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License activeChild-care center

Tender Hearts Learning Center

1339 South Governors Avenue, Dover, DE 19904 · Kent County (302) 674-2565 License #491838
8
inspections on file
23
recorded violations
—
severity not classified by the state
Aug 13, 2026
last inspection

Inspection history

Source: Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

Records 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.

Inspection history for Tender Hearts Learning Center
DateKindOutcome as recordedViolationsOfficial record
Aug 13, 2026Unannounced Full Compliance Review2 regulations cited2Agency record
Aug 18, 2025Unannounced Full Compliance Review2 regulations cited2Agency record
Apr 4, 2025OCCL Standards ComplaintSubstantiated1Agency record
Sep 4, 2024Unannounced2 regulations cited2Agency record
Aug 28, 2024Unannounced Full Compliance Review5 regulations cited5Agency record
Aug 4, 2023Unannounced Full Compliance Review6 regulations cited6Agency record
Aug 1, 2023Unannounced Full Compliance Review5 regulations cited5Agency record
Sep 16, 2022OCCL Standards ComplaintNo Evidence to Substantiate0Agency record
Aug 5, 2022
no longer in the state’s current file
Unannounced Full Compliance Review6 regulations cited6Agency record

Violations

Text reproduced verbatim · Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
How to read violations

Nearly 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.

Paperwork — records, postings, forms Standard — supervision, ratio, training Health & safety — direct risk to a child

Class is our grouping of the state’s own weights, reviewed per state. The agency’s own label is always shown beside it.

Aug 13, 2026Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 2 deficiencies cited
Not classified
30U — Personnel Files

“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs letter of eligibility”

Corrected Aug 30, 2026 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
53U — Outdoor Area

“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.”

Corrected Aug 14, 2026 · Status as recorded: Completed
Aug 18, 2025Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 2 deficiencies cited
Not classified
40U — Child Files

“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs blood lead screening and an MAR on file.”

Corrected Sep 23, 2025 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
53U — Outdoor Area

“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.”

Corrected Sep 23, 2025 · Status as recorded: Completed
Apr 4, 2025OCCL Standards Complaint · 1 deficiency cited
Not classified
Substantiated complaint

“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.”

Correction date not recorded
Sep 4, 2024Unannounced · 2 deficiencies cited
Not classified
27U — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision

“Ensure staff to child ratios and supervision is maintained at all times. Specialist noted two teachers and one aide supervising three classrooms during naptime.”

Corrective action plan due Sep 6, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
28U — General Qualifications

“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.”

Corrective action plan due Sep 6, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Aug 28, 2024Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 5 deficiencies cited
Not classified
27U — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision

“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.”

Corrected Aug 28, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
30U — Personnel Files

“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.”

Corrected Sep 17, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
40U — Child Files

“Ensure child files are complete. Two children need blood lead screenings.”

Corrected Sep 17, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
49U — Indoor Space

“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.”

Corrected Aug 28, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
50U — Kitchen and Food Preparation

“Ensure all food in the kitchen is labeled with the contents and expiration dates.”

Corrected Sep 10, 2024 · Status as recorded: Completed
Aug 4, 2023Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 6 deficiencies cited
Not classified
26U — Staffing

“Ensure a teacher or higher is trained in the absence of the administrator and documented in the staff members file.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
28U — General Qualifications

“Ensure a comprehensive background check is completed every five years. Three staff need to complete a five year comprehensive background check.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
30U — Personnel Files

“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.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
57U — Equipment

“Ensure enough equipment is available at all times the three-year-old classroom needs music equipment.”

Corrected Aug 4, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
61U — Diapering and Soiled Clothing

“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.”

Corrected Aug 4, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
76U — Activity Schedule

“Ensure a schedule is posted. The Pre-K classroom had no schedule posted.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Aug 1, 2023Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 5 deficiencies cited
Not classified
40U — Child Files

“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead screening test. One child needs a complete file.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
49U — Indoor Space

“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.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
50U — Kitchen and Food Preparation

“Ensure the refrigerator and freezer maintain proper temperatures. A freezer thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit. A refrigerator read 42 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
53U — Outdoor Area

“Ensure fall zones are nine inches in depth for wood chips.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
74U — Lesson Plans

“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.”

Corrected Sep 5, 2023 · Status as recorded: Completed
Aug 5, 2022Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 6 deficiencies cited · no longer in the state's current file
Not classified
23U — Center Policies-Parent/Guardian Handbook

“Ensure parents are allowed into the building at all times. Staff # stated parents are not allowed in the building due to Covid procedures.”

Corrected Sep 19, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
27U — Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision

“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.”

Corrected Sep 15, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
30U — Personnel Files

“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.”

Corrected Sep 19, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
40U — Child Files

“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.”

Corrected Sep 19, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
53U — Outdoor Area

“Ensure all exits have self closing and self latching abilities.”

Corrected Sep 19, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed
Not classified
74U — Lesson Plans

“Ensure lesson plans are posted and meet the necessary requirements for OCCL.”

Corrected Sep 19, 2022 · Status as recorded: Completed

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