Source : Perth Now news
A childcare centre has been ordered to shut for 14 days after a young child with several allergies was allegedly served the wrong food and admitted to hospital.
Edge Early Learning Centre in Port Augusta, South Australia, was ordered to close by the Education Standards Board after it found the service had failed in its responsibility to protect children from harm and hazards.
The centre will remain closed until 6.30pm on Monday, September 21, with parents told to seek alternative childcare arrangements during the shutdown period.
Education Minister Lucy Hood described the incident as an “allergen management issue” and said the child involved had several allergies.
“[It was] in regards to a young child being served food that they shouldn’t have been served and I understand it led to the hospitalisation of a child,” Ms Hood said.
“Allergen management has clearly been a challenge for the Edge Early Learning centres.”
The regulator has ordered Edge Early Learning to provide written details of the incident, and subsequent direction to every family with a child enrolled at the centre.
The centre must also conduct its own investigation and provide independent emergency-response training to all staff.
Edge Early Learning has been contacted for comment.
The incident comes just weeks after the beleaguered childcare provider collapsed into voluntary administration.
Centres in Queensland, South Australia and the ACT were advised voluntary administrators KordaMentha had been appointed while the provider underwent an urgent assessment of its operations.
Edge Early Learning chief executive Chris Chambers advised parents the voluntary administrators were working with management to maintain normal operations while the review was undertaken.
“At this stage, all centres are expected to continue operating as usual and families should continue to attend their centres,” he said.
“The Voluntary Administrators’ intention is to provide a stable environment for children while we work through this process.”
