Gathering Lambs

“Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need a professional development plan. Two staff need CPR/FA and annual review of child abuse and neglect. One staff needs CPR/FA, OCCL's Health and Safety Training, application, resume, or personal data sheet, pending out-of-state check, adult abuse registry check, and two service letter attempts. One staff needs OCCL's Health and Safety Training, job description, references, employee declaration, drug/alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, adult health appraisal with TB screening, and Release of Employment History.”

“Ensure Parents' Right to Know Log is reviewed with and signed by each newly enrolled family since last year's OCCL visit and with anyone touring the center. Obtain signatures.”

“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead level test result. One child needs an updated health appraisal and immunizations. Two children need an updated health appraisal and blood lead level test result. Two children need an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and blood lead level test result. One child needs updated immunizations. Two children need development plans.”

“Ensure refrigerators maintain a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. Adjust refrigerator temperature in the two-year-old classroom.”

“Ensure fall zone requirements are met in the outdoor play area. Replenish mulch to nine inches.”

“Ensure nap mats are non-absorbent. Replace ripped mats in the one-year-old classroom.”

“Ensure diaper changing surface is non-porous, free from rips and tears. Replace ripped pads in the one-year-old classroom and bathroom.”

“Ensure fire prevention checklist and fire drills are conducted monthly. Complete one for August and post in visible location.”

“Ensure art materials are available in classrooms for ages two and older. Add accessible materials to the two-year-old classroom and large room.”

“On April 20, 2026, and, April 22, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received complaints regarding a lack of positive behavior supports, lack of supervision, staff being left alone without an eligibility determination, screen time, and lack of security procedures by allowing unapproved individuals access to the children. An investigation was conducted on April 22, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for positive behavior supports, because according to video footage reviewed, Staff #1 was observed roughly handling two different children, including behaviors such as lifting by one arm off the floor, shaking, and jerking the children. This complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision because staff interviewed stated they will stand in the doorway of the multi-purpose room and allow children to enter the hallway alone to use the bathroom. This complaint is substantiated for screen time usage because staff interviewed stated children will have up to an hour and a half of screen time some days. Staff also stated the one-year-olds are allowed to watch the tablet. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation a staff person with pending out-of-state background checks was alone with children, because according to attendance records reviewed and staff interviews, he/she was never alone with children. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of unapproved individuals having access to children, because according to staff interviews, the same three individuals come into the center with Owner #1. They stay in the multi-purpose room and are never in contact with children.”

“Ensure infants and toddlers are not cared for in the same room as older children, except in certain circumstances. According to attendance records submitted, on 8/25/2025, the one's and two's were combined with the older children in the morning and afternoon outside of the 90-minute allowance. Ensure maximum group size is not exceeded. According to attendance records submitted, when children were combined in the morning of 8/25/2025, the maximum group size for the one-year-old's, the youngest children present, was exceeded when 17 children were signed into the room. Ensure supervision is provided at all times by a qualified staff person. According to attendance records submitted, on 9/2/2025, children were alone with a staff person who is not qualified. Submit attendance records for 10/6/2025 - 10/10/2025.”

“Ensure staff document the exact arrival and departure in each classroom or area. According to attendance records submitted, on 9/5/2025, a staff person did not sign out. Submit attendance records for 10/6/2025 - 10/10/2025.”

“Ensure supervision of children is provided at all times by a qualified staff person. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, an unqualified staff person was alone with children two different times. Ensure maximum group size requirements are met for the age of the youngest child present. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, the maximum group size was exceeded on 12 separate days. Ensure toddlers are not cared for with older children except in the first or last 90 minutes of the hours of operation or when 12 or fewer children are present. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, on four days, toddlers and older children were combined outside of the first and last 90 minutes. Submit attendance records for 8/25/2025 - 9/5/2025.”

“Ensure staff members are truthful when providing information to OCCL. According to the Administrator, the multi-purpose room was only used for special occasions and not every day. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, preschool children were combined in the multi-purpose room 15 days, spending the majority of hours in that room. Discontinue use of the multi-purpose room as a classroom or add the five required activity areas and received approval from OCCL to use it.”

“Ensure the time of arrival and departure of each staff person in the classroom is documented. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, there were 10 times staff did not sign in/out of classrooms. Submit attendance records for 8/25/2025 - 9/5/2025.”

“Ensure Administrator is functioning in that role at least 50% of the time. According to the Administrator, she is in the classrooms daily as the primary teacher. Create schedule to ensure 50% of the time, the Administrator is functioning as the Administrator.”

“Ensure staff files are complete. Five staff need a professional development plan. One staff needs an orientation, application/resume, references, employee declaration/drug and alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, health appraisal with TB screening, and two documented attempts to obtain service letters. Three staff need annual training hours.”

“Ensure Parent's Right to Know log is reviewed with and signed by each newly enrolled family and any family touring the center. Obtain signatures.”

“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead level test result. Four children need an updated health appraisal and immunizations. Two children need an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and blood lead level test results.”

“Ensure walls are in good repair. Repair baseboard under heater in Room #1.”

“Ensure thermometers are in each refrigerator and freezer. Add a thermometer to the freezer in Room #1. Ensure refrigerator temperature does not exceed 41 degrees. The refrigerator in Room #1 was a temperature of 44 degrees. Adjust temperature.”

“Ensure gate in the playground self-closes and self-latches. Repair smaller gate. Ensure fall zone requirements are met. Replenish mulch to nine inches.”

“Ensure classrooms for ages two years and older include the five required areas. Add construction blocks to Room #2 and accessible art materials to Room #4. This was corrected at the visit when the materials were added. Discontinue use of the Multi-purpose/gym room as a classroom or add the five required activities and receive approval to use by OCCL.”

“During nap times, when children one year and older are sleeping, the maximum group size may not be exceeded. The Supervisor and Ls observed 25 children ages three to school-age napping in the multipurpose room, exceeding the maximum group size of 20 for three-year-olds.”

“A center serving school-age children shall ensure an administrator has successfully completed 15 hours of approved school-age training.”

“Have an organized system of business management and have sufficient staff, space, and equipment to fulfill, at a minimum, administrative, clerical, direct child care, and supervisory functions. LS observed there is not enough staff for child care duties.”

“A licensee shall ensure supervision and direct observation of children are provided at all times. This supervision occurs by assigning qualified staff members who are physically present and working with children. The licensee shall maintain the minimum staff-to-child ratio and maximum group size for each age group. LS observed a staff alone in the hallway with children while two other staff members were in the bathroom to change diapers and just with toileting. In the recreation room, one staff member was alone with 14 children ages three to ten years old. The administrator had been and was attempting to sleep more than the maximum group size of 20 three-year-old and older children in the recreation room. Fifteen children were left with the Administrator while one staff assisted with toileting and another went to answer the door.”

“Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need complete files. Five staff need professional development plans. , nine staff need an annual review of abuse and neglect. Three staff need CPR and First Aid training. One staff needs Administration of Medication Certification.”

“The exact hours worked in each classroom or area should be documented at the time of the staff member's arrival and departure. The administrator did not sign in the recreation area, and when she left the child care area with LSs, she did not sign out or back on from the child care area.”

“Ensure child files are complete. Ten children need updated health appraisals. Ten children need updated immunization records. Four children need blood lead screening results.”

“Ensure soap and water bottles are labeled and available in all classrooms and bathrooms.”

“Ensure outlets are connected in the recreation room. The two garbage cans in the recreation area need lids. Classroom one needs the air freshener removed. During the visit, the children were in the recreation area, which is not set up with activity areas with required materials. During the three-hour visit, the children sat at tables, singing and table toys until lunch and nap time. The recreation room is not in the capacity of the license and can not be used as a classroom.”

“Ensure the refrigerators and freezers all have thermometers that read 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator ad and zero degrees Fahrenheit for the freezers in classroom three. Classroom three has cups with milk in the m not labeled milk or dated and a bowl of food with a paper towel on it not labeled or properly stored.”

“Ensure the protective surface of the outdoor play area beneath and in the fall zones of slides and swings. Replenish the mulch under the and at the bottom of the swings and slides.”

“Provide developmentally appropriate equipment and materials for various indoor and outdoor activities. There must be enough equipment and materials for all children to use. Materials and equipment must help provide many experiences and choices. For children over 24 months old to school age, developmentally appropriate supplies or equipment are provided in quantities. Ensure equipment and supplies are relevant to all children's cultural backgrounds and communities and raise awareness of other cultures and communities. Provide music and science for classroom one. Provide art, music, and science to classroom three. Provide music materials in classroom five. All classrooms need more than just dramatic play equipment, and supplies that are relevant to the cultural background and community of all children and raise awareness of other cultures and communities.”

“Written permission from the child's parent or guardian is required for each medication to be administered. One Child's medication administration record(MAR) is not completed. One child did not have a MAR for Aquaphor. Staff is using the diaper creams and is not administration of medication certified.”

“Ensure children are in the classrooms designated for their activity schedule. During the visit, the children were in the recreation room until nap time.”

“The Office of Child Care and Licensing received a complaint on March 9, 2024, regarding not allowing a therapist entrance to provide services and not making reasonable accommodations for a child to receive services. The complaint is substantiated for not allowing the therapist entrance because [name withheld] confirmed she did not let the therapist in due to insufficient identification. [name withheld] stated she believed the business card and federally-issued driver s license provided by the therapist was insufficient. The complaint is substantiated for not making reasonable accommodations because the therapist made three unsuccessful attempts to provide services before being allowed entry and [name withheld] did not consult with the child s parent or guardian during this time regarding the denial of services. Non-compliances Cited: Reg #20: A licensee shall ensure staff members consult with a child s parent or guardian and professionals, if necessary, to design effective positive behavioral supports or to make reasonable accommodations to comply with provisions in an IFSP or IEP and to adapt behavior supports or other practices for a child who has a special need or disability. #74: A licensee shall allow services to be provided at the center for a child with disabilities, including services through an IEP or IFSP. On March 19, 2024, March 26, 2024, and April 9, 2024, [name withheld] stated services were denied due to the therapist not providing what [name withheld] deemed appropriate identification and she did not know the therapist was coming or the company she worked for as a third party. Parent #1 stated she was told no outside services were allowed in the facility. Review the regulation with all staff and provide documentation of the regulation review to OCCL.”

“Ensure insurance documentation is updated with OCCL.”

“Ensure children are supervised by qualified staff. Staff #14 was in the hallway alone with children. Ensure that staff to child ratios are compliance at 8:34 AM staff #14 was alone in the hallway with 14 four and five year old children. This one. corrected when staff #10 joined staff #14.”

“Ensure A comprehensive background check is completed every five years. Five staff needs to complete a comprehensive background check.”

“Ensure staff files are complete. Seven staff need annual training hours, 2 in health and safety, an annual professional development plan. Nine staff need annual review of abuse and neglect. 11 staff need Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals certification.”

“Ensure exact arrival and departure of each child is documented.”

“Ensure child files are complete. Seven children need an updated health appraisal, an immunization records, and documented blood lead test results. Two children need an updated health appraisal and immunization record.”

“Ensure staff documents exact arrival and departure.”

“Ensure the freezer maintains a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit.”

“Ensure gates are able to self close. The gate to enter the playground from the side entrance will not self close. Ensure all zones of climbing equipment, swings, and similar equipment is at least 9 inches in depth.”

“Ensure medication administration records are properly filled out and used for anything other than soap and water. Two children need routine use medication administration records. One child needs an occasional use medication administration record. One child has several medication administration records incorrectly filled out.”

“Ensure an evacuation drill and fire prevention inspection is conducted and documented monthly. It was observed that the current inspection and drill was for July 26, 2023. The prior documented inspection and drill was on October 31, 2022.”

“Ensure posted lesson plans have required components of a daily activity for each goal that is developmentally appropriate.”

“Ensure children 24 months and older have a space that is organized with identifiable areas and that equipment is accessible to the children present. The specialist observes three year olds using the great room without activity areas. Areas missing includes dramatic play, creative arts, such as drawing materials and manipulative. Ensure that these materials are accessible to the children at all times.”

“Ensure sufficient qualified eligible staff are available to supervise the children and take care of the daily needs of the facility who are not assigned to any other duties other than caring for children. Staff #1 left two children in the great room to allow LS McPhatter access to the facility. LS McPhatter inquired where the other staff member was and she was performing morning cleaning. This was corrected when Staff #2 who was signed in rejoined the great room.”

“Ensure an annual City of Dover Fire Marshal inspection is completed.”

“Ensure the centers positive behavior policy is posted.”

“Ensure qualified and eligible staff are supervision the children at all times. Staff members who are supervising children are to not assume other duties while supervising children. LS McPhatter entered the facility and observed Staff #7 brining children from the vestibule to the multipurpose room. The multipurpose room had 17 children ages one-year-old to five-years-old. This left staff #8 and Staff #10 out of ratio. Staff #10 was also responsible for preparing morning snack. Upon LS McPhatter entering the multipurpose room two children were coming from the hallway bathroom with no supervision. This was corrected at the visit when LS McPhatter propped open the siphon locking door so that staff member #7 could keep ratio and another staff member arrived. LS McPhatter spoke with Staff #7 and [name withheld] about ratios and supervision.”

“Staff #1 needs a professional development plan and annual abuse and neglect training. Staff #2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,and 13 need a professional development plan and annual abuse and neglect training. Staff #7 a rehire in February 2022 needs an orientation, job description, employee declaration, drug and alcohol statement, release of employment history, and documented attempts for a service letter from each prior employer if after two attempts one cannot be received two more reference letters are needed. Staff #10 a new hire in October 2021 needs an orientation, job description, employee declaration, drug and alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, health appraisal on OCCL s form with TB results, employment history with documented attempts to obtain a service letter if after two attempts one cannot be obtained ensure there are four reference letters on file. Staff number 11 and staff #13 need their work permit on file. Staff #11 staff #10 and staff #13 need an orientation, job description, declaration, drug and alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, a health appraisal on OCCL s form with TB results, and a release of employment history with two documented attempts to gain a service letter. If a service letter cannot be obtained two more references are needed. Staff #12 needs two references, adult abuse registry check, and two attempts to gain a service letter from Food Lion, and Dover downs. If one cannot be obtained two additional references are needed, two reference letters are on file currently.”

“Ensure the changing area pads are placed. Classroom ! and classroom 3 changing pads have holes in the,.”

“Ensure monthly fire drills and fire inspections are completed. The last fire drill and fire inspection was completed in February.”

“Ensure lesson plans for the week are posted.”

“On March 21, 2022 OCCL received a complaint regarding not allowing the parents into the facility, not sharing developmental plans with the parents, and not conducting parent conferences. An investigation began on March 23, 2022, and ended April 5, 2022. The complaint is substantiated because several staff stated parents are not allowed in the building, a developmental assessment was not completed within 45 days of a child s enrollment, there was no documentation that information was shared with parents or guardians when the developmental plans were updated or reviewed, and annual conferences were not conducted. Concerns noted were the staff trained in day-to-day operations was not aware she was in charge during the administrator s absence.”