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STEPPING STONES NURSERY SCHOOL INC.

2750 W LAWRENCE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Children's Services Facility

Inspection summary

STEPPING STONES NURSERY SCHOOL INC. has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 14, 2019. The most recent inspection, on April 1, 2025, found no infractions.

3 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Pests and Food temperature control.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 1, 2024. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food, supplies and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 22, 2022. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Inspectors check that anything that has to be kept at a set temperature, such as chilled or hot food, or equipment like sterilizers, stays in its safe range and that accurate thermometers are on hand. With food, temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning.

    Recorded 2 times on April 5, 2023. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 22, 2022. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food and supplies are stored and handled: kept covered, off the floor, and away from anything that could contaminate them. Where food is served, raw meat must be kept away from ready-to-eat food, a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on February 14, 2019. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. License

    5 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST UPPER FREEZER COMPARTMENT OF THE REFRIGERATION UNITS IN ALL STUDENTS CLASSROOMS WITH EXCESSIVE ICE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN INTERIOR OF REFRIGERATION UNITS WITH MINIMAL DEBRI SPILLAGE LOCATED IN ALL STUDENTS CLASSROOMS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION HEAVY DUST BUILD-UP ON CEILING AND ATTACHED EQUIPMENTS IN THE FRONT (SUNFLOWER SEEDLINGS) INFANT CLASSROOM AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE THE REAR ELECTRICAL STORAGE CLOSET AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND ELEVATE MOPS,BROOMS CLEANING EQUIPMENTS OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6" INCHES TO FACILITATE CLEANING AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED BURNT-OUT LIGHT BULB INSIDE THE KITCHEN REFRIGERATION UNIT.INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
  3. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED MILK STORED AT INADEQUATE TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 44-48 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD FOOD IS STORED AT 41 F AND BELOW. MANAGER DISCARDED 2 GALLONS OF MILK ($8). PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED INACURATE AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN COOLER IN TODDLER ROOM. THERMOMETER READ AN AIR TEMPERATURE OF 38 F IN COOLER ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 47 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS ARE ACCURATE. MANAGER REMOVED INACURATE THERMOMETER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED 1 FAUCET IN 2 FAUECT SINK WITH NO HOT WATER IN 2 YEAR OLD ROOM. HOT WATER IN LEFT FAUCET WAS MEASURED AT 78 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE HOT WATER HOLDS A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100 F IN BOTH FAUCETS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER IN STORAGE CLOSET OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DECLUTTER STORAGE CLOSET.
  4. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. License

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • HAND WASHING SIGNS MISSING IN CHILDRENS SHARED RESTROOM. FACILITY MUST PROVIDE PROPER SIGNAGE.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30 SMALL BLACK FLIES IN AND AROUND DIRTY DISH CONTAINER LOCATED UNDER HOT HOLDING UNITS IN MAIN KITCHEN AREA. FACILITY MUST WORK WITH LICENSE PEST CONTROL COMPANY TO ELIMINATE SMALL BLACK FLIES IN MAIN KITCHEN AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020 (a) CITATION ISSUED.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • STICKY FLY STRIP FOUND LOCATED ON SIDE OF CABINET IN INFANT ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREP/DISH AREAS. STICKY FLY STRIP WAS DISCARDED ON SITE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • SMALL COOLERS IN CLASS ROOMS ARE SOILED WITH FOOD DEBRIS. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • ICE/FROST BUILDUP FOUND IN SMALL COOLERS LOCATED IN THE CLASSROOMS. FACILITY MUST REMOVE ICE/FROST BUILDUP, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DIRTY CABINET STATION UNDER HAND SINK LOCATED IN INFANT ROOM. FACILITY MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED A RESIDENTIAL DISH WASHING MACHINE INSTALLED IN THE KITCHEN AREA WITHOUT TEMPERATURE GAUGES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND INSTALL A COMMERCIAL DISH WASHING MACHINE IF NEEDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
  7. License

    0 infractions

  8. License

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED THAT HAND WASHING SIGNS ARE NOT POSTED AT CLASSROOM HAND WASHING SINKS.INSTRUCTED TO POST AND MAINTAIN SIGNS.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED GAP OPENING AT BOTTOM OF FRONT MAIN ENTRANCE DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO MAKE DOORS TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY AND TO MAINTAIN.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • NO SPLASH GUARD AT FOOD PREP HAND WASHING SINK.MUST INSTALL A WASHABLE SPLASH GUARD AT RIGHT SIDE NEXT TO THE DISH WASHING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND TO MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE INTERIORS OF FOOD PREP AREA CABINETS AND INTERIORS OF UPPER AND LOWER CABINETS THROUGHOUT ALL STUDENTS CLASSROOMS AND TO MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • EMPLOYEE WASH ROOM DOOR IS NOT SELF CLOSING.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND TO MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL NOTICEABLE OPENINGS AROUND PLUMBING/ELECTRICAL FIXTURES THROUGHOUT THE PREMISES (FOOD PREP AREA,CLASS ROOMS,SPRINKLER SYSTEM ROOM) AND SEAL NOTICEABLE OPENINGS/GAPS BETWEEN UPPER WALLS/CEILING IN FOOD PREP AREA AND TO MAINTAIN WHERE NOTED TO MANAGEMENT AT THIS TIME.

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