Sophies Learning Center
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Reviews
Public Service Announcement:
To all parents looking for child care I would like to warn you of Sophies Learning Center in Swoyersville. This is completely out of character for me but I felt the need to share my unpleasant experience with this daycare. The daycare only wants to be a glorified babysitter and doesn't want to actually take care of the children. For example my child a 1 year old was sent home for a fever that he didnt actually have with a dirty diaper and the staff member didnt even acknowledge me and handed me my child like he was a bother to her. They turn away children or always try to send them home early so they don't have to deal with tantrums or anything inconvenient. The owner will assure you a certain level of care but is never accessible in person and claims that there are certain protocols they need to follow but when you bring it up she just gets offensive instead of taking accountability. There is some staff that is absolutely too good to work there but because the owner falls short so does the level of care. There are too many incidents to put on the post. I just want to warn any parents who are considering sending your children here you will get the bare minimum. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt and didn't go with the other reviews but after experiencing this myself I have to say there is truth.
Awful place for children. Would never go back. Huge change in my child after pulling my child out. Used tv as baby sitter. No structure. Dont take your dying dog here.
I worked here for short time over my summer break from my regular job teaching. The owner does NOT understand ratio or follow it at all. When bringing it to her attention she flipped out saying I was wrong. I assured her she was breaking ratio (check her violations on Compass and you'll see shes been told about this in the past by the state). The owner refused to see the flaw and acknowledge it or fix it so I quit but I told her I would finish my shift as it was early in the day and I did. Then when it was payday nothing was deposited into my bank acct like it previously had been. I contacted her and had to wait another 2 weeks for the next payroll to be paid even though it was her mess up. I let it go as I was financially okay and I waited the extra 2 weeks to be paid. Now at tax time I am still waiting on a w2 in the mail even though her current employees were given theirs over 2 weeks ago. I asked twice if I could pick mine up but her response is she has no idea why I havent received it. I even told her the IRS advised me to ask to pick it up yet she is not cooperating at all. If you're considering working here I would highly advise against it. She did this to MULTIPLE employees who quit due to her mistreatment of staff or her not following state regulations. If you are considering enrolling your child at this daycare I would also advise against it from the things I witnessed in my short time there. The owner is rude. She bad mouths families, does not understand or follow state ratio, and the active supervision is nonexistent. The weekly price may be low but it is because the quality at this daycare is also low.
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About the Provider
Hours of Operation
- Monday6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Tuesday6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Wednesday6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Thursday6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Friday6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Saturday 6:45 AM - 5:00 PM
- Sunday Closed
Inspection/Report History
Where possible, ChildcareCenter provides inspection reports as a service to families. This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact the daycare provider directly with any questions or concerns. Reports can also be verified with your local daycare licensing office.
| Inspection Date | Reason | Description | Status |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.102(a) - Clean and good repair | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.102(a) Description: Clean and good repair Noncompliance Area: One toilet in the Boys' Restroom had two exposed bolts at its base. Correction Required: Toys, play equipment and other indoor and outdoor equipment used by the children shall be clean, in good repair and free from rough edges, sharp corners, pinch and crush points, splinters and exposed bolts. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will schedule a maintenance task to remove and reattach or replace the bolts with bolt covers or caps to ensure they are no longer exposed. Will implement a regular maintenance schedule to inspect and address potential hazards on toys, play equipment, and facilities. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.124(b)(3) - Parent home/work address, phone | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.124(b)(3) Description: Parent home/work address, phone Noncompliance Area: The emergency contact information on file for Child #4 did not include a parent's work telephone number. Correction Required: Emergency contact information must include the home and work addresses and telephone numbers of the enrolling parent. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure all fields are properly filled out prior to accepting emergency contact form. The emergency contact information on file for Child #4 now includes the parent's work telephone number. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.131(b)(2) - Toddler/preschool: updated health report every 12 months | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.131(b)(2) Description: Toddler/preschool: updated health report every 12 months Noncompliance Area: The only health reports on file for Child #1 (see code sheet for date of birth) were dated 7/31/23 and 6/10/25. More than a year had lapsed between health reports. Correction Required: The operator shall require the parent to provide an updated health report at least every 12 months for an older toddler or preschool child. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure every year all health assessments are up to date and on file for each child. Child #1 has a current and valid health report on file. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.131(d)(7) - Free from contagious/communicable disease | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.131(d)(7) Description: Free from contagious/communicable disease Noncompliance Area: The initial health report on file for Child #4, which was dated 8/26/25, did not include a statement that the child is able to participate in childcare and appears to be free from contagious or communicable disease. Correction Required: A health report shall include a statement that the child is able to participate in child care and appears to be free from contagious or communicable disease. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) will ensure the proper health assessment forms are used each year. Child #4 now has a complete health report on file that includes the required statements indicating that the child is able to participate in childcare and appears to be free from contagious or communicable disease. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.151(a) - 12 months prior to service and every 24 months thereafter | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.151(a) Description: 12 months prior to service and every 24 months thereafter Noncompliance Area: The most recent health assessments on file for Staff #4 were dated 7/23/23 and 9/27/25. More than 24 months had lapsed between health assessments. Correction Required: A facility person providing direct care who comes into contact with the children or who works with food preparation shall have a health assessment conducted within 12 months prior to providing initial service in a child care setting and every 24 months thereafter. A health assessment is valid for 24 months following the date of signature, if the person does not contract a communicable disease or develop a medical problem. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure all staff members update their physicals every 24 months. Staff #4 has a current/valid health assessment on file. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.31(e)(4)(ii) - Fire safety - 1 yr. | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.31(e)(4)(ii) Description: Fire safety - 1 yr. Noncompliance Area: Staff #3 had fire safety trainings on file dated 10/14/24 and 11/26/2025. More than a year had lapsed between each training. Correction Required: Staff persons shall participate, at least annually, in fire safety training conducted by a fire protection professional. Staff persons and volunteers shall receive training in maintenance of smoke detectors, the duties of facility persons during a fire drill and during a fire and the use of the facility's fire extinguishers, not including discharge of the fire suppressant agent. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Staff #3 is currently compliant with their fire safety training. Going forward, all staff will receive fire safety training every year prior to the date of the previous training expiring. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.66(a) - Locked or inaccessible | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.66(a) Description: Locked or inaccessible Noncompliance Area: Babyganics natural insect repellant spray was observed in a sunflower bookbag that was hanging from a shelf in the Large Main Room. This spray, which was labeled, "keep out of reach of children", was accessible to the children being supervised in that room. Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Item was immediately removed out of the book bag and placed in a secure area. Will ensure parents staff and other persons that enter the building know and understand that these items need to be out of reach of children. |
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| 2025-12-15 | Renewal | 3270.76/3270.77(a) - Building Surfaces/No peeling paint or plaster | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.76/3270.77(a) Description: Building Surfaces/No peeling paint or plaster Noncompliance Area: Peeling paint was observed along the wall near the coat hangers in the Large Main Room. Also, peeling paint was observed on the red wall in the Infant section of the Large Main Room. Correction Required: Floors, walls, ceilings and other surfaces, including the facility's outdoor play space surfaces shall be kept clean, in good repair and free from visible hazards. Peeled or damaged paint or damaged plaster is not permitted on indoor or outdoor surfaces in the child care facility. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Items will be repainted. Will ensure all surfaces are in good repair. Will implement a regular maintenance schedule to inspect and address potential hazards on toys, play equipment, and facilities. |
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| 2025-10-30 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.31(e)(4)(i) - Age and Training | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.31(e)(4)(i) Description: Age and Training Noncompliance Area: Staff person #1 has not completed Pediatric first aid and CPR training on or before expiration of the most current certification. This is evidenced by the previously documented Pediatric first aid and CPR training on file expiring 2/2025. Documentation of updated Pediatric first aid and CPR training is not on file. Correction Required: Competence is the completion of training by a professional in the field of first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). All staff persons shall renew their certification in pediatric first aid and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on or before the expiration of the most current certification. Until such time as the required training has been completed, staff person #1 must be supervised, when interacting with children at a minimum by an AGS who has completed all preservice trainings and has all qualifications to care for children unsupervised. If there are no staff person(s) available to supervise staff person #1, staff person #1 may not work in a child-care position at the facility. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure all staff members complete their annual trainings on time or before expiration dates. Staff member #1 will remain supervised until training is complete. Staff #1 will be supervised by someone who is qualified at least as an AGS and who has also completed all preservice trainings and has all qualifications to care for children unsupervised. |
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| 2025-10-30 | Self-Reported Non Compliance | 3270.66(a)/3270.68(b) - Locked or inaccessible/No cigarette butts | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.66(a)/3270.68(b) Description: Locked or inaccessible/No cigarette butts Noncompliance Area: On 10/21/25, Staff #1 acknowledged that their nicotine vape fell out of their pocket in the Main Room, which resulted in Child #1 gaining access to the vape pen, and placing it in their mouth. This incident was self-reported to the Regional Office on 10/22/25. Correction Required: Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children. Ashes and cigarette or cigar butts are prohibited in a child care space, a play space or a food preparation area. TIERED LIS: 1. Cleaning materials and other toxic materials shall be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children. Ashes and cigarette or cigar butts are prohibited in a child care space, a play space or a food preparation area. As per Announcement C-17-02, this regulation now includes vape pens. This portion of the plan shall have an immediate correction date. 2. The Legal Entity/Director must update existing health and safety policies/procedures. The policies and procedures must include the following requirements: Staff will ensure that children do not have access to anything that may be potentially harmful, toxic, or hazardous to a child by following strict policies and procedures related to the use and storage of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, vapes, and other potentially harmful, toxic, or hazardous items. The Legal Entity/Director will submit the updated policies/procedures to the Northeast Regional Office for approval. Once approved, all existing staff and new hires must be trained on the approved policies and procedures, and it must be documented in their files. The operator shall provide a date by when this will be completed. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) 1. Because cleaning materials and other toxic materials are to be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children as well as Ashes and cigarette or cigar butts are prohibited in a child care space, a play space or a food preparation area, I suspended the staff member for one day. Also, the vape pen was immediately taken off Child #1. The child was checked to make sure that they were okay. This incident was immediately reported to the child's mother and self-reported to the Department. Additionally, cleaning materials and other toxic materials will be kept in an area or container that is locked or made inaccessible to children. Vapes, ashes, and cigarette or cigar butts will not be permitted in a child care space, a play space or a food preparation area. Correction Date: 10/21/25. 2. Existing health and safety policies/procedures will be updated according to the Department's requirements. Once the new policies/procedures are approved by the Department, all current staff and future hires will be trained on these policies/procedures. After the training is completed, all staff will sign off on a training log that is kept on file at the facility. Staff will be monitored/assessed to ensure on-going compliance with the updated policies/procedures. Correction Date: 12/1/2025 |
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| 2025-10-30 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.94(a)(1) - Every 60 days | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.94(a)(1) Description: Every 60 days Noncompliance Area: Fire drills were not conducted at least once every 60 days as evidenced by the following fire drill logs that were on file: 7/29/25 to 9/29/25. Correction Required: The Director or designated staff person who is responsible for compliance with this chapter ensure fire drills are conducted at least once every 60 days. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure fire drill logs are conducted once every 60 days. The facility is currently compliant. |
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| 2025-10-30 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.95(a)/3270.95(b) - Devices must be compliant/Director or designated staff person ensure compliance | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.95(a)/3270.95(b) Description: Devices must be compliant/Director or designated staff person ensure compliance Noncompliance Area: The fire detection system was not tested at least once every 30 days as indicated by the following fire detection system testing logs that were on file: 8/28/25 to 9/29/25. Also, there was no proof on file that a fire detection system test was completed after 9/29/25. However, the next fire detection system test should have occurred by 10/29/2025. Correction Required: Fire detection devices or systems must be in compliance with standards established under section 1016(c) of the act (62 P.S. § 1016(c)). The Director or designated staff person who is responsible for compliance with this chapter shall ensure the requirements under subsection (a) are met. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Will ensure fire drill detection system is tested at least once every 30 days. The fire detection system was tested and proof of this is on file at the facility. |
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| 2025-07-25 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.52 - Mixed Age Level | Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.52 Description: Mixed Age Level Noncompliance Area: CONTINUED NONCOMPLIANCE: On 7/7/25, Staff #3 and Facility Person #1 were observed to be supervising a group of 9 children: 4 infants and five young toddlers. Since Facility Person #1 does not qualify as a staff, Staff #3 was responsible for supervising all of the children by themself. However, this number of children requires at least 2 staff persons. An acceptable plan of correction was received indicating that the correction would be implemented by 7/7/25. On 7/25/25, a verification visit was conducted. Staff #2 and Staff #4 were observed to be supervising 17 children together in the Outdoor Play Area. Staff #2 identified two preschoolers, three young school age children, and five older school age children in their primary group. Staff #4 identified two older toddlers and five preschool aged children in their primary group. It was reported that Staff #5 was with this group, but went inside to make lunch. This number of children requires three staff persons at all times. Correction Required: When children are grouped in mixed-age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff: child ratio and maximum group size in accordance with the requirements in § 3270.51 (relating to similar age level). TIERED LIS: 1. The required staff:child ratios must be maintained at all times. This portion of the plan shall have an immediate correction date. 2. The Legal Entity/Director will establish/update their supervision and ratio policies. The policies should include the following information, at a minimum: 1. How the facility will demonstrate their knowledge and ability to adequately supervise children while maintaining appropriate ratio at all times. 2. How staff will maintain ratios when a staff suddenly calls off for an emergency or illness, or when staff are late for their shift. 3. How ratios will be maintained when children are unexpectedly dropped off to the facility. 4. How staff will maintain ratios during transition times, and when they need to move children to another classroom to immediately maintain proper ratios. 5. A procedure for reporting ratio and staffing issues to the designated person in charge immediately. The Legal Entity/Director will submit the updated policies/procedures to the Northeast Regional Office for approval. Once approved, all existing staff and new hires must be trained on the approved policies and procedures, and it must be documented in their files. The operator shall provide a date by when this will be completed. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) 7/25/25 An immediate correction was put into place. Staff #5 took one of the older toddler children from Staff #4 and supervised only that child. This allowed Staff #4 to only have one older toddler and five preschoolers in their primary group. Staff #2 only had two preschoolers, three young school aged children, and five older school aged children in their primary group. Also, the required staff:child ratios will be maintained at all times. 8/5/25 Existing supervision and ratio policies and procedures will be updated to include all needed/required items. The updated policies/ procedures will be sent to the regional office for approval. Once approved, all staff will be trained on the new policies/procedures and will sign off on a dated training log. The facility will keep the proof of review on file, and staff will be monitored to ensure that they are following the updated policies/procedures. |
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| 2025-07-07 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.31(b) - Staff person - 18 yrs. | Non Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.31(b) Description: Staff person - 18 yrs. Noncompliance Area: Facility Person #1 was observed to be supervising five young toddlers in the Infant/Young Toddler Room. However, Facility Person #1 does not meet the minimum age requirements to qualify as a staff (see code sheet for date of birth). Correction Required: A staff person shall be 18 years of age or older. |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Facility Person #1 was immediately removed from center for not meeting qualifying age requirements. A staff member, who met the minimum age requirements to qualify as a staff, replaced Facility Person #1 and assumed supervision of the children previously under Facility Person #1's care. |
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| 2025-07-07 | Unannounced Monitoring | 3270.52 - Mixed Age Level | Non Compliant - Finalized |
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Regulation: 3270.52 Description: Mixed Age Level Noncompliance Area: On 7/7/25, Staff #3 and Facility Person #1 were observed to be supervising a group of 9 children: 4 infants and five young toddlers. Since Facility Person #1 does not qualify as a staff, Staff #3 was responsible for supervising all of the children by themself. However, this number of children requires at least 2 staff persons. Correction Required: When children are grouped in mixed age levels, the age of the youngest child in the group determines the staff: child ratio and maximum group size in accordance with the requirements in § 3270.51 (relating to similar age level). |
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Provider Response: (Contact the State Licensing Office for more information.) Facility Person #1 was replaced immediately w/ a qualifying staff. This replacement staff immediately assumed supervision of the children previously under Facility Person #1's care. |
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