Delaware records · New Castle County · Bear
NCC HEAD START, INC. JEFFREY E. BENATTI
Licensed Child Care Center · Bear, Delaware
Records presented as of November 5, 2026The operation, as the state lists it
- License number
- 27755
- Operation type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Address
- 931 BEAR CORBITT ROAD, Bear, DE 19701
- Licensed capacity
- 76
- Ages served, as listed
- 3 years through 5 years.
- Hours, as listed
- 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- State programs listed
- Child Care Food Program;Nonprofit;Purchase of Care
The record in numbers
| Compliance visits | 4 |
| Complaint investigations | 2 |
| Citations recorded | 9 |
| Citations with correction completed, per the state | 9 |
| Citations with correction still pending, per the state | 0 |
| Record span | January 5, 2023 – April 13, 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 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3 |
Visits and investigations, newest first
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On March 30, 2026, Licensing Specialists (LS) #1 and #2 conducted an unannounced visit to investigate the allegation. During the visit, LS #1 and LS #2 interviewed the administrator and two staff members, reviewed documentation related to the allegations, and examined video footage of the incident. LS #1 reviewed the allegation with Administrator #1 and asked whether the program had recently experienced an incident involving a child losing a braid. Administrator #1 confirmed a recent incident in which a child reported pulling out their own braid. Administrator #1 explained Child #1 was in the Extended Day classroom at the time and was on the playground when they informed Staff #1 they had pulled their braid out. LS #1 asked whether Child #1 was typically assigned to the Extended Day classroom. Administrator #1 clarified Child #1 is enrolled in a Full Day classroom but does not nap. During naptime, Child #1 transitions to the Extended Day classroom, where they participate in activities and outdoor play, then returns to the Full Day classroom after naptime concludes. Administrator #1 further reported, upon returning to the Full Day classroom, Child #1 told Staff #3 they had placed their hair beads in the fence while outside and pulled their hair out. According to Administrator #1, when Staff #3 asked why, Child #1 stated they did it on purpose. LS #1 and #2 interviewed Staff #1 and reviewed the allegation. Staff #1, who works in the Extended Day classroom, confirmed that while outside, Child #1 approached them, handed them a braid, and said, This came out. When asked how they responded, Staff #1 stated they did not initially find it concerning, as children have had braids fall out before. Staff #1 reported checking Child #1 for any reportable injuries, finding none, then sharing the information with Staff #3. LS #1 asked Staff #1 about their supervision position on the playground. Staff #1 stated they were initially stationed near the red rail of the climber but moved around the playground regularly. Staff #1 confirmed another staff member was present on the playground at the time of the incident. LS #1 and LS #2 interviewed Staff #2 regarding the allegation. Staff #2 reported Child #1 approached them and said, I ripped my hair out. Staff #2 indicated Child #1 did not appear distressed and showed no visible reaction while making the statement. Staff #2 asked Child #1 to demonstrate what occurred. Child #1 explained they placed a bead in the fence and pulled their hair until the braid came out. Staff #2 demonstrated a fence by interlocking their fingers, and Child #1 reenacted the action by placing a bead between Staff #2 s fingers and pulling. LS #1 and LS #2 reviewed video footage with Administrator #1. The footage showed a camera angle from the far corner of the playground, opposite the fence. Due to glare and distance, individual children near the fence could not be clearly identified. However, LS #1 and LS #2 observed staff members actively moving throughout the playground and did not observe staff congregating in one area.
4 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. The following is needed: - CPR/First Aid--Staff #1, 2, 3, 4
Correction status: Completed · corrected February 10, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 13, 2026
Ensure all HVAC vents in Classrooms 1-4 are clean and free from dust.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 8, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 13, 2026
Ensure all nap equipment is labeled in Classroom 1
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 8, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 13, 2026
Ensure all classrooms have diaper-changing procedures posted in the bathrooms.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 8, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 13, 2026
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs OCCL's 7 hour Health & Safety course. Send certificates to OCCL when complete.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 24, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 15, 2024
Ensure medication is not expired. Send a picture of Child #4's inhaler that is not expired to OCCL when complete.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 24, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 15, 2024
1 regulation cited at this visit.
On 11/06/2023, Administrator Veronica Patterson from NCC Head Start Bear, emailed and notified LS Brady of an incident where a child was left unattended in a classroom for three minutes. This was corrected when both teachers were made to review the active supervision policy, and bathroom polices were also reviewed. Both teachers were suspended for three days. Again, this incident was self-reported, and additional documentation can be found in a focus note. EBrady 11/07/2023
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 6, 2023 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due November 6, 2023
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
April 7, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a website complaint regarding allegations of discrimination and not following termination policies. An investigation was conducted by On Licensing Specialist (LS) Brady on April 11, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for discrimination because Administrator Potter provided LS Brady with documentation showing she initiated and followed through with several supports for Child #1. Administrator Potter stated Parent #1 was asked to enroll Child #1 in Purchase of Care (POC), which would allow the center to provide before and after care for Child #1 who attends a part-day program in the Christina School District. Parent #1 was also offered the opportunity to enroll Child #1 in the extended day program that is federally funded, but Parent #1 did not. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for the center not following the center s policies because Administrator Christine Potter provided LS Brady with documentation of the center s policies with Parent #1 s signature.
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure all staff are fingerprinted and determined eligible every five years. Please send a copy of the fingerprint receipts, along with the out of state clearances to OCCL when complete.
Correction status: Completed · corrected March 15, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due March 31, 2023
Ensure personnel files are complete. Staff#1-12 need to complete OCCL's Health and Safety course. Staff# 11 needs to complete CPR/First Aid. Send to OCCL when complete.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 30, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due February 10, 2023
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