# Essential Steps Essential Steps is a licensed child care program (child care center) in Rockwall, TX serving ages Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School, with 63 licensed seats. It is regulated by TX HHSC. ## Key facts - Status: Full Permit · Operating - Address: 305 E Rusk St, Rockwall, TX 75087 - Ages: Infant, Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, School - Capacity: 63 - License/permit: 520042 - Operator: not published - Phone: (972) 772-0011 - Website: www.essentialsteps.com - Hours: 06:30 AM-06:30 PM (Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri) - Accepts child care subsidies: yes - Official regulator profile: https://childcare.hhs.texas.gov/Public/OperationDetails?operationId=144589 ## Inspection record 16 findings across 12 Texas HHSC inspections (2022-03-04 to 2026-05-08); 11 rated serious; 0 open at last record. - 2026-04-10 — Facilities & equipment, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-05-08: Installation and Maintenance of Loose-fill Surfacing - Proper Depth Maintained: The younger playground did not have the required six inches of surfacing (pea gravel). (§746.4907(d); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4907-d)) - 2026-04-10 — Other, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-04-23: Child Passenger Safety Seat System - Not expired or damaged in accident: Two booster seats used to transport children were expired. (§746.5607(b); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5607-b)) - 2026-04-10 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Low risk, Correction verified 2026-04-23: Minimum Qualifications Employees and Caregivers - Affidavit (Form 2985): One staff member did not have the required notorized affidavit. (§746.1105(3); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-1105-3)) - 2026-04-10 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2026-05-08: Safety - Areas Free From Hazards: Playground hazard: Children were observed playing on a tree that appeared to damaged from severe weather. (§746.3701; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-3701)) - 2025-12-04 — Food & nutrition, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-12-05: Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional: 1 child observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions signed by parent. (§746.2421(a); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2421-a)) - 2025-12-04 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-12-05: Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired: The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired. (§746.4751(c); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4751-c)) - 2025-11-18 — Facilities & equipment, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Acceptable Loose-fill Surfacing: The loose-fill located on the playground measured less than one inch. (§746.4905; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4905)) - 2025-11-18 — Safety hazards, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Maintenance Procedures for Active Play - Hazards Removed or Repaired: The wheels on the Merry go cycle were broken and needed to be repaired. (§746.4751(c); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4751-c)) - 2025-11-18 — Food & nutrition, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Written Feeding Instructions - Signed and Dated by Parent or Health-Care Professional: All infants observed in the infant classroom during the inspection did not have updated infant feeding instructions. (§746.2421(a); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2421-a)) - 2025-11-18 — Supervision & ratios, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Required Records Maintained and Made Available - Playground Maintenance Records: The operation did not have a building and ground checklist available for review. (§746.801(8); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-801-8)) - 2025-11-18 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-high risk, Corrected at inspection: Requirements for Feeding Infants - Label Bottles/Cups: Bottle were missing labels and the Director corrected it by writing the child's name on their bottles (§746.2419(6); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-2419-6)) - 2025-11-18 — Supervision & ratios, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Annual Fire Inspection - Conducted by Fire Marshal: 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. (§746.5101(b); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5101-b)) - 2025-11-18 — Supervision & ratios, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Requirement of Gas Leak Inspection: The operation does not have a current gas inspection availble for review for CCR. (§746.5401; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5401)) - 2025-11-18 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium risk, Correction verified 2025-12-04: Documentation of Drills: The director did not provide documentation for sheltering or lockdown drills. (§746.5205(4); [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-5205-4)) - 2024-12-11 — Staff qualifications & clearances, Medium-high risk, Correction verified 2025-01-09: First Aid Kit - Available in Each Building, on Field Trips, during Transportation: One van used to transport children in care did not have the required first aid kit. (§746.4001; [type](https://www.kinfield.site/violation/tx-tac-746-4001)) - …and 1 more on the source page. ## Nearby programs - [Anchor Early Learning Academy](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1520206) — 0.2 km, capacity 27 - [Rise Academy Learning Center](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1433122) — 0.34 km, capacity 70 - [Lighthouse Academy](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1523962) — 1.42 km, capacity 188 - [Rockwall Early Head Start Center](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-241417) — 1.68 km, capacity 36 - [Lightbridge Academy of Fate](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-1528242) — 1.94 km, capacity 259 - [Ark Preschool](https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-235170) — 1.98 km, capacity 175 ## Sources - tx_hhsc_operations record 144589 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://data.texas.gov/resource/bc5r-88dy.json?operation_id=144589 - us_census_geocoder record 305 E RUSK ST|ROCKWALL|TX|75087 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-05): https://geocoding.geo.census.gov/geocoder/ - tx_twc_subsidy_providers record 520042 (verified, retrieved 2026-11-06): https://data.texas.gov/resource/wmur-pmzc.json?state_id=520042 - tx_twc_ccs_facilities record row-xnii.p8at.6mu7 (historical, retrieved 2026-11-06): https://data.texas.gov/resource/bsvz-ncuc.json?state_id=520042 --- Source page: https://www.kinfield.site/facility/tx-hhsc-144589 · Kinfield — Childcare Intelligence. Facts come from public regulator records; historical inspection data is labelled. Missing data never means no issue exists.