LIFE BYVardellChildcare
Report

TheVardellReport

Smart Start Learning Center LLC

Child care center

350 Milford Harrington Hwy
Milford, DE 19963

Report Date
Nov 1, 2026
Data Through
Nov 1, 2026
Report ID
VR-DE-1494516-2611
← Smart Start Learning Center LLC, free profile

Life by Vardell Presents

The Vardell Report.Smart Start Learning Center LLC

The deeper story, beautifully organized. Available records, historical context, and questions worth asking.

Provider Category
Childcare
Location
Milford, DE
Record Period
2022–2025
Source Documents
12
Read the report

This report is free. Vardell does not certify, grade or endorse; it shows what the record documents.

01

The Essentials

Summary

Across 11 licensing visits from March 2022 to November 2025, OCCL cited 33 regulations at Smart Start Learning Center LLC; 33 have a recorded correction.

Visits
11
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
3
Investigations of a complaint, with their results in the report

Citations by Year

  • Citations
2021: 0 citations across 0 visits020210 visits2022: 11 citations across 3 visits1120223 visits2023: 10 citations across 4 visits1020234 visits2024: 6 citations across 1 visit620241 visit2025: 6 citations across 3 visits620253 visits2026: 0 citations across 0 visits02026*0 visits2021: 0 citations across 0 visits020210 visits2022: 11 citations across 3 visits1120223 visits2023: 10 citations across 4 visits1020234 visits2024: 6 citations across 1 visit620241 visit2025: 6 citations across 3 visits620253 visits2026: 0 citations across 0 visits02026*0 visits

* Partial year, through November 1, 2026.

Citations by year
YearVisitsCitations
202100
2022311
2023410
202416
202536
202600

What the Record Shows

  • 33 of 33 citations have a recorded correction date.
  • OCCL’s files list no enforcement action in this window.
  • 3 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, November 18, 2025, recorded 4 citations.
02

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.

  1. 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)

  2. 2025

    Unannounced full compliance review

    4 citations

    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Feb 23, 2026
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Dec 4, 2025
    • 49UIndoor SpaceCitedCorrected Dec 4, 2025
    • 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Dec 4, 2025

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  3. 2025

    Unannounced

    2 citations

    • 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected Oct 23, 2025
    • 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Oct 23, 2025

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  4. 2024

    Unannounced full compliance review

    6 citations

    • 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected Nov 13, 2024
    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Dec 2, 2024
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Dec 2, 2024
    • 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Dec 2, 2024
    • 72UFeeding of InfantsCitedCorrected Dec 2, 2024
    • 74ULesson PlansCitedCorrected Dec 2, 2024

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  5. 2023

    Unannounced full compliance review

    9 citations

    • 20UPositive Behavior ManagementCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023
    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023
    • 36UStaff AttendanceCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2023
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023
    • 43UChildren's AttendanceCitedCorrected Nov 14, 2023
    • 50UKitchen and Food PreparationCitedCorrected Nov 7, 2023
    • 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023
    • 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023
    • 74ULesson PlansCitedCorrected Nov 21, 2023

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  6. 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)

  7. 2023

    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)

  8. 2023

    Unannounced

    1 citation

    • 27URatios, Group Size, and SupervisionCitedCorrected May 23, 2023

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  9. 2022

    Unannounced full compliance review

    4 citations

    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Dec 13, 2022
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Dec 13, 2022
    • 53UOutdoor AreaCitedCorrected Nov 18, 2022
    • 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Nov 2, 2022

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  10. 2022

    Unannounced full compliance review

    4 citations

    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected May 24, 2022
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Jun 11, 2022
    • 56USleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep EnvironmentsCitedCorrected May 24, 2022
    • 74ULesson PlansCitedCorrected May 24, 2022

    Source: Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

  11. 2022

    Unannounced

    3 citations

    • 30UPersonnel FilesCitedCorrected Mar 31, 2022
    • 40UChild FilesCitedCorrected Mar 31, 2022
    • 63UAdministration of MedicationCitedCorrected Mar 31, 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.

03

Context

Patterns Worth Examining

A repeated citation can merit attention, but context and corrective action must be reviewed before drawing a conclusion.

  1. 1

    Personnel Files, Cited in Six Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 30U in March 2022, May 2022, November 2022, November 2023, November 2024 and November 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.

    222222232323232425252530U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  2. 2

    Child Files, Cited in Six Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 40U in March 2022, May 2022, November 2022, November 2023, November 2024 and November 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.

    222222232323232425252540U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  3. 3

    Outdoor Area, Cited in Four Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 53U in November 2022, November 2023, November 2024 and November 2025. 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.

    222222232323232425252553U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  4. 4

    Administration of Medication, Cited in Three Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 63U in March 2022, November 2022 and November 2023. The agency describes it this way: Administration of Medication. 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.

    222222232323232425252563U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  5. 5

    Lesson Plans, Cited in Three Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 74U in May 2022, November 2023 and November 2024. The agency describes it this way: Lesson Plans. 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.

    222222232323232425252574U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  6. 6

    Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision, Cited in Two Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 27U in May 2023 and November 2024. 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.

    222222232323232425252527U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  7. 7

    Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments, Cited in Two Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 56U in May 2022 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.

    222222232323232425252556U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
  8. 8

    Feeding of Infants, Cited in Two Visits

    OCCL licensing staff cited 72U in November 2024 and October 2025. 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.

    222222232323232425252572U across all 11 visits, oldest to newest
04

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.

  1. 01

    What changed after 30U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Personnel Files: cited in six visits, with no risk level published.

  2. 02

    What changed after 40U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Child Files: cited in six visits, with no risk level published.

  3. 03

    What changed after 53U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Outdoor Area: cited in four visits, with no risk level published.

  4. 04

    What changed after 63U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Administration of Medication: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.

  5. 05

    What changed after 74U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Lesson Plans: cited in three visits, with no risk level published.

  6. 06

    What changed after 27U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.

  7. 07

    What changed after 56U was cited, and how do you check it now?

    Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments: cited in two visits, with no risk level published.

  8. 08

    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.

  9. 09

    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.

  10. 10

    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.

05

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)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing · 1494516

    Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Mar 9, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit May 18, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Nov 2, 2022 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit May 23, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Jun 2, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Sep 12, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Nov 6, 2023 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Nov 13, 2024 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Oct 22, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Nov 18, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗
  • Compliance review or investigation (data.delaware.gov: wb83-pkcv and pnbd-85r6)

    Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing

    Visit Nov 21, 2025 · Published Nov 1, 2026 · Retrieved Nov 1, 2026

    View Dataset ↗

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.