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Child care center 

Next Step Learning Center

2 E Church St, Selbyville, DE 199752.0· 3 reviews
licensed capacity
196
open each week
5 days
a week, county median
$182

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Licensed by the stateInspection record

About

About Next Step Learning Center

Next Step Learning Center is a licensed child care center in Selbyville, Delaware. It is licensed by the state, for up to 196 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

It is open Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM.

Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing made 6 visits in the last 3 years and cited 18 rules across 6 of them. The visit list, in the state's words, is below.

InfantsSchool-ageAccepts child care subsidyOpens before 7 AM

Ages served: infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children

From the state license
Ask when you call: rates, current openings, staff-to-child ratio and teacher qualifications.
Type
Child care center
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
Hours today
Closed today
Licensed capacity
196 children

Hours

Hours

Monday6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Tuesday6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Wednesday6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
Friday6:30 AM to 6:00 PM
SaturdayNot listed
SundayTodayNot listed

Programs

Programs and care

AgesInfants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age childrenFrom the state license
Child care subsidyAccepts state child care subsidiesFrom the state license
Licensed capacity196 childrenFrom the state license

Cost

Tuition and costs

Next Step Learning Center has not listed its tuition. For comparison, full-time infant care at a child care center in Sussex County has a median price of $182 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.
Sussex County medians, full time, per week

Infant

Center$182
Home daycare$155

Toddler

Center$139
Home daycare$131

Preschool

Center$145
Home daycare$131

School age

Center$111
Home daycare$66

County median full-time prices at centers and home daycares, U.S. Department of Labor, National Database of Childcare Prices, 2022 (the latest year). Not this daycare's rates; prices have risen since.

State record

Inspection reports for Next Step Learning Center

License

Status
Licensed and operating
License type
Licensed Child Care Center
Capacity
196 children
Ages
Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
License number
#843590
See the state's record

Summary

6 visits with a cited rule in the last 3 years · Most recent Apr 15, 2026

18 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 5
  • Building, equipment and play areas 3
  • Safe sleep 2
  • Health, medication and illness 2
  • Food and nutrition 2
  • Safety and hazards 1
  • Staff training and qualifications 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 8 visits
  1. Apr 15, 2026Inspection5 rules cited
    • Safety and hazards

      77U Infant and Toddler Care

      “Ensure children under three years old do not have access to plastic bags. Plastic bags were observed on the open diaper changing table shelves in children's reach in a classroom with two-year-olds. This was discussed and corrected when the plastic bags were removed from the children's reach.”

      Corrected during the visit

    • Safe sleep

      56U Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments

      “Obtain written parent permission before swaddling an infant. An infant was observed swaddled and no written parent permission was on file.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 16, 2026

    • Building, equipment and play areas

      51U Toilet Facilities

      “Ensure toilet rooms have an operable window or ventilation fan. The ventilation fan in the bathroom located in the preschool classroom was observed not working. Repair the fan.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 28, 2026

    • Building, equipment and play areas

      49U Indoor Space

      “Ensure floors and walls are cleanable and in good repair. Repair the floor in the main hallway. Repair the walls in four classrooms. Discontinue the use of the oil diffuser. An oil diffuser was observed in use in the one-year-old classroom. This was discussed and corrected when the oil diffuser was removed from the one-year-old classroom.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 28, 2026

    • Records and paperwork

      30U Personnel Files

      “Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs a complete release of employment history and a corresponding service letter.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 28, 2026

  2. Apr 8, 2025Inspection6 rules cited
    • Health, medication and illness

      63U Administration of Medication

      “Ensure Medication Administration Records (MAR) are complete and signed by the parent/guardian. MAR's were observed for diaper cream for multiple children in the Busy Bee's classroom; however, the MAR's were not signed by the children's parent/guardians.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025

    • Health, medication and illness

      61U Diapering and Soiled Clothing

      “Ensure a non-porous surface is used for diaper-changes. The diaper-changing mat in the Busy Bees classroom is ripped and needs to be replaced.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 11, 2025

    • Food and nutrition

      50U Kitchen and Food Preparation

      “Ensure the freezer is 0 degrees F or colder. The thermometer in the kitchen freezer read 20 degrees F. A second thermometer was placed in the freezer, it also read 20 degrees F.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 14, 2025

    • Records and paperwork

      40U Child Files

      “Ensure child files are complete. Four children need blood lead test results.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 25, 2025

    • Records and paperwork

      30U Personnel Files

      “Ensure staff files are completed. One staff member needs two references. Two staff members need an adult health appraisal. One staff member needs one reference. One staff member needs CPR and first aid certifications.”

      Correction date in the state record: May 22, 2025

    • Staff training and qualifications

      24U Staff Qualifications

      “Ensure the Early Childhood Administrator has successfully completed 15-clock-hours of accepted training in infant and toddler development and curriculum and 15-clock-hours of accepted training in school-age care.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 25, 2025

  3. Jun 6, 2024Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Other rules

      OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)

      “The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on May 9, 2024, regarding unqualified staff alone with children, positive behavior supports, accident/injury procedures, and not having developmentally appropriate materials. An investigation was conducted on May 13, 2024. The complaint is substantiated for unqualified staff alone with children because a staff member under 18 was alone on two days with children during nap time. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint for not using positive behavior supports, accident/injury procedures, and not having developmentally appropriate materials based on interviews and observations during the visit.”
  4. Apr 18, 2024Inspection4 rules cited
    • Safe sleep

      56U Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments

      “Ensure crib mattress sheet is covered with tight fitting bottom sheet. The Lil' Cruisers classroom and Beautiful Beginnings classroom crib sheets were not tight fitting. Please send a picture of the correction to OCCL.”

      Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2024

    • Food and nutrition

      50U Kitchen and Food Preparation

      “Ensure refrigerators are 41 degree or colder and freezers are 0 degrees or colder. The refrigerator in the kitchen read 45 degrees Fahrenheit and the freezer read 4 degrees Fahrenheit. Please send a picture of correct temps. The refrigerator in the Beautiful Beginnings infant room read 48 degrees and the freezer read 20 degrees. Please send pictures of corrected temperature readings to OCCL.”

      Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2024

    • Records and paperwork

      43U Children's Attendance

      “Ensure attendance record includes exact arrival and departure times. Classrooms First Steps and Little Sprouts were combined. There 12 children present but only 11 children were signed in. Staff corrected it immediately.”

      Corrected during the visit

    • Records and paperwork

      30U Personnel Files

      “Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1, 2, 3 and 4 need two documented attempts in obtaining a completed service letter. Submit proof of attempts to OCCL.”

      Correction date in the state record: May 1, 2024

  5. Jan 17, 2024Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Other rules

      OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)

      “The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on December 5, 2023, regarding positive behavior supports, not meeting children s needs, staff communication, child files, development plans, indoor space, developmentally appropriate materials, diaper changing, health exclusions, lesson plans, and teacher/child interactions. The complaint is substantiated for lesson plans not being current because three classrooms did not have a current lesson plan posted. The complaint is substantiated for use of air fresheners because the specialists observed air fresheners being used in classrooms. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint for not using positive behavior supports, not meeting children s needs, staff communication, incomplete child files, not doing development plans, indoor space requirements, not having developmentally appropriate materials, diaper changing, health exclusions, or teacher/child interactions based on observations during the visit, interviews conducted, and video footage reviewed.”
  6. Dec 11, 2023Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      49U Indoor Space

      “Ensure the use of air fresheners is prohibited. The facility had 5 classrooms with air fresheners. Remove air fresheners and send OCCL verification that they are no longer in use. Ensure the facility has enough lighting to supervise children. LS observed a crib being occupied and a child could not be observed in the crib asleep. This was corrected when a night light was observed in the area and out of reach. Ensure trash is stored securely. LS observed trash accessible in the Discovery Classroom. This was corrected when the trash was placed in a receptical. Ensure weekly lesson plans are updated and posted. 3 classrooms needed a current weeks plan posted. This was corrected when updated lesson plans were posted in the Little Sprouts classroom, Discovery classroom, and Beautiful Beginnings classroom. The use of air fresheners is prohibited. The facility had five classrooms with air fresheners. Remove air fresheners and send OCCL verification they are no longer in use.”

      Correction date in the state record: Dec 19, 2023

  7. Apr 18, 2023Inspection3 rules cited
    • Building, equipment and play areas

      49U Indoor Space

      “Discontinue the use of the air fresheners in all classrooms.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 20, 2023

    • Records and paperwork

      30U Personnel Files

      “Ensure staff files are complete. 17 staff need to complete the Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals. Six staff need eligibility letters from the Criminal History Unit (CHU). Four staff need service letters. One staff needs a reference letter and adult health appraisal with TB results. One staff needs administration of medication training or certification. Two staff need employee declaration.”

      Correction date in the state record: May 2, 2023

    • Supervision and ratios

      27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision

      “Ensure infants/toddlers are cared for in a separate area from the older children. This specialist observed 16 children, ages two through five, in the Discovery Preschool classroom. Two of the children were two year olds. According to staff three two-year-old children are enrolled in the classroom. Send confirmation to OCCL once the children have been removed from the older child classroom.”

      Correction date in the state record: Apr 20, 2023

  8. Sep 28, 2022Complaint investigation1 rule cited
    • Other rules

      OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)

      “OCCL received a complaint on September 15, 2022, regarding not notifying OCCL of an air conditioner failure, not maintaining proper room temperature, improper staff-to-child ratios, and using an unapproved building. An investigation was conducted on September 20, 2022. The complaint is substantiated because Administrator Hassler stated the air conditioner in the upstairs of the center was not working properly; however, OCCL was not notified of the equipment breakdown. Administrator Hassler stated 19 four and five-year-old children were taken to an unapproved building on Thursday, September 15, 2022, and the morning of Friday, September 16, 2022. According to the reviewed attendance records, there were multiple times staff-to-child ratios were not maintained and on one occasion maximum group size was exceeded. A concern noted was staff and children s attendance records were incomplete because there were several times staff and children were not signed out on the reviewed attendance records.”

Copied from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing on October 1, 2026; the state's records start around Oct 2021. Rule wording, severity and dates are the state's.

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FAQ

Questions about Next Step Learning Center

Is Next Step Learning Center licensed?

Yes. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.

When was Next Step Learning Center last inspected?

Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on April 15, 2026, with 5 rules cited. It lists 6 visits in the last 3 years.

Has Next Step Learning Center had rules cited by the state?

Yes. Inspectors cited 18 rules across 6 of 6 visits in the last 3 years; 16 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 Next Step Learning Center care for?

196, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.

Does Next Step Learning Center accept child care subsidies?

Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.

What are Next Step Learning Center's hours?

Monday to Friday, 6:30 AM to 6:00 PM. Holiday hours can differ.

How much does Next Step Learning Center cost?

It has not listed its tuition. Call (302) 436-3633 to ask.

What is Next Step Learning Center's phone number?

(302) 436-3633.

Where is Next Step Learning Center?

2 E Church St, Selbyville, DE 19975. The nearest other daycare we list is YMCA of Delaware/Phillip C. Showell, 0.2 miles away.

Sources: Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (license and visits) · U.S. Department of Labor, 2022 (county prices).