HAPPY PLACE CHILD CARE OF MIDDLETOWN

Inspection history

A violation means a licensing specialist found that a Delaware licensing rule wasn't met. The state gives the program a date to correct each one and records when it was corrected. Complaint results use the state's own terms, as published. Read the official record for details.

Visits with violations

All 4 visits with violations in the state's file (which starts November 12, 2021), newest first, with 7 violations in all. The state's file lists only visits where a rule was cited, so visits where nothing was cited are not shown. Each violation shows the state's short title for the rule, its regulation code, the date the state set for the fix and the correction status as published.

1. March 12, 2026 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 1 violation

   • Child Health Appraisal

     Regulation code 41U · Correct by April 10, 2026 · Correction status: Completed, March 23, 2026 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure children have blood lead screenings. Send Child #2, 12, and 14 to OCCL.

2. March 11, 2025 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 3 violations

   • Child Health Appraisal

     Regulation code 41U · Correct by April 11, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, March 20, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure children have health appraisals on file. Send Child #1's health appraisal with immunizations to OCCL.

   • Outdoor Area

     Regulation code 53U · Correct by April 11, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, March 24, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure no hazards are on the playground. Repair, replace, or cover area between poured-in-place and concrete.

   • Hand Washing

     Regulation code 59U · Correct by April 11, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, March 20, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure staff wash hands after changing diapers. Review regulation and procedure with Staff #1 and send to OCCL.

3. March 12, 2024 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 2 violations

   • Personnel Files

     Regulation code 30U · Correct by April 12, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, March 19, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs one reference letter. Staff #2 needs either one service letter and one reference letter, or 3 additional references. Staff #4 needs 7-hour OCCL Health and Safety training and signed job description.

   • Kitchen and Food Preparation

     Regulation code 50U · Correct by April 12, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, March 15, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     Ensure thermometer in kitchen refrigerator reads 41 degrees or below. Send a picture to OCCL.

4. Older than 3 years (not counted in the summary above)

5. March 14, 2023 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 1 violation

   • Personnel Files

     Regulation code 30U · Correct by April 14, 2023 · Correction status: Completed, April 10, 2023 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document

     Licensing specialist's notes (as published)

     All staff files must be complete. -All staff must complete the seven-hour Health and Safety Training for EC Professionals, except Staff #1 through #7. Send copies of certificates to OCCL.

Complaint investigations

All 8 complaint investigations in the state's file (which starts November 29, 2021), newest first, with the result and the state's summary as published.

1. Completed July 30, 2026 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary (as published)

   On July 16, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding allegations of lack of supervision, failure to have and follow procedures for reporting accidents or critical incidents involving children and other important information relating to the child, and failure to intervene quickly to ensure the safety of children and others by allowing children to hit, punish, or discipline one another. An investigation was conducted on July 23, 2026. Based on interviews conducted, observations made, and documents collected during the investigation, there is no evidence to substantiate the allegation of lack of supervision. The classrooms were arranged with clear lines of sight for supervision, staff were actively supervising children throughout the visit, and attendance records confirmed that required staff-to-child ratios were maintained in accordance with Delacare Regulations. Based on interviews conducted and documents collected and reviewed during the investigation, there is no evidence to substantiate the allegation that the center failed to have and follow procedures for reporting accidents or critical incidents involving children and other important information relating to the child. All staff interviewed consistently described the center's procedures for reporting incidents, and their responses were consistent with the procedures outlined in the parent handbook. Based on interviews conducted, and observations made, there is no evidence to substantiate the allegation that staff failed to intervene quickly to ensure the safety of children and others or allowed children to hit, punish, or discipline one another. All staff interviewed described using positive guidance techniques, including redirection and discussing inappropriate behaviors with children, to address challenging behaviors. No evidence was identified to support the allegation that Child #1 hit or kicked other children or that staff failed to intervene appropriately.

2. Completed March 4, 2026 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary (as published)

   Between January 27, 2026, and February 2, 2026, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received two complaints regarding infant safe sleep, failing to meet a child's needs, sanitation requirements, access to electrical outlets, washing of bedding, failing to follow requirements for breastfeeding, and staff using cell phones. An investigation began on February 2, 2026, and concluded on February 5, 2026. According to staff interviews and observations, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint. All staff interviewed stated they follow infant safe sleep guidelines, sanitation requirements, washing of bedding, breastfeeding requirements, and cell phone requirements. Based on observations, children's needs were met, electrical outlets are safety outlets and are not required to be covered, no staff were using their cell phones while caring for children, and breastfeeding requirements were met.

3. Completed October 16, 2024 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary (as published)

   On September 25, 2024, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper discipline, behavior management techniques, proper handwashing, toileting procedures, and concerns about sanitization procedures. The investigation was conducted on October 2, 2024. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for improper discipline, behavior management techniques, lack of proper handwashing, not sanitizing properly, or not following toileting procedures based on staff interviews and documentation received. A behavior report was reviewed for Child #1 and all staff interviewed denied using improper discipline, stated they use appropriate behavior management techniques, use proper handwashing and toileting procedures, and clean and sanitize classrooms regularly.

4. Older than 3 years (not counted in the summary above)

5. Completed October 4, 2023 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary (as published)

   The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint on August 31, 2023, regarding multiple allegations including diapering procedures, meeting the needs of children, lack of supervision at nap time, program curriculum goals, behavior supports, insufficient or unsafe equipment for children, and sanitation. An investigation was conducted on September 12, 2023. Based on the results of this investigation, there is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not following diapering procedures because all staff interviewed stated diapers are changed regularly throughout the day. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not meeting the needs of children or lack of behavior supports because based on observations made by licensing specialists and staff interviews, children were cared for immediately if they were upset. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for lack of supervision at nap time because based on staff interviews, all staff denied sleeping in the classrooms during nap time. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for not having program curriculum goals because licensing specialists observed up-to-date lesson plans with all required components in classrooms. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for insufficient or unsafe equipment for children because even though it was observed two classrooms had minimal equipment, the administrator brought in additional toys and books to the center during the visit. All staff also stated they discard broken toys and replace them. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint for sanitation because based on staff interviews and written statements, all dishes and sippy cups are cleaned after every meal in the dishwasher.

6. Completed May 19, 2023 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary of this complaint may name a person, so we don't show it here. It's in the state's published file (see Sources).

7. Completed May 6, 2023 · Result: Substantiated

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary (as published)

   On March 14, 2023, a complaint was made to the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line and not accepted for investigation by the Institutional Abuse Unit (IAU). The Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received the complaint on March 16, 2023, and accepted it for investigation regarding improper discipline. On March 15, 2023, the owner/administrator self-reported a notification she received from a parent who stated a specific staff member hit their child's butt when she misbehaved. An investigation was conducted on March 28, 2023. The complaint is substantiated because a licensing specialist observed a different staff member improperly discipline a child by grabbing the child's arm and roughly placing the child in a chair. Based on interviews with staff and the owner/administrator, there is no evidence to substantiate the reported allegation that the specific staff member improperly disciplined the particular child. The staff interviewed denied ever seeing or hearing of the staff member improperly disciplining a child.

8. Completed November 14, 2022 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary of this complaint may name a person, so we don't show it here. It's in the state's published file (see Sources).

9. Completed February 9, 2022 · Result: Unsubstantiated

   Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint

   The state's summary of this complaint may name a person, so we don't show it here. It's in the state's published file (see Sources).

View the official record

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Sources

• Licensed Child Care Providers and Facilities: program details, enforcement action and injuries report.
• Child Care Licensing Compliance Review Information: visits, violations, corrections and specialist notes.
• Child Care Licensing Complaint Reviews: complaint investigations, results and summaries.

All three are published by the Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing on data.delaware.gov as Public Domain and cover about the last five years. State files updated November 12, 2026. We show the state's text as published. Program details last checked October 21, 2026.