Tender Hearts Learning Center
Inspection history
Source: Delaware Office of Child Care LicensingRecords held from Sep 27, 2021 onward. Earlier visits may exist in the agency’s own files.
Delaware publishes only visits where a regulation was cited, plus complaint investigations. Visits that found no violations do not appear in the state's data, so a gap between dates here does not mean the program went uninspected. Delaware does not publish a severity weight for its citations.
| Date | Kind | Outcome as recorded | Violations | Official record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 13, 2026 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 2 regulations cited | 2 | Agency record |
| Aug 18, 2025 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 2 regulations cited | 2 | Agency record |
| Apr 4, 2025 | OCCL Standards Complaint | Substantiated | 1 | Agency record |
| Sep 4, 2024 | Unannounced | 2 regulations cited | 2 | Agency record |
| Aug 28, 2024 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 5 regulations cited | 5 | Agency record |
| Aug 4, 2023 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 6 regulations cited | 6 | Agency record |
| Aug 1, 2023 | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 5 regulations cited | 5 | Agency record |
| Sep 16, 2022 | OCCL Standards Complaint | No Evidence to Substantiate | 0 | Agency record |
| Aug 5, 2022 no longer in the state’s current file | Unannounced Full Compliance Review | 6 regulations cited | 6 | Agency record |
Violations
Text reproduced verbatim · Delaware Office of Child Care LicensingNearly every licensed provider accumulates some. A missing signature and an unlocked medicine cabinet are both “violations”, and they are not the same thing. Look at the class, the pattern over time and how quickly it was corrected — not the count alone.
Class is our grouping of the state’s own weights, reviewed per state. The agency’s own label is always shown beside it.
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs letter of eligibility”
“Ensure fall zones have at least 9 inches of material. Playgrounds need mulch replenished. Ensure gates are self-closing/ self-latching. Gate exiting the playground has broke latch.”
“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs blood lead screening and an MAR on file.”
“Ensure fall zones extend at least six feet in all directions and has at least nine inches deep of material. The two year old and preschool playgrounds need mulch.”
“On March 14, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper staff-to-child ratio. An investigation was conducted on March 17, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratio because according to attendance records, the one/two-year-old classroom was over ratio on March 10, 2025 with up to nine children, the youngest being an infant, with two unqualified staff from 9:06 am until 2:44 pm; on March 11, 2025, with up to ten children, the youngest being an infant, with two unqualified staff from 8:46 am until 3:40 pm; and on March 12, 2025, with up to ten children, the youngest being an infant, with two unqualified staff from 8:46 am until 3:40 pm. A concern noted was staff stated a child under the age of one, who cannot walk, was sleeping on a cot and not in a crib or pack-n-play.”
“Ensure staff to child ratios and supervision is maintained at all times. Specialist noted two teachers and one aide supervising three classrooms during naptime.”
“Ensure each staff member supervising children have been fingerprinted and deemed eligible before being left alone with children. Specialist noted an aide watching a classroom of children.”
“Ensure interns under the age of 18 are supervised at all times. Specialist noted two underage interns with 10 children on the playground. This was discussed and corrected at the visit when a ECT arrived to the classroom.”
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs 2 training hours in Health and Safety. One staff needs an adult health appraisal with TB on OCCL's form.”
“Ensure child files are complete. Two children need blood lead screenings.”
“Ensure air fresheners are not used during child care hours. This was discussed and corrected at visit when the provider took down the air freshener in the lobby area.”
“Ensure all food in the kitchen is labeled with the contents and expiration dates.”
“Ensure a teacher or higher is trained in the absence of the administrator and documented in the staff members file.”
“Ensure a comprehensive background check is completed every five years. Three staff need to complete a five year comprehensive background check.”
“Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need job descriptions, one staff needs four reference letters, nine staff need a letter of eligibility on file.”
“Ensure enough equipment is available at all times the three-year-old classroom needs music equipment.”
“Ensure a non-porous surface is used. the one and two year old classroom need changing pads. Ensure diapers are disposed of in a foot activated pail for diapers only.”
“Ensure a schedule is posted. The Pre-K classroom had no schedule posted.”
“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead screening test. One child needs a complete file.”
“Ensure all trash cans have lids on them at all times. LS observed the Pre-K classroom a lid off a trash can that had food waste and other trash items in it. The bathroom has a trash can with out a lid. Ensure the classroom walls are in good repair. the one and two year old classrooms need paint applied in various areas of the room.”
“Ensure the refrigerator and freezer maintain proper temperatures. A freezer thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit. A refrigerator read 42 degrees Fahrenheit.”
“Ensure fall zones are nine inches in depth for wood chips.”
“Ensure the lesson plan must include at least one daily activity for physical, social-emotional, language and literacy, and cognitive development. Allow children to choose to participate with the whole group, part of the group, or independently must be included. Cooking, food exploration, or healthy habits, such as talking about healthy habits or comparing the taste and texture of different foods; science and nature investigation, music and rhythm, multi-sensory play.”
“Ensure parents are allowed into the building at all times. Staff # stated parents are not allowed in the building due to Covid procedures.”
“Ensure supervision, and ratios are maintained at all times. Staff #3 was responsible for 14 children ages 3, 4, and 5 from 8:05 am-9:05 am on 8/5/22. Staff #4 was responsible for 12 children ages 1, 2, and 3 from 8:30am-9:05pm on 8/5/22. Staff #6 was observed leaving her classroom to help with lunch leaving eight two-year-old's in the classroom. Staff #9 who is an aide, was observed supervising six one-year-olds alone. This was discussed and corrected when staff #6 and #9 combined their classrooms to ensure proper supervision. LS Smith observed 12 children ages 3 and 4 with one teacher. this was corrected when two children were transferred to another classroom. LS Smith observed an infant in the office with Ms.Sharon, being left alone. This was ddsisscused with Ms.Sharon that although the child is her grandson, he must be in a childcare area and have all necessary paperwork.”
“Ensure staff files are complete Staff #1-8 and #11 need updated annual safe sleep, and annual abuse and neglect. Staff # 2, 3, 4,5, and 9 need CPR and First Aid certification. Staff #8 and 9 need medication certification or proof of health and safety training. Staff #7 needs orientation, job description, references, declaration of employment, drug and alcohol statement, health appraisals with TB results, release of employment, and service letter. Staff #9 needs a job description, references, and a service letter. Staff #11 needs a job description, health appraisal with TB results, and a service letter. Staff #8 needs a professional development plan.”
“Ensure child files are complete. Child #1-10 need date of enrollment and days/ hours they attend. Child #1, #3, and #4 need lead test results. Child #6 needs an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and lead test results.”
“Ensure all exits have self closing and self latching abilities.”
“Ensure lesson plans are posted and meet the necessary requirements for OCCL.”
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