Small Wonders Learning Center

880 Mcewan Ln, Milton, WI 53563 · Rock County

19cited violations

10marked serious

9inspection visits

1enforcement actions

Program

Type: Group center
Licensed capacity: 85
Ages: 6 weeks – 11 years, 11 months
Hours: 06:30 AM-05:30 PM (Jan-Dec)
Licensee: Haley Ballew
Contact: Ballew, Haley
Phone: 608-868-5288
YoungStar: 3 Stars
Regulated since: 08/24/2009
DCF IDs: Facility 1014629 · Provider 0000564160/002
Official record: DCF Child Care Finder

Year by year

Year	Violations	Serious	Main categories
2026	9	4	Cleanliness & sanitation (1), Illness & medication (1), Supervision & ratios (1), Discipline & child guidance (1), Safety & premises (3), Staff background & training (2)
2025	4	3	Supervision & ratios (2), Staff background & training (1), Records & paperwork (1)
2024	6	3	Cleanliness & sanitation (2), Food & allergies (1), Staff background & training (2), Records & paperwork (1)

Enforcement actions

Feb 4, 2025 — Warning Letter
251.04(2)(m) (Health, Safety & Welfare Of Children ) on 1/9/2025 : On 09/27/24 the program adversely affected the health, safety and welfare of a child when a three-year-old child was riding in an elevator and had their hand caught and injured by the opening doors. This incident was self-reported by the program. 251.055(1)(a) (Supervision Of Children ) on 1/9/2025 : On 11/26/2024, a two-year-old child was found in the hallway by a parent after the group transitioned outside. The child was unsupervised for up to two minutes. The incident was self-reported by the program. 251.055(1)(f) (Child Tracking Procedure ) on 1/9/2025 : On 11/26/2024, the center did not adhere to a procedure to ensure the whereabouts of children are known a two-year-old child left the inside as the group transitioned outside. The incident was self-reported by the program.

A warning letter is not an enforcement action under Wisconsin law and carries no appeal rights. Orders and forfeitures are enforcement actions and can be appealed.

Inspection visits

Sep 9, 2026 Licensing visit · 30 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Supervision & ratios
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
DCF visit report
May 21, 2026 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious
- Staff background & training Serious
  Fingerprints not completed for the following individuals: Individual 001
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report
Apr 22, 2026 Licensing visit · 165 rules checked, 7 not met 3 serious
- Staff background & training
  Staff A did not have documentation of completed Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention training on file as required.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(cm) — Child Abuse & Neglect - Biennial Training
- Safety & premises Serious
  Energy-absorbing material was not nine inches deep on several areas of the playground, as required.
  
  DCF 251.06(11)(b)5. — Outdoor Play Space - Energy-Absorbing Surfaces
- Safety & premises
  There were multiple areas on the fence where there was a gap larger than 4 inches from the bottom of the fence to the ground.
  
  DCF 251.06(11)(b)7. — Outdoor Play Space - Enclosure
- Safety & premises Serious
  There were multiple spots of chipping paint in the Moonbeam Classroom and the Shooting Stars Classroom.
  
  DCF 251.06(2)(i) — Deteriorating Paint
- Discipline & child guidance Serious
  On 04/03/2026, a teacher used innapropriate child guidance when she hit a child in the face. This incident was self-reported by the program.
  
  DCF 251.07(2)(e) — Child Guidance - Prohibited Actions
- Illness & medication
  In the Rainbow Classroom, the medication authorization did not include administration instructions.
  
  DCF 251.07(6)(f)1.a. — Medication Administration - Parent Authorization
- Cleanliness & sanitation
  Staff in the Moonbeam classroom did not wash hands in between changing children's diapers.
  
  DCF 251.07(6)(i)2. — Adult Handwashing
DCF visit report
May 6, 2025 Licensing visit · 254 rules checked, 0 not met

No violations cited on this visit.

DCF visit report
Jan 9, 2025 Licensing visit · 5 rules checked, 4 not met 3 serious
- Records & paperwork
  On 09/27/24 the program adversely affected the health, safety and welfare of a child when a three-year-old child was riding in an elevator and had their hand caught and injured by the opening doors. This incident was self-reported by the program.
  
  DCF 251.04(2)(m) — Health, Safety & Welfare Of Children
- Staff background & training Serious
  Staff A did not have documentation on file of completed entry level coursework required for the position while being regularly scheduled in that role.
  
  DCF 251.05(3)(f)3. — Child Care Teacher - Entry-Level Training
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  On 11/26/2024, a two-year-old child was found in the hallway by a parent after the group transitioned outside. The child was unsupervised for up to two minutes. The incident was self-reported by the program.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
- Supervision & ratios Serious
  On 11/26/2024, the center did not adhere to a procedure to ensure the whereabouts of children are known a two-year-old child left the inside as the group transitioned outside. The incident was self-reported by the program.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Aug 14, 2024 Licensing visit · 299 rules checked, 3 not met 2 serious

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Food & allergies
  On Multiple Occasions, The Child Care Center Adversely Affected The Health, Safety And Welfare Of A Child When A Child Had Access To And Consumed Food That Contained The Child's Known Allergen.
  
  DCF 251.04(2)(m) — Health, Safety & Welfare Of Children
- Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
  On 08/07/2024, A Three-Year-Old Child Was Unattended For Up To Five Minutes, When A Teacher Sent Them Inside To Use The Bathroom.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(a) — Supervision Of Children
- Cleanliness & sanitation Serious
  The Program Did Not Adhere To The Child Tracking Procedures In Place When On 08/07/2024 A Child Was Sent Inside Alone To Use The Bathroom Without Communicating With Other Staff.
  
  DCF 251.055(1)(f) — Child Tracking Procedure
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
Aug 7, 2024 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Records & paperwork
  At Least 30 Days Before The Continuation Review Date Of The License, An Applicant For License Renewal Shall Submit To The Department The Following Materials: 1. A Completed License Continuation Application. 2. Any Changes To Center Policies
  
  DCF 251.11(4)(b) — Continuation License - Application Materials Submission
DCF visit report · Correction plan (PDF)
May 20, 2024 Licensing visit · 1 rules checked, 1 not met 1 serious

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Staff background & training Serious
  Fingerprints Not Completed For The Following Individuals: Individual 001
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)2. — Staff Record - Completed Background Check
DCF visit report
Feb 27, 2024 Licensing visit · 86 rules checked, 1 not met

The DCF Finder's main page now lists this visit as "No Violations found". Its own visit report below still cites these rules. DCF's list drops violations after about two years.
- Staff background & training
  Staff A Did Not Have Documentation Of Days And Hours Worked When They Were Included In Staff-To-Child Ratio.
  
  DCF 251.05(2)(a)6. — Staff Record - Days & Hours Worked
DCF visit report

Get the full file

DCF publishes about 3 years of monitoring. Older history, complaint files and self-reported incidents require a public records request. Wisconsin's public records law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) gives anyone the right to ask. You don't have to say why. Electronic copies are generally free.

Email the request Printable letter (fax or mail)

Send to: DCF Records Custodian · DCFRecordsRequest@wisconsin.gov · fax (608) 422-7161 · 201 W. Washington Avenue, Madison, WI 53703
Copy: DCF Southern Regional Licensing Office · DCFPlicBRLSRO@wisconsin.gov · 608-422-6765

Show the letter text

Letter text

Dear Records Custodian,

Under Wisconsin's public records law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, I request copies of the following records for the child care program Small Wonders Learning Center, 880 Mcewan Ln, Milton, WI 53563 (DCF facility number 1014629; provider number 0000564160, location 002; applicant/licensee number 4100008040), for January 1, 2019 to the present:

1. Every licensing or certification monitoring, renewal and follow-up visit report, including noncompliance statements, compliance statements and rule-monitoring summaries.
2. Every complaint investigation: intake summaries, investigation reports, and the finding for each allegation.
3. Every warning letter, order, forfeiture or other enforcement action, with related correspondence.
4. Every plan of correction the program submitted, and the department's response.
5. Every incident the program reported to the department (for example under DCF 251.04(3) or 250.04(3)): injuries requiring medical care, prohibited actions, suspected abuse or neglect, communicable disease, and children whose whereabouts were unknown.

I understand that child and reporter identities, and material made confidential by Wis. Stat. § 48.981, may be redacted; please release the remainder and cite the basis for anything withheld. Please provide the records electronically (PDF by email). If the estimated cost exceeds $5.00, please send me an estimate before proceeding. Please confirm receipt of this request.

Thank you,

[Your name]
[Email] · [Phone]

If something is happening now, file a child care complaint with DCF. For suspected abuse, contact your county child protective services or law enforcement.

Source: Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, via the Child Care Finder and the licensed and certified directories. History last read Sep 30, 2026. Violation text is DCF's own wording. The categories are ours, added to help you scan.

Program

Violations by category

Year by year

Enforcement actions

Inspection visits

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