What Delaware inspectors cite the most
The 15 licensing rules DE DSCYF inspectors cite most often — in plain English, with what evidence inspectors look for. Free director's reference, from the official DE DSCYF record.
Source: DE DSCYF public inspection records · last reviewed 5/11/2026
#1 most cited
Day Care Center: maintain complete personnel files for all staff — credentials, health appraisals, training records, and required certifications must be on file and current.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Staff file missing medication-administration certification
- DEEDs certificate not on file for one or more staff
- Health appraisal/TB documentation missing
#2 most cited
Day Care Center: each child must have a complete file with required elements — health appraisal, immunization, blood lead screening, emergency contacts, and required parent forms.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Blood lead screening not on file for one or more children
- Health appraisal missing
- Immunization record incomplete
#3 most cited
Family Child Care Home: each child must have a complete file with required elements — health appraisal, days/hours of enrollment, parent permissions, and program-specific consent forms.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Child file missing health appraisal
- Days/hours of enrollment not documented
- Parents Right to Know notice not signed
#4 most cited
Day Care Center: indoor floors, walls, and surfaces must be cleanable and in good repair, including no peeling paint or damaged surfaces in child-use areas.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Peeling paint on walls in child-use room
- Damaged or worn flooring not repaired
- Surfaces not cleanable / sealed
#5 most cited
Family Child Care Home: license renewal application must be submitted at least 60 days prior to expiration, with current state-of-Delaware business license.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Renewal application not submitted 60 days prior to expiration
- State of Delaware business license not on file
- License renewal documentation incomplete
#6 most cited
Day Care Center: outdoor play equipment must have proper fall zones and be free of hazards. Climbing equipment, swings, slides require approved impact-attenuating surfaces.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Climbing equipment lacks required fall zone
- Broken basketball hoop or other equipment not removed/repaired
- Outdoor surface presenting impact hazard
#7 most cited
Family Child Care Home: monthly fire-prevention inspections + smoke/CO detector tests must be conducted, documented, and posted.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Monthly fire prevention inspection not documented
- Smoke/CO detector check not performed within required interval
- Documentation of testing not posted
#8 most cited
Family Child Care Home: parents and tour visitors must complete the Parents Right to Know Act notice log; provider must maintain the log.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Parents Right to Know notice log incomplete
- Tour visitors not added to log
- Required notice not posted
#9 most cited
Day Care Center: required staff-to-child ratios and group sizes must be maintained at all times; children must be supervised continuously.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Staff member exited classroom unsupervised
- Ratio violation observed during visit
- Group size exceeded for given age category
#10 most cited
Day Care Center: lesson plans must be complete and meet OCCL required components for each enrolled age group.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Preschool lesson plan missing required components
- Lesson plan not displayed/available
- Age-appropriate activities not documented
#11 most cited
Day Care Home Group: complete staff files required — including 2 credit hours of training, annual abuse-and-neglect review, and current health appraisal with TB clearance.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Staff training credit hours not completed
- Annual abuse and neglect review overdue
- Health appraisal/TB clearance missing
#12 most cited
Family Child Care Home: indoor space must be safe — pressure or accordion safety gates are prohibited; gates must be hardware-mounted.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Pressure-mounted safety gate observed in use
- Accordion gate present in child-use area
- Gate not properly hardware-mounted
#13 most cited
Day Care Center: kitchen and food preparation areas must meet sanitation standards including freezer at 0°F or below, proper food storage, and documented temperature checks.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Freezer temperature not documented at or below 0°F
- Refrigerator temperature log missing
- Food storage not in compliance
#14 most cited
Day Care Center: safe sleep environments — each child must have appropriate top and bottom coverings; cribs/cots must meet safe-sleep standards.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Children missing required top or bottom covering
- Cribs/cots not meeting safe-sleep standards
- Soft items present in infant sleep area
#15 most cited
Day Care Center: a diapering procedure must be posted above changing tables and at every diaper-change location.
Evidence inspectors look for
- Diapering procedure not posted above changing table
- Procedure missing from secondary diaper-change area
- Procedure not visible during inspection
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