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TheVardellReport
The Learning Tree Children's Academy
Child care center
403 West Lockerman Street
Dover, DE 19904
Report
← The Learning Tree Children's Academy, free profile
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The Vardell Report.The Learning Tree Children's Academy
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Childcare
- Location
- Dover, DE
- Record Period
- 2021–2025
- Source Documents
- 15
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 14 licensing visits from December 2021 to December 2025, OCCL cited 48 regulations at The Learning Tree Children's Academy; 48 have a recorded correction.
- Visits
- 14
- 2021–2025, compliance reviews and complaint investigations
- Citations
- 48
- Regulations cited by OCCL licensing staff
- Corrected
- 48
- Of 48 citations, with a recorded correction date
- Complaint investigations
- 7
- Investigations of a complaint, with their results in the report
Citations by Year
- Citations
* Partial year, through November 1, 2026.
| Year | Visits | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 7 | 14 |
| 2023 | 1 | 12 |
| 2024 | 1 | 9 |
| 2025 | 4 | 12 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
What the Record Shows
- 48 of 48 citations have a recorded correction date.
- OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
- 7 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, December 10, 2025, recorded 12 citations.
What to Ask About
- Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Five Visits
- Personnel Files, Cited in Four Visits
- Child Files, Cited in Four Visits
- Indoor Space, Cited in Four Visits
- Children's Attendance, Cited in Three Visits
- Outdoor Area, Cited in Three Visits
- Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Two Visits
- General Qualifications, Cited in Two Visits
- Staff Attendance, Cited in Two Visits
- Kitchen and Food Preparation, Cited in Two Visits
- Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
- Administration of Medication, Cited in Two Visits
- Emergency Planning, Cited in Two Visits
- Lesson Plans, Cited in Two Visits
- License Renewal, Cited in Two Visits
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- The Learning Tree Children's Academy
- Address
- 403 West Lockerman Street, Dover, DE 19904
- License Number
- DE-817160
- License Type
- Child care center
- Licensed Capacity
- 40 children
- Ages Served
- 6 weeks through 12 years
- Hours
- 7 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Injuries Reported
- 2021: 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.
- 2025
Unannounced full compliance review
12 citations
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Dec 31, 2025
- 28UGeneral QualificationsCitedCorrected Dec 17, 2025
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Jan 9, 2026
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Jan 6, 2026
- 43UChildren's AttendanceCitedCorrected Dec 10, 2025
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Jan 6, 2026
- 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Jan 6, 2026
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Dec 31, 2025
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Jan 6, 2026
- 66UEmergency PlanningCitedCorrected Dec 31, 2025
- 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Dec 31, 2025
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Dec 12, 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)
- 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)
- 2024
Unannounced full compliance review
9 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Jan 13, 2025
- 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Dec 5, 2024
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Jan 13, 2025
- 43UChildren's AttendanceCitedCorrected Dec 5, 2024
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Jan 2, 2025
- 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Jan 2, 2025
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Jan 2, 2025
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Jan 2, 2025
- 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Jan 2, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2023
Unannounced full compliance review
12 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Jan 17, 2024
- 38UParents Right to KnowCitedCorrected Jan 4, 2024
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Dec 28, 2023
- 43UChildren's AttendanceCitedCorrected Dec 12, 2023
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Dec 12, 2023
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Dec 28, 2023
- 58USanitationCitedCorrected Dec 28, 2023
- 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Dec 28, 2023
- 65UFirst Aid KitsCitedCorrected Dec 12, 2023
- 74ULesson PlansCitedCorrected Jan 4, 2024
- 75UActivity AreasCitedCorrected Dec 28, 2023
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Dec 8, 2023
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
Unannounced full compliance review
8 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Jan 17, 2023
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Jan 20, 2023
- 45UHazardous MaterialsCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
- 66UEmergency PlanningCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
- 74ULesson PlansCitedCorrected Jan 11, 2023
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
Enforcement visit
1 citation
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Nov 10, 2022
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
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)
- 2022
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)
- 2022
Complaint visit
4 citations
- 28UGeneral QualificationsCitedCorrected Aug 12, 2022
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Aug 10, 2022
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Aug 9, 2022
- 9UChanges Affecting a LicenseCitedCorrected Aug 9, 2022
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
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)
- 2022
Unannounced
1 citation
- 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Jun 29, 2022
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2021
Unannounced
1 citation
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Dec 10, 2021
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
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Five Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 56U in August 2022, October 2022, December 2022, December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252556U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 2
Personnel Files, Cited in Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in December 2022, December 2023, December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252530U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 3
Child Files, Cited in Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in December 2022, December 2023, December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252540U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 4
Indoor Space, Cited in Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 49U in December 2022, December 2023, December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252549U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 5
Children's Attendance, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 43U in December 2023, December 2024 and December 2025. The agency describes it this way: Children's Attendance. 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.
212222222222222223242525252543U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 6
Outdoor Area, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 53U in August 2022, December 2022 and December 2023. 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.
212222222222222223242525252553U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 7
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 27U in December 2021 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252527U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 8
General Qualifications, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 28U in August 2022 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252528U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 9
Staff Attendance, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 36U in June 2022 and December 2024. The agency describes it this way: Staff Attendance. 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.
212222222222222223242525252536U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 10
Kitchen and Food Preparation, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 50U in December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252550U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 11
Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 61U in December 2024 and December 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.
212222222222222223242525252561U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 12
Administration of Medication, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 63U in December 2023 and December 2024. The agency describes it this way: Administration of Medication. 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.
212222222222222223242525252563U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 13
Emergency Planning, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 66U in December 2022 and December 2025. 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.
212222222222222223242525252566U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 14
Lesson Plans, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 74U in December 2022 and December 2023. 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.
212222222222222223242525252574U across all 14 visits, oldest to newest - 15
License Renewal, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 8U in December 2023 and December 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.
21222222222222222324252525258U across all 14 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 56U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments: cited in five visits, with no risk level published.
- 02
What changed after 30U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Personnel Files: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
- 03
What changed after 40U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Child Files: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
- 04
What changed after 49U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Indoor Space: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
- 05
What changed after 43U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Children's Attendance: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 06
What changed after 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Outdoor Area: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 07
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.
- 08
What changed after 28U was cited, and how do you check it now?
General Qualifications: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 09
What changed after 36U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Staff Attendance: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 10
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.
- 11
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.
- 12
What changed after 63U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Administration of Medication: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 13
What changed after 66U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Emergency Planning: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 14
What changed after 74U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Lesson Plans: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 15
What changed after 8U was cited, and how do you check it now?
License Renewal: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 16
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.
- 17
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 · 817160
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 10, 2021 · 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 29, 2022 · 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 Jul 6, 2022 · 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 9, 2022 · 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 18, 2022 · 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 30, 2022 · 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 Oct 19, 2022 · 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 28, 2022 · 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 12, 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 Dec 5, 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 Mar 25, 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 May 21, 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 Oct 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 Dec 10, 2025 · 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.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.