Smart Start Learning Center
Daycare center in Milford, DE. 350 Milford Harrington Hwy, Milford, DE 19963
About the program
Smart Start Learning Center is a licensed daycare center in Milford, Delaware. It is licensed for 46 children and serves infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Smart Start Learning Center does not publish a fee schedule.
Licensing and safety
Open the state record →Most violations are record-keeping, training or maintenance items, and nearly every program has some. Read what each one was and how fast it was fixed. Delaware records each regulation found out of compliance at a review, with the corrective action required and the date it was corrected. The state does not assign a risk level.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are completed. Staff #1 needs four reference letters, Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training, Staff #3 needs CHU eligibility determine letter.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are completed. Child #4 and Child #7 needs blood lead test result
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure children's belonging are not touching in the preschool classroom.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Purchase and place fall zone on the Mary-go round.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Toys or objects attached to cribs, pack-and-plays, or playpens are prohibited. Two infants were in their own pack-n-play with a boppy on the railing. One infant also had a blanket on the rail of the pack-n-play. Three one-year-old children were asleep on their cots that were less than 18 inches apart.
Show all 33 violations on file
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
An infant must be held for bottle-feeding. One infant was in a pack-n-play with a bottle, self-feeding, lying down.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure all children in care a supervised at all times and toddlers and Pre K are mixed after the 90 mins in the morning.. Upon entering the center a child was observed alone in the office and a 5 year -old d was observed in the 2 year-old classroom. This was corrected when both children returned to the PreK classroom.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Complete file is needed for three staff members. Staff #1 and Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training. Staff #3 needs a DEED certification.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Complete file is needed Child #1. Child #1 needs a blood lead test results.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Repair or replace the gate for the outdoor play area to ensure self latching.
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
Provide a monthly infant feeding schedule for each infant in care.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Provide a weekly opportunities for special activities and social emotional on the lesson plan.
Positive Behavior Management (regulation 20U)
A staff member was observed grabbing and yanking a one year old by the arm because she was sitting up as the staff would like her to. Administrator Akins was informed who provided disciplinary action against the staff member.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Complete files are needed for the following staff members: Staff #1 needs annual training hours, professional development plan, OCCL Health and safety training and an adult health appraisal with TB. Staff #2 needs OCCL health and safety training, Staff #3 needs professional development plan, Staff #4 needs annual training hours, Staff #5 needs a complete file.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure staff members document exact time and whereabouts when working with children. STaff #5 was in the Dragonfly classroom but did not sign in ont he attendance record. Provide attendance record for the Dragonfly classroomf rom 11-7-2023 to 11-14-2023.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Provide feeding schedule for Child #6
Children's Attendance (regulation 43U)
Ensure to document children in care arrival and departure times while in care. Three children were not sign in the Dragonfly classroom. Provide attendance for the classroom from 11-7-2023 to 11-14-2023.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
A staff member was observed washing her hands in the basin sink and mop bucket was observed by the hand-washing sink with left over food in the sink. (This was corrected when staff agreed to wash hand in the hand-washing sink and mop backets were placed in the cleaning supply room.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure the outdoor fence is self closing. Repair or replace the self closing mechanism.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Follow the MAR procedure for all medication, update all MAR documents and return all unused meds.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Add a cooking or healthy habit to all lesson plans for classroom over 24 months. Post all lesson plan in each classroom.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Ensure staff-to-child ratios are maintained at all times. An aide was observed alone with six children, ages one through two during nap time. This was corrected when a qualified ECT returned from her lunch break and entered the classroom.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Five staff members need CPR and first aid certification. One staff member needs administration of medication training/certification. Two staff members need a professional development plan. One staff member needs orientation. One staff member needs one reference. One staff member needs employee declaration and drug/alcohol statement. One staff member needs an adult health appraisal with TB results.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Twelve children need a development plan. One child needs medication permission for Cortizone 10 cream. One child needs a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead screening results. Two children need blood lead screening results.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure fall zones are protected. Two slides were observed on a grass surface without a fall zone material. Remove the slides or purchase fall zone material.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Ensure medication is stored securely. Three tubes of diaper cream were observed in an unlocked drawer in the bathroom. This was discussed and corrected when the tubes of diaper cream were moved out of the children's reach.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs an adult abuse registry check completed. Four staff members need a professional development plan.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Two children need a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead test results. One child needs transportation permission. One child needs blood lead test results.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure all nap equipment is labeled with child's name. The pack-n-plays in the Caterpillar (infant) classroom are not labeled.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Ensure lesson plans are posted or available for review. The lesson plan in the Ladybug classroom was not available or posted.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Three staff need service letters. One staff needs one reference letter. One staff need an adult health appraisal. One staff needs orientation.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Three children need a health appraisal. Two children need immunization records. Three children need blood lead test results.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Ensure Medication Administration Records are completed prior to administering or applying medication to a child. Four children need a completed MAR for diaper cream and petroleum jelly.
What parents say
Best daycare ever. My son loves all his teachers and the kids. They pay great attention to him, and teach him new things every day. I can rest easy knowing he is in great hands. Thanks Smart Start!
allen sayer · 5/5 on Google · a year agoI absolutely love this daycare!! From the staff to the owner, even the custodian! Everyone is polite, profession and welcoming! My son has been going there since they opened and loves it! He has learned so much and even potty trained so well because of his teachers! The teachers are amazing, and very good at communicating!!! I would recommend Smart Start Learning Center to everyone!!!
Danielle Akins · 5/5 on Google · a year agoThis daycare is 5 stars hands down!!! My child has been at this daycare since the infant room and I can honestly say that all of the staff are amazing, professional and caring from the owner to each one of the staff. Each one of the staff shares a bond with the children that is nothing less than a loving family environment. There’s not a high turnover of staff and they always go above and beyond to make sure that…
Cassi Peek · 5/5 on Google · a year agoThe staffs and owner is very unprofessional. Found out my son teacher has been documenting false eating activity. They won't give parents a school menu.
Nelesha Joseph · 1/5 on Google · 2 years agoGetting there
350 Milford Harrington Hwy, Milford, DE 19963
Questions about Smart Start Learning Center
Is Smart Start Learning Center licensed?
Yes. Smart Start Learning Center holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 1494516), with a licensed capacity of 46 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Smart Start Learning Center had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 21 violations for Smart Start Learning Center in the last three years, across 8 inspections on file. The median daycare center in the area has 8. Each one is listed above with the date it was corrected.
What ages does Smart Start Learning Center take?
Smart Start Learning Center is licensed to serve infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages, and is open 7 am to 5:30 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does Smart Start Learning Center cost?
Smart Start Learning Center does not publish tuition. Ask for the full fee schedule on a tour, including registration, supply and late pick-up fees. The program accepts child care subsidy.
