Delaware records · New Castle County · Bear
TREE OF LIFE LEARNING CENTER, INC. DBA THE LEARNING TREE
Licensed Child Care Center · Bear, Delaware
Records presented as of November 5, 2026The operation, as the state lists it
- License number
- 1483614
- Operation type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Address
- 1799 PULASKI HIGHWAY, Bear, DE 19701
- Licensed capacity
- 157
- Ages served, as listed
- 6 weeks through 12 years.
- Hours, as listed
- 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- State programs listed
- Child Care Food Program;Purchase of Care
The record in numbers
| Compliance visits | 7 |
| Complaint investigations | 4 |
| Citations recorded | 12 |
| Citations with correction completed, per the state | 12 |
| Citations with correction still pending, per the state | 0 |
| Record span | January 27, 2022 – October 15, 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 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 | 7 |
Visits and investigations, newest first
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On September 9, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) was notified by Administrator #1 of a child injury occurring on September 4, 2026, noting Child #1 was seen for medical observation on September 6, 2026, and they were awaiting medical documentation from Parent #1. OCCL received a complaint on September 11, 2026, regarding concerns of a lack of supervision, not using respectful communication in handling a parent concern, not maintaining child information three months prior to disenrollment, not having an organized system of business management, and the outdoor play area posing a safety hazard. An investigation began on September 11, 2026, and concluded on October 6, 2026, with unannounced visits occurring on September 17, 2026, and October 6, 2026. This complaint is substantiated for not utilizing an effective system of staff communication. Administrator #1 confirmed Parent #1 provided updated contact information prior to this injury occurring. However, attempts to contact Parent #1 outside of the Brightwheel application were made using Parent #1 s previous contact information. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of supervision based on video footage reviewed. Video footage showed Child #1 running to get a ball, tripping and falling, and hitting their knees and head on the ground. Staff #1 stated they initially saw no signs of injury upon checking. Staff #1 stated a bump did appear on Child #1 s head shortly after, and a Brightwheel message with a photo of Child #1 s head was sent to Parent #1, meeting child care licensing requirements for immediate contact of a parent upon determination of a head injury. Parent #1 picked up Child #1 approximately 40 minutes after the fall occurred. An incident report was completed and provided to Parent #1 upon pick-up as required, and a copy was provided to OCCL. Licensing Supervisor #1 viewed the video footage on October 6, 2026, and noted the same observations. There is no evid ence to substantiate this complaint for not using respectful communication in handling a parent concern based on staff interviews conducted. All staff members denied using disrespectful communication. While screenshots were provided to LS #1 showing an error message that popped up when Parent #1 attempted to email Administrator #1 on September 14, 2026, an email chain was forwarded to LS #1 on September 24, 2026, showing successful email communication between Parent #1 and Administrator #1 after this error message was received in response to the parent email. OCCL cannot determine what occurred that caused this error, but this indicates that this was an isolated incident and email communication between the reporter and the facility is not restricted or blocked. Administrator #1 denied blocking any families email addresses. When asked about the removal of Child #1 from the Brightwheel application, Administrator #1 stated they were attempting to remove multiple people from Child #1 s profile at the request of Parent #1 and accidentally removed/deactivated Child #1 s profile. Administrator #1 stated when this was brought to their attention by Parent #1, they immediately reactivated the account; however, the account has not been reactivated by Parent #1, so it is visible only to the facility, not the family. An email from Parent #1 states video footage of the incident has been requested multiple times. In this email chain, Administrator #1 asked Parent #1 to come to the facility to view the footage, and Parent #1 states they cannot get to the facility. Documentation of previous requests to view footage was not observed. It was confirmed by Administrator #1 on October 6, 2026, that Parent #1 did come to the center and observe the footage during the week of September 28, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not maintaining child information for three months after disenrollment based on interviews conducted. Administrators #1 and #2 stated all children files are kept accessible for three years and all files are stored in the attic after the three years. The Brightwheel application profile for Child #1 was observed and included the required documentation. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for the outdoor play area having safety hazards. On October 6, 2026, the toddler outdoor play area was observed by Licensing Supervisor #1 and Licensing Specialist #1. The artificial turf surface was adhered to the hard surface underneath. No areas of this surface showed signs of rippling or bunching, and no tripping hazards were observed. There are no slides, swings, or other objects or anchored equipment requiring a protected fall zone in this play area. Based on the results of the investigation, this complaint was: Substantiated.
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure personnel files are complete. Staff #1 needs OCCL health and safety training and health appraisal. Staff #3 needs OCCL health and safety training. Staff #4 needs updated annual adult abuse . Staff #5 needs updated annual adult abuse and safe sleep. Send documents to OCCL.
Correction status: Completed · corrected October 16, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 9, 2026
Ensure child files are complete. Child #14 needs current health appraisal and blood lead test result. Send documents to OCCL.
Correction status: Completed · corrected October 20, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 9, 2026
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On April 30, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper discipline. An investigation was conducted on May 2, 2025. Based on the results of this investigation there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because all five staff members who were interviewed denied ever witnessing any staff member use improper discipline with children and no video evidence was available to support the allegation.
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Submit the following to complete staff files: OCCL H&S training for Staff #1, 2; a health appraisal for Staff #2; two references for Staff #4. Not determined: completion of annual training hours. #1 needs 1; #3 needs 9, and #5 needs 8. Will be non-compliant if not received by September 30, 2024.
Correction status: Completed · corrected October 14, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 7, 2024
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on September 20, 2023, regarding improper discipline. An investigation was conducted on September 29, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint based on interviews with the administration and written statements by staff members. Owner Markita Stevens stated she viewed the video footage and only witnessed a staff member re-directing a child to another area of the classroom after hitting another child. Both statements from staff members indicate they have not experienced or witnessed any grabbing or improper discipline of children by staff members. The video footage was not available for OCCL to view as it is automatically deleted within 48 hours.
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Submit the following to complete the staff files: documentation of completion of OCCL health and safety training for 11 staff members; complete, signed, dated professional development plans for seven staff members; annual safe sleep and ch. abuse/neglect for one staff member; 2 references for one staff member; a signed declaration for one staff member; health appraisals with TB for two staff members. not determined at this time are completed annual training hours for five staff members.
Correction status: Completed · corrected October 16, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 5, 2023
Provide a copy of a food establishment permit for the contracted food vendor supplying the center's food; provide documentation of the thermometers reading the appropriate temperatures 41 degrees F. for refrigerators and 0 degrees F. for freezers. (The readings were taken very soon after a delivery.)
Correction status: Completed · corrected September 5, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 5, 2023
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on June 12, 2023, regarding improper discipline. An investigation was conducted on June 15, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint based on interviews with staff members and children. All five adults and two children interviewed stated they have not experienced or witnessed any plucking/flicking of children by staff members. Ms. Markita Stevens written email provided on June 12, 2023, indicated the parents and children she interviewed did not have any concerns about improper discipline. There are no dates or times provided for the specific incident, so video footage was not available for review by OCCL.
4 regulations cited at this visit.
The administrator needs infant/toddler specialized training. The application was submitted with DEEDs during the visit.
Correction status: Completed · corrected September 2, 2022 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due October 3, 2022
Submit the following to complete the staff files: Annual safe sleep and abuse/neglect form for one staff person; orientation for three staff members; a job description, references, adult abuse, and declaration/drug/alcohol for one staff member; health appraisals w/TB for two staff members; service letters for two staff members, medication certification for four staff members; revised with correct dates professional dev. plans for all staff. Annual training for seven staff members will be non-complaint if not received prior to license expiration.
Correction status: Completed · corrected September 19, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 3, 2022
Submit the following to complete the children's files: blood lead screening for children #3, 5, and 11.
Correction status: Completed · corrected September 19, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 3, 2022
Ensure the center has an adequate supply of emergency water.
Correction status: Completed · corrected September 5, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due October 3, 2022
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Submit the following items to OCCL to complete the staff files: professional dev. plans for two staff members, 1 reference for one staff member, a health appraisal w/ TB for one staff member, a health appraisal only for one staff member.
Correction status: Completed · corrected April 14, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due April 11, 2022
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Submit the following documentation to complete staff files. Two references are needed for two staff members and one of those staff members needs administration of medication certification or training and a professional development plan.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 31, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 4, 2022
1 regulation cited at this visit.
All children must be supervised at all times. A four-year-old child was able to leave the bathroom without being noticed. He went into another classroom, then outside to the adjoining building. One teacher's employment was terminated and the other received a verbal warning and must take a supervision class A mandatory emergency staff meeting will be held Monday night, 1-31-22. All staff will be required to take a supervision and classroom management class. The owner contacted Security Instruments and will have them place buzzards on the doors to sound when a back door is opened.
Correction status: Completed · corrected March 3, 2022 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due February 4, 2022
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