Stepping Stones Childcare & Early Learning

Home · Bellevue

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 4 of the 4 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 Level 3+
License status Active

State record — Washington DCYF

Last visit
January 14, 2026
On file
4 visits since November 2023 — all of them cited findings · 1 complaint investigation
Fixed?
Washington DCYF does not publish whether a finding was corrected.
Most serious
SeriousThere was a toilet plunger in the bathroom and it was accessible to the children - Provider removed during the visit. · April 16, 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.

Jan 2026 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · January 14, 2026

Safety requirements

WAC 110-300-0165(3)(c) · Short Term

There was a tricycle that was broken/cracked - provider removed during the visit.

Report (PDF)

Apr 2025 Licensing visit 1 finding

Licensing visit · April 16, 2025

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(5) · Serious

There was a toilet plunger in the bathroom and it was accessible to the children - Provider removed during the visit.

Report (PDF)

Nov 2024 Licensing visit 3 findings

Licensing visit · November 22, 2024

Preservice requirements

WAC 110-300-0105(2) · Serious

13 y/o son does not have a background yet.

First-aid—CPR certification and supplies

WAC 110-300-0230(2)(b) · Serious

First aid kit was accessible to children.

Storage of hazardous and maintenance supplies

WAC 110-300-0260(1)(a) · Serious

Bleach was seen stored under the bathroom sink only secured with a plastic loop on the knob handles. It was not locked. Dispute Description: At the time of inspection, the bleach bottle was stored and locked with a childproof safety lock, not a plastic loop. The lock used is specifically designed to be childproof and meets safety standards. While I appreciate the suggestion of the other types of locks, I would like to explore these options further and consider implementing it in the future. At the time of inspection, the bleach bottle was stored and locked with a childproof safety lock, not a plastic loop. The lock used is specifically designed to be childproof and meets safety standards. While I appreciate the suggestion of the other types of locks, I would like to explore these options further and consider implementing it in the future.

Report (PDF)

Nov 2023 Licensing visit 2 findings

Licensing visit · November 21, 2023

Medication

WAC 110-300-0215(3)(a)(ii) · Serious

There was a child that needs an epi pen that was not labeled with the childs name, date of prescription was filledt etc. There was a child that had lotion and benedryl, the childs name was not on the medication - staff corrected during the visit.

Capacity waiver for family home providers

WAC 110-300-0358(3)(d) · Serious

There were 13 children in care and 1 staff. This staff did not have the ECE ertificate or equivalent. Dispute Description: Sad to say my mother in law past away the morning of the inspection. Around 8:35am my mother in law left us. We were three staff at work that day, 2 ECE certified a lead teacher. We had 13 children which is the norm on Tuesday's. We have three full time certified ECE workers that have worked for us from 2 years to 6 years, two lead teachers and one assistant teacher. Myself and my husband were the two scheduled ECE workers that day. Once my brother in law called and told us the sad news my husband and I stepped behind the door 2ft away from the children. I am taking responsibility that the two ECE workers were not on the licensed floor for a few min, but we were 2ft form the children. I feel strong that with my history, education, experience, years in this industry, google reviews, highly qualified and educated staff we run a very professional daycare. I believe and invest in all my staff to have a good number of ECE workers and lead teachers. We knew Lisa was behind the wall and we did not want to have the children, teacher or Lisa see us in such a shocked emotional state. Unfortunately I broke-down in front of Lisa and felt horrible but could not control myself. I understand a father at our daycare called in a complaint stating that the lights are low at drop off, yes we keep the lights dim in the morning so sleepy kids gradually purk up, he sated we have high staff turn over, we have not had any staff turn over, Ms. Brooklyn joined as an additional staff after consistent staff of 2 yrs., and that I am in the office and not around and that there is only one teacher. My concern is that no one has withdrawn their child from our daycare. I believe every parent has the right to call in any concerns that are valid. This parent concerned for his child's care at daycare. If this is how he sees that we run our daycare, why is there child still here? We have not had one single child drop our program!!! We have an idea who this father is. The past few weeks we have had a father be very upset about a policy he did not follow and wanted us to make special circumstances for him. We treat all out families equally and follow our policies. We feel very concerned about this parent who ever it is that they felt or feel that our daycare does not follow regulations but still leave there child here in our care each and every day!!! Again, I just want to express that this day was a very sad day and we made an impulsive move to not loose our emotions in front of everyone, and feel concerned that a parent would take such big measures and not follow up themselves to protect there own child if these reporting were so evident to him!! I feel we did our best that we could during such a shock. Sad to say my mother in law past away the morning of the inspection. Around 8:35am my mother in law left us. We were three staff at work that day, 2 ECE certified a lead teacher. We had 13 children which is the norm on Tuesday's. We have three full time certified ECE workers that have worked for us from 2 years to 6 years, two lead teachers and one assistant teacher. Myself and my husband were the two scheduled ECE workers that day. Once my brother in law called and told us the sad news my husband and I stepped behind the door 2ft away from the children. I am taking responsibility that the two ECE workers were not on the licensed floor for a few min, but we were 2ft form the children. I feel strong that with my history, education, experience, years in this industry, google reviews, highly qualified and educated staff we run a very professional daycare. I believe and invest in all my staff to have a good number of ECE workers and lead teachers. We knew Lisa was behind the wall and we did not want to have the children, teacher or Lisa see us in such a shocked emotional state. Unfortunately I broke-down in front of Lisa and felt horrible but could not control myself. I understand a father at our daycare called in a complaint stating that the lights are low at drop off, yes we keep the lights dim in the morning so sleepy kids gradually purk up, he sated we have high staff turn over, we have not had any staff turn over, Ms. Brooklyn joined as an additional staff after consistent staff of 2 yrs., and that I am in the office and not around and that there is only one teacher. My concern is that no one has withdrawn their child from our daycare. I believe every parent has the right to call in any concerns that are valid. This parent concerned for his child's care at daycare. If this is how he sees that we run our daycare, why is there child still here? We have not had one single child drop our program!!! We have an idea who this father is. The past few weeks we have had a father be very upset about a policy he did not follow and wanted us to make special circumstances for him. We treat all out families equally and follow our policies. We feel very concerned about this parent who ever it is that they felt or feel that our daycare does not follow regulations but still leave there child here in our care each and every day!!! Again, I just want to express that this day was a very sad day and we made an impulsive move to not loose our emotions in front of everyone, and feel concerned that a parent would take such big measures and not follow up themselves to protect there own child if these reporting were so evident to him!! I feel we did our best that we could during such a shock.

Report (PDF)

Nov 2023 Complaint 1 valid issue

Complaint · November 16, 2023 · Resolved December 18, 2023

The state lists this complaint on the provider’s record, but the state’s published report includes no citation detail.

Report (PDF)

Before you tour

Stepping Stones Childcare & Early Learning hasn’t published

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

Ask what changed after the six findings Washington DCYF ranked Serious, most recently in April 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 Stepping Stones Childcare & Early Learning? 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.