New provider found for childcare centre
Families still waiting for prepaid money to be refunded
A NEW childcare provider will takeover a Whittington childcare centre following its sudden closure, which left around 100 children and their families in the lurch last month.
Alphabet Preschool is set to take control of the Regent St centre, formerly known as First Steps Childcare, in the coming months.
But parents have expressed their frustration, claiming they have not yet been reimbursed hundreds of dollars worth of prepaid childcare fees, more than a month on from the sudden closure.
Newcomb father Sreejith Rajan has considered legal action, as he still remains out of pocket about $185 in fees.
Mr Rajan said he had received no information or communication from centre management in regards to his missing money for almost a month.
“We were advised through an app on June 21 that we would be getting money back — but we haven’t had any details after that,” he said.
“I don’t want to leave the company with all of these parents’ money.”
The father managed to get his three-year-old daughter, Nihana, moved into another childcare centre for one day a week, but otherwise has to rely on the help of friends for her care.
“It has been really hard as we both work, at the moment we actually depend on our friends to look after her and do some adjustments with our work, like leaving early,” Mr Rajan said. “It’s not easy.”
First Steps Childcare forcibly closed on June 17 due to unpaid rent, in a move that blindsided staff.
Staff and families arrived at the centre early that morning to find they had been locked out of the premises, sending parents into a frantic scramble to find alternative care options.
The landlord, Marek Alan Morgan, previously told the Addy he had been “left with no option” but to close the centre, as there had been ongoing issues with the tenant.
According to the new provider Alphabet Preschool, the centre remained closed for refurbishment but would reopen again soon under new management.
“We are excited to open again soon and serve our community,” a provider spokeswoman, who did not disclose their name, said.
The manager of First Steps Childcare could not be contacted for comment in regards to the unpaid childcare fees.