Jeffrey Whiting
Middletown, DE 19709 · toddlers to school-age · Home daycare: the provider shares the address with families
Ducklings ELC Middletown South
- licensed capacity
- 177
- a week, county median
- $280
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About
About Ducklings ELC Middletown South
Ducklings ELC Middletown South is a licensed child care center in Middletown, Delaware. It is licensed by the state, for up to 177 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing made 9 visits in the last 3 years and cited 9 rules across 6 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.
InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidy
Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
6 wk
6 mo
1
2
3
4
5
6
8
10
12 yr
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio, teacher qualifications and hours.
- Type
- Child care center
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- Hours today
- Not listed
- Licensed capacity
- 177 children
Hours
Hours
Hours not listed. Call (302) 492-2100 to confirm.
Programs
Programs and care
| Ages | Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license |
|---|---|
| Child care subsidy | Accepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license |
| Licensed capacity | 177 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
Tuition and costs
Ducklings ELC Middletown South has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in New Castle County has a median price of $280 a week (U.S. Department of Labor, 2022).
Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Infant
Center$280
Home daycare$182
Toddler
Center$199
Home daycare$154
Preschool
Center$210
Home daycare$155
School age
Center$106
Home daycare$86
State record
Inspection reports for Ducklings ELC Middletown South
License
- Status
- Licensed and operating
- License type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Capacity
- 177 children
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- License number
- #1653680
Summary
9 visits with a cited rule in the last 3 years · Most recent Aug 13, 2026
9 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.
- Records and paperwork 6
- Food and nutrition 1
- Other rules 2
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
See all 9 visits
- Aug 13, 2026VisitNo rules cited
Jul 13, 2026Inspection1 rule cited
72U Feeding of Infants
“Ensure proper feeding of infants. A staff member was reported to have fed breast milk to the incorrect infant. Staff member was removed from classroom and retrained on safe feeding requirements.”
Correction date in the state record: Jul 28, 2026
- Jun 3, 2026VisitNo rules cited
May 7, 2026Complaint investigation1 rule cited
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“On April 14 16, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received three complaints regarding allegations of failing to use appropriate behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on April 17, 2026. Based on staff interviews, video, and documents reviewed, this complaint is substantiated for failing to use appropriate behavior supports. Staff were observed on video holding a bathroom door shut to prevent a child from exiting the bathroom. One staff member was terminated from employment on April 15, 2026.”
Apr 14, 2026Complaint investigation1 rule cited
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“On March 26, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of infant safe sleep practices, infant feeding schedules and using inappropriate behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on March 31, 2026. Based on interviews and observations, this complaint is substantiated for failing to follow safe sleep practices. LS #1 observed a sleep-positioning device in the crib of a child who did not have documentation for the device from a health care provider. Based on interviews and review of documents, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to have or follow infant feeding schedules. LS #1 reviewed all updated infant feeding schedules. Infant schedules are individually based and staff stated there is daily communication with parents. Based on interviews with staff, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for using inappropriate behavior supports with children. All staff members stated they do not yell at children in the infant classroom. One staff member stated there is a staff member that sometimes raises their voice but does not yell.”
Apr 9, 2026Inspection1 rule cited
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. OCCL H&S needed for Staff #1, #6, #8, #9, #10. Job description needed for Staff #9. Health appraisal/TB needed for Staff #4, #6, #8, #9 (TB), #10. CPR/FA needed for Staff #10. References needed for Staff #5, #6, #8, #10.”
Correction date in the state record: Jul 21, 2026
- Apr 1, 2026VisitNo rules cited
Oct 21, 2025Inspection4 rules cited
43U Children's Attendance
“Ensure children are signed in/out of classrooms. Crickets/Caterpillars.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 24, 2025
40U Child Files
“Ensure children's files are complete. Child #8 needs blood lead screening.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 18, 2025
36U Staff Attendance
“Ensure staff sign in/out of classrooms. Crickets/Caterpillars.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 24, 2025
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs CPR/FA. Staff #5 needs medication cert updated, health appraisal/TB. Staff #6 needs health appraisal/TB. Staff #7 needs CPR/FA, 1 reference, health appraisal/TB. Staff #8 needs 2 references, health appraisal/TB.”
Correction date in the state record: Jan 12, 2026
Jul 23, 2025Inspection1 rule cited
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #2 needs job description, 1 reference, health appraisal. Staff #3 needs orientation. Staff #5 needs job description. Staff #6 needs health appraisal/TB. Staff #7 needs job description. Staff #8 needs orientation, safe sleep, abuse/neglect, OCCL 7 hr training, job description, 4 references, declaration, drug/alcohol, release of employment.”
Correction date in the state record: Oct 21, 2025
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FAQ
Questions about Ducklings ELC Middletown South
Is Ducklings ELC Middletown South licensed?
Yes. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.
When was Ducklings ELC Middletown South last inspected?
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on August 13, 2026. It lists 9 visits in the last 3 years.
Has Ducklings ELC Middletown South had rules cited by the state?
Yes. Inspectors cited 9 rules across 6 of 9 visits in the last 3 years; 7 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.
How many children can Ducklings ELC Middletown South care for?
177, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Does Ducklings ELC Middletown South accept child care subsidies?
Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.
What are Ducklings ELC Middletown South's hours?
Its hours are not listed. Call (302) 492-2100 to confirm.
How much does Ducklings ELC Middletown South cost?
It has not listed its tuition. Call (302) 492-2100 to ask.
What is Ducklings ELC Middletown South's phone number?
(302) 492-2100.
Where is Ducklings ELC Middletown South?
760 Levels Road, Middletown, DE 19709.