ONCE UPON A TIME DEVELOPMENT CENTER-SHELTON

Inspection history

A violation means an inspector found a licensing rule wasn't met at the time of the visit. Programs are expected to fix what was cited, and the state often asks for a written corrective action plan. Read the official record for details.

Below are all 2 visits in the state's files from October 8, 2024 to January 8, 2026, newest first, with 12 violations in all. A follow-up visit checks on violations cited earlier. Each violation shows OEC's short title for it and the regulation cited. The rule text shows which regulation was cited, not what the inspector saw; ask the program or OEC for details. A case result of "Corrective Action Plan" means the state asked the program for a written plan to fix what was cited, and "Closed" means the state lists the case as closed. Case results and status are shown as the state published them.

1. January 8, 2026 · Unannounced inspection (full) · 7 violations

   Case result (as published): Corrective Action Plan · Case status: Closed · Inspection number X2026-88

   • 021- Comprehensive background checks

     Regulation: 19a-79-4a(b)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     The operator shall ensure that all program staff have completed a comprehensive background check before they have unsupervised access to children. The operator shall provide to the Office of Early Childhood any information obtained concerning substantiated child abuse or neglect records or criminal convictions upon request. The operator shall obtain from each prospective employee, who is eighteen years of age or older, for a position that requires the provision of care to a child or involves unsupervised access to a child, a listing of all employment held in the United States for an organization that provides care or services to children in the preceding five years. The operator shall take reasonable steps to contact each previous employer provided by the prospective employee to verify at a minimum the prospective employee's job title, description of his/her regular duties, confirmation of employment dates, and whether such previous employer would recommend the prospective employee for rehire. This information shall be made accessible to the Office upon request. The operator shall not employ program staff, including volunteers, who have a record that the commissioner reasonably believes renders such program staff unsuitable to be employed in a child care center or group child care home.

   • 030-Designated Director

     Regulation: 19a-79-4a(e)(1)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     The child care center or group child care home shall maintain documentation on site that there is a designated director who is twenty years of age or older. Any director hired or newly designated shall have not later than one year of being hired/ designated, at least three credits in the administration of early childhood education programs or educational administration from a regionally accredited higher education institution.

   • 035- Consultants

     Regulation: 19a-79-4a(i)(1-2)(H), (F)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     An education consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice and support regarding the educational content and practice of the program. A person needs to apply for approval to be an education consultant. Program staff shall not serve as education consultants for programs in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role; or in a program with the same operator as a program in which they provide direct care or direct program supervision in a non-consultative role. Specific duties of the education consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, annual site visits to the facility, reviewing daily plans, curriculum documents, and educational policies for the developmental and age appropriate practices, observing program staff interactions, use of materials and equipment, implementation of plans and approaches to classroom management; and providing feedback on documentation review and classroom observations to the director and head teacher. A health consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the health of the children and the health program. Specific duties of the health consultant shall include, but not be limited to making, at a minimum, quarterly site visits to facilities that serve children three years of age and older; or for group child care homes, facilities that operate no more than three hours per day, or facilities that enroll only school age children, semi-annual site visits. Facilities that are closed during the summer months may omit the summer quarterly visit. Site visits shall be made by the health consultant during customary business hours when the children are present at the facility. Specific duties include, but are not limited to reviewing health and immunization records of children and program staff, reviewing the contents, storage and plan for maintenance of first aid kits, observing the indoor and outdoor environments for health and safety, observing children's general health and development, observing diaper changing and toileting areas and diaper changing, toileting and hand washing procedures, reviewing the policies, procedures and required documentation for the administration of medications, including petitions for special medication authorizations needed for programs that administer medication, assisting in the review of individual care plans for children with special health care needs or children with disabilities, as needed; and quarterly review of all injury, illness, incident and accident reports. A social service consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding the emotional needs, program staff support and the social service program. A registered dietitian consultant shall be available to the operator and program staff for advice regarding nutrition and food service for those programs that prepare or plan meals. A written plan for consultation services shall be developed, signed annually by the consultant and implemented. Consultative service shall include, but not be limited to an annual review of written policies, plans and procedures that relate to the services provided by the consultant, availability by telecommunication for advice regarding problems, availability, in person, of the consultant to the program, consulting with administration and program staff about specific problems, acting as a resource person to program staff and the parent(s) to include coordinating services and assisting families and program staff in identifying necessary resources, and seeking and supporting the collaboration of multiple consultants serving the program. The activities and observations required by each consultant shall be documented in a consultation log that is kept on file at the facility for two years.

   • 062- Fire marshal codes/certificate

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(a)(2)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     The operator shall comply with all local codes and ordinances, including the State of Connecticut Fire Safey Code. These codes include but are not limited to: inspections by the fire marshal, ensuring fire marshal inspection certificates are on file, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and documentation of fire drills.

   • 104- Equipment-clean and safe, good repair, non-toxic-sturdy, free from protruding nails, rust

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(g)(1)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     All equipment shall be of such design and material as to be readily cleaned and safe for children. Equipment shall not be colored or covered by any poisonous material. Equipment shall be sturdy, safely constructed and free from protruding nails, rust, toxic material and other hazards.

   • 111- Outdoor space

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(h)(1-9)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     There shall be access to a minimum of seventy-five (75) square feet per child of outdoor space for the number of children using the space at any one time. The outdoor area shall be fenced or protected for safety. Outdoor play equipment shall have a shock absorbing surface, under and around, that shall effectively cushion the fall of a child, except where the child is sitting or standing at ground level. The shock absorbing surface shall be maintained at a depth of at least eight inches, be free of water and not allowed to become compacted. Acceptable shock absorbing surfaces may include mulch, sand, and wood chips. Synthetic material that is less than eight inches in depth, including but not limited to, rubber mats or tiles may be acceptable surfaces provided the operator maintains documentation on the licensed premises that the synthetic material is manufactured for this purpose, installed in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and sufficient to cushion the fall of a child. Concrete, asphalt, grass and dirt shall not be considered a shock absorbing surface. The playground shall be free of glass, debris, holes and other hazards. Nuts, bolts and screws shall be tight; and those that protrude shall be covered or protected. Outside equipment shall be anchored for stability when recommended by the manufacturer. Anchors shall be buried below ground level. The operator shall provide documentation to the Office, upon request, by a certified playground safety inspector that newly constructed playgrounds and all newly installed playground equipment that are set in position and anchored in such a way to last indefinitely are designed and installed in accordance with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Society for Testing and Materials Standards. Drinking water shall be available and accessible to children. Outdoor equipment shall be arranged in such a way as to avoid accidents. All play equipment, fences, and structures shall not pose a hazard.

   • 159- Non-Prescription Topical Medications

     Regulation: 19a-79-9a(a)(2-3)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     The written permission of the parent(s) shall be required prior to the administration of the nonprescription topical medication shall be kept on file at the facility for each child administered a nonprescription topical medication. The parent(s) shall be immediately notified of any medication error, and notified of such error in writing not more than seventy two hours after the medication error occurred, and such medication error shall be documented in the child's record. The medication shall be stored in the original container and shall contain the following information on the container or packaging indicating the individual child's name; the name of the medication; and directions for the medication's administration. The medication shall be stored away from food and inaccessible to children. Any unused portion of the medication shall be returned to the parent(s). Any expired medication shall be destroyed in a safe manner or returned to the parent.

2. October 8, 2024 · Unannounced inspection (full) · 5 violations

   Case result (as published): Corrective Action Plan · Case status: Closed · Inspection number X2024-4215

   • 069-Walls/Ceilings/Floors/Rugs: Clean/Good Repair

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(e)(5)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     Walls, ceilings, floors and rugs shall be maintained in a state of good repair and be washable or easily cleanable.

   • 088-Impact Absorbing Material under Equipment

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(h)(2)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     Where swings, seesaws or climbing apparatus are used, the surface in the space shall be protected with a minimum of eight (8) inches of impact absorbing materials.

   • 089-Playground Free From Hazards

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(g)(4) and/or 19a-79-7a(h)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     Hardware such as air conditioners, water heaters or fuse boxes shall be inaccessible to children. The playground shall be free of glass, debris, holes and other hazards.

   • 092-Equipment Anchored/Safely Arranged

     Regulation: 19a-79-7a(h)(5) &/or 19a-79-7a(h)(9)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     Outside equipment shall be anchored for stability. Anchors shall be buried below ground level. Outdoor equipment shall be arranged in such a way as to avoid accidents.

   • 140-Bottles Individually Identified w/ Child's Name

     Regulation: 19a-79-10(k)(5)

     Rule cited (text as published)

     Each child's bottle shall be individually identified with the child's name.

View the official record

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Sources

• Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Program Data: program details.
• Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Inspections: visit dates, types and case results.
• Child Care & Youth Camp Licensing Violations: violations and regulation text.

All three are published by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood on data.ct.gov as Public Domain. State files updated November 12, 2026. We show the state's text as published; a few visit dates in the files fall far in the future, and we list those as not published. Program details last checked November 12, 2026.