Report
TheVardellReport
Shell's Early Learning Center-Harrington
Child care center
5332 Milford Harrington Highway
Harrington, DE 19952
Report
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The Vardell Report.Shell's Early Learning Center-Harrington
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Childcare
- Location
- Harrington, DE
- Record Period
- 2023–2026
- Source Documents
- 12
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 11 licensing visits from August 2023 to June 2026, OCCL cited 25 regulations at Shell's Early Learning Center-Harrington; 25 have a recorded correction.
- Visits
- 11
- 2023–2026, compliance reviews and complaint investigations
- Citations
- 25
- Regulations cited by OCCL licensing staff
- Corrected
- 25
- Of 25 citations, with a recorded correction date
- Complaint investigations
- 5
- Investigations of a complaint, with their results in the report
Citations by Year
- Citations
* Partial year, through November 1, 2026.
| Year | Visits | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 8 |
| 2024 | 2 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 13 |
| 2026 | 2 | 1 |
What the Record Shows
- 25 of 25 citations have a recorded correction date.
- OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
- 5 visits in this window included a complaint investigation. OCCL publishes each complaint investigation’s result, not what the complaint alleged.
- The latest full compliance review, August 4, 2025, recorded 10 citations.
What to Ask About
- Personnel Files, Cited in Three Visits
- Child Files, Cited in Three Visits
- Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Three Visits
- Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Two Visits
- General Qualifications, Cited in Two Visits
- Indoor Space, Cited in Two Visits
- Outdoor Area, Cited in Two Visits
- Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
- License Renewal, Cited in Two Visits
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- Shell's Early Learning Center-Harrington
- Address
- 5332 Milford Harrington Highway, Harrington, DE 19952
- License Number
- DE-421520
- License Type
- Child care center
- Licensed Capacity
- 78 children
- Ages Served
- 6 weeks through 12 years
- Hours
- 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Injuries Reported
- 2023: 3 facility injuries. No facility deaths reported. 2026: 1 facility injury. No facility deaths reported.
- Record Window
- November 1, 2021 to November 1, 2026
Chronology
Inspection History
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.
- 2026
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2026
Announced
1 citation
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Feb 12, 2026
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Complaint investigation
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)
- 2025
Unannounced
1 citation
- 15UGoverning BodyCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Unannounced
2 citations
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Aug 5, 2025
- 28UGeneral QualificationsCitedCorrected Aug 18, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Unannounced full compliance review
10 citations
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Aug 4, 2025
- 28UGeneral QualificationsCitedCorrected Aug 4, 2025
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Sep 26, 2025
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Aug 18, 2025
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Sep 26, 2025
- 51UToilet FacilitiesCitedCorrected Aug 18, 2025
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Aug 18, 2025
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Aug 18, 2025
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Sep 26, 2025
- 66UEmergency PlanningCitedCorrected Oct 16, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Complaint investigation
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)
- 2024
Complaint investigation
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)
- 2024
Unannounced full compliance review
3 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Sep 24, 2024
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Sep 18, 2024
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Sep 12, 2024
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2023
Unannounced full compliance review
8 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Oct 25, 2023
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 59UHand WashingCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2023
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
Patterns Worth Examining
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
- 1
Personnel Files, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in August 2023, August 2024 and August 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.
232424252525252525262630U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 2
Child Files, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in August 2023, August 2024 and August 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.
232424252525252525262640U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 3
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 56U in August 2023, August 2025 and February 2026. 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.
232424252525252525262656U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 4
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 27U in August 2025 and August 2025. The agency describes it this way: Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision. 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.
232424252525252525262627U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 5
General Qualifications, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 28U in August 2025 and August 2025. The agency describes it this way: General Qualifications. 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.
232424252525252525262628U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 6
Indoor Space, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 49U in August 2023 and August 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.
232424252525252525262649U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 7
Outdoor Area, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 53U in August 2023 and August 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.
232424252525252525262653U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 8
Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 61U in August 2023 and August 2025. 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.
232424252525252525262661U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest - 9
License Renewal, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 8U in August 2023 and August 2024. 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.
23242425252525252526268U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
For Your Next Visit
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
- 01
What changed after 30U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Personnel Files: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 02
What changed after 40U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Child Files: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 03
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.
- 04
What changed after 27U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 05
What changed after 28U was cited, and how do you check it now?
General Qualifications: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 06
What changed after 49U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Indoor Space: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 07
What changed after 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Outdoor Area: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 08
What changed after 61U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Diapering and Soiled Clothing: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 09
What changed after 8U was cited, and how do you check it now?
License Renewal: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 10
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.
- 11
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
Sources and Coverage
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.
- Child care providers (data.delaware.gov)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing · 421520
Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 10, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 22, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Dec 13, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Apr 1, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Apr 1, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 4, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 5, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 5, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Sep 22, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Feb 12, 2026 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jun 2, 2026 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Coverage
Record windowNovember 1, 2021 – November 1, 2026
- This record is OCCL's list of licensed providers as of November 2026, with the compliance reviews and investigations in OCCL's files, which run from November 2021.
- OCCL's compliance-review file lists only visits at which it cited a regulation; a visit with nothing cited is not in it, so a program may have had more visits than this record shows.
- OCCL's notes on each citation and its written conclusion for each investigation are left out because they can describe children and staff; the regulation cited, the correction date and each investigation's result are kept.
- Special conditions OCCL records on a license (a variance, or that a home is also a foster home) are left out, and license-exempt care is not in OCCL's list.
What This Report Cannot Tell You
- Visits with nothing cited
- OCCL's compliance-review file lists only visits at which a regulation was cited.
- Investigation conclusions
- Published by OCCL but left out of this record because they can describe children and staff.
- Severity of citations
- OCCL's files do not grade citations.
- Staff qualifications and turnover
- Not part of the published licensing record.
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
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