Report
TheVardellReport
Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.
Child care center
225 Milton Ellendale Highway
Milton, DE 19968
Report
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The Vardell Report.Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.
The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.
- Provider Category
- Childcare
- Location
- Milton, DE
- Record Period
- 2022–2025
- Source Documents
- 13
This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.
The Essentials
Summary
Across 12 licensing visits from June 2022 to December 2025, OCCL cited 33 regulations at Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.; 33 have a recorded correction.
- Visits
- 12
- 2022–2025, compliance reviews and complaint investigations
- Citations
- 33
- Regulations cited by OCCL licensing staff
- Corrected
- 33
- Of 33 citations, with a recorded correction date
- Complaint investigations
- 7
- 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 | 3 | 5 |
| 2024 | 1 | 10 |
| 2025 | 5 | 9 |
| 2026 | 0 | 0 |
What the Record Shows
- 33 of 33 citations have a recorded correction date.
- OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
- 7 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, October 23, 2025, recorded 7 citations.
What to Ask About
- Personnel Files, Cited in Four Visits
- Child Files, Cited in Four Visits
- Outdoor Area, Cited in Three Visits
- Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Three Visits
- License Renewal, Cited in Three Visits
- Indoor Space, Cited in Two Visits
- Kitchen and Food Preparation, Cited in Two Visits
- Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
- Feeding of Infants, Cited in Two Visits
- Infant and Toddler Care, Cited in Two Visits
Report at a Glance
- Facility
- Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.
- Address
- 225 Milton Ellendale Highway, Milton, DE 19968
- License Number
- DE-499737
- License Type
- Child care center
- Licensed Capacity
- 110 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. 2024: 2 facility injuries. No facility deaths reported. 2025: 3 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.
- 2025
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: Substantiated.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Complaint investigation
No citations
Dated the day the investigation was completed; result: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern.
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Unannounced full compliance review
7 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 51UToilet FacilitiesCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2025
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Oct 23, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
Unannounced
2 citations
- 14UNotification to OCCLCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2025
- 15UGoverning BodyCitedCorrected Aug 6, 2025
Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)
- 2025
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)
- 2024
Unannounced full compliance review
10 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2024
- 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Oct 10, 2024
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2024
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Nov 3, 2024
- 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Nov 19, 2024
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2024
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Nov 3, 2024
- 76UActivity ScheduleCitedCorrected Nov 3, 2024
- 77UInfant and Toddler CareCitedCorrected Nov 3, 2024
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Oct 10, 2024
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)
- 2023
Unannounced full compliance review
5 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Jan 16, 2024
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Dec 27, 2023
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Jan 10, 2024
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Oct 9, 2023
- 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Jan 10, 2024
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
Unannounced full compliance review
9 citations
- 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Nov 7, 2022
- 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Nov 7, 2022
- 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Nov 17, 2022
- 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Nov 16, 2022
- 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Oct 20, 2022
- 61UDiapering and Soiled ClothingCitedCorrected Oct 20, 2022
- 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Oct 20, 2022
- 77UInfant and Toddler CareCitedCorrected Oct 20, 2022
- 8ULicense RenewalCitedCorrected Oct 19, 2022
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 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)
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 Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in October 2022, October 2023, October 2024 and October 2025. 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.
22222223232324252525252530U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 2
Child Files, Cited in Four Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in October 2022, October 2023, October 2024 and October 2025. 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.
22222223232324252525252540U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 3
Outdoor Area, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 53U in October 2022, October 2023 and October 2024. The agency describes it this way: Outdoor Area. 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.
22222223232324252525252553U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 4
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 56U in October 2022, October 2024 and October 2025. The agency describes it this way: Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments. 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.
22222223232324252525252556U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 5
License Renewal, Cited in Three Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 8U in October 2022, October 2024 and October 2025. The agency describes it this way: License Renewal. 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.
2222222323232425252525258U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 6
Indoor Space, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 49U in October 2022 and October 2024. The agency describes it this way: Indoor Space. 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.
22222223232324252525252549U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 7
Kitchen and Food Preparation, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 50U in October 2024 and October 2025. The agency describes it this way: Kitchen and Food Preparation. 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.
22222223232324252525252550U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 8
Diapering and Soiled Clothing, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 61U in October 2022 and October 2023. The agency describes it this way: Diapering and Soiled Clothing. 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.
22222223232324252525252561U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 9
Feeding of Infants, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 72U in October 2022 and October 2023. The agency describes it this way: Feeding of Infants. 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.
22222223232324252525252572U across all 12 visits, oldest to newest - 10
Infant and Toddler Care, Cited in Two Visits
OCCL licensing staff cited 77U in October 2022 and October 2024. The agency describes it this way: Infant and Toddler Care. 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.
22222223232324252525252577U across all 12 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 four 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 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Outdoor Area: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 04
What changed after 56U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 05
What changed after 8U was cited, and how do you check it now?
License Renewal: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.
- 06
What changed after 49U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Indoor Space: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 07
What changed after 50U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Kitchen and Food Preparation: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 08
What changed after 61U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Diapering and Soiled Clothing: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 09
What changed after 72U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Feeding of Infants: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 10
What changed after 77U was cited, and how do you check it now?
Infant and Toddler Care: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.
- 11
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.
- 12
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 · 499737
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 22, 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 22, 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 Oct 20, 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 Jul 20, 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 Oct 9, 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 Oct 20, 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 Oct 10, 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 Apr 1, 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 Sep 5, 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 Oct 23, 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 Nov 5, 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 Dec 9, 2025 · 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.