Report
TheVardellReport
First Steps Preschool - Milford, LLC
Child care center
104 Mccoy Street
Milford, DE 19963
Report
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The Vardell Report.First Steps Preschool - Milford, LLC
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Childcare
- Location
- Milford, DE
- Record Period
- 2022–2026
- Source Documents
- 10
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 9 licensing visits from August 2022 to August 2026, OCCL cited 27 regulations at First Steps Preschool - Milford, LLC; 26 have a recorded correction and 1 has none recorded.
- Visits
- 9
- 2022–2026, compliance reviews and complaint investigations
- Citations
- 27
- Regulations cited by OCCL licensing staff
- Corrected
- 26
- Of 27 citations, with a recorded correction date
- Complaint investigations
- 4
- Investigations of a complaint, with their results in the report
Citations by Year
- Citations
* Partial year, through November 1, 2026.
| Year | Visits | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 9 |
| 2023 | 2 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 | 5 |
| 2026 | 1 | 8 |
What the Record Shows
- 26 of 27 citations have a recorded correction date.
- OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
- 4 visits in this window included a complaint investigation. OCCL publishes each complaint investigation’s result, not what the complaint alleged.
- The latest full compliance review, August 6, 2026, recorded 8 citations.
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- First Steps Preschool - Milford, LLC
- Address
- 104 Mccoy Street, Milford, DE 19963
- License Number
- DE-973652
- License Type
- Child care center
- Licensed Capacity
- 63 children
- Ages Served
- 6 weeks through 12 years
- Hours
- 6:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
- Injuries Reported
- 2023: 2 facility injuries. No facility deaths reported.
- Record Window
- November 1, 2021 to November 1, 2026
Chronology
Inspection History
Every visit in the record window, newest first. A citation is a licensing regulation Delaware found was not met. OCCL publishes each complaint investigation’s result, not what the complaint alleged.
- 2026
Unannounced full compliance review
8 citations
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2026
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Sep 28, 2026
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Sep 18, 2026
- 45UHazardous MaterialsCitedCorrected Sep 18, 2026
- 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Sep 18, 2026
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedMarked corrected; no correction date recorded
- 54UPools and SwimmingCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2026
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2026
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Unannounced full compliance review
5 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Aug 28, 2025
- 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Aug 19, 2025
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Aug 25, 2025
- 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Aug 5, 2025
- 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Aug 5, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2024
Unannounced full compliance review
2 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Sep 23, 2024
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Aug 17, 2024
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2024
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2023
Unannounced full compliance review
3 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Oct 24, 2023
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Nov 7, 2023
- 66UEmergency PlanningCitedCorrected Aug 7, 2023
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2023
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
Complaint visit
1 citation
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Nov 16, 2022
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2022
Unannounced full compliance review
8 citations
- 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Aug 25, 2022
- 28UGeneral QualificationsCitedCorrected Aug 1, 2022
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Aug 23, 2022
- 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Aug 15, 2022
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Sep 26, 2022
- 43UChildren's AttendanceCitedCorrected Aug 15, 2022
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Oct 19, 2022
- 66UEmergency PlanningCitedCorrected Aug 23, 2022
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
Delaware’s Office of Child Care Licensing publishes each regulation it cites, not a risk level for it.
Context
Patterns Worth Examining
A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.
- 1
Personnel Files, Cited in Five Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in August 2022, August 2023, August 2024, August 2025 and August 2026. The agency describes it this way: Personnel Files. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
22222223232424252630U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest - 2
Child Files, Cited in Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in August 2022, August 2023, August 2025 and August 2026. The agency describes it this way: Child Files. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
22222223232424252640U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest - 3
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 27U in August 2022, November 2022 and August 2026. The agency describes it this way: Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
22222223232424252627U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest - 4
Staff Attendance, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 36U in August 2022 and August 2025. The agency describes it this way: Staff Attendance. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
22222223232424252636U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest - 5
Emergency Planning, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 66U in August 2022 and August 2023. The agency describes it this way: Emergency Planning. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. Each citation has a recorded correction, and a repeat after correction is worth a direct question.
22222223232424252666U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest - 6
Outdoor Area, No Recorded Correction
53U was cited in August 2022, August 2024 and August 2026. The agency describes it this way: Outdoor Area. Delaware does not publish a risk level for each citation. The August 2026 citation has no recorded correction date; its status reads “Marked corrected; no correction date recorded.” The record does not show whether the problem was fixed.
22222223232424252653U across all 9 visits, oldest to newest
For Your Next Visit
Questions to Ask on Your Visit
Bring these to the tour. Each one comes from something in the record; the reason is under the question.
- 01
What changed after 30U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Personnel Files: cited in five visits, with no risk level published.
- 02
What changed after 40U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Child Files: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.
- 03
What changed after 27U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 04
What changed after 36U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Staff Attendance: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 05
What changed after 66U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Emergency Planning: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 06
What changed after 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Outdoor Area: cited in three visits, with no risk level published. The August 6, 2026 citation has no recorded correction date.
- 07
What is the ratio in the room my child would join, and how is every child accounted for at nap time, pickup and on the playground?
Ratios change through the day, so they are worth counting yourself on a visit.
- 08
Has the center ever been on probation or had its license suspended, and what changed afterward?
OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
The Evidence
Sources and Coverage
Program details, the regulations cited at compliance reviews and the results of complaint investigations are published by Delaware's Office of Child Care Licensing in its daily files on data.delaware.gov.
- Child care providers (data.delaware.gov)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing · 973652
Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 1, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Nov 16, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Dec 5, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Jun 27, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 7, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit May 22, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 7, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 4, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
- Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)View Dataset ↗
Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing
Visit Aug 6, 2026 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026
Coverage
Record windowNovember 1, 2021 – November 1, 2026
- This record is OCCL's list of licensed providers as of November 2026, with the compliance reviews and investigations in OCCL's files, which run from November 2021.
- OCCL's compliance-review file lists only visits at which it cited a regulation; a visit with nothing cited is not in it, so a program may have had more visits than this record shows.
- OCCL's notes on each citation and its written conclusion for each investigation are left out because they can describe children and staff; the regulation cited, the correction date and each investigation's result are kept.
- Special conditions OCCL records on a license (a variance, or that a home is also a foster home) are left out, and license-exempt care is not in OCCL's list.
What This Report Cannot Tell You
- Visits with nothing cited
- OCCL's compliance-review file lists only visits at which a regulation was cited.
- Investigation conclusions
- Published by OCCL but left out of this record because they can describe children and staff.
- Severity of citations
- OCCL's files do not grade citations.
- Staff qualifications and turnover
- Not part of the published licensing record.
Historical coverage varies by agency and location. Missing records do not mean that no complaint or violation occurred.
Data architecture: Cierto supplies the source-backed machine-readable bundle. Life by Vardell independently creates the narrative, design, and consumer report.