Tender Heart Learning Center
Daycare center in Dover, DE. 1339 South Governors Avenue, Dover, DE 19904
About the program
Tender Heart Learning Center is a licensed daycare center in Dover, Delaware. It is licensed for 97 children and serves toddler, preschool and school age ages.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Tender Heart Learning 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.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs blood lead screening and an MAR on file.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure fall zones extend at least six feet in all directions and has at least nine inches deep of material. The two year old and preschool playgrounds need mulch.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure staff to child ratios and supervision is maintained at all times. Specialist noted two teachers and one aide supervising three classrooms during naptime.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure each staff member supervising children have been fingerprinted and deemed eligible before being left alone with children. Specialist noted an aide watching a classroom of children.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure interns under the age of 18 are supervised at all times. Specialist noted two underage interns with 10 children on the playground. This was discussed and corrected at the visit when a ECT arrived to the classroom.
Show all 26 violations on file
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs 2 training hours in Health and Safety. One staff needs an adult health appraisal with TB on OCCL's form.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Two children need blood lead screenings.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure air fresheners are not used during child care hours. This was discussed and corrected at visit when the provider took down the air freshener in the lobby area.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure all food in the kitchen is labeled with the contents and expiration dates.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Ensure a teacher or higher is trained in the absence of the administrator and documented in the staff members file.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure a comprehensive background check is completed every five years. Three staff need to complete a five year comprehensive background check.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need job descriptions, one staff needs four reference letters, nine staff need a letter of eligibility on file.
Equipment (regulation 57U)
Ensure enough equipment is available at all times the three-year-old classroom needs music equipment.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure a non-porous surface is used. the one and two year old classroom need changing pads. Ensure diapers are disposed of in a foot activated pail for diapers only.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Ensure a schedule is posted. The Pre-K classroom had no schedule posted.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a blood lead screening test. One child needs a complete file.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure all trash cans have lids on them at all times. LS observed the Pre-K classroom a lid off a trash can that had food waste and other trash items in it. The bathroom has a trash can with out a lid. Ensure the classroom walls are in good repair. the one and two year old classrooms need paint applied in various areas of the room.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure the refrigerator and freezer maintain proper temperatures. A freezer thermometer read 10 degrees Fahrenheit. A refrigerator read 42 degrees Fahrenheit.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure fall zones are nine inches in depth for wood chips.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Ensure the lesson plan must include at least one daily activity for physical, social-emotional, language and literacy, and cognitive development. Allow children to choose to participate with the whole group, part of the group, or independently must be included. Cooking, food exploration, or healthy habits, such as talking about healthy habits or comparing the taste and texture of different foods; science and nature investigation, music and rhythm, multi-sensory play.
Center Policies-Parent/Guardian Handbook (regulation 23U)
Ensure parents are allowed into the building at all times. Staff # stated parents are not allowed in the building due to Covid procedures.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure supervision, and ratios are maintained at all times. Staff #3 was responsible for 14 children ages 3, 4, and 5 from 8:05 am-9:05 am on 8/5/22. Staff #4 was responsible for 12 children ages 1, 2, and 3 from 8:30am-9:05pm on 8/5/22. Staff #6 was observed leaving her classroom to help with lunch leaving eight two-year-old's in the classroom. Staff #9 who is an aide, was observed supervising six one-year-olds alone. This was discussed and corrected when staff #6 and #9 combined their classrooms to ensure proper supervision. LS Smith observed 12 children ages 3 and 4 with one teacher. this was corrected when two children were transferred to another classroom. LS Smith observed an infant i
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete Staff #1-8 and #11 need updated annual safe sleep, and annual abuse and neglect. Staff # 2, 3, 4,5, and 9 need CPR and First Aid certification. Staff #8 and 9 need medication certification or proof of health and safety training. Staff #7 needs orientation, job description, references, declaration of employment, drug and alcohol statement, health appraisals with TB results, release of employment, and service letter. Staff #9 needs a job description, references, and a service letter. Staff #11 needs a job description, health appraisal with TB results, and a service letter. Staff #8 needs a professional development plan.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Child #1-10 need date of enrollment and days/ hours they attend. Child #1, #3, and #4 need lead test results. Child #6 needs an updated health appraisal, immunizations, and lead test results.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure all exits have self closing and self latching abilities.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Ensure lesson plans are posted and meet the necessary requirements for OCCL.
What parents say
I dont have 1 bad thing to say about Tender Hearts, our nephew loves going there and their Staff have been absolutely amazing. Id definitely recommend this daycare Center
Princess · 5/5 on Google · 5 months agoThis daycare deserves zero stars. The worst daycare I’ve had my child at. The staff is extremely rude, unprofessional and ghetto including the owner Sharon. The old lady Bev is constantly yelling at kids, and she has no business working with them. Your child will learn nothing here but how to play with toys. There’s a odor every time you walk into the daycare. I’ve even been lied on by staff all because of their…
Jay Johnson · 1/5 on Google · 3 years agoI wish I could give this daycare zero stars it’s the WORSE very unprofessional and mean to the children I actually saw one caregiver hit a child and they are extremely rude all the workers including the owner is ghetto I would not recommend this place to care for my dog! Do NOT bring your child there
Tee Allen · 1/5 on Google · 4 years agoThis is the best daycare ever and miss. Bev is so nice I wish she could come back and be are teacher again 😃😃
302_kaylie Benton · 5/5 on Google · 7 years agoGetting there
1339 South Governors Avenue, Dover, DE 19904
Questions about Tender Heart Learning Center
Is Tender Heart Learning Center licensed?
Yes. Tender Heart Learning Center holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 491838), with a licensed capacity of 97 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Tender Heart Learning Center had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 9 violations for Tender Heart Learning Center in the last three years, across 6 inspections on file. The median daycare center in the area has 9. Each one is listed above with the date it was corrected.
What ages does Tender Heart Learning Center take?
Tender Heart Learning 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 Tender Heart Learning Center cost?
Tender Heart Learning 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.
