Delaware records · Sussex County · Laurel
DISCOVERY COVE LEARNING CENTER
Licensed Child Care Center · Laurel, Delaware
Records presented as of November 5, 2026The operation, as the state lists it
- License number
- 1210735
- Operation type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Address
- 12034 COUNTY SEAT HWY, Laurel, DE 19956
- Licensed capacity
- 53
- Ages served, as listed
- 1 year through 12 years.
- Hours, as listed
- 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- State programs listed
- Child Care Food Program;Purchase of Care
The record in numbers
| Compliance visits | 4 |
| Complaint investigations | 6 |
| Citations recorded | 11 |
| Citations with correction completed, per the state | 11 |
| Citations with correction still pending, per the state | 0 |
| Record span | June 21, 2023 – July 28, 2026 |
How to read this record
A compliance visit is a licensing visit by an OCCL specialist. When the specialist finds a regulation has not been met, the visit record carries a citation: the regulation's code and short description, the specialist's corrective-action note describing what was found, and the correction record — the date correction was due, whether the state has marked it completed, the date it was corrected, and how. A complaint investigation begins with a complaint; its record carries the state's result and the investigator's written conclusion. Delaware does not grade citations by risk or severity, so no grade is shown — the specialist's note is the substance of the record. One visit can produce several citations. A citation the state later records as corrected stays in the history; that is what a licensing record is.
Record by year
| Year | Visits & investigations | Citations recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 6 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 |
| 2023 | 1 | 2 |
Visits and investigations, newest first
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On June 23, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding mixing children of various ages in classrooms, suspension policy, and not meeting the child s needs. An investigation was conducted on June 30, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for mixing children of various ages in classrooms, because according to staff interviews and attendance records, Child #1, a two-year-old, was moved into the three-year-old classroom on June 22, 2026, and stayed for lunch and nap. Owner #1 stated Child #1 s behavior was so out of control, the decision was made to protect the younger children. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation the center violated their suspension policy, because the parent handbook states, The following are reasons we may have to expel or suspend a child: 1. the child is at risk of causing serious injury to other children or him/herself,. Staff interviewed and documentation reviewed show Child #1 was causing injury to other children and staff. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation the center was not meeting Child #1 s needs, leaving him/her with a snotty nose and in soiled pants. According to staff interviewed, they perform diaper checks and changes appropriately. Staff stated there is always extra clothing on hand in case a child s own clothing is soiled, and they ensure they wipe runny noses, as needed.
6 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need two attempts to obtain service letters.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 12, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 3, 2026
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a corrected Medication Administration Record (MAR). This was corrected at the visit when the missing information was added.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 9, 2026 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due June 9, 2026
Ensure radon testing is conducted every five years. Complete testing in each classroom.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 2, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 10, 2026
Ensure walls are in good repair. Patch and repair corner of wall in the pre-k classroom.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 13, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 3, 2026
Ensure exit gate in the outdoor play area is self-closing and self-latching. Repair gate at sidewalk in rear of building . Ensure fall zone depth requirements are met. Replenish mulch to nine inches in rear play area.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 21, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 10, 2026
Ensure art materials are always accessible in the classroom for ages two years and older. This was corrected at the visit when the art materials in the two-year-old classroom were made available.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 9, 2026 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due June 9, 2026
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
The state recorded no written conclusion for this investigation.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On October 16, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding cleanliness and not using serve ware appropriate to the child s age. An investigation was conducted on October 16, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because upon entering the center and while walking around, the center was found to be satisfactory in its cleanliness and there was no odor other than the smell of a bleach solution while staff cleaned. Staff interviewed stated breakfast was pre-packaged and served on a napkin. Staff #1 also stated he/she did not observe a child returning to the table to take a bite of food before he/she had a chance to clean breakfast up. LS #1 also observed boxes of food service supplies such as plates, napkins, and cups in the kitchen.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
OCCL s investigation of regulatory non-compliance began after clearance from other agencies was received. On March 6, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper discipline. An investigation began on March 5, 2025, and concluded on July 14, 2025. This complaint is substantiated because three different videos reviewed showed Staff #1 engaging in various forms of improper discipline, including roughly handling Child #1 by pulling them, pushing them into a chair and against a table, and restraining them.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On June 11, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding accident/injury procedures. An investigation was conducted on June 18, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because staff interviewed stated they were not aware of injuries occurring to a one-year-old like the ones described. Upon review of Child #1 s file, there were accident/injury reports completed, but none for the alleged injury. Two additional child files were reviewed, each containing accident/injury reports. Lastly, according to Staff #1 and Administrator #1, the other staff person in the one-year-old classroom at the time of the alleged injury is no longer employed at the center so obtaining additional information is not possible.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On June 11, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding diapering, improper staff-to-child ratio, exceeding maximum group size, and not having an organized system of communication. An investigation was conducted on June 18, 2025. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of improper diapering, because all staff interviewed stated diapers are checked hourly and changed as needed. Staff #2 stated Child #1 s pull-up was changed on the floor of the classroom, but it was done on a non-porous mat as required. Staff #3 stated diaper checks were completed at 3:00 pm. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation that the large preschool classroom is over ratio and maximum group size because prior days of attendance records showed the classroom followed proper staff-to-child ratio and no more than the maximum of 20 children were present at one time. There is no evidence to substantiate the allegation the center does not have an organized system of communication with parents. According to Administrator #1, if staff cannot respond to parent messages through ProCare the same day, they are required to no later than nap time of the following day. Administrator #1 also stated all families enrolled have his/her cell phone number.
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Ensure gates in the outdoor play area fencing is self-closing and self-latching. Repair main gate off parking lot.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 23, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 11, 2025
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff person needs two references.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 24, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 5, 2024
Ensure outdoor area has enough mulch to cover fall zones. Replenish mulch to 9 inches. Ensure gates are self-closing and self-latching. There is a broken gate in the toddler area, a broken gate leading from parking lot into play area, and the main gate from the building does not self-close or self-latch. Fix sharp edge on parking lot gate, Remove broken picnic table to ensure all equipment is in a safe condition.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 17, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 12, 2024
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal on OCCL's form.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 29, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 17, 2023
Ensure walls are in good repair. The School Age classroom needs the wall paint retouched.
Correction status: Completed · corrected June 29, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 17, 2023
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