

Pets and animals

WAC 110-300-0225(3) · Serious

The cat does not have vacine record.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

The cleaning supplies are under the sink accessible to children. And not labeled keep out of reach of children.

Emergency preparation and exiting

WAC 110-300-0166(4)(a) · Serious

The TV is blocking the exit in the nap room.

Preservice requirements

WAC 110-300-0105(2) · Serious

Juan Merriman's background is in process.

Training requirements

WAC 110-300-0106(12) · Serious

Juan Merriman is missing first aid/cpr. Juan Merriman is missing a food handler's card.

Report (PDF)

Before you tour

Small Steps Childcare LLC hasn’t published

Cost, hours and late pickup, a typical day, sick and biting policies.

Ask what changed after the 12 findings Washington DCYF ranked Serious, most recently in September 2025.It does not publish whether a finding was fixed. The rest carry its lower risk levels.

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, teaching approach.

Who runs it

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 Small Steps Childcare LLC? 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.