New Garden Early Care & Education Center LLC
A licensed child care center in Dover, Delaware 19901
4557 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, Delaware 19901. (302) 730-8585.
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The short answer
Record last released by Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing on Oct 23, 2026.
Each figure’s source sits beside it, in its section below.
What these words mean4
- Inspection (survey)
- A visit by state inspectors, often unannounced, who check a place against the rules it must meet. For nursing homes and other places Medicare pays, CMS calls these visits surveys: a standard survey of a nursing home comes at least every 15 months, and a complaint survey whenever a complaint calls for one. Source: CMS; 42 CFR 488.308.
- Deficiency, citation, violation
- What inspectors write up when a place didn’t meet a rule: the rule, what they saw, and when. CMS calls it a deficiency; states may say citation or violation. It is the inspectors’ finding, not a court’s, and the place is usually asked for a plan to correct it. Source: CMS, statement of deficiencies (Form CMS-2567); each state’s licensing agency.
- Licence status
- Whether the state’s licence lets the place operate now, in the state’s own words: licensed, on probation (allowed to keep operating on conditions, after problems), provisional, pending or expired. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
- Capacity
- The most people the licence or certification lets the place care for at once: residents, children, beds or apartments, as the state counts them. It isn’t how many are there now. Source: Each state’s licensing agency.
What did inspectors find?
6 visits with violations in the last three years, the latest on Apr 15, 2026; Delaware doesn’t list visits that found nothing.
47 violations cited in the last three years.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
When those violations happened
47 violations in 6 months of the last 36. Last cited Apr 2026. The last 3 years, to Oct 24, 2026.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||
| 2024 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2025 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| 2026 | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct |
Hover or focus a month to read it.
Hearth Record drew this from the dates and levels in the source’s own records.
Each violation, in its source’s words
Grouped by visit, newest first, with the level its source gave it.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
Apr 15, 2026: unannounced Full Compliance Review12 violations
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Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure ratios are maintained at all times. The Explorers classroom had one staff member alone with 16 children until the other staff member returned to the classroom.”
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Personnel Files
The inspectors’ words, 115 words
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needed health and safety training before working with children, the staff member started on 11/5/25, and the health and safety training was not completed until 1/31/26. One staff member needs orientation. One staff member needs health and safety training. Four staff members need a job description. Three staff members need references. Two staff members need the adult abuse registry results. Three staff members need a health appraisal on OCCL’s form. Two staff members need TB test results. Three staff members need the release of employment history completed. Three staff members need a second attempt for a service letter. Five staff members need initial attempts at service letters.”
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Staff Attendance
“Ensure exact arrival and departure times are recorded for staff members. The Explorers’ classroom staff member left the room and returned several minutes later. Departure and arrival back into the classroom were not documented.”
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Parents Right to Know
“Ensure tours and newly enrolled families sign and complete the Parent’s Right to Know Log. Four children enrolled need to have the log completed.”
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Children’s Attendance
“Ensure that when children are moving about the center, not in a group, their locations are documented with arrival and departure times. The infant classroom left two infants behind, and the rest went to the gym for music. The infants in the gym did not have their departure from the classroom or arrival at the gym documented.”
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Hazardous Materials
“Ensure cabinets are locked, and leaners are labeled. The Explorers classroom had an unlocked cabinet, and the Tiny Astro room needed labeled cleaners.”
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Toilet Facilities
“Ensure bathroom ventilation is free from debris and dust. Tiny Astros bathroom vent needs to be cleaned.”
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Pools and Swimming
“Ensure portable pools are not in use.”
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Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“Ensure rest equipment is labeled. The Guppies classroom nap equipment is not labeled.”
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Diapering and Soiled Clothing
“Ensure the bathroom has a diapering procedure posted, a floor-activated diaper pail with a liner within arms’ reach, a changing pad, and disposable covers. The sunflower room needs the required diaper-changing items in the bathroom when the changing table is not in use.”
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Administration of Medication
“Ensure that over-the-counter and prescription medications are out of reach, in their original packaging, accompanied by a completed medication administration record, the child’s name on the medication, and action plans. 13 children need MARs completed for specific over-the-counter or prescription medications. One child needs an on-site action plan. One Child needs the original prescription package and stored out of reach. One child needs a name on their medication. One child needs medication in its original container.”
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Feeding of Infants
“Ensure the water used to warm a bottle does not go over 120 degreese farenheight. The infant classroom crockpot water was over 170 F.”
Apr 1, 2025: unannounced Full Compliance Review8 violations
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Personnel Files
The inspectors’ words, 93 words
“Ensure staff files are complete. Three staff need CPR and First aid, one staff needs an annual review of safe sleep, one staff needs annual review of abuse and neglect, two staff need orientation, four staff need Heath and Safety Training for Chid Cre professionals, six staff need job descriptions, twelve staff need references, one staff needs an eleibility letter on file, two staff need health appraisals, and one staff needs a TB result on file. Fifteen staff members need initial or follow-up attempts to receive a service letter from a previous employer.”
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Staff Attendance
“Ensure staff attendance at the exact arrival and departure time. Little Explorers had two staff members in the classroom, and only one was signed in.”
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Child Files
“Ensure that the child’s files are complete. Two children need updated health appraisals, two children need updated immunization records, and three children need blood lead testing results on file.”
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Children’s Attendance
“Ensure the child’s exact arrival is documented. One child in Busy Bugs was not signed in.”
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Kitchen and Food Preparation
“Ensure foods are labeled with the contents of the container. The items in the pantry did not have content on the container.”
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Administration of Medication
“Ensure medications are returned when expired and replaced, if necessary, in their original packaging, with the pharmacy label on the prescription medication’s original packaging. One child had an expired prescription and over-the-counter medicines that also needed to have their original packaging and pharmacy labels available.”
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Meals and Snacks
“Ensure that meals have all required components. Breakfast was served consisting of cereal and milk only in the bowl.”
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Feeding of Infants
“Ensure infant meal items are labeled. Two cups and a food jar were not labeled in the Sloth classroom.”
Dec 9, 2024: enforcement Visit4 violations
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Children’s Attendance
“The exact departure of a child must be documented. One child in Busy Bugs Two was not signed out.”
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Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“When an infant is sleeping in a crib, remove items from the rails. The specialist observed one infant asleep with a bib on the crib rail.”
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Administration of Medication
The inspectors’ words, 120 words
“Ensure medication is prescribed in its original container and labeled with directions on how to give or use it. Anything other than soap and water must be documented with parent permission on separate Medication Administration Record (MAR)s for each item. If the child no longer attends care, the items requiring a MAR are to be returned to the family. One child had albuterol, Aquaphor, and Egyptian Cream on one MAR. One child had two creams and no MAR. One child no longer attended care, and the Aquaphor was still available. Baby powder and A and D ointment are available with no MAR, and the child is in another classroom. Albuterol was in the medication box, not the original prescription box.”
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Feeding of Infants
“Infant feeding forms must be updated monthly. Two children’s feeding forms have not been updated since October 1, 2024.”
Oct 4, 2024: enforcement Visit1 violation
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Feeding of Infants
“Ensure a crock pot’s water is not more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The LS observed the crock post was not in use, the room was vacant, but a thermometer read the water temperature to over 130 degrees Fahrenheit.”
Apr 15, 2024: unannounced Full Compliance Review20 violations
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Food Service Policy
The inspectors’ words, 93 words
“Ensure food items are stored to prevent spoilage. LS observed the Sprouting Sunflowers,, Little Explorers, Busy Bugs, Cuddly Cactus, Learning Lamas classroom had lunch boxes without ice packs in a bin that were not taken from the classrooms until 10:06 am. Provide OCCL a plan written to ensure the lunch boxes are refrigerated in a timely manner. Ensure meal bins with milk are properly stored so milk will not spoil. LS observed breakfast ended at 9am and milk still in classrooms until 10am. Provide a schedule to have milk picked up to OCCL.”
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Staffing
“Ensure a staff member who is qualified as at least an early childhood teacher is present and designated as responsible for the center when the early childhood administrator is not present. There was not documentation in the staff files showing a qualified staff member was trained in the day-to-day operations. Please send documentation to OCCL when corrected.”
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Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure supervision of children is done by qualified and eligible. Staff #5 has been alone with children and not determined eligible. Admin was notified on 4/2 to not have staff on stie until eligible. Send OCCL eligibility when obtained.”
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General Qualifications
“Ensure a staff member is eligible before the start of employment or a comprehensive background check and letter of eligibility is on file. On 4/2/24 admin was made aware staff were no longer provisionally eligible or eligible and to not be at the licensed address. LS observed attendance showing staff#5 & staff#7 were onsite after the 4/2/24 notification. This was corrected with a conversation for Staff #7 who is out sick to not return until eligible and Staff #5 was sent home until eligible.”
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Personnel Files
The inspectors’ words, 111 words
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs CPR/FA, Orientation/references. Staff #2 needs OCCL H&S training. Staff #3 needs annual safe sleep / annual abuse & neglect. Staff #4 needs current PD plan. Staff #5 needs CPR/FA, Med Admin, PD plan, OCCL H&S training, references, eligibility. Staff #6 needs orientation/OCCL H&S /references. Staff #7 needs CPR/FA, PD plan, job description, references, eligibility. Staff #8 needs PD plan. Staff #9 needs CPR/FA. Staff #10 needs annual safe sleep. Staff #11 needs references/Health appraisal w/TB. Staff #12 needs orientation/OCCL H&S training/ service letters. Staff#13 needs CPR/FA, OCCL H&S training, references. Staff #14 needs orientation/adult abuse/release of employment/service letters. Staff #15 needs complete file.”
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Staff Attendance
“Ensure staff document arrival and departure times are exact. LS observed at 9:07 Staff #1 entered the room and Staff #11 left. Neither staff recorded arrival or Staff #11 did not record departure.”
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Child Files
“Ensure children’s files are complete. Child #1 needs developmental plan. Child #2 needs developmental plan. Child #3 needs developmental plan. Child #6 needs developmental plan/transportation permission. Child #7 needs date of enrollment. Child #8 needs date of enrollment/health appraisal/immunizations/blood lead screening results. Child #9 needs date of enrollment/developmental plan. Child #10 needs date of enrollment/developmental plan.”
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Children’s Attendance
“Ensure a child’s exact arrival and departure are documented. Busy Bugs had 16 children present and 15 signed in. This was corrected when Child #11 was signed in.”
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Hazardous Materials
“Ensure exposure to hazardous materials is not allowed. LS observed a cabinet was unlocked in the Lama room, leaving access to zip lock bags. The closet was accessible to the children in the Lamas and Sunflower classrooms. The closet had a chemical mop. Ensure to limit all access. Conversation was had.”
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Indoor Space
The inspectors’ words, 104 words
“Ensure any items for cleaning and disinfecting do not change the smell of the air. Plug-ins are not allowed. Plug-in air fresheners were in every classroom (not Little Explorers) and laundry room. Lemon scented Lysol aerosol was found in Fox, Sloth, and Sunflower classrooms. All items were removed and a conversation with staff was had. Labeled Sloth cubbies. Ensure personal belongings are labeled and stored. LS observed 2 lambs and 2 stingrays on top of the cubbies that were not labled and stored in a pile. Send photograph of labeled items stored separate or a statement of the items being removed from the facility.”
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Kitchen and Food Preparation
“Ensure refrigerators have a working thermometer that reads 40 degrees. Add a thermometer to Sloth refrigerator photograph to OCCL reading 40 degrees. Ensure items stored in pantry and refrigerator are labeled and dated. Pantry crackers, Goldfish, animal crackers are in Ziplock bags, not dated or labeled. Milk in kitchen fridge is dated 4-11-24, dispose of milk. Send OCCL statement of disposal, and date and label applesauce(2) and peaches(4). Send photograph to OCCL.”
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Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“Ensure when nap equipment is not in use, the stacked cots that have top/bottom and covers, do not touch the cot above underside. The Lama and Sunflower classroom cots were stacked with top covers touching the underside of the above cot. Send OCCL a photograph of no top/bottom covers on stored cots and the method of storing top and bottom sheets separate from another childs.”
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Equipment
“Ensure there are plenty of items for all children to u se, and provide experiences for social emotional, language/literacy, intellectual, and physical development. The Sprouting Sunflower classroom needs materials available in science, music, sensory, language, dramatic play, manipulatives. Also, area shelves cannot be turned around. Add materials to areas and turn around shelf. Send OCCL a video. Busy Bugs need music to be accessible to children, and manipulative shelf and items accessible to children. Send OCCL a photograph of correction.”
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Hand Washing
“Handwashing must occur before eating. LS observed in the Lama room, Child #12 on the floor crying then sat at a table, wiping his runny nose before eating his snack with no handwashing or nose wiping. Have all staff review the regulation and provide OCCL with proof of review.”
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Diapering and Soiled Clothing
“Ensure a foot activated trash can is within arms reach of the changing area. Cuddly Cactus classroom has no foot activated trashcan by changing table. Sprouting Sunflower classroom needs a foot-activated trash can by changing area that is only used for diapers. The one near it had empty food containers in it. Post a diaper procedure in Sunflower classroom by the changing area. Send OCCL a photograph of corrections.”
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Administration of Medication
The inspectors’ words, 120 words
“Ensure a MAR for each medication is filled out completely, given as requested, documented when given and medication is labeled w/child’s name. Child #13 had no MAR for Oraje/Tylenol/Sunscreen. Child #14 had no MAR for sunscreen/bug repelant/Aveno. Child #15 had no MAR for sunscreen. Child #16 had no MAR for Aquaphor. Child #17 had accident report stating applied antiseptic ointment bu had no MAR avail. Lama room, Child #18, MAR 10-18-23 had apply 2x’s a day, cream on wrong MAR, not documented as done as requested by parent. Child #19 amoxicillin on Rout. MAR 4-2-24, not documented as given. Child #20 Rout. MAR, give at diaper changes, not given, signed 1-15-24. Review regulation with staff and provide review to OCCL.”
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Child Accident and Injury
“Ensure parent notification is documented when calling as required for head injuries. Child #2 fell off a bathroom stool needing an ice pack on her head. Parent signed report but no documentation of phone call. Review regulation and provide review proof to OCCL.”
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Emergency Planning
“Ensure a monthly fire inspection is conducted and posted and a monthly fire drill is conducted and posted. Send OCCL inspections/drills for March and April. Ensure emergency water for 24 hours of use and infant supplies are on site. Send OCCL a photograph.”
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Feeding of Infants
“Ensure feeding forms for infants are updated monthly. Child #21 missed February. Child #22 not updated since 2-1-24. Child #23 not updated since 27-24. Child #24 not updated since 2-12-24. Update feeding forms and submit copy to OCCL.”
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Lesson Plans
“The lesson plan must be posted and current and include a daily activity for each required goal. The Busy Bugs need social emotional areas reaccomplished. Cuddly Cactus needs weekly food/healthy habits, science, music, sensory. Sprouting Sunflower classroom needs Social Emotional and Cognitive and 2+ weekly activities. Learning Lama and Sleepy Sloths classrooms need lesson plans for April posted. Send correction to OCCL.”
Nov 20, 2023: unannounced2 violations
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Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
The inspectors’ words, 102 words
“Ensure staff-to-child ratio and maximum group size are maintained at all times. According to attendance records submitted as a corrective action, the center is over maximum group in the morning from about 8:00 am to 8:30 am. During the visit, there were seven one-year-olds with one staff member. This was corrected during the visit. According to today’s attendance, there were eighteen children present in the Cuddly Cactus room from about 8:08 to 8:23 before separating into classrooms. Discussed this room needs to split once there are more than sixteen children. Submit attendance records for all rooms from 11/27 to 12/1 by 12/4.”
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Heating and Cooling
“Ensure the minimum room temperature is 68 degrees. Discussed putting the heat on a timer to ensure all rooms are up to temperature by the time the center opens. Submit verification of plan to maintain temperature.”
All 6 visits on record
| Date | Visit | What the record says |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2026 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 12 violations cited |
| Apr 1, 2025 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 8 violations cited |
| Dec 9, 2024 | Enforcement Visit | 4 violations cited |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Enforcement Visit | 1 violation cited |
| Apr 15, 2024 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 20 violations cited |
| Nov 20, 2023 | Unannounced | 2 violations cited |
Is it licensed?
- Licensed Child Care Center.
- Ages served, in Delaware’s words: 6 weeks through 12 years.
- Takes part in: Purchase of Care (state-subsidized child care).
- Licence number 689039.
- Capacity: 218 children.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
Has Delaware acted against it?
- 28 complaint investigations in the last three years. Results, in Delaware’s words: No Evidence to Substantiate (14), Substantiated (12), No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern (2).
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews and Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
| Date | What | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 28, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On August 6, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint alleging a lack of positive behavior support. An investigation was conducted on August 10, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because the video footage from August 5, 2026, was reviewed by the licensing specialist and the licensing specialist did not observe staff enter the classroom bathroom which is where the alleged incident was said to have happened, did not observe staff use force or handle a child roughly, and did not hear staff speak inappropriately to the children. |
| Jul 27, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On July 13, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint alleging a lack of positive behavior support. An investigation was conducted on July 13, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because the statement from Staff #1 and the video footage viewed by the licensing specialist showed no force or rough handling of Child #1 occurred. |
| May 20, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on May 8, 2026, regarding a lack of positive behavior support for taking away physical activity, not meeting the child s needs, the complaint policy, and not using respectful communication. An investigation was conducted on May 11, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint based on staff interviews. In addition, staff stated Child #1 was attending graduation practice until Parent #1 spoke with the owner and decided not to have Child #1 participate due to the graduation being photographed and recorded. |
| Mar 16, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on February 27, 2026, regarding not following the parent handbook policies on photographing and videography. An investigation was conducted on March 4, 2026. The complaint is substantiated for not following the parent handbook regarding photographing and videography because the handbook states permission is required for disseminating photographs or videography of a child, and the permission was not in the child s file. |
| Feb 17, 2026 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on September 5, 2025, regarding a lack of positive behavior supports, not having access to activity areas, improper staff-to-child ratio, and staff communication. An investigation was conducted on September 5, 2025. This complaint is substantiated regarding a lack of positive behavior supports because all children interviewed stated Staff #4 and Staff #5 were putting children in the closet and telling them a monster is going to get them. Also, Staff #1 stated she witnessed Staff #5 put a child in the closet and tell them the monster would get them. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not having access to activity areas because during the visit, the children were engaged with materials and staff indoors and outdoors. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper staff-to-child ratio because according to attendance records for the week of September 2, 2025, and observation at the time of the visit, all classrooms were following proper staff-to-child ratio. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper staff communication because no staff member interviewed stated they had communication or bullying issues with the mother and daughter staff members. An additional concern noted during the visit was the upstairs of the facility was being renovated without OCCL prior approval. |
| Oct 6, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern | On September 17, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding not meeting the child s needs and the use of cell phones at a facility. An investigation was conducted on September 18, 2025. After investigating the complaint, no non-compliances were cited regarding the allegation because the allegation is historical. The child in the picture had not been enrolled at the facility for more than a year, and the staff is no longer employed either. A concern noted was Staff #5 was observed yelling in a child s face. |
| May 27, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on May 6, 2025, regarding diapering, suspension policies, and infant daily logs. An investigation was conducted on May 7, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper diapering because the staff members stated they check the children every hour and look for signs of needing to be changed. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not following their suspension policy because Administrator #1 stated Child #1 was never suspended but sent home for health exclusions. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not completing the infant daily logs because during the visit the Licensing Specialist observed the logs were completed as required. |
| May 22, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On May 6, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding using alcohol or a drug that could adversely affect job functions or having prohibited or illegal drugs, substances, or a non-prescribed controlled substance in the workplace and not keeping the center in a hazard-free and safe condition. An investigation was conducted on May 7, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate the use of alcohol or a drug that could adversely affect job functions, or having illegal drugs, substances, or non-prescribed controlled substances in the workplace because the Administrator and staff who work in the classrooms stated that no one has been in the classrooms while impaired. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint of not keeping the center in a hazard-free and safe condition because the classrooms did not have any objects or odors that indicated the use or storage of prohibited items at the child care. |
| Apr 7, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on February 7, 2025, regarding the facility s termination policy and staff communication. An investigation was conducted on February 24, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because the center s parent handbook states care may be terminated for any reason. Also, administrators stated the child s enrollment was terminated due to a lack of respectful and hostile communication with staff. The facility handbook also states families using purchase of care may receive a five-day notice. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of staff not communicating respectfully because both administrators stated their communication was professional. |
| Mar 28, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On February 28, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint regarding improper staff-to-child ratio, insufficient staff, and caring for children at the front desk. An investigation was conducted on February 28, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratio because according to attendance records for February 28, 2025, the Cactus classroom was over ratio with one staff alone with 14 children ages three-years-old to five-years-old from 7:10 a.m. until 7:30 a.m. when another staff member signed in. The Cactus classroom was over ratio with 23 children ages three-years-old to five-years-old from 7:37 a.m. until 7:40 a.m. with two staff. The Llama classroom was over ratio with one staff member alone with seven children ages one to two-years-old from 8:14 a.m. to 8:17 a.m. when another staff member signed in. The allegation of caring for children at the front desk is substantiated because Staff #1 stated she had a child at the front desk due to insufficient staff in the facility. The allegation of insufficient staff to operate is substantiated because there were not enough staff for the number of children in the facility to cover staff emergencies or staff needing to use the restroom. Additional concerns noted was according to attendance records for February 28, 2025, the Cactus classroom was over maximum group size with 23 children ages three-years-old to five-years-old from 7:37 a.m. until 7:40 a.m. with two staff. |
| Mar 24, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on February 26, 2025, regarding not having enough staff to fulfill administrative duties, not following the facility s complaint procedure process, and not safely using cleaning supplies. An investigation was conducted on February 28, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate the lack of safe use of cleaning supplies because the staff stated they used a dry paper towel to remove the yogurt from the shirt and would not use bleach around the children. There is no evidence to substantiate the facility not following their complaint process because, until February 26, 2025, staff stated there have not been any parent complaints for Child #1 to administrators, owners, or staff, and when an email was received on February 26, 2025, the owner responded to the email. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint of insufficient staff to fulfill administrative duties because the time cards observed for the administrators and the day-to-day staff show someone available for all hours of the facility’s operation. |
| Feb 5, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | On January 10, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding staff using alcohol or a drug that could adversely affect job functions. An investigation was conducted on January 16, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because administration stated they could not define a particular cause of the smell, LS #1 observed the facility smelled clean, staff were engaged with children, and all staff denied working with children while impaired. |
| Dec 13, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on December 4, 2024, regarding staff communication, child developmental plans, and not having water accessible for drinking. An investigation was conducted on December 9, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of staff not communicating respectfully because both staff and administrators denied communication was unprofessional. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not having a developmental plan because the child’s file contained a developmental plan and other screening documents. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of water not being available because the licensing specialists observed water bottles in cubbies, water in a pitcher with cups, and two faucets to accommodate a child without a water bottle. |
| Oct 22, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on September 27, 2024, regarding meeting the needs of the child and enrollment procedures. An investigation was conducted on October 4, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not meeting the child’s needs because staff stated that the child was checked in with staff, had a meal, and was changed and attended to as if he were an enrolled child. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of enrollment procedures because the child had been enrolled, but had not been present since June. However, because the parent s employment with the facility was not terminated, they still had access to the facility. The current staff and administrators were unaware the child was being dropped off and the parent s employment resuming at the center. |
| Oct 21, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on September 29, 2024, regarding staff communication, cell phone usage, and unqualified staff alone with children. An investigation was conducted on October 4, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper staff communication because both administrators stated Staff #1 was not onsite most of the week in question and when Staff #1 was present, interaction was limited to the lobby where Administrator #2 was, and communication was appropriate. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of cell phone usage because staff were engaged with children during the visit. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of unqualified staff alone with children because attendance records show all classrooms were staffed with qualified staff. |
| Sep 9, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on July 31, 2024, regarding unqualified staff alone with children, combining the two-year-old and three-year-old children, and punishing children for not napping. An investigation was conducted on August 12, 2024. Despite a statement from Administrator #1 that only qualified staff are alone with children, the complaint is substantiated for unqualified staff alone with children because attendance records showed unqualified staff were alone with children at various times throughout multiple days and in multiple classrooms from July 24, 2024, through July 26, 2024, and July 29, 2024, through July 31, 2024. The complaint is substantiated for combining the two-year-old and three-year-old classrooms because Child #1 was moved from the three-year-old classroom to the two-year-old classroom due to being overstimulated in the three-year-old classroom and not being potty trained. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of punishing children for not napping because all staff interviewed stated they did not know about this happening and it was not occurring at the time of the visit. Additional concerns noted were improper staff-to-child ratio and incomplete staff and child attendance records |
| Aug 30, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on July 26, 2024, regarding discrimination and not following the expulsion policy. An investigation was conducted on July 26, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because the facility had the early childhood mental health consultant involved in the classroom and explained to the parent that they would attempt to keep the child enrolled if they could meet the needs, he is safe, and not endangering the staff or other children. The center staff stated Child #1 s enrollment was terminated because Child #1 was a safety risk to himself, staff, and other children in care. This aligns with the facility handbook which states a family will be provided five days to find alternate care if their presence becomes a serious threat to themselves or the others. |
| Aug 1, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on July 8, 2024, regarding an infant not being fed. An investigation was conducted on July 26, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint of an infant not being fed because staff denied the allegation. Staff stated feedings would have been documented on the wall, even though it was not available in the application. A concern noted was the LS did not observe a record of the infants June 20, 2024, daily food intake in the approved electronic format the facility uses. |
| Jul 15, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on June 26, 2024, regarding not providing truthful information, not meeting the needs of the children by incorrectly lifting them, and accident/injury procedures. An investigation was conducted on July 3, 2024. The allegation of not meeting the needs of the child is substantiated because a staff stated she had an infant in her arms, and she pulled a one-year-old child up by the hand. The allegation of not following accident/injury procedures is substantiated because the accident report was not in the child s file or able to be located during the complaint visit. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not providing truthful information because the accident/injury report aligns with how the staff stated the injury occurred and the report is signed by the parent. |
| Jul 11, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on June 26, 2024, regarding not following the expulsion policy and discrimination. An investigation was conducted on July 3, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because the facility stated child care was terminated due to a high account balance and denied discrimination. |
| Jul 1, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on June 13, 2024, regarding improper staff communication and improper staff-to-child ratio. An investigation was conducted on June 14, 2024. The complaint for ratios is substantiated because the classroom attendance for June 11, 2024, shows during operation the Sunflower, Busy Bug, and Cuddly Cactus classrooms were out of ratio and the facility was in ratio during the complaint visit on June 14, 2024. The allegation of Mr. Peter cursing at children, staff, and parents is unsubstantiated because the two administrators that were questioned stated they and staff saw him for a few seconds when they arrived, but he was doing interviews in the morning. |
| Jun 21, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on June 3, 2024, regarding improper staff communication, not having sufficient staffing, improper staff-to-child ratio, not being respectful, not meeting the needs of the children, and not following their schedule. An investigation was conducted on June 7, 2024. The complaint is substantiated for not following their schedule because three classrooms were not following the posted schedule, and one staff stated the classroom does not have a schedule. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not having sufficient staffing and improper staff-to-child ratio because during the visit the licensing specialist observed enough staff in the facility to run daily functions and all classrooms were following proper staff-to-child ratio. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not meeting the needs of the child because the facility has conducted the ASQs, and therapists are providing services to the children. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not having respectful communication because the staff interviewed stated they have not heard any disrespectful communication from the accused staff. |
| May 15, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on April 24, 2024, regarding improper staff communication. An investigation was conducted on May 7, 2024. The complaint is substantiated because three staff members stated they have either been spoken to or overheard one of the owners speak to staff in a threatening tone and using curse words. Additional concerns noted were upon arrival, all staff were in classrooms, and no one was available to answer the door or provide breaks, and the administrator was in a classroom supervising children when she used her phone to call the owner. |
| Mar 14, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | On February 21, 2024, OCCL received a complaint regarding improper staff-child-ratio. An investigation was conducted on February 26, 2024. The complaint is substantiated because attendance records showed several classrooms were not following proper staff-to-child ratio or maximum group sizes. There were several additional concerns noted. An aide was alone with 12 children for an hour on February 12, 2024. A staff was signed in on the attendance records on February 21, 2024, but she was not fingerprinted for the center. Staff #1 was observed sitting on a shelf eating fast food but when the licensing specialist entered the classroom, Staff #1 then got down and began assisting children with handwashing. Staff #1 did not know the name of one of the children in the classroom; therefore, the child was not signed in and did not have a labeled cubby. Also, staff and child attendance were incomplete on several days. |
| Feb 5, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: No Evidence to Substantiate | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on December 27, 2023, regarding insufficient staffing. An investigation was conducted on January 8, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because the administrator and 14 staff denied the allegation. One staff stated there have been times when the administrator was not there to provide breaks. |
| Feb 5, 2024 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on December 27, 2023, regarding unqualified staff alone with children, improper diaper changing procedures, and lack of positive behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on January 8, 2024. The complaint is substantiated for unqualified staff alone with children because interviewed staff and attendance records confirm aides and interns were alone when they cannot be on several instances. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper diaper changing procedures because all staff interviewed stated they check diapers at least hourly and change them then or at least every two hours. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint for lack of positive behavior supports because Staff #2 denied mistreating any child. Also, the staff that works in the classroom with Staff #2 denied ever observing Staff #2 mistreat any child. Additional concerns noted were improper staff-to-child ratio, exceeding maximum group size, and staff and child attendance records were incomplete. |
| Nov 13, 2023 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on October 23, 2023, regarding lack of supervision, accident/injury procedures, and not keeping the center hazard free. An investigation was conducted on October 26, 2023. This complaint is substantiated for not keeping the center hazard free because a metal outside door was hot enough to burn a child s hand. This complaint is also substantiated for not following accident and injury requirements because the incident report was written five days after the incident occurred. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of supervision because based on evidence and staff interviews, children were being appropriately supervised at the time of the incident. Other concerns noted were maximum group was not being followed, and child and staff attendance records were missing sign out times. |
| Nov 7, 2023 | OCCL Standards Complaint: Substantiated | The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on October 4, 2023, regarding improper discipline, not following the termination policy, an administrator not being present at least fifty percent of the operating hours, diapering procedures, administration of medication procedures, infant feeding procedures, and infant daily logs not being completed. An investigation was conducted on October 6, 2023. The complaint is substantiated for diapering procedures because Staff #2 and Staff #3 stated diapers are checked every two hours, instead of the required every one hour, and changed as needed. The allegation of improper administration of medication procedures is substantiated because the medication administration record (MAR) for Child #1 s Vaseline was not on the correct MAR form, and the MAR was not properly filled out. An additional MAR was provided for Motrin and indicated Motrin was given but the MAR was not signed by the parent or completely filled out. The allegation of infant daily logs not being completed is substantiated because the infant daily logs for Child #1 were missing 30-minute sleep checks, did not include daily activities, and meals received by Child #1 were not documented for the food type or the amount consumed. The allegation of improper infant feeding procedures is substantiated because Child #1 was given a bottle with juice in it. Staff #2 and Staff #3 stated if juice comes in a bottle, then the child is provided the juice in the bottle. The facility requires all infant bottles to be pre-made and this is included in the infant enrollment packet. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper discipline because staff denied harming an infant, staff stated they have no reason to discipline an infant, and a photograph of the marble sized bruise does not provide enough evidence for when and where the mark happened. The staff stated the issues of physical injury would be brought up after Child #1 was no longer in care of the facility for over 30 minutes. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of not following their termination policy because the facility s parent handbook states respect and dignity is expected towards staff and aggressive or hostile behavior will not be tolerated and cause for dismissal of care. All staff interviewed stated Guardian #1 was loud and rude. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of the administrator not being present at least fifty percent of the hours of operation because Mrs. Meyer is the owner of the facility, not the administrator. The designated administrator is present daily. A concern noted was the facility does not have a designated qualified staff member to function in the absence of the administrator for the day-to-day operations. |
Who does the caring?
- Delaware doesn’t publish staffing levels for individual providers.
Who owns it?
- Delaware’s open data doesn’t list owners.
How is it rated?
- 2026: 2 facility injuries. No facility deaths reported.
- 2024: 4 facility injuries. No facility deaths reported.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
How does it compare nearby?
- Providers aren’t compared: Delaware lists only the visits that found violations, so a count can’t tell a clean record from one never visited.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.
| Place | Violations cited in the last three years |
|---|---|
| New Garden Early Care & Education Center LLC This child care provider | Not given |
| Favored Children Academy | Not given |
| Pediatric Health Choice at the Children’s Secret Garden | Not given |
| Shell’s Early Learning Center - Dover | Not given |
| Beginnings and Beyond II | Not given |
| Destined for Greatness Learning Center II | Not given |
| The Little Peoples Lfcc 2 | Not given |
| Gathering Lambs | Not given |
| All Beautiful Children Learning Academy | Not given |
| Angels of Mine Daycare | Not given |
| Cherise Vogel | Not given |
| Mercedes Shorts DBA All Shorts of Love LLC | Not given |
| Loren Fuller | Not given |
What the record doesn’t say
- Delaware doesn’t grade violations by severity, so read what was cited.
- Delaware’s open data lists a visit only when a violation was cited there, so visits that found nothing aren’t shown.
- Delaware publishes five years of reviews and complaints; this page shows the last three.
- Delaware doesn’t publish staffing levels or owners for individual providers.
- Delaware lists only the visits that found violations, so a provider with none listed may not have been visited at all: no count of violations is used to headline, filter or compare its providers.
Sources
-
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities (iuzd-3dbt).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
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Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information (wb83-pkcv).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
-
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing, Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews (pnbd-85r6).
Released Oct 23, 2026 and checked Oct 24, 2026. Updated daily. Public Domain.
If you believe something here is wrong, a correction starts with the agency whose record this copies: Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing. Delaware’s own record is on data.delaware.gov. If Hearth Record copied something wrongly, it will fix it and log the correction publicly, with its date: how corrections work.
This copy of the record was made on Oct 24, 2026.
From the provider
The public record above comes first. Anything the provider adds will appear here, below it, and say who wrote it.
Replies
None. Replies aren’t open yet. When they open, the provider will be able to answer any finding for free, and the reply will show beside that finding, unedited and dated.
Paid listing
None. Paid listings aren’t open yet. When they open, anything paid for will say “Paid by the provider”, and paying will never change a finding, a rating or the order of results.