Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center
Daycare center in Dover, DE. 1005 Park Ave, Dover, DE 19901
About the program
Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center is a licensed daycare center in Dover, Delaware. It is licensed for 52 children and serves toddler, preschool and school age ages.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center does not publish a fee schedule. Programs in the area that publish full-time tuition have a median starting price of $607 a month.
Licensing and safety
Open the state record →Most violations are record-keeping, training or maintenance items, and nearly every program has some. Read what each one was and how fast it was fixed. Delaware records each regulation found out of compliance at a review, with the corrective action required and the date it was corrected. The state does not assign a risk level.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need a professional development plan. Two staff need CPR/FA and annual review of child abuse and neglect. One staff needs CPR/FA, OCCL's Health and Safety Training, application, resume, or personal data sheet, pending out-of-state check, adult abuse registry check, and two service letter attempts. One staff needs OCCL's Health and Safety Training, job description, references, employee declaration, drug/alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, adult health appraisal with TB screening, and Release of Employment History.
Parents Right to Know (regulation 38U)
Ensure Parents' Right to Know Log is reviewed with and signed by each newly enrolled family since last year's OCCL visit and with anyone touring the center. Obtain signatures.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead level test result. One child needs an updated health appraisal and immunizations. Two children need an updated health appraisal and blood lead level test result. Two children need an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and blood lead level test result. One child needs updated immunizations. Two children need development plans.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure refrigerators maintain a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. Adjust refrigerator temperature in the two-year-old classroom.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure fall zone requirements are met in the outdoor play area. Replenish mulch to nine inches.
Show all 60 violations on file
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure nap mats are non-absorbent. Replace ripped mats in the one-year-old classroom.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure diaper changing surface is non-porous, free from rips and tears. Replace ripped pads in the one-year-old classroom and bathroom.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Ensure fire prevention checklist and fire drills are conducted monthly. Complete one for August and post in visible location.
Activity Areas (regulation 75U)
Ensure art materials are available in classrooms for ages two and older. Add accessible materials to the two-year-old classroom and large room.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure infants and toddlers are not cared for in the same room as older children, except in certain circumstances. According to attendance records submitted, on 8/25/2025, the one's and two's were combined with the older children in the morning and afternoon outside of the 90-minute allowance. Ensure maximum group size is not exceeded. According to attendance records submitted, when children were combined in the morning of 8/25/2025, the maximum group size for the one-year-old's, the youngest children present, was exceeded when 17 children were signed into the room. Ensure supervision is provided at all times by a qualified staff person. According to attendance records submitted, on 9/2/2025
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure staff document the exact arrival and departure in each classroom or area. According to attendance records submitted, on 9/5/2025, a staff person did not sign out. Submit attendance records for 10/6/2025 - 10/10/2025.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure supervision of children is provided at all times by a qualified staff person. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, an unqualified staff person was alone with children two different times. Ensure maximum group size requirements are met for the age of the youngest child present. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, the maximum group size was exceeded on 12 separate days. Ensure toddlers are not cared for with older children except in the first or last 90 minutes of the hours of operation or when 12 or fewer children are present. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, on four days, toddlers and older children
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure staff members are truthful when providing information to OCCL. According to the Administrator, the multi-purpose room was only used for special occasions and not every day. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, preschool children were combined in the multi-purpose room 15 days, spending the majority of hours in that room. Discontinue use of the multi-purpose room as a classroom or add the five required activity areas and received approval from OCCL to use it.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure the time of arrival and departure of each staff person in the classroom is documented. According to attendance records submitted to OCCL and reviewed, there were 10 times staff did not sign in/out of classrooms. Submit attendance records for 8/25/2025 - 9/5/2025.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Ensure Administrator is functioning in that role at least 50% of the time. According to the Administrator, she is in the classrooms daily as the primary teacher. Create schedule to ensure 50% of the time, the Administrator is functioning as the Administrator.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Five staff need a professional development plan. One staff needs an orientation, application/resume, references, employee declaration/drug and alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, health appraisal with TB screening, and two documented attempts to obtain service letters. Three staff need annual training hours.
Parents Right to Know (regulation 38U)
Ensure Parent's Right to Know log is reviewed with and signed by each newly enrolled family and any family touring the center. Obtain signatures.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead level test result. Four children need an updated health appraisal and immunizations. Two children need an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and blood lead level test results.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure walls are in good repair. Repair baseboard under heater in Room #1.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure thermometers are in each refrigerator and freezer. Add a thermometer to the freezer in Room #1. Ensure refrigerator temperature does not exceed 41 degrees. The refrigerator in Room #1 was a temperature of 44 degrees. Adjust temperature.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure gate in the playground self-closes and self-latches. Repair smaller gate. Ensure fall zone requirements are met. Replenish mulch to nine inches.
Activity Areas (regulation 75U)
Ensure classrooms for ages two years and older include the five required areas. Add construction blocks to Room #2 and accessible art materials to Room #4. This was corrected at the visit when the materials were added. Discontinue use of the Multi-purpose/gym room as a classroom or add the five required activities and receive approval to use by OCCL.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
During nap times, when children one year and older are sleeping, the maximum group size may not be exceeded. The Supervisor and Ls observed 25 children ages three to school-age napping in the multipurpose room, exceeding the maximum group size of 20 for three-year-olds.
First Aid and CPR Training (regulation 35U)
A center serving school-age children shall ensure an administrator has successfully completed 15 hours of approved school-age training.
Governing Body (regulation 15U)
Have an organized system of business management and have sufficient staff, space, and equipment to fulfill, at a minimum, administrative, clerical, direct child care, and supervisory functions. LS observed there is not enough staff for child care duties.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
A licensee shall ensure supervision and direct observation of children are provided at all times. This supervision occurs by assigning qualified staff members who are physically present and working with children. The licensee shall maintain the minimum staff-to-child ratio and maximum group size for each age group. LS observed a staff alone in the hallway with children while two other staff members were in the bathroom to change diapers and just with toileting. In the recreation room, one staff member was alone with 14 children ages three to ten years old. The administrator had been and was attempting to sleep more than the maximum group size of 20 three-year-old and older children in the
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need complete files. Five staff need professional development plans. , nine staff need an annual review of abuse and neglect. Three staff need CPR and First Aid training. One staff needs Administration of Medication Certification.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
The exact hours worked in each classroom or area should be documented at the time of the staff member's arrival and departure. The administrator did not sign in the recreation area, and when she left the child care area with LSs, she did not sign out or back on from the child care area.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Ten children need updated health appraisals. Ten children need updated immunization records. Four children need blood lead screening results.
Hazardous Materials (regulation 45U)
Ensure soap and water bottles are labeled and available in all classrooms and bathrooms.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure outlets are connected in the recreation room. The two garbage cans in the recreation area need lids. Classroom one needs the air freshener removed. During the visit, the children were in the recreation area, which is not set up with activity areas with required materials. During the three-hour visit, the children sat at tables, singing and table toys until lunch and nap time. The recreation room is not in the capacity of the license and can not be used as a classroom.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure the refrigerators and freezers all have thermometers that read 40 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator ad and zero degrees Fahrenheit for the freezers in classroom three. Classroom three has cups with milk in the m not labeled milk or dated and a bowl of food with a paper towel on it not labeled or properly stored.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure the protective surface of the outdoor play area beneath and in the fall zones of slides and swings. Replenish the mulch under the and at the bottom of the swings and slides.
Equipment (regulation 57U)
Provide developmentally appropriate equipment and materials for various indoor and outdoor activities. There must be enough equipment and materials for all children to use. Materials and equipment must help provide many experiences and choices. For children over 24 months old to school age, developmentally appropriate supplies or equipment are provided in quantities. Ensure equipment and supplies are relevant to all children's cultural backgrounds and communities and raise awareness of other cultures and communities. Provide music and science for classroom one. Provide art, music, and science to classroom three. Provide music materials in classroom five. All classrooms need more than j
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Written permission from the child's parent or guardian is required for each medication to be administered. One Child's medication administration record(MAR) is not completed. One child did not have a MAR for Aquaphor. Staff is using the diaper creams and is not administration of medication certified.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Ensure children are in the classrooms designated for their activity schedule. During the visit, the children were in the recreation room until nap time.
Insurance Coverage (regulation 16U)
Ensure insurance documentation is updated with OCCL.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure children are supervised by qualified staff. Staff #14 was in the hallway alone with children. Ensure that staff to child ratios are compliance at 8:34 AM staff #14 was alone in the hallway with 14 four and five year old children. This one. corrected when staff #10 joined staff #14.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure A comprehensive background check is completed every five years. Five staff needs to complete a comprehensive background check.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Seven staff need annual training hours, 2 in health and safety, an annual professional development plan. Nine staff need annual review of abuse and neglect. 11 staff need Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals certification.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure exact arrival and departure of each child is documented.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Seven children need an updated health appraisal, an immunization records, and documented blood lead test results. Two children need an updated health appraisal and immunization record.
Children's Attendance (regulation 43U)
Ensure staff documents exact arrival and departure.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure the freezer maintains a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure gates are able to self close. The gate to enter the playground from the side entrance will not self close. Ensure all zones of climbing equipment, swings, and similar equipment is at least 9 inches in depth.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Ensure medication administration records are properly filled out and used for anything other than soap and water. Two children need routine use medication administration records. One child needs an occasional use medication administration record. One child has several medication administration records incorrectly filled out.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Ensure an evacuation drill and fire prevention inspection is conducted and documented monthly. It was observed that the current inspection and drill was for July 26, 2023. The prior documented inspection and drill was on October 31, 2022.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Ensure posted lesson plans have required components of a daily activity for each goal that is developmentally appropriate.
Activity Areas (regulation 75U)
Ensure children 24 months and older have a space that is organized with identifiable areas and that equipment is accessible to the children present. The specialist observes three year olds using the great room without activity areas. Areas missing includes dramatic play, creative arts, such as drawing materials and manipulative. Ensure that these materials are accessible to the children at all times.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure sufficient qualified eligible staff are available to supervise the children and take care of the daily needs of the facility who are not assigned to any other duties other than caring for children. Staff #1 left two children in the great room to allow LS McPhatter access to the facility. LS McPhatter inquired where the other staff member was and she was performing morning cleaning. This was corrected when Staff #2 who was signed in rejoined the great room.
Governing Body (regulation 15U)
Ensure an annual City of Dover Fire Marshal inspection is completed.
Positive Behavior Management (regulation 20U)
Ensure the centers positive behavior policy is posted.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure qualified and eligible staff are supervision the children at all times. Staff members who are supervising children are to not assume other duties while supervising children. LS McPhatter entered the facility and observed Staff #7 brining children from the vestibule to the multipurpose room. The multipurpose room had 17 children ages one-year-old to five-years-old. This left staff #8 and Staff #10 out of ratio. Staff #10 was also responsible for preparing morning snack. Upon LS McPhatter entering the multipurpose room two children were coming from the hallway bathroom with no supervision. This was corrected at the visit when LS McPhatter propped open the siphon locking door so
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Staff #1 needs a professional development plan and annual abuse and neglect training. Staff #2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,and 13 need a professional development plan and annual abuse and neglect training. Staff #7 a rehire in February 2022 needs an orientation, job description, employee declaration, drug and alcohol statement, release of employment history, and documented attempts for a service letter from each prior employer if after two attempts one cannot be received two more reference letters are needed. Staff #10 a new hire in October 2021 needs an orientation, job description, employee declaration, drug and alcohol statement, adult abuse registry check, health appraisal on OCCL s form with TB
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure the changing area pads are placed. Classroom ! and classroom 3 changing pads have holes in the,.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Ensure monthly fire drills and fire inspections are completed. The last fire drill and fire inspection was completed in February.
Meals and Snacks (regulation 71U)
Ensure lesson plans for the week are posted.
Center Policies-Parent/Guardian Handbook (regulation 23U)
Ensure parent/guardian s visits and monitoring of the program are welcomed and permitted without prior approval. Several staff stated parents are not allowed in the facility past the vestibule and LS McPhatter observed a parent drop off in the vestibule.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
LS McPhatter asked who was in charge in administrator s absence and although was trained in day-to-day operations and OCCL was informed that Staff #2 was the person in charge, she did not know that she was designated as responsible. Retrain Staff #2 in day-to-day operations or train another early childhood teacher to be designated as responsible for the center in the administrator s absence.
Documenting Children's Progress (regulation 42U)
Ensure conferences between the parents and staff are conducted at least once annually. Developmental plans were not shared with parents when updated or reviewed. A developmental assessment was not conducted within 45 days of a child s enrollment. Annual conferences with parents were not held since Covid-19 restrictions were put in place. Ensure development plans are completed three times a year for toddlers and annually for preschoolers, and shared with the parents.
What parents say
Gathering lambs has been great for my child. One of the only daycares where I feel my daughter is cared for when she’s there. The director Lois is a cheery thoughtful and caring person, which is exactly what you want for that position. All of the staff have been pleasant to interact with.
Anthony Deldeo · 5/5 on Google · 6 months agoThis daycare is amazing! The staff is incredibly friendly and treat the children as their own. They are bible-based and teach great morals. Love this daycare, and I would never go anywhere else. They both discipline and praise the children, as my child has been acting up less at home. Thank you Gathering Lambs Child Care Center!
Julia Ilias · 5/5 on Google · 8 years agoBoth my kids have been here and they have been amazing, kids have their moments of getting hurt or sick but they always tell me when it's something serious or write up reports which is very nice, my daughter is in 2nd grade and still wants to go visit them, it's so nice to see her daycare teachers still there, I don't see them just watching my child, I see them teaching him and he's developing so much better
Happy Harper · 5/5 on Google · 3 years ago⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I absolutely love this daycare! The facility is always super nice, clean, and welcoming. The teachers are incredibly kind, caring, and wonderful with the children. I also love that they are Christian-based and incorporate faith and positive values into the environment. It gives me such peace of mind knowing my children are in a safe, loving place. I highly recommend them!
Kennyshia R · 5/5 on Google · a week agoGetting there
1005 Park Ave, Dover, DE 19901
Questions about Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center
Is Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center licensed?
Yes. Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 1335526), with a licensed capacity of 52 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 36 violations for Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center in the last three years, across 10 inspections on file. The median daycare center in the area has 10. Each one is listed above with the date it was corrected.
What ages does Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center take?
Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center is licensed to serve toddler, preschool and school age ages, and is open 6:30 am to 5:30 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center cost?
Gathering Lambs Christian Child Care Center does not publish tuition. Ask for the full fee schedule on a tour, including registration, supply and late pick-up fees. The program accepts child care subsidy.
