Shell'S Early Learning Center - Camden

“Submit updated general liability insurance documentation.”

“Ensure child's attendance is documented to include the exact arrival and departure times. Nine children were present in the three-year-old classroom, but only eight were signed in. This was discussed and corrected when the nineth child was signed in.”

“Repair or replace the broken safety gate located at the entrance of the four-year-old classroom.”

“Ensure nap equipment is non-absorbent. Replace the ripped nap mats in the four-year-old classroom and two-year-old classroom. This was corrected when the ripped nap equipment was replaced with new nap mats.”

“Ensure the diaper-changing surface is non-porous. Replace the ripped diaper-changing mat in the three-year-old classroom. This was corrected when the diaper-changing mat was replaced with a new mat. Ensure a foot-activated diaper pail is used to dispose of diapers. The foot-activated diaper pail in the two-year-old classroom needs to be replaced.”

“Ensure the first aid kit is complete. Purchase safety pins.”

“Ensure the renewal application is submitted at least 60 days prior to the license expiration.”

“Ensure the licensee, governing body, and employees follow all applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations. During a complaint investigation on August 6, 2025, Executive Director #1 confirmed to OCCL that Owner #1 was currently in prison for tax issues related to the child care centers. This was discussed and corrected when Executive Director #1 agreed to comply in the future.”

“OCCL s investigation of regulatory non-compliance began after clearance from other agencies was received. On July 29, 2025, and July 31, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received complaints regarding the center not having an accurate health appraisal for a specific staff member onsite, improper discipline, accident/injury procedures, not reporting abuse, and not keeping the center clean. An investigation was conducted on August 6, 2025. The complaint is substantiated for improper discipline because Staff #4 stated she has observed Staff #1 slap children on their hands. She stated she told Staff #1 not to hit the children so hard but rather tap them on their hand. Staff #4 showed a gentle tapping motion on her hand and stated that was how she taps children on their hands. There is no evidence to substantiate for not having an accurate health appraisal onsite because there was a complete health appraisal in Staff #1 s staff file. There is no evidence to substantiate regarding accident/injury procedures, not reporting abuse, and not keeping the center clean due to the staff member possibly urinating and the children noticing because all interviewed staff denied the allegations. A concern noted during the investigation was a staff member was observed on video using her cell phone during nap time while children were still awake.”

“On July 18, 2025, and July 21, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing received complaints regarding allegations of the administrator not using respectful communication with staff members, cell phone usage, the administrator not being present for at least 50% of the hours of operation, lack of supervision, improper discipline, and denying children food. An investigation was conducted on July 24, 2025. The complaint is substantiated for cell phone usage because Administrator #1 and staff members admitted to staff members participating in personal activities and using a cell phone while providing care to children. There is no evidence to substantiate regarding the administrator not using respectful communication with staff members, the administrator not being present for at least 50% of the hours of operation, lack of supervision, improper discipline, and staff denying children food because staff denied the allegations.”

“On June 11, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding possible improper discipline, accident/injury procedures, and not providing truthful information. An investigation was conducted on June 18, 2025. The complaint is substantiated for accident/injury procedures because Child #1 received an injury to his head, but his parents were not immediately notified. There is no evidence to substantiate for improper discipline and not providing truthful information because staff denied the allegations.”

“Ensure staff files are complete. Eleven staff need a professional development plan. One staff member needs annual review of safe sleep. Five staff members need orientation. Two staff members need to complete the Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals. One staff member needs two references. One staff member needs an adult abuse registry check. Three staff members need an adult health appraisal with TB results. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal. Four staff members need service letters.”

“Enusre staff attendance is documented upon arrival and departure. One staff member failed to sign into the three-year-old classroom. This was corrected when the staff member's attendance was documented on the attendance record.”

“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a development plan. Two children need infant feeding schedules.”

“Remove the ripped carpet from the three-year-old classroom.”

“Ensure the freezer is at 0 degrees F or colder. The thermometer in the freezer/fridge combo read 10 degrees F. The thermometer was replaced and the new thermometer read 5 degrees F.”

“Replenish the mulch in the fall zone areas.”

“Replace the broken diaper pail in the one-year-old classroom.”

“Ensure lesson plans contain daily opportunities for physical, social-emotional, language/literacy, and cognitive development. the two-year-old classroom was missing social/emotional and cognitive activities. The three-year-old classroom was missing daily physical activities. the one-year-old classroom was missing daily cognitive activities.”

“Ensure the renewal application is submitted at least 60 days prior the license expiration. Renew the State of Delaware business license.”

“Ensure children's files are complete. Child #8 & #11 need Blood Lead Screening results.”

“Ensure floors, walls , counter surfaces, toilets are cleanable and in good repair. The wall near the quiet cube in the 2's classroom is peeling. Please send a picture of the wall corrected.”

“Ensure a completed renewal application is submitted at least 60 days before license expiration. Provider submitted renewal application at visit. Ensure State Business License is current. Please send a copy of current business license.”

“Ensure to have on site confidential paperwork and accessible for each staff member working at the center. Two staff members who works at another center owned by the licensee were present in the four-year-old classroom and the infant classroom. There paperwork were not accessible at this location. (This was corrected when the ECA agreed)”

“Ensure staff-to-child ratio is maintained at all times. One staff member was alone with 11 children, the youngest was three-years-old. A three-year-old who was assigned to the three-year-old classroom, was observed in the two-year-old classroom”

“Have the early childhood administrator submit for infant/toddler and school-age specialization.”

“Ensure staff-to-child ratio is maintained at all times through qualified and eligible staff. Staff #6 was observed alone with nine four-year-old children. Staff #10, an early childhood intern, was observed alone with three infant children.”

“Ensure staff are fingerprinted and determined eligible prior to working at the facility. Staff #6 and Staff #4 must be fingerprinted.”

“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs first aid, an eligibility letter, and service letter. Staff #2 needs OCCL's health and safety training, two references, and service letters. Staff #3 needs one reference and service letters. Staff #4 needs fingerprint receipt and criminal history determination. Staff #5 needs a health appraisal with TB. Staff #6 needs fingerprint receipt, criminal history determination, a health appraisal with TB, and service letters. Staff #7 needs criminal history determination and service letters. Staff #8 needs a health appraisal with TB, release of employment history that matches the resume on file, and corresponding service letters. Staff #9 needs a service letter.”

“Ensure child files are complete. Child #1 needs emergency transportation. Child #7 and Child #8 need lead test results. Child #10 needs a health appraisal and an updated infant feeding schedule.”

“Ensure cubby/ personal items are not touching. This was discussed and corrected in the two-year-old classroom and three-year-old classroom. Air fresheners are prohibited. This was discussed and agreed to comply when they were removed from two classrooms.”

“Ensure fall zones have the required amount of mulch. Ensure gates are self-closing. Repair or replace the self-closing mechanism for one gate.”

“Replace the torn diaper mats in the one-year-old and infant classroom. Pull ups are being changed in the three-year-old classroom. Provide all diaper changing items to the classroom.”

“Ensure the application is submitted at least 60 days prior to license expiration.”