Childcare centre probed
Parents have taken their children out of a Feilding childcare centre under investigation over alleged negative behaviour and unprofessionalism.
Pitter Patter Education Centre was shut down for three weeks late last month before opening again on Monday. The Ministry of Education suspended the centre’s licence after it received complaints.
Children were unable to attend the centre during the suspension. The ministry has referred the complaints to the police and the Teaching Council, but it won’t reveal what the complaints are.
The centre’s owner and manager, Pauline Murphy, has not responded to requests for comment. Stuff contacted Pitter Patter, but was told Murphy would not be at the centre yesterday.
One parent, who wanted to remain anonymous, had taken her son to Pitter Patter for more than a year, but took him to another centre earlier this year after bad experiences.
She said her son was never happy there and she ‘‘was always iffy’’ about going.
Staff weren’t friendly, her son would come home hungry or with dirty nappies, and children were excluded from activities if their parents couldn’t afford to pay for them.
Another mother, Bianca Alani, removed her son from Pitter Patter about three years ago because of ‘‘negative treatment and unprofessional behaviour’’.
She said her son was on one occasion bitten, which left a mark for at least a week, but nothing was done.
She also experienced ‘‘unacceptable’’ treatment over the toilet training for her son, who had bowel problems.
After making a complaint she said she was told her account was being given to debt collectors and she was expected to pay $1200 or her son would be removed from the roll. They later left.
Radio NZ reported statements to the ministry from former teachers who claimed they and children were bullied and abused by Murphy.
Allegations RNZ reported were in the claims to the ministry included misbehaving children being locked in a room, children being yelled at, and staff bullying and hurting children.
Ministry deputy secretary Katrina Casey said the ministry assessed the centre on November 17 following the complaints.
It was found staff hadn’t been properly assessed as required by the Children’s Act, but the centre later showed it had done so.
The centre, an independent, was operating again, and Casey said the conditions had been met. The ministry will visit the site again next month.
One parent outside the centre yesterday, who did not want to be named, said he had been taking his children to Pitter Patter for the past couple of years and hadn’t experienced negative behaviour.
‘‘We’re happy with how it’s all gone and haven’t heard of anything going on,’’ he said. ‘‘ We haven’t heard of it and haven’t seen it.’’
A Teaching Council spokeswoman said the complaints had been brought to its attention, but she couldn’t comment further because the council was in the early stages of considering the information.
The council’s work would start after the police investigation was finished.
The ministry would not answer questions on the suspension conditions, the nature of the complaints, how long the investigation would take, or when the complaints were made.
A ministry spokeswoman said because of ongoing investigations it was limited in what it could say. A police spokeswoman said they were unable to respond.