Delaware records · New Castle County · Wilmington
SMALLS STEPPING STONE DAYCARE & PRESCHOOL, INC.
Licensed Child Care Center · Wilmington, Delaware
Records presented as of November 5, 2026The operation, as the state lists it
- License number
- 250535
- Operation type
- Licensed Child Care Center
- Address
- 1408 CLIFFORD BROWN WALK, Wilmington, DE 19801
- Licensed capacity
- 250
- Ages served, as listed
- 6 months through 12 years.
- Hours, as listed
- 6:30 AM – 5:30 PM
- State programs listed
- Child Care Food Program;Purchase of Care
The record in numbers
| Compliance visits | 4 |
| Complaint investigations | 8 |
| Citations recorded | 14 |
| Citations with correction completed, per the state | 14 |
| Citations with correction still pending, per the state | 0 |
| Record span | November 10, 2021 – January 9, 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 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 | 4 | 2 |
| 2023 | 5 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 | 2 |
Visits and investigations, newest first
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On December 3, 2025, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding failing to use appropriate behavior supports and use respectful communication with parents or guardians. An investigation was conducted on December 9, 2025. After separate interviews of center staff were conducted and documentation reviewed, it appears that respectful communication and appropriate behavior supports are used within the classroom and with communication to the families. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint.
2 regulations cited at this visit.
Infant 1 & 2 refrigerators need to be replaced or repair due to not reading under 40'.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 26, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 13, 2024
Staff files need to be complete. Staff #2 annual safe sleep and annual abuse and neglect. Staff #3 need OCCL health and safety training, release of employment. Staff #4 needs release of employment and service letters.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 26, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 13, 2024
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On February 22, 2024, a complaint regarding Smalls Stepping Stone Daycare & Preschool, Inc., was called into the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line and accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU). The report was sent to the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) on February 23, 2024, and accepted for improper discipline. On May 1, 2024, IAU notified OCCL their case would be closed as unsubstantiated with concern. On May 8, 2024, Wilmington Police Department (WPD) notified OCCL their case would be closed as insufficient evidence. An investigation by OCCL was begun on May 15, 2024, and concluded on June 20, 2024. Based on the results of this investigation there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper discipline. The specialist interviewed staff members and administration and reviewed reports from IAU and WPD that stated there was insufficient evidence.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On December 7, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of improper discipline. An unannounced visit was conducted on December 8, 2023, to investigate the complaint. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because Ms. Smalls and Staff #1 both stated the children were not hit. Two children interviewed also stated Staff #1 has never hit them and they have not seen Staff #1 hit other children. Video footage was not available to view as it is only a live feed.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On December 5, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding concerns of improper discipline and an insect infestation. An investigation was conducted on December 8, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint because Ms. Smalls and Staff #1 both stated the children are not hit. The children interviewed also stated Staff #1 does not hit the children. A walkthrough of all the classrooms was conducted and no evidence of insects were observed. Ms. Smalls provided documentation that the building is serviced by a pest control company every month.
3 regulations cited at this visit.
All staff files must be complete. Send the DEEDS certificate for three staff members. Send the health and safety training for eight staff members. Send the application for one staff member. Send the job description for two staff members. Send the references for one staff member. Send the updated fingerprinting receipt for ten staff members. Send the adult abuse registry for one staff member. Send the release of employment history for one staff member. Send the service letters for three staff members. Send the health appraisal for one staff member.
Correction status: Completed · corrected January 18, 2024 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 15, 2023
All child files must be complete. Send the documentation of the completed blood lead screening for four children.
Correction status: Completed · corrected December 20, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 15, 2023
Send the completed and notarized renewal application.
Correction status: Completed · corrected December 13, 2023 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2023
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On June 21, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding not following the child health exclusions, not notifying the families of a communicable disease, and not properly sanitizing the classrooms. An unannounced visit was conducted on June 28, 2023, to investigate the complaint. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint based on interviews with the administrator and two staff members, and observation of the center. The classrooms were observed being cleaned during this visit, and staff interviewed stated materials within each classroom are cleaned and sanitized throughout the day as required. The administrator stated she never received documentation from a doctor stating any of the children had been diagnosed with hand, foot, and mouth disease. The staff members that were interviewed stated they never observed any children in the classrooms with blisters or symptoms that appeared to be hand, foot, and mouth disease.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On May 9, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding the center not following its expulsion or positive behavior support policies. The complaint investigation began on May 15, 2023, and concluded on May 19, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because the administrator confirmed she had not terminated the enrollment of any three-year-old children. The administrator reported the child was present in the center on May 19, 2023. The administrator also stated she and a staff member met with the child s parent to discuss the child s behavior. A concern noted is the center moved a three-year-old child from the three-year-old preschool classroom back to the two-year-old classroom because of the child s attachment to a staff member in the two-year-old classroom, and the staff in the three-year-old classroom could not control the child s behavior.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On April 18, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper staff-to-child ratios, unqualified staff members, and improper discipline. An investigation was conducted on April 24, 2023. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because all the classrooms were following proper staff-to-child ratios, and no unqualified staff members were alone with children. Also, the staff members interviewed denied hitting the children and reported they had not seen any staff members hit children.
A complaint investigation. The state's result is shown above, and the investigator's conclusion follows.
On April 25, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding not following sanitation precautions in the kitchen/food storage area and speaking disrespectfully to a parent. An unannounced visit was conducted on April 28, 2023, to investigate the complaint. There is no evidence to substantiate the complaint because Ms. Smalls stated she did not have any interactions with a parent regarding food poisoning or the food being served at the center. Also, the licensing specialist did not find any expired food in the kitchen. The kitchen was clean and all the food was being stored properly. The center also had a current menu posted.
7 regulations cited at this visit.
Staff #8 was alone in the Toddler 2 classroom and has not been fingerprinted for the center. This was corrected at the visit when the administrator entered the classroom until another qualified staff member was available to work in the classroom.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 2, 2022 · how corrected: Facility Visit · correction was due November 2, 2022
Ensure all staff members are fingerprinted prior to the start date. Send the fingerprinting receipt for two staff members.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 21, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2022
All staff files must be complete. Send the current CPR/First Aid for one staff member. Send the completed professional development plan for two staff members. Send the staff orientation record for two staff members. Send the application or resume for two staff members. Send the job description for two staff members. Send the references for two staff members. Send the adult abuse registry for two staff members. Send the health appraisal with TB for three staff members. Send the completed release of employment history for six staff members. Send the service letters for six staff members.
Correction status: Completed · corrected December 2, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2022
All child files must be complete. Send documentation of the completed blood lead screening for four children.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 21, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2022
Send the completed Administration of Medication certificate for two staff members.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 21, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2022
The monthly fire drills were completed on the incorrect form. Send documentation of the completed drill for November on the Monthly Fire Prevention Inspection Checklist.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 21, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 30, 2022
The renewal application must be received 60 days prior to the license expiration.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 21, 2022 · how corrected: Document · correction was due November 25, 2022
2 regulations cited at this visit.
All staff files must be complete. Send the completed professional development plan for one staff member. Send the signed annual safe sleep and child abuse and neglect for four staff members. Send the staff orientation record, references, fingerprinting receipt, adult abuse registry, and service letters for one staff member. Send the fingerprinting receipt for two staff members.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 15, 2021 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 10, 2021
All child files must be complete. Send the current health appraisal with immunizations for two children.
Correction status: Completed · corrected November 15, 2021 · how corrected: Document · correction was due December 10, 2021
Something look wrong — a name, an address, a record that should not be public at this level of detail? Report it on the corrections page. Reports about the level of detail are acted on first: the record is paused while the report is reviewed.