Essential Steps
305 E RUSK ST, Rockwall, TX 75087 · Rockwall County
Program
- Type
- Licensed center
- Licensed capacity
- 63
- Ages
- Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School
- Hours
- 06:30 AM-06:30 PM
- Director / administrator
- Roxane Gregory
- Phone
- (972) 772-0011
- Regulated since
- Jun 18, 1996
- HHSC IDs
- Operation 144589 · number 520042
- Official record
- HHSC Child Care Search
Violations by category
Year by year
| Year | Violations | Serious | Main categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 0 | Safety & premises (2), Staff background & training (1), Other (1) |
| 2025 | 10 | 0 | Supervision & ratios (3), Safety & premises (2), Food & allergies (1), Other (4) |
| 2024 | 2 | 0 | Safety & premises (2) |
Inspections, investigations & assessments
-
May 8, 2026 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
-
Apr 10, 2026 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Staff background & training
One staff member did not have the required notorized affidavit.
HHSC 746.1105(3) — Minimum Qualifications Employees and Caregivers - Affidavit (Form 2985)
HHSC risk weight: Low. Corrected 2026-04-17. Correction verified 2026-04-23.
-
Safety & premises
Playground hazard: Children were observed playing on a tree that appeared to damaged from severe weather.
HHSC 746.3701 — Safety - Areas Free From Hazards
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-05-08.
-
Other
The younger playground did not have the required six inches of surfacing (pea gravel).
HHSC 746.4907(d) — Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Proper Depth Maintained
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-05-29. Correction verified 2026-05-08.
-
Safety & premises
Two booster seats used to transport children were expired.
HHSC 746.5607(b) — Child Passenger Safety Seat System - Not expired or damaged in accident
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2026-04-24. Correction verified 2026-04-23.
-
Staff background & training
-
Dec 4, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Other
1 child observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions signed by parent.
HHSC 746.2421(a) — Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-12-05. Correction verified 2025-12-05.
-
Safety & premises
The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired.
HHSC 746.4751(c) — Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-12-05. Correction verified 2025-12-05.
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Other
-
Nov 18, 2025 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Food & allergies
Bottle were missing labels and the Director corrected it by writing the child's name on their bottles
HHSC 746.2419(6) — Requirements for Feeding Infants - Label Bottles/Cups
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected at inspection. Corrected 2025-12-02.
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Other
All infants observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions.
HHSC 746.2421(a) — Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
-
Safety & premises
The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired.
HHSC 746.4751(c) — Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
-
Other
The loose-fill located on the playground measured less than one inch.
HHSC 746.4905 — Acceptable Loose-fill Surfacing
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation does not have an updated fire inspection on file. The Director called the fire marshal and scheduled for Tuesday11-25-2025 and will provide documentation.
HHSC 746.5101(b) — Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
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Other
The director did not provide documentation for sheltering or lockdown drills.
HHSC 746.5205(4) — Documentation of Drills
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation does not have a current gas inspection availble for review for CCR.
HHSC 746.5401 — Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
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Supervision & ratios
The operation did not have a building and ground checklist available for review.
HHSC 746.801(8) — Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Playground Maintenance Records
HHSC risk weight: Medium. Corrected 2025-12-02. Correction verified 2025-12-04.
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Food & allergies
-
Nov 13, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Nov 12, 2025 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 3, 2025 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Jan 30, 2025 Report · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Dec 11, 2024 Inspection · Deficiencies cited
-
Safety & premises
Playground hazards: broken plastic slide; wooden storage shed with splinted wood (children observed putting hands in wooden shed).
HHSC 746.3701(5) — Safety - Play Materials and Equipment Safe
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-12-31. Correction verified 2025-01-09.
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Safety & premises
One van used to transport children in care did not have the required first aid kit.
HHSC 746.4001 — First Aid Kit - Available in Each Building, on Field Trips, during Transportation
HHSC risk weight: Medium High. Corrected 2024-12-17. Correction verified 2025-01-09.
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Safety & premises
-
Jan 18, 2024 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Feb 22, 2023 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
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Mar 4, 2022 Inspection · No deficiencies cited
No violations cited on this visit.
Get the full file
HHSC publishes inspections, investigations and assessments from October 2017 onward, with each cited deficiency and its risk weight. Investigation narratives, complaint files and older history require a public information request. The Texas Public Information Act (Texas Government Code Chapter 552) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why.
Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)
- Send to
- HHSC Open Records Coordinator, MC-1070 · OpenRecordsRequest@hhs.texas.gov · fax 512-424-6586 · 4601 W. Guadalupe Street, Austin, Texas 78751-3146 · agency instructions
Show the letter text
If something is happening now, report a concern to HHSC Child Care Regulation. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.
Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Child Care Regulation datasets on data.texas.gov. Last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is HHSC's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan. About this data.