Milford Early Learning Center
901 North Dupont Highway, Milford, DE
3.8· 35 reviews
Smart Start Learning Center
- licensed capacity
- 46
- a week, county median
- $182
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About
About Smart Start Learning Center
Smart Start Learning Center is a licensed child care center in Milford, Delaware. It is licensed by the state, for up to 46 children, serving infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing made 5 visits in the last 3 years and cited 22 rules across 5 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
- 46 children
Hours
Hours
Hours not listed. Call (302) 265-2027 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 | 46 childrenFrom the state license |
Cost
Tuition and costs
Smart Start Learning Center 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).
Ask the daycare for its ratesIt has not listed its tuition. The county medians below are a starting point.
Infant
Center$182
Home daycare$156
Toddler
Center$139
Home daycare$128
Preschool
Center$145
Home daycare$129
School age
Center$111
Home daycare$64
State record
Inspection reports for Smart Start Learning Center
License
- Status
- Licensed and operating
- License type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Capacity
- 46 children
- Ages
- Infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children
- License number
- #1494516
Summary
5 visits with a cited rule in the last 3 years · Most recent Nov 21, 2025
22 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 8
- Building, equipment and play areas 4
- Food and nutrition 3
- Discipline and child guidance 3
- Safe sleep 1
- Supervision and ratios 1
- Health, medication and illness 1
- Other rules 1
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 11 visits
Nov 21, 2025Complaint investigation1 rule cited
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“The Office of Child Care Licensing received a complaint on October 13, 2025, regarding a lack of supervision, staff attendance, and not providing truthful information. An investigation began on October 16, 2025, and concluded on October 23, 2025. This complaint is substantiated for lack of supervision because an incident report signed by the child s guardian and a staff discipline record stated on September 14, 2025, a child was left alone in the outdoor play area for five minutes. Also, according to attendance records, on September 18, 2025, from 7:05 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. up to five children, infant to one-year-olds, were signed into the infant Caterpillar classroom, but no staff were signed in. The allegation of inaccurate or incomplete staff attendance is substantiated because the attendance for the week of September 15, 2025, reflected that staff had not signed out of the daily attendance record for the classrooms five times. The allegation of not providing truthful information is substantiated because during the week of September 15, 2025, staff were signed in on the classroom daily attendance record when their staff time cards reflect that they were not present and working at that specific time on six occasions. Additional concerns noted during the visit were improper staff-to-child ratio, exceeding maximum group size, unqualified staff alone with children, staff without a comprehensive background check completed were on site, and child attendance records.”
Nov 18, 2025Inspection4 rules cited
53U Outdoor Area
“Purchase and place fall zone on the Mary-go round.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2025
49U Indoor Space
“Ensure children's belonging are not touching in the preschool classroom.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2025
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are completed. Child #4 and Child #7 needs blood lead test result”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 4, 2025
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are completed. Staff #1 needs four reference letters, Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training, Staff #3 needs CHU eligibility determine letter.”
Correction date in the state record: Feb 23, 2026
Oct 22, 2025Inspection2 rules cited
72U Feeding of Infants
“An infant must be held for bottle-feeding. One infant was in a pack-n-play with a bottle, self-feeding, lying down.”
Correction date in the state record: Oct 23, 2025
56U Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“Toys or objects attached to cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens are prohibited. Two infants were in their own pack-n-play with a boppy on the railing. One infant also had a blanket on the rail of the pack-n-play. Three one-year-old children were asleep on their cots that were less than 18 inches apart.”
Correction date in the state record: Oct 23, 2025
Nov 13, 2024Inspection6 rules cited
74U Lesson Plans
“Provide a weekly opportunities for special activities and social emotional on the lesson plan.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 2, 2024
72U Feeding of Infants
“Provide a monthly infant feeding schedule for each infant in care.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 2, 2024
53U Outdoor Area
“Repair or replace the gate for the outdoor play area to ensure self latching.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 2, 2024
40U Child Files
“Complete file is needed Child #1. Child #1 needs a blood lead test results.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 2, 2024
30U Personnel Files
“Complete file is needed for three staff members. Staff #1 and Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training. Staff #3 needs a DEED certification.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 2, 2024
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure all children in care a supervised at all times and toddlers and Pre K are mixed after the 90 mins in the morning.. Upon entering the center a child was observed alone in the office and a 5 year -old d was observed in the 2 year-old classroom. This was corrected when both children returned to the PreK classroom.”
Corrected during the visit
Nov 6, 2023Inspection9 rules cited
74U Lesson Plans
“Add a cooking or healthy habit to all lesson plans for classroom over 24 months. Post all lesson plan in each classroom.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
63U Administration of Medication
“Follow the MAR procedure for all medication, update all MAR documents and return all unused meds.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure the outdoor fence is self closing. Repair or replace the self closing mechanism.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
50U Kitchen and Food Preparation
“A staff member was observed washing her hands in the basin sink and mop bucket was observed by the hand-washing sink with left over food in the sink. (This was corrected when staff agreed to wash hand in the hand-washing sink and mop backets were placed in the cleaning supply room.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 7, 2023
43U Children's Attendance
“Ensure to document children in care arrival and departure times while in care. Three children were not sign in the Dragonfly classroom. Provide attendance for the classroom from 11-7-2023 to 11-14-2023.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 14, 2023
40U Child Files
“Provide feeding schedule for Child #6”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
36U Staff Attendance
“Ensure staff members document exact time and whereabouts when working with children. STaff #5 was in the Dragonfly classroom but did not sign in ont he attendance record. Provide attendance record for the Dragonfly classroomf rom 11-7-2023 to 11-14-2023.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 14, 2023
30U Personnel Files
“Complete files are needed for the following staff members: Staff #1 needs annual training hours, professional development plan, OCCL Health and safety training and an adult health appraisal with TB. Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training, Staff #3 needs professional development plan, Staff #4 needs annual training hours, Staff #5 needs a complete file.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
20U Positive Behavior Management
“A staff member was observed grabbing and yanking a one year old by the arm because she was sitting up as the staff would like her to. Administrator Akins was informed who provided disciplinary action against the staff member.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 21, 2023
- Sep 12, 2023VisitNo rules cited
Jun 2, 2023Complaint investigation1 rule cited
OCCL Standards Complaint (Substantiated)
“The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on May 12, 2023, regarding improper staff-to-child ratio, not understanding the children s needs, and not following the schedule. An investigation was conducted on May 16, 2023. This complaint is substantiated for improper staff-to-child ratio and not following the schedule. An intern was observed alone with five children, age infant through one year old. Schedules were not posted in three classrooms. There is no evidence to substantiate for staff not understanding the children s needs as all staff denied leaving children s faces and noses dirty. A concern noted was lack of supervision because a child was observed asleep on his cot in the Bumblebees classroom and there was not a staff member present in the classroom. Another concern noted was staff and child attendance were being documented through Procare and a report was unable to be printed to show staff-to-child ratio being maintained. It was also discovered staff were not documenting the exact hours they worked in each classroom through the system. Additionally, two children were not signed into the Dragonflies classroom when the Bumblebees and Dragonflies classrooms combined for nap time.”
May 23, 2023Inspection1 rule cited
27U Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision
“Ensure staff-to-child ratios are maintained at all times. An aide was observed alone with six children, ages one through two during nap time. This was corrected when a qualified ECT returned from her lunch break and entered the classroom.”
Corrected during the visit
Nov 2, 2022Inspection4 rules cited
63U Administration of Medication
“Ensure medication is stored securely. Three tubes of diaper cream were observed in an unlocked drawer in the bathroom. This was discussed and corrected when the tubes of diaper cream were moved out of the children's reach.”
Corrected during the visit
53U Outdoor Area
“Ensure fall zones are protected. Two slides were observed on a grass surface without a fall zone material. Remove the slides or purchase fall zone material.”
Correction date in the state record: Nov 18, 2022
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Twelve children need a development plan. One child needs medication permission for Cortizone 10 cream. One child needs a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead screening results. Two children need blood lead screening results.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 13, 2022
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Five staff members need CPR and first aid certification. One staff member needs administration of medication training/certification. Two staff members need a professional development plan. One staff member needs orientation. One staff member needs one reference. One staff member needs employee declaration and drug/alcohol statement. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal with TB results.”
Correction date in the state record: Dec 13, 2022
May 18, 2022Inspection4 rules cited
74U Lesson Plans
“Ensure lesson plans are posted or available for review. The lesson plan in the Ladybug classroom was not available or posted.”
Correction date in the state record: May 24, 2022
56U Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
“Ensure all nap equipment is labeled with child's name. The pack-n-plays in the Caterpillar (infant) classroom are not labeled.”
Correction date in the state record: May 24, 2022
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Two children need a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead test results. One child needs transportation permission. One child needs blood lead test results.”
Correction date in the state record: Jun 11, 2022
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs an adult abuse registry check completed. Four staff members need a professional development plan.”
Correction date in the state record: May 24, 2022
Show 1 earlier visit
Mar 9, 2022Inspection3 rules cited
63U Administration of Medication
“Ensure Medication Administration Records are completed prior to administering or applying medication to a child. Four children need a completed MAR for diaper cream and petroleum jelly.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 31, 2022
40U Child Files
“Ensure child files are complete. Three children need a health appraisal. Two children need immunization records. Three children need blood lead test results.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 31, 2022
30U Personnel Files
“Ensure staff files are complete. Three staff need service letters. One staff needs one reference letter. One staff need an adult health appraisal. One staff needs orientation.”
Correction date in the state record: Mar 31, 2022
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FAQ
Questions about Smart Start Learning Center
Is Smart Start Learning Center licensed?
Yes. Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists it as licensed and operating.
When was Smart Start Learning Center last inspected?
Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing lists the most recent visit on November 21, 2025, with 1 rule cited. It lists 5 visits in the last 3 years.
Has Smart Start Learning Center had rules cited by the state?
Yes. Inspectors cited 22 rules across 5 of 5 visits in the last 3 years; 21 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 Smart Start Learning Center care for?
46, the licensed capacity on the state record. It is licensed to serve infants, toddlers, preschoolers and school-age children.
Does Smart Start Learning Center accept child care subsidies?
Yes. The state record says it accepts child care subsidies.
What are Smart Start Learning Center's hours?
Its hours are not listed. Call (302) 265-2027 to confirm.
How much does Smart Start Learning Center cost?
It has not listed its tuition. Call (302) 265-2027 to ask.
What is Smart Start Learning Center's phone number?
(302) 265-2027.
Where is Smart Start Learning Center?
350 Milford Harrington Hwy, Milford, DE 19963. The nearest other daycare we list is Milford Early Learning Center, 0.5 miles away.