Destined For Greatness Learning
Daycare center in Smyrna, DE. 24 East North Street, Smyrna, DE 19977
About the program
Destined For Greatness Learning is a licensed daycare center in Smyrna, Delaware. It is licensed for 41 children and serves infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Destined For Greatness Learning 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.
Positive Behavior Management (regulation 20U)
Ensure teacher do not verbally deny food as a behavior management tool. Review positive behavior supports with one teacher.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete.
Hazardous Materials (regulation 45U)
Ensure routine cleaners are inaccessible to children.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Remove broken equipment from the playground and cut low hanging branches. Ensure there is a shaded area on the playground.
Show all 80 violations on file
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure the diaper changing area is on a surface that is non porous and disposable convers are used.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Ensure over the counter medications are labeled with the child's name and accompanied with an MAR.
First Aid Kits (regulation 65U)
Ensure the center has a complete first aid kit.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Purchase emergency water for the center.
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
Label the bottles in the infant room.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Post a schedule in the three year old classroom.
Notification to OCCL (regulation 14U)
Ensure OCCL is notified within five business days of the transfer of the early childhood administrator. Per discussion with the owner, she is now the administrator for the location and the previous administrator has transferred to Destined for Greatness Learning Center V. This was discussed with the owner.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs orientation, OCCL's Health & Safety Training for Child Care Professionals, two references, and an adult health appraisal with TB results. One staff member needs a release of employment history with accurate information and corresponding service letters.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs an emergency card and transportation permission. One child needs parents right to know acknowledgment. Two children need an infant feeding schedule.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure all areas are clean. The floors between the rubber mats in the hallway and the pre-k classroom need to be cleaned. Ensure electrical outlets and power strips are covered. The power strip in the one-year-old classroom needs covers on the unused outlets. Ensure all sinks supply hot and cold water. The sink in the infant classroom and in front of the bathroom are not supplying hot water.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Purchase a thermometer for the refrigerator in the infant classroom and the kitchen to ensure the temperature is at 41 degrees F or colder. The thermometer in the infant classroom read 42 degrees F and the thermometer in the kitchen was not operating.
Toilet Facilities (regulation 51U)
Ensure the ventilation fan in the bathroom is operable.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Repair the wooden barrier along the fence in the older child outdoor play area. Remove the two broken red chairs. Ensure the gate is self-closing and self-latching. The gate in the older child outdoor play area is not self-closing and self-latching. Ensure fall zone requirements are met. Replenish the fall zone material with nine inches of pea gravel under all equipment when the children's feet leave the ground.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure nap equipment is non-absorbent. Dispose of the ripped nap mat in the one-year-old classroom. Ensure crib mattresses are covered with a tight-fitting bottom sheet. A crib was observed with a loose bottom sheet.
Sanitation (regulation 58U)
Ensure soap and water and sanitizer/disinfectant are available to be used on items/equipment as required. The two-year-old classroom did not have soap/water. This was corrected when soap/water was supplied.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure hands are washed after diaper changes. A staff member was observed not washing her hands nor the child's hands after changing the child's diaper. This was discussed with the staff member and corrected when both sets of hands were washed. Ensure the diaper changing area is cleaned with soap and water and disinfected after each diaper change. The diaper changing area was not cleaned by the staff member after changing a diaper.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Purchase additional water for proper shelter-in-place supplies.
Activity Areas (regulation 75U)
Ensure indoor spaces include the five required areas with sufficient materials. The three-year-old classroom needs language/literacy and science materials. The two-year-old classroom needs dramatic play materials and science materials. The one-year-old classroom needs language/dramatic play materials. The pre-k classroom needs manipulatives/ math/ problem solving materials and science materials.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Ensure a daily schedule is posted in each classroom. The infant classroom was missing a schedule. This was corrected when on was posted.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Document the training of the staff member trained in the day-to-day operations when the administrator is absent.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs to obtain CPR and first aid certification and four references.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure staff attendance is documented to include exact hours worked in each classroom or area. One staff did not sign in or out of the opening classroom. This was corrected when the staff member documented her arrival and departure from the classroom.
Parents Right to Know (regulation 38U)
Complete the Parent's Right to Know Notice Log with current enrollment.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Three children need blood lead screening results.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure all areas are clean and in a safe condition; floors, walls, and toilets must be cleanable and in good repair. Repair the broken cabinet door in the two-year-old classroom. Repair the broken/missing toilet seat in the bathroom. Repair the toilet that does not flush in the bathroom. Remove the hanging fabric from the bench in the book area in the one-year-old classroom. Remove the ripped rug in the Pre-k classroom. Replace the trash can in the outdoor play area to ensure it is covered.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Purchase a thermometer for the refrigerator in the kitchen and the infant classroom to ensure the temperature is at 41 degrees F or colder.
Toilet Facilities (regulation 51U)
Repair the ventilation fan in the bathroom.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Remove the broken equipment from the outdoor play area; broken infant jumper, infant rocker seat, chairs, toys, swing, etc. Remove the broken cinder block. Relocated the little tikes climber at least six feet from the fence. Replenish the fall zone materials. Repair the gates to ensure they self-close.
Pools and Swimming (regulation 54U)
Discontinue the use of the portable wading pool. This was discussed with the administrator and corrected when she agreed to comply in the future.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Remove the ripped nap cots from the Pre-k classroom. Ensure the fitted sheets are fitted tightly to the crib mattresses in the infant classroom.
Equipment (regulation 57U)
Purchase additional equipment to provide sufficient quantity. The three-year-old classroom needs science materials. The two-year-old classroom needs dramatic play and science materials. The one-year-old classroom needs dramatic play and building materials.
First Aid Kits (regulation 65U)
Purchase an eye patch or dressing, pen and note pad, plastic bags, roll gauze, safety pins, and a triangle bandage or sling for the first aid kit.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Purchase an emergency water supply.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Ensure the renewal application is submitted at least 60 days prior to the license expiration. This was corrected when the application was submitted on September 10, 2024.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure children's files are complete. Child #4 needs blood lead screening results. Child #9 needs current Health appraisal. Send corrections to OCCL.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure floors/carpets are clean. The carpet in the library/circle area in the Two's classroom needs to be cleaned. Send a picture of cleaned carpet to OCCL.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Ensure state business license is current. Send picture of current business license to OCCL.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure the trash cans are working and covered. The trashcan in the bathroom was not working. Also, clean the walls near the bathroom door on the outside and inside of the bathroom doorway. Submit picture by 11/30. Ensure the lights are working correctly. Repair broken lights. Submit a picture by 11/30.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure diaper pail is working. The diaper pail in the bathroom isn't working. Please submit picture of correction by 11/30.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs to complete OCCL's Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals. Two staff members need a professional development plan. One staff member needs annual review of safe sleep and annual review of abuse and neglect. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal and TB results.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs a health appraisal. Two children need blood lead screening results. Seven children need development plans.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure all sinks supply hot and cold water. The sinks inside the bathroom, outside the bathroom, and in the infant classroom do not have hot water. Send confirmation to OCCL once the hot water has been restored.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure the freezer is at 0 degrees F or colder. The three thermometers in the freezer read 10 degrees F or higher. Send confirmation to OCCL once the freezer reads 0 degrees F or colder.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Replenish the fall zone areas with nine inches of pea gravel.
Transportation (regulation 67U)
Ensure the traveling first aid kit contains bandage tape, band-aids, an eye patch, finger splint, first aid guide, gauze pads, gloves, instant cold pack, pen & note pad, plastic bag, roll gauze, safety pins, scissors, thermometer, triangle bandage, tweezers, water, liquid soap, emergency medication, emergency numbers, poison control number, vehicle insurance on file, and a fire extinguisher. At the visit, Owner Barksdale stated the center's SUV was not at the center. When asked, Owner Barksdale stated she used her personal car to transport the school-age children to school that day and stated she did not take the required items.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Post a lesson plan in the two-year-old classroom and infant classroom.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Post a schedule in the infant classroom.
Staff Qualifications (regulation 24U)
Ensure an early childhood aide is at least 16 years of age or 15 years old if attending a high school's early childhood education program and enrollment documentation is on file at the center. Staff #1 stated Child #11 (a 13 year old) was a volunteer who comes one to two days a week for 8 hours to read to the children and assist staff. This was discussed with Staff #1 and Administrator Barksdale and corrected when Child #11 was moved to the school-age classroom.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Document the hours the administrator is present and functioning in the role to ensure the administrator is present at least 50% of the hours of operation. Submit the administrators attendance for the rest of the month of July.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure staff-to-child ratios are maintained through qualified staff. Staff #2, an ECAT without eligibility determination and Staff #3, an aide who is not 18 years old were observed supervising a group of six one-year-old children. This was corrected when Staff #1, an ECT with eligibility determination entered the classroom with Staff #3.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure a staff member is fingerprinted and the licensee has received an eligibility determination or a provisional eligibility notification before the start of employment. Staff #2 was observed working in the one-year-old classroom. Staff #2 was fingerprinted on July 10, 2023, but the center has not received eligibility determination. This was corrected when Staff #2 left the center and Administrator Barksdale agreed not to allow her to return until eiligibility is received.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff members need to complete first aid and CPR. Three staff members need a professional development plan. One staff member needs to complete annual review of safe sleep and annual review of abuse and neglect. Eight staff members need to complete the training titled Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals. One staff members needs two references. One staff member needs four references. Two staff members need eligibility determination from the Criminal History Unit. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal with TB results. One staff member needs a service letter or two documented attempts.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. One child needs the date of enrollment, hours and days she attends, an emergency card, a health appraisal, immunization record, blood lead screening results, parents right to know acknowledgment, screen time permission, and transportation permission. One child needs an immunization record and blood lead screening results. Two children need a health appraisal and blood lead screening results.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure toilets are in good repair. The toilet seat is missing from one toilet. Repair the toilet seat.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Remove the broken equipment, a broken plastic char and a ripped bouncer seat, from the outdoor play area. Replenish the pea gravel with 9 inches of pea gravel in all fall zone areas.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Replace the ripped crib mattress in the infant classroom.
Equipment (regulation 57U)
Repair or remove the loose bookshelf in the preschool classroom. Purchase sufficient quantity of equipment for the two-year-old classroom.
Emergency Planning (regulation 66U)
Post the monthly evacuation drill/fire prevention checklist.
Transportation (regulation 67U)
Ensure the first aid kit for traveling is complete. Purchase a thermometer, triangle bandage, safety pins, water, and liquid soap.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Ensure the completed lesson plan is posted and contains required topics. The lesson plan in the one-year-old classroom was not posted for the current week.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Ensure the daily schedule is posted. A schedule was not posted in the one-year-old classroom.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Purchase a covered trash can for the infant classroom.
Toilet Facilities (regulation 51U)
Supply soap and paper towels at the handwashing sinks in the bathroom.
Sanitation (regulation 58U)
Ensure soap and water is available to clean areas and equipment. A soap/water solution was not available at the diaper-changing area in the bathroom.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Purchase two non-porous diaper mats to replace the ripped mats in the infant classroom and bathroom. Ensure the foot-activated diaper trash can's lid remains on the trash can. This was corrected when the lid was placed back on the trash can.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure staff attendance is documented. A staff member did not sign out of the pre-k classroom when she left the classroom. This was corrected when the staff member signed out.
Children's Attendance (regulation 43U)
Ensure child attendance is documented with exact arrival and departure times. There were nine children present in the pre-k classroom; however, only six were signed in. This was corrected when the three children were signed in.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure safe sleep practices are used at all times. An infant was observed asleep in a lounge chair. This was discussed with staff and corrected when the infant was placed in the crib.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure staff are fingerprinted within five days of turning 18. A staff member turned 18 on December 7, 2023, and has not been fingerprinted or determined eligible by the Criminal History Unit. This was discussed with Owner Barksdale and she agreed the staff member will not return until she s been fingerprinted and determined eligible.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure classroom capacities are maintained at all times. Ten children were observed sleeping in the three-year-old classroom, which measures for nine children. Ten children were observed sleeping in the one-year-old classroom, which measures for six children. This was discussed and staff agreed to comply. Discontinue the use of air fresheners and burning of candles during the hours of operation. An air freshener and a burning candle were observed. This was discussed and staff agreed to comply.
Insurance Coverage (regulation 16U)
Submit the updated general liability insurance.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Train an Early Childhood Teacher in the day-to-day operations and document the training on the orientation record.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure staff-to-child ratios are maintained. An intern who has not been employed for a month was observed alone with a group of 10 three to five-year-olds. This was corrected when a qualified staff member entered the classroom. Upon arrival, a qualified staff member left the two-year-old classroom to answer the door. This left an aide alone with a group of six children age two through three-years-old. This was corrected when a qualified staff member re-entered the classroom. Ensure infants and toddlers are cared for in an area separate from older children. Two three-year-olds were observed in the two-year-old classroom. This was corrected when the three-year-olds were moved into the preschoo
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure staff are fingerprinted before the start of employment and are supervised at all times until eligibility is determined. A staff member without eligibility was observed alone with 10 children age three to five-years-old. A staff member without eligibility was observed alone with six children age two and three-years-old. A staff member without eligibility was observed alone with four one-year-olds. Submit the eligibility letters for the three staff members.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs CPR and first aid certification. Three staff members need administration of medication certification. Five staff members need a professional development plan. Five staff members need annual review of safe sleep and abuse and neglect. Six staff members need orientation. Four staff members need a job description. Six staff members need two references. Five staff members need drug/alcohol statements. Five staff members need eligibility determination. Six staff members need a health appraisal with TB results. Five staff members need release of employment history and corresponding service letters. Three staff need service letters.
What parents say
Particular teachers were very biased and viewed my neurodivergent son who had trauma challenges very negatively. They would seek and make up reasons to suspend him just so they didn't have to deal with him. My daughter would come home distraught and talk about “the mean teacher who says shut up at her”. Also there were days where my son was not administered his medications he needed to take. Since switching them to a…
Giovanni Bovenzi · 1/5 on Google · 8 months agoToday was my daughters first day here ...she is 4 and has been in daycare/learning centers since 6 weeks old and this is the first place that had ever cared to evaluate her educationally, do learning work with her while there and send homework home along with a detailed and i mean VERY detailed overall of her day the ...they leave you with everything you need to answer how your childs day was and that is BEYOND an…
Tiffany Rodriguez · 5/5 on Google · 6 years agoFriendly, Attentive staff. My two look forward to going to school daily☺️🥰
Angela McCoy · 5/5 on Google · 7 months agoWonderful daycare with caring and attentive staff. My children have been attending here for years and love it.
Sarah Malpass · 5/5 on Google · a year agoGetting there
24 East North Street, Smyrna, DE 19977
Questions about Destined For Greatness Learning
Is Destined For Greatness Learning licensed?
Yes. Destined For Greatness Learning holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 399918), with a licensed capacity of 41 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Destined For Greatness Learning had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 44 violations for Destined For Greatness Learning in the last three years, across 12 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 Destined For Greatness Learning take?
Destined For Greatness Learning is licensed to serve infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages, and is open 7 am to 5:30 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does Destined For Greatness Learning cost?
Destined For Greatness Learning 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.
