Shell's Early Learning Center - Dover
868 S State St, Dover, DE
We are a directory, not the daycare. We cannot hold a spot, enroll a child or answer questions about care.
Own this daycare? Claim itAbout
Kids University is a licensed child care center in Dover, Delaware. It is licensed by the state, for up to 22 children, serving infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
It is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing made 7 visits in the last 3 years and cited 16 rules across 7 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
Hours
| Monday | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Friday | 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM |
| Saturday | Not listed |
| SundayToday | Not listed |
Programs
| Ages | Infants, toddlers and preschoolersFrom the state license. It lists: Infancy through preschool |
|---|---|
| Enrichment | Language Immersion, STEM Explorers, Creative Arts, Music and Movement, Little Chefs Cooking Class, Library and Literacy |
| Child care subsidy | Accepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license |
| Licensed capacity | 22 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
Kids University has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Kent County has a median price of $182 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).
State record
7 visits with a cited rule in the last 3 years · Most recent Mar 18, 2026
16 rules cited in those visits. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing publishes only visits where a rule was cited, so this record cannot show how often it was inspected.
A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
Own this daycare? Add your response to the state record
65U First Aid Kits
“Ensure first aid kit is complete. Kit was missing bandage twpe.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2026
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure gates are self-closing/ self-latching.”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 17, 2026
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Two children need updated health appraisals. Two children need updated immunizations. One child needs a completed medication administration record.”
Correction date in the state record: Apr 8, 2026
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs Administration of Medication. One staff needs OCCL's Health and Safety training.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 23, 2026
14U Notification to OCCL
“Ensure to notify OCCL within five business days of the termination, resignation, transfer or hiring of an early childhood administrator.”
Corrected during the visit
74U Lesson Plans
“Ensure lesson plans include weekly opportunities to explore food and healthy habits.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 7, 2025
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure gates are self closing/ self latching.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 7, 2025
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs current health appraisal with immunizations and blood lead screening. Three children need developmental screening. Two children need updated infant feeding statements.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 24, 2025
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Two staff need reference letters. One staff needs a job description. Two staff need first aid training.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 10, 2025
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure children are supervised at all times. According to attendance records, on November 15, 2024, there were four children alone in the infant room from 12pm until 4pm. In the Pre-K room, November 13, 2024, there were two children alone from 5pm until 5:27pm. On November 14, 2024, there were three children alone from 11:23 am until 11:40 am and one child from 5:06 pm until 5:19 pm. On November 15, 2024, there were 4 children alone from 11:00 am until 11:30 am. On November 13, 2024, in the PM Transition room, there was one child alone from 4:48 until 5:30 pm”
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper staff-to-child ratio, unqualified staff, classroom capacity, and not having the administrator present the required amount of time. An investigation was conducted on October 31, 2024. This complaint is substantiated for unqualified staff alone with children and improper staff-to-child ratio because according to attendance records, an intern was alone with three infants on October 21, October 24, and October 25, 2024. On October 22, 2024, an aide was alone with three children in the Pre-k room. There is no evidence to substantiate not following measured room capacity because according to attendance records and during the visit, rooms were following the measured capacity. There is no evidence to substantiate not having the administrator present the required amount of time because Staff #1 stated the administrator is out on medical leave. After the visit, Owner #1 informed OCCL that Administrator #1 resigned. A concern noted was staff were signed into more than one classroom at the same time on October 21, October 22, October 23, October 24, and October 25, 2024. Another concern noted was according to the attendance records, there were several days where staff and children were not signed out of the classrooms. Also, according to attendance records on October 25, 2024, there were three pre-K children with no staff signed into the room from 11:30 am until 12:00 pm.”
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding lack of supervision, improper staff-to-child ratio, mixed ages if more than 12 children are present, not providing a parent handbook, not having the administrator present 50% of the hours of operation, and unqualified staff. An investigation was conducted on September 5, 2024. This complaint is substantiated for unqualified staff because an aide was alone with four one-year-olds during the visit. This complaint is substantiated for not having an administrator present at least 50% of the hours of operation because based on interviews, the administrator is not present for the required amount of time. Based on interviews and observations, there is no evidence to substantiate lack of supervision, mixed ages of children, improper staff-to-child ratio, and not providing a parent handbook.”
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. One child needs hours/days attending and transportation permission. Five children need health appraisals. Four children need immunizations. Five children need blood lead screening results.”
Correction date in the state record: Sep 26, 2024
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff needs an additional reference. One staff needs orientation, job description, references, service letter with 2 documented attempts or 2 additional letters of reference.”
Correction date in the state record: Sep 19, 2024
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure staff to child ratios and proper supervision is maintained at all times. Specialist noted an aide in the green room alone with 4 children. This was discussed and corrected at the visit when a qualified staff member entered the room. Ensure unqualified staff are not alone with children. The one-year-old classroom had an aide alone with four children. This was discussed and corrected at the visit when a staff member qualified as an intern joined the classroom.”
Corrected during the visit
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Three staff need CPR/FA certification. Three staff need Administration of Medication certification. One staff needs Annual Review of Safe Sleep. Three staff need OCCL's Health and Safety training. One staff needs a job description on file. Four staff need references. One staff needs letter of eligibility. One staff needs Release of Employment. Three staff need service letters with 2 documented attempts.”
Correction date in the state record: Aug 9, 2024
Reviews
If your child goes or went here, your review helps other parents. We check every review against our review guidelines.
868 S State St, Dover, DE
Dover, DE 19901 · infants to school-age · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families
822 S State St, Dover, DE
1005 Park Ave, Dover, DE
1012 S Governors Ave, Dover, DE
631 South State Street, Dover, DE
955 South State Street, Dover, DE
150 Scull Terrace, Dover, DE
744 River Road, Dover, DE
FAQ
Yes. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on March 18, 2026, with 5 rules cited. It lists 7 visits in the last 3 years.
Yes. Inspectors cited 16 rules across 7 of 7 visits in the last 3 years; 13 show a correction in the state record. A cited rule is what an inspector found on the day of a visit. It is not a rating of the daycare today.
22, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.
Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Holiday hours can differ.
It has not listed its tuition. Call (302) 674-2719 to ask.
(302) 674-2719.
864 S State St, Dover, DE 19901. The nearest other daycare we list is Shell's Early Learning Center - Dover, under 0.1 miles away.