Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.
Daycare center in Milton, DE. 225 Milton Ellendale Highway, Milton, DE 19968
About the program
Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. is a licensed daycare center in Milton, Delaware. It is licensed for 204 children and serves infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. 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 complete. One staff needs CPR/First Aid, annual review of safe sleep and annual review of child abuse and neglect. One staff needs annual review of safe sleep and annual review of child abuse and neglect. One staff needs two additional references and an adult health appraisal with TB screening. One staff needs orientation, one additional reference, and two documented attempts to obtain service letters. One staff needs DEEDs qualification, CPR/First Aid, OCCL's Health and Safety Training for Child Care Professionals, and one additional reference letter.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Three children need blood lead level test results. One child needs updated immunizations.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Ensure refrigerators remain at 41 degrees or below and freezers remain at 0 degrees or below. Adjust temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in the infant room.
Toilet Facilities (regulation 51U)
Ensure proper number of toilets are available based on capacity. Repair inoperable toilet in the preschool/school -age building.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure nap mats are non-absorbent, free from rips and tears. Replace all ripped mats throughout both buildings.
Show all 33 violations on file
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
Ensure Medication Administration Records (MAR) are filled out correctly and accompany each medication submitted. Review and compare all medications and MAR's in the young two-year-old classroom and correct, as needed.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Ensure renewal application is submitted at least 60 days prior to license expiration. Submit application. This was corrected at the visit when the renewal application was provided.
Notification to OCCL (regulation 14U)
Ensure OCCL is contacted within one business day in the event of a known arrest or conviction of a staff member or licensee. During a complaint investigation on August 6, 2025, Executive Director #1 confirmed to OCCL that Owner #1 was currently in prison for tax issues related to the child care centers. This was discussed and corrected when Executive Director #1 agreed to comply in the future.
Governing Body (regulation 15U)
Ensure the licensee, governing body, and employees follow all applicable federal, State, and local laws and regulations. During a complaint investigation on August 6, 2025, Executive Director #1 confirmed to OCCL that Owner #1 was currently in prison for tax issues related to the child care centers. This was discussed and corrected when Executive Director #1 agreed to comply in the future.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. One staff member needs to complete first aid. Six staff members need a complete and signed professional development plan. One staff member needs a reference letter. One staff member needs two reference letters. One staff member needs an eligibility letter. One staff member needs a corrected adult health appraisal. Four staff members need release of employment history and corresponding service letters.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Ensure staff attendance includes exact hours worked in each classroom or area. One staff member did not sign into the older twos and pre-k classrooms when she entered the classrooms. This was corrected when the staff member signed into the classrooms.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Three children need health appraisals. Four children need blood lead screening results. One child needs screen time permission.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Ensure children's belongings are not touching. The cubbies in the older two-year-old classroom are over-flowing causing the children's items to touch. Rearrange or remove items so they no longer touch.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Purchase a thermometer for the refrigerator in the infant classroom to ensure the temperature is at 41 degrees F or colder and a second thermometer for the freezer in the storage closet to ensure the temperature is at 0 degrees F or colder. Ensure stored food is labeled with its contents and date of preparation or expiration. Two unlabeled containers were observed in the cabinet in the storage room. Label the containers.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure structures and equipment are in safe condition. Repair the ladder with missing steps on the taller wooden play structure. Repair the splintered wood on the ladder and monkey bars on the taller play structure. Replenish the fall zone materials to ensure there is nine inches of pea gravel under all required areas. Remove the lock from the gate during hours of operation.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Purchase new nap mats to ensure they are non-absorbent. Multiple nap mats through out the facility were observed to be ripped and no longer non-absorbent. Replace all nap mats. Clean bedding when wet or soiled. Two fitted sheets in cribs in the infant classroom need to be washed as they were observed soiled/wet.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Post a daily schedule in the three-year-old classroom
Infant and Toddler Care (regulation 77U)
Replace the T-shaped safety straps on the high chairs in the infant classroom.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Ensure the renewal application is submitted to OCCL at least 60 days prior to the license expiration date. This was corrected when the application was given to the licensing specialist at the full compliance review on 10/10/2024.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Complete staff files are needed for the following staff members: Staff #1 needs a professional developmental plan. Staff #2 needs CPR/FA certification, annual training hours, professional developmental plan, annual safe sleep, annual review abuse and neglect. Staff #3 needs CPR/FA certification, administration of medication certification, annual training hours, professional developmental plan, OCCL health and safety training, health appraisal with TB, service letter Staff #4 needs CPR/FA certification, annual training hours, professional developmental plan, annual safe sleep, annual review abuse and neglect Staff #5 needs CPR/FA certification, annual training hours, professional develop
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Complete child files are needed for the following children: Child #2 needs a developmental plan, Child #3 needs and updated health appraisal and developmental plan Child #4 needs a developmental plan. Child #6 needs a developmental plan. Child #7 needs a developmental plan. Child #8 needs a health appraisal, blood lad screening results. Child #9 needs hours/ date of attending, a health appraisal, blood lead screening results and a development plan, Child #14 needs blood lead screening results Child #15 needs development plan Child #16 needs days and hours of attending Child #17 needs days and hours of attending
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Ensure play equipment is free from hazard, repair or place the bottom step of ladder climber and the exposed screws. Additional rocks to fall zones. Send picture to OCCL
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure diapers are disposed of in the diaper pail only. Diaper was observed in the garbage bin in the bathroom in the two year old classroom.
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
Update two monthly feeding schedules in the infant classroom
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs a professional development plan, review of safe sleep, and an eligibility letter. Staff #2 needs a professional development plan and an eligibility letter. Staff #3 needs a professional development plan and an eligibility letter. Staff #4 needs a professional developmental plan, annual safe sleep, and annual review of abuse and neglect. Staff #6 needs a professional development plan, two references, and an eligibility letter. Staff #7 needs a professional development plan, annual safe sleep, and an eligibility letter. Staff #8 needs a professional development plan. Staff #9 needs a complete orientation, two references, an eligibility letter, an
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure child files are complete. Child #3 needs a developmental plan. Child #4 needs a parents right to know and a developmental plan. Child #5 needs parents right to know. Child #6 needs a developmental plan and parents right to know. Child #7 needs lead test results and parents right to know. Child #9 needs a health appraisal with lead results. Child #10 needs a health appraisal, parent right to know, and a developmental plan. Child #11 needs a developmental plan. Child #12 needs lead test results and parents right to know.
Indoor Space (regulation 49U)
Replace the garbage cans in the school-age classroom to include enclosed lids.
Outdoor Area (regulation 53U)
Purchase pea gravel to add to fall zones allowing a minimum of nine inch fall zones around the entire play equipment.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Ensure pack-n-play mattresses are fitting to the sides of the pack-n-play. LS Sommer observed two pack-n-plays where the sheet caused the mattress to shrink to an unfitting size. This was discussed and corrected when staff agreed to use the cribs instead. LS Sommer observed a weighted sleep sack and asked if it was used. Staff stated one child uses it at nap but he was turning one-year-old soon and would stop. This was discussed and corrected when staff agreed to discontinue its use.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Ensure staff follow diaper procedures. LS Sommer observed Staff #2 change a child, not was their hands or the child's hands, and placed another child on the mat using the same disposable cover for both children. The area was not cleaned and sanitized. This was discussed and agreed to comply.
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
Ensure infants food and bottles are labeled. This was discussed and corrected when they were labeled and staff agreed to comply.
Infant and Toddler Care (regulation 77U)
Ensure infant daily logs are documented with diaper changes, sleep with sleep checks, and feedings. The facility uses brightwheel but did not log anything for the day. This was discussed and corrected.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Ensure the application is submitted at least 60 days prior to the license expiration.
What parents say
I love shells!! I started here when I was younger and now my son attends as well. The teachers go above and beyond and always make sure each kid feels included. No matter how many kids there are all of the teachers know every child’s name. I will always recommend shells to anyone asking for an amazing daycare!!
Samantha Mallet · 5/5 on Google · 7 months agoWe’ve been with Shell's for almost two years and I truly can’t say enough good things about them. The staff is incredibly communicative, always keeping us informed and making us feel involved in our kids day when we're not there. Our sons are happy, safe, and loved every single day.
Ariel Scarfo · 5/5 on Google · 5 months agoWe love Shell’s! The staff is amazing and truly care about my son. I always feel good about the things he’s learning and the crafts they’re doing. Highly recommend!
Jennifer O'Neill · 5/5 on Google · 7 months agoShells is a great daycare to have your kids at with with great staff no where else I would’ve took my son besides shells thanks to the staffing!!
Rasheed Stones · 5/5 on Google · 3 months agoGetting there
225 Milton Ellendale Highway, Milton, DE 19968
Questions about Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc.
Is Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. licensed?
Yes. Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 499737, 1700701), with a licensed capacity of 204 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 24 violations for Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. in the last three years, across 5 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 Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. take?
Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. is licensed to serve infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages, and is open 6:30 am to 5:30 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. cost?
Shell's Early Learning Center - Milton, Inc. 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.
