
Report
TheVardellReport
Shell's Early Learning Center - Dover
Child care center
868 S State St
Dover, DE 19901

TheVardellReport
Child care center
868 S State St
Dover, DE 19901
Life by Vardell Presents
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Across 22 licensing visits from December 2021 to May 2026, OCCL cited 52 regulations at Shell's Early Learning Center - Dover; 52 have a recorded correction.
* Partial year, through November 1, 2026.
| Year | Visits | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 | 8 |
| 2023 | 6 | 9 |
| 2024 | 7 | 12 |
| 2025 | 3 | 16 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 |
Chronology
Every visit in the record window, newest first. A citation is a licensing regulation Delaware found was not met. OCCL publishes each complaint investigation’s result, not what the complaint alleged.
1 citation
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
1 citation
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
15 citations
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
12 citations
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
9 citations
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
8 citations
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
6 citations
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing publishes each regulation it cites, not a risk level for it.
Context
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in December 2021, September 2022, September 2023, September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Personnel Files. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 49U in December 2021, September 2022, September 2023, September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Indoor Space. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in September 2022, September 2023, September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Child Files. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 8U in September 2022, September 2023, September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: License Renewal. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 53U in December 2021, September 2023 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Outdoor Area. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 56U in September 2023, September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 61U in September 2022, September 2023 and September 2024. The agency describes it this way: Diapering and Soiled Clothing. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 66U in December 2021, September 2022 and September 2024. The agency describes it this way: Emergency Planning. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 74U in September 2022, September 2023 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Lesson Plans. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 45U in December 2021 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Hazardous Materials. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 50U in September 2022 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Kitchen and Food Preparation. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 51U in December 2021 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Toilet Facilities. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 58U in September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: Sanitation. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
OCCL licensing staff cited 65U in September 2024 and September 2025. The agency describes it this way: First Aid Kits. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
For Your Next Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
What changed after 30U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Personnel Files: cited in five visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 49U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Indoor Space: cited in five visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 40U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Child Files: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 8U was cited, and how do you check it now?
License Renewal: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Outdoor Area: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 56U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 61U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Diapering and Soiled Clothing: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 66U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Emergency Planning: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 74U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Lesson Plans: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 45U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Hazardous Materials: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 50U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Kitchen and Food Preparation: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 51U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Toilet Facilities: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 58U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Sanitation: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
What changed after 65U was cited, and how do you check it now?
First Aid Kits: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
What is the ratio in the room my child would join, and how is every child accounted for at nap time, pickup and on the playground?
Ratios change through the day, so they are worth counting yourself on a visit.
Has the center ever been on probation or had its license suspended, and what changed afterward?
OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
The Evidence
Program details, the regulations cited at compliance reviews and the results of complaint investigations are published by Delaware's Office of Child Care Licensing in its daily files on data.delaware.gov.
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing · 1094617
Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Dec 3, 2021 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit May 23, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jun 22, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 10, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 1, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Mar 2, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Mar 7, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Apr 3, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 10, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 26, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Nov 15, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit May 30, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jun 25, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jul 9, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jul 30, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jul 30, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 4, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 26, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 2, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 5, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 30, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit May 28, 2026 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Record windowNovember 1, 2021 – November 1, 2026
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.