Kirkwood Early Learning Center
Daycare center in Wilmington, DE. 5702 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808
About the program
Kirkwood Early Learning Center is a licensed daycare center in Wilmington, Delaware. It is licensed for 121 children and serves infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages.
Kirkwood Early Learning Center is a state-certified childcare facility in Wilmington, Delaware, offering Montessori-inspired programs for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.
The program follows a Montessori approach.
It accepts child care subsidy.
Tuition and capacity
Tuition: not listed. Kirkwood Early Learning Center does not publish a fee schedule on its website. Programs in the area that publish full-time tuition have a median starting price of $590 a month.
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.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure children's files are complete. Child #7- Blood lead test Child #9- Blood lead test **Not Determined- Child #11- Will need health appraisal, immunizations, and blood lead test by 05/2026
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. CPR and First Aid: Staff #1, #2, #7, #8 OCCL Health and Safety: Staff #2, #3, #5, #9 Application/Resume: Staff #4 Job Description: Staff #3, #5 References- Staff #2 (2), #5 (4), #9 (4) Adult Abuse Registry: Staff #4 Health Appraisal with TB: Staff #5, #7, #9 Service letters (2 attempts): Staff #3, #5, #7, #8, #9
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure Child Files are complete. Blood Lead results needed for: Child #3, #4, #8, and #10
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure staff files are complete. PD plan needed: Staff #1, #5, #6 OCCL Health and Safety- Staff #2, #3, #5, #7 Job Description- Staff #3, #4, #5, #6 References- Staff #2 (2), #3 (1), #4 (4). #5 (4), #6 (2), #7 (4) Adult Abuse Check- Staff #3, #4, #5, #6 Health Appraisal- Staff #5, #6, #7 CPR/FA- Staff #2, #3, #4, #7 Medication- Staff #2, #3, #5, #6, #7 Service Letters- Staff #3, #4, #5, #7 Will check eligibility for Staff #6 and Staff #7
Parents Right to Know (regulation 38U)
Ensure new parents and tours sign the Parents Right to Know Log.
Show all 38 violations on file
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure children's files are complete. Child #10 needs blood lead test results.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #4 needs an adult abuse check. Send to OCCL.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs one more reference, health appraisal with TB results, release of employment. Staff #4 needs service letters completed or two additional references. Staff #5 needs a health appraisal with TB results, job description and references. Send copies to OCCL.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Ensure all child files are complete. Child #4, 6, 7, 8, 9 need developmental plans in their files. Child #6 needs a health appraisal, immunization record, and blood lead results. Also needs hours and days of attendance. Child #7 needs a blood lead screening with results. Child #8 needs blood lead screening. Child #8 needs date of enrollment, hours, days, and an emergency card. Send all documents to OCCL.
Hazardous Materials (regulation 45U)
Radon testing must be conducted every five years. Send radon testing results to OCCL.
Annual Training (regulation 33U)
Training hours are required for all staff. If not received by 5/30/2023, this will be cited.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
Staff attendance is needed for administrator. Send for weeks 5/15/23- 5/26/23. A designated teacher is needed when the administrator is not present with documented training in the file.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
Toddler classroom was over ratio with 10 children and 1 staff member. Send attendance documentation to OCCL. Make sure classroom is in ratio daily.
General Qualifications (regulation 28U)
Background check eligibility letters are needed for staff #3, 5, 6, and 7. Staff #6 and #7 do not work at the center anymore.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
All staff files must be complete, and annual safe sleep and abuse and neglect are needed for staff #1,5, and 7. Service letters and release of employment for staff #6 and 7.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Job descriptions needed for #6 and # 7, references needed for staff #5 and 6, and employee declaration need for staff#5. Staff #6 and #7 no longer work at the center.
Owner's File (regulation 31U)
The owner's file must be complete if working more than 7 hours and providing care. Complete the owner's file with training hours, health and safety training, pd plan, and eligibility letter, also send a certificate for OCCL health and safety to OCCL.
Orientation (regulation 32U)
Orientation for staff, subs, and volunteers must be provided and documented in staff files, for staff #5, 6, and staff #7.
Annual Professional Development Plan (regulation 34U)
All staff files must have current annual PD plan #1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 need PD plan.
Staff Attendance (regulation 36U)
Staff attendance documentation was inaccurate. Send staff attendance for 2 weeks.
Child Health Appraisal (regulation 41U)
Current health appraisal, immunization, and blood lead screening are needed for children #1, 2, 3 and 6. Blood lead screening is needed for child #5.
Documenting Children's Progress (regulation 42U)
Documentation of children's progress or infant toddler development plans needed for child # 1, 4, 5, 6, 7,8, 9, and 10.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments (regulation 56U)
Torn mats in the toddler room need to be replaced.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing (regulation 61U)
Toddler room needs a foot-activated diaper pail within arm's reach. Send a picture to OCCL.
Administration of Medication (regulation 63U)
MAR forms need to be completed for all children receiving medication. Send forms to OCCL.
Transportation (regulation 67U)
Child #2 and # 3 need parent permission for transportation to and from school.
Meals and Snacks (regulation 71U)
Posted menu, not dated, send a copy of the current dated menu.
Feeding of Infants (regulation 72U)
Infants need a current monthly feeding schedule with parent signature. Send for all infants in care. All bottles must be labeled. Send a picture to OCCL. Little Stars Kirkwood closed their infant care program on May 30, 2023.
Lesson Plans (regulation 74U)
Toddler room did not have current lesson plans.
Activity Areas (regulation 75U)
Toddler room does not have required activity areas. Send a picture of the room with areas defined.
License Renewal (regulation 8U)
Application not received 60 days in advance of license expiration. Please submit a renewal application and send to OCCL.
Notification to OCCL (regulation 14U)
OCCL was not notified when the Administrator resigned in November 2022. This was corrected upon receipt of the application. A staff member was working alone without a DEEDS qualification. Submit proof of at least an EC Intern certificate being submitted.
Staffing (regulation 26U)
The center did not have a functioning Administrator for several months upon completion of the visit. It was decided the Administrator from the other location will split time 50/50 going forward. Administrator must document their time.
Ratios, Group Size, and Supervision (regulation 27U)
The one's room was over-ratio at the beginning of the visit. This was corrected when one child was moved to another room. The staff member in the infant room is not qualified to be alone at this time. Write a plan to meet staffing needs until she is qualified. We were notified on 6-13-22 this staff member is no longer employed.
Personnel Files (regulation 30U)
Staff files were missing the following: - Staff #1 and 3 need administration of medication certification. - Staff #3 needs an orientation, job description, and adult abuse registry check.
Child Files (regulation 40U)
Child files were missing the following: - Child #1 and 6 need updated full health appraisals, including lead blood screening. - Child # 2 and 4 need lead blood screening.
Kitchen and Food Preparation (regulation 50U)
Dates need to be written on food items that have been opened in the fridge and freezer. Send a picture of items to correct this.
Activity Schedule (regulation 76U)
Ensure children are going outdoors for gross motor when the weather allows. Children did not go outdoors as listed on the daily schedule during this visit. Review this with staff.
What parents say
we absolutely love KELC! our daughter is 4, this was our first experience with a daycare/preschool and we couldn't be more thrilled with our pick. Michelle and her team are so friendly, loving, kind, caring, compassionate and FUN! I know that with my daughter in their care, she is treated like she is one of their own children. she has thrived and every day (fine , 5 days a week) gets to spend the day with her best…
Caitlin Berg · 5/5 on Google · 7 months agoImagine sending your 3-year-old child to a place you believe is safe, only to pick them up with a bruise on their eye - with no incident report, no phone call, and it not even mentioned at pickup. Absolutely nothing. This our first daycare experience too! I immediately withdrew my kids. I wanted to like this place so badly, and Michelle seemed so nice, but it felt performative. When I brought the incident to her…
Lala K · 1/5 on Google · 7 months agoMy children (4&2) were two of the first kids to start at this center when it first opened. Even before their first day the communication with Michelle was wonderful. All of the teachers are very cheerful and you can tell they really care about the well being of all of the children. The classrooms are welcoming, bright, and cheerful which I feel is so important. They are always thinking of new ways to make things…
Emily Lawson · 5/5 on Google · a year agoWe started here about a month ago, and we’ve never been happier. The communication, constant updates, and wonderful staff make this place truly exceptional. Michelle and her team are amazing! My son has already thrived in their care and is talking so much more. If you’re considering it, don’t hesitate to schedule a tour - you won’t regret it!
Sarah Molaski · 5/5 on Google · a year agoGetting there
5702 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808
Questions about Kirkwood Early Learning Center
Is Kirkwood Early Learning Center licensed?
Yes. Kirkwood Early Learning Center holds an active Child Care Center licence from Delaware Department of Education, Office of Child Care Licensing (licence 1656456, 623370), with a licensed capacity of 121 children. The state record was synced in September 2026.
Has Kirkwood Early Learning Center had any inspection violations?
Delaware records 10 violations for Kirkwood Early Learning Center in the last three years, across 7 inspections on file. The median daycare center in the area has 7. Each one is listed above with the date it was corrected.
What ages does Kirkwood Early Learning Center take?
Kirkwood Early Learning Center is licensed to serve infant, toddler, preschool and school age ages, and is open 6:30 am to 6 pm, Mon to Fri.
How much does Kirkwood Early Learning Center cost?
Kirkwood Early Learning Center does not publish tuition on its website. Ask for the full fee schedule on a tour, including registration, supply and late pick-up fees. The program accepts child care subsidy.
