The two young children were believed to have left the centre, crossed St Georges Rd, and played in Officeworks without supervision for several minutes before the police were called.
A Department of Education spokesperson confirmed it had started an investigation after being notified on Tuesday, March 30.“The health and safety of children in early childhood centres and schools is of utmost importance,” the spokesperson said.“As the regulatory authority, the Department of Education and Training investigates incidents where children are exposed to harm or not adequately supervised while attending early childhood services.“As the matter is being investigated, we cannot provide further comments.”
A witness told The News she saw three centre staff members emerge from Officeworks with the children.
A parent, who wished to remain anonymous, pulled her child out of the centre, located at 2-10 St Georges Rd, following the incident.
“Two kids escaped, we don't know how,” she said.
“They won't tell us what measures they've set in place, what happened?”
The parent said they felt anxious over the incident.
“Two kids escaped under their watch, it shatters your heart,” she said.
The parent said despite numerous attempts to call the centre, the first official correspondence provided from the daycare didn't arrive until Wednesday.
“That's not good enough,” the parent said.
“They should have notified the parents straight away.”
In a letter to parents, the centre confirmed both children were safe and unharmed, however modifications had been made to an emergency exit door as a consequence of the incident.
“We have reported the incident to the Department of Education, together with the affected families,” the letter said.
“Due to the confidentiality of the investigation, we are unable to disclose details of the incident but wish to reassure . . . the safety and wellbeing of the children is our priority.”
But the parent said there were still many unanswered questions - like how the children had managed to escape the building unnoticed.
“There's so many doors to exit the centre, and once you leave there are stairs and an elevator,” the parent said.
A second parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said she was told by a staff member it was "just a couple of kids misbehaving".
“I didn't get one apology . . . I was taken aback,” she said.
Nido Early Learning Centre declined to comment.
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