Delaware records · New Castle County · Middletown
DUCKLINGS ELC MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
Licensed Child Care Center · Middletown, Delaware
Records presented as of November 5, 2026The operation, as the state lists it
- License number
- 1653680
- Operation type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Address
- 760 LEVELS ROAD, Middletown, DE 19709
- Licensed capacity
- 177
- Ages served, as listed
- 6 weeks through 6 years.
- Hours, as listed
- 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- State programs listed
- Purchase of Care
The record in numbers
| Compliance visits | 4 |
| Complaint investigations | 5 |
| Citations recorded | 7 |
| Citations with correction completed, per the state | 7 |
| Citations with correction still pending, per the state | 0 |
| Record span | July 23, 2025 – August 13, 2026 |
How to read this record
A compliance visit is a licensing visit by an OCCL specialist. When the specialist finds a regulation has not been met, the visit record carries a citation: the regulation's code and short description, the specialist's corrective-action note describing what was found, and the correction record — the date correction was due, whether the state has marked it completed, the date it was corrected, and how. A complaint investigation begins with a complaint; its record carries the state's result and the investigator's written conclusion. Delaware does not grade citations by risk or severity, so no grade is shown — the specialist's note is the substance of the record. One visit can produce several citations. A citation the state later records as corrected stays in the history; that is what a licensing record is.
Record by year
| Year | Visits & investigations | Citations recorded |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 2 |
| 2025 | 2 | 5 |
Visits and investigations, newest first
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On August 4, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of lack of supervision, not meeting needs of infants/toddlers, and failing to respond to parents concerns. An investigation was conducted on August 5, 2026. Based on interviews and observations, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint. Although one staff stated they have heard infants cry for more than ten to fifteen minutes, three staff members stated at times they may be tending to another infant but they respond to infants cries in a timely manner. Based on interviews and observations, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to respond to parents concerns. The administrator stated parents can have private conversations with administrators through the Brightwheel application, they can come to them directly or communicate through email.
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Ensure proper feeding of infants. A staff member was reported to have fed breast milk to the incorrect infant. Staff member was removed from classroom and retrained on safe feeding requirements.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 28, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due July 15, 2026
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On May 6, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received two complaints regarding allegations of failing to use appropriate behavior supports. An investigation began on May 13, 2026, and concluded on May 19, 2026. Based on staff interviews, video and documents reviewed, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to use appropriate behavior supports. Child #1 was observed on video being dropped off for care without displaying movement in their arm and both staff in the classroom stated Child #1 did not display any signs of distress throughout the day.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On April 14 16, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received three complaints regarding allegations of failing to use appropriate behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on April 17, 2026. Based on staff interviews, video, and documents reviewed, this complaint is substantiated for failing to use appropriate behavior supports. Staff were observed on video holding a bathroom door shut to prevent a child from exiting the bathroom. One staff member was terminated from employment on April 15, 2026.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On March 26, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of infant safe sleep practices, infant feeding schedules and using inappropriate behavior supports. An investigation was conducted on March 31, 2026. Based on interviews and observations, this complaint is substantiated for failing to follow safe sleep practices. LS #1 observed a sleep-positioning device in the crib of a child who did not have documentation for the device from a health care provider. Based on interviews and review of documents, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to have or follow infant feeding schedules. LS #1 reviewed all updated infant feeding schedules. Infant schedules are individually based and staff stated there is daily communication with parents. Based on interviews with staff, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for using inappropriate behavior supports with children. All staff members stated they do not yell at children in the infant classroom. One staff member stated there is a staff member that sometimes raises their voice but does not yell.
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. OCCL H&S needed for Staff #1, #6, #8, #9, #10. Job description needed for Staff #9. Health appraisal/TB needed for Staff #4, #6, #8, #9 (TB), #10. CPR/FA needed for Staff #10. References needed for Staff #5, #6, #8, #10.
Correction status: Completed · corrected July 21, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due May 11, 2026
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On March 16, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OOCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of failing to use appropriate behavior supports, failing to provide incident reports to families and failing to follow suspension/expulsion policies. On March 17, 2026, OCCL received two additional complaints regarding the same incident. An investigation was conducted on March 19, 2026. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to use appropriate behavioral support. LS #1 interviewed staff members, who all stated they did not use improper behavior supports with Child #1. LS #1 viewed video footage clips and did not view Child #1 being hit or scratched by a staff member. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to provide incident reports to families. Although the facility did not complete an incident report for scratches on Child #1 s back, there was no evidence to show any staff member was aware of an injury happening at the facility. LS #1 interviewed staff who all stated there were no incidents where Child#1 was injured or seemed in distress. LS #1 viewed video footage clips and did not see Child #1 being hit or scratched by a staff member or another child, nor did they seem to be in distress. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for failing to follow suspension/expulsion policies. LS #1 reviewed the Parent Handbook and confirmed the center followed their written policies. Owner #1 stated they discussed the expulsion policy and made both parents aware Child #1 would be suspended, and if the following week they displayed the same unsafe behaviors, they would be expelled. Owner #1 stated the parents terminated care for Child #1 effective that day.
4 regulations cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs CPR/FA. Staff #5 needs medication cert updated, health appraisal/TB. Staff #6 needs health appraisal/TB. Staff #7 needs CPR/FA, 1 reference, health appraisal/TB. Staff #8 needs 2 references, health appraisal/TB.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 12, 2026 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 17, 2025
Ensure staff sign in/out of classrooms. Crickets/Caterpillars.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 24, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 17, 2025
Ensure children's files are complete. Child #8 needs blood lead screening.
Correction status: Completed · corrected December 18, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 17, 2025
Ensure children are signed in/out of classrooms. Crickets/Caterpillars.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 24, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 17, 2025
1 regulation cited at this visit.
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #2 needs job description, 1 reference, health appraisal. Staff #3 needs orientation. Staff #5 needs job description. Staff #6 needs health appraisal/TB. Staff #7 needs job description. Staff #8 needs orientation, safe sleep, abuse/neglect, OCCL 7 hr training, job description, 4 references, declaration, drug/alcohol, release of employment.
Correction status: Completed · corrected October 21, 2025 · how corrected: Document · correction was due August 22, 2025
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