Find a program / Delaware / Middletown / MERCY LAND ACADEMY
Child care center · Middletown, DE
MERCY LAND ACADEMY
A licensed child care center in Middletown, Delaware, with its state inspection and complaint history from the Delaware Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL).
Program details
Program type: Licensed child care center
Address: 211 E MAIN ST, Middletown, DE 19709
Phone: (302) 378-2013
Ages served: 6 weeks through 12 years.
Age group: Infant through School-Age
Licensed capacity: 54 children
OCCL license number: 1127712
Current enforcement action (as published): none listed in the state's file
Injuries reported to the state (as published): the state's file lists injuries in the last 5 years that needed medical or dental treatment. No facility injuries reported. No facility deaths reported.
View the official record on Delaware's child care search (search for the program's name).
Inspection history
Last 3 years (November 12, 2023 to November 12, 2026, when the state's files were last updated)
- 3 visits where violations were cited (the state's file doesn't list visits where nothing was cited)
- 17 violations cited on these visits
- 1 complaint investigation completed (No Evidence to Substantiate: 1)
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 5 visits with violations in the state's file (which starts November 12, 2021), newest first, with 31 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.
October 15, 2026 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 4 violations
Personnel Files
Regulation code 30U · Correct by November 16, 2026 · Correction status: Completed
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs their health and safety training, Staff #2 needs their health and safety training and eligibility letter, and Staff #3 needs 4 references and a returned service letter or 2 documented attempts.
Child Files
Regulation code 40U · Correct by November 16, 2026 · Correction status: Completed
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure child files are complete. Submit blood lead screening results for Children #2 and 6 to OCCL.
Outdoor Area
Regulation code 53U · Correct by November 16, 2026 · Correction status: Completed
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all outdoor fall zones are covered near the slides. Send a picture of fall zones covered to OCCL.
Transportation
Regulation code 67U · Correct by November 16, 2026 · Correction status: Completed
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the travel van has emergency numbers for the children. Send a picture of the van's emergency binder to OCCL.
October 14, 2025 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 3 violations
Personnel Files
Regulation code 30U · Correct by November 14, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, November 20, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
The state's notes for this violation may name a person, so we don't show them here. They're in the state's published file (see Sources).
Staff Attendance
Regulation code 36U · Correct by November 13, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, October 14, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Facility Visit
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure staff sign in/out whenever they enter or leave a classroom. 1 staff member was night signed in, in the preschool room and one staff did not sign out. This was corrected at the visit.
Hazardous Materials
Regulation code 45U · Correct by November 14, 2025 · Correction status: Completed, November 14, 2025 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Submit Radon results to OCCL.
October 15, 2024 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 10 violations
Insurance Coverage
Regulation code 16U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 26, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Submit liability insurance.
Personnel Files
Regulation code 30U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 12, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure staff files are complete. Staff #1, 2, and 3 need updated CPR/FA certification. Staff #2 and 5 needs their administration of medication certification. Staff #3 needs 11 training hours. Staff #4 needs 9 training hours. Staff #5 needs a DEEDS certificate, CPR/FA, health and safety training, 4 references, release of employment history, and a returned service letter or 2 documented attempts at sending the letter.
Parents Right to Know
Regulation code 38U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 7, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Submit parents right to know log.
Child Files
Regulation code 40U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 22, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure child files are complete. Child #1 needs an immunization record and blood lead screening results. Child #5 needs a full health appraisal with immunizations. Child #4 needs parents right to know, screen time, and mat permission signatures, and a blood lead screening result. Child #8 needs parents right to know, screen time, and mat permission signatures. Child #15 needs a full health appraisal with immunizations and blood lead results. Child #16 needs hours and days of attendance.
Indoor Space
Regulation code 49U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 22, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all trashcans are covered. The opening room, and girls bathroom do not have lids. Send a picture of cans with lids to OCCL. Place outlet covers in the school age room and send a picture to OCCL. Remove yellow cord in the one year old room.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing
Regulation code 61U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, October 16, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Replace all diaper mats and send a picture to OCCL. (Received) All mats are torn. Place disposable covers at each station and send a picture to OCCL.
Lesson Plans
Regulation code 74U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 22, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the school-age room has a posted monthly calendar of activities. Send calendar for the month of October to OCCL. Ensure all lesson plans have 2 or more weekly food/healthy habits and science components. Send updated lesson plan for 1 week for all classrooms.
Activity Areas
Regulation code 75U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 22, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the school-age, Pre-K, opening room, and one year old room have sufficient materials. The school-age room does not have a construction/block, art, manipulatives, or dramatic play station. The Pre-K room does not have enough science or music materials. The opening room does not have a manipulatives, art, or dramatic play station, or science and music materials. The one year old room does not have a manipulatives, science, construction, or art station. No building block or materials. Send a picture of all rooms with the required (sufficient) materials to OCCL.
Activity Schedule
Regulation code 76U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, October 16, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Post daily schedule in the one year old room.
Infant and Toddler Care
Regulation code 77U · Correct by November 15, 2024 · Correction status: Completed, November 22, 2024 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Remove walker in the one year old room.
Older than 3 years (not counted in the summary above)
October 17, 2023 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 4 violations
Personnel Files
Regulation code 30U · Correct by November 13, 2023 · Correction status: Completed, November 28, 2023 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all staff files are complete. Staff #1 needs to be re-fingerprinted and determined eligible. Staff #2 needs their professional development plan. Staff #3 needs their first aid certification, release of employment history, and a returned service letter or 2 documented attempts of sending the letter. Staff #4 needs updated CPR/First Aid certification and a professional development plan. Staff #5 needs their first aid certification, administration of medication, orientation form, health and safety training, signed and dated application, 4 references, health appraisal with TB results, release of employment and a returned service letter or 2 documented attempts. Staff #6 needs annual safe sleep and child abuse and neglect signatures, a professional development plan, and 1 hour in health/safety training.
Child Files
Regulation code 40U · Correct by November 13, 2023 · Correction status: Completed, November 14, 2023 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all child files are complete. Children #1, 2, and 5 need blood lead screening results. Children #3 and 4 need hours/days of attendance or date of enrollment. Child #8 needs their parents right to know, screen time, transportation, and mat signatures.
Indoor Space
Regulation code 49U · Correct by November 13, 2023 · Correction status: Completed, October 17, 2023 · How the correction was shown (as published): Facility Visit
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all bathrooms have outlet covers. This was corrected at the visit.
Outdoor Area
Regulation code 53U · Correct by November 13, 2023 · Correction status: Completed, October 31, 2023 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure playground' is free of hazards. Replace turf and send a picture to OCCL.
October 13, 2022 · Unannounced Full Compliance Review · 10 violations
Personnel Files
Regulation code 30U · Correct by November 13, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, November 18, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Submit the following to complete staff files: CPR/First Aid for Staff #3 and 4 Health and safety training for Staff #3 (1 hour) Signed and dated professional development plans for Staff #1,3,5,7, and 8. Annual review of safe sleep and child abuse for Staff #3 Job description for Staff #7 and 8 Two references for Staff #1 and 1 reference for Staff #4 Adult abuse registry check for Staff #1 and 7 Eligibility letters for Staff #7 and 8 An adult health appraisal with TB results for Staff #4 Release of employment for Staff #1,2,4,6, and 7 Service letters with documented attempts for Staff #1,2,4,6, and 8.
Child Files
Regulation code 40U · Correct by November 13, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, November 28, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Submit the following to complete children's files: Complete developmental plans with goals for all children infants through pre-k (school age children do not need it) A signed parent infant feeding schedule Blood lead test results for Child #1,2,6,7,10, and 12, and a health appraisal for Child #9.
Children's Attendance
Regulation code 43U · Correct by October 24, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, November 15, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure children's attendance is documented upon arrival and departure. One child was not signed in, in the infant room. Children were not signed out in the Pre-K room, and one child was not signed in, in the Pre-K room. This was corrected at the visit. Send in one weeks attendance of all classrooms to OCCL. Documentation was submitted and the facility is still non-compliant.
Indoor Space
Regulation code 49U · Correct by October 14, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 14, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure electrical outlets are covered. Cover all outlets in the infant room (near the computers), school-age room, pre-k room (above the television), and the girls bathroom. Send picture of covered outlets to OCCL.
Outdoor Area
Regulation code 53U · Correct by November 13, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, November 9, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the outdoor area is free from hazards, and all fall zones are protected. The outdoor playground is currently unsafe for children due to the outdoor carpet coming up. Ensure children are not using the playground until the carpet is fixed. Send a picture of updated playground to OCCL.
Sleeping Accommodations and Safe Sleep Environments
Regulation code 56U · Correct by October 21, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 17, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure all nap items, cots are labeled. One pack-n-play in the infant room, and all nap cots in the pre-k room were not labeled. Label nap pack-n-plays and cots, and send to OCCL.
Diapering and Soiled Clothing
Regulation code 61U · Correct by October 21, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 14, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the diaper mat in the boy's bathroom is replaced. Send a picture of new diaper mat to OCCL.
Feeding of Infants
Regulation code 72U · Correct by October 17, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 17, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure infant bottles are labeled. One infant did not have a label on their bottle. Ensure the parent is completing the infant feeding schedule, along with the parents signature. A teacher signed and completed an infant feeding schedule. Send in labeled bottles and the infant feeding schedule completed by the parent to OCCL.
Lesson Plans
Regulation code 74U · Correct by November 13, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 17, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Document
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure the lesson plans contain a science component. The lesson plan in the one-two's room did not include a science component. Send an updated lesson plan with a science component to OCCL.
Activity Areas
Regulation code 75U · Correct by November 13, 2022 · Correction status: Completed, October 27, 2022 · How the correction was shown (as published): Facility Visit
Licensing specialist's notes (as published)
Ensure there are enough activities for children. Place blocks, manipulatives, activities for children in the school-age room.
Complaint investigations
All 5 complaint investigations in the state's file (which starts November 29, 2021), newest first, with the result and the state's summary as published.
Completed July 8, 2026 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate
Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint
The state's summary (as published)
OCCL's investigation of regulatory non-compliance began after clearance from other agencies was received. This case was closed on June 3, 2026. On November 25, 2025, OCCL received a complaint regarding allegations of improper behavior supports. A follow-up was conducted on June 12 and June 22, 2026, after clearance was received to begin OCCL's investigation. There is no evidence to substantiate this complaint. Staff #1 and Staff #2 both denied, in writing, that Staff #1 ever hit, punched, physically disciplined, or otherwise physically harmed Child #1 or any other child in care. Staff #2, who served as Child #1's primary classroom teacher, reported no incident of physical abuse or inappropriate physical contact involving Child #1 during the period in question. Staff #1 reported having limited contact with Child #1 due to Staff #1's role as a floating teacher and stated he/she was never alone with Child #1 outside of nap-time coverage, during which another teacher was present. Administrator #1 reported conducting an internal review following the allegation and stated no evidence was found indicating Staff #1 engaged in the conduct alleged.
Older than 3 years (not counted in the summary above)
Completed September 13, 2023 · Result: Unsubstantiated with Concern
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).
Completed January 30, 2023 · Result: Substantiated
Type (as published): OCCL Standards Complaint
The state's summary (as published)
On January 13, 2023, the Office of Child Care Licensing (OCCL) received a complaint regarding improper discipline. An investigation was conducted on January 25, 2023. This complaint is substantiated for improper discipline because the administrator stated when she met with the staff accused, the staff admitted to making the threat. The staff was immediately terminated from employment at the center.
Completed November 21, 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).
Completed May 3, 2022 · Result: No Evidence to Substantiate with Concern
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).
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More programs in Middletown · Delaware child care rules
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.