Kids left behind, gone missing: Hundreds of shocking incidents have been uncovered at SA childcare centres

Hundreds of shocking incidents have been uncovered at childcare centres in our state over the past year, including a sharp increase in kids being left behind on school excursions or escaping.

Children going missing, left behind on excursions or fed foods they are allergic to are among hundreds of incidents being uncovered at childcare centres across South Australia.

And the watchdog for the sector, the Education Standards Board (ESB), has warned Education Minister Blair Boyer that it needs an extra $2.2m a year to conduct more inspections.

Latest figures show there were 310 reports of children unaccounted for, taken from or locked in or out of childcare, preschool or after-school care centres last financial year.

That is up from 217 in 2020-21.

The Advertiser can also confirm that children were reported missing from three centres in January this year alone.

Education Minister Blair Boyer said that discovering a child was missing was “every parent’s worst nightmare”. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Morgan Sette

Mr Boyer told The Advertiser that discovering a child was missing was “every parent’s worst nightmare” and he was “actively considering” extra resources for the ESB – including sending over staff from the Education Department.

Mr Boyer said he believed children were safe in centres across the state but agreed more investment was needed to ensure standards are maintained.

Following inquiries by The Advertiser the ESB and Education Department have confirmed three incidents where children were reported missing in January.

On January 20 a student attending Flinders Park OSHC was “briefly left behind” while on an excursion.

A department spokeswoman said the student’s “absence was identified in less than 10 minutes and they were collected from the location”.

Balaklava Community Children’s Centre. Picture: Supplied

On January 24 a child left the Balaklava Community Children’s Centre. They were located shortly afterwards unharmed.

The department conducted a security audit and the centre upgraded its fence and gate and installed a video and intercom system.

Families at both centres were told of the incidents.

They occurred days after two young boys left the Hahndorf Primary School OSHC on January 16 and were found hours later at a grandparent’s home.

Families were sent a letter about that incident two days later.

Hahndorf Primary School OSHC. Picture: Supplied

Mr Boyer told The Advertiser that gate locks at the site had since been upgraded and the centre director had resigned.

“I have had some pretty honest conversations … after that Hahndorf incident where children got out, that’s every parent’s worst nightmare,” he said.

“I asked questions around do we think there are other vacation care or OSHC centres in a similar position where there could be issues and I don’t think there is but, if we don’t provide that extra resourcing … then we run the risk of slipping further behind in the schedule of inspections, which then puts safety at risk.”

The ESB conducted 579 inspections last financial year, most of which are unannounced.

Over the same period ambulances were called to the state’s almost 1300 childcare centres, preschools or out of school hours care services 209 times, up from 186 in 2020-21.

And there were 1438 reported injuries, illnesses or traumas, which could include broken bones, burns, concussions, anaphylaxis reactions or severe asthma attacks, up from 1288.

The ESB says a total 196 incidents were deemed serious and requiring further action.

A number of centres are currently listed on the ESB website as having breached safety regulations this year. However, there have been no fines or prosecutions in the past year.

Centres are not required to tell parents about incidents or notices issued by inspectors – only changes to their conditions of operating.

Education Standards Board SA chief executive and registrar Kerry Leaver. Picture: LinkedIn

ESB chief executive and registrar Kerry Leaver said common reasons for breaches included inadequate supervision of children, centres failing to notify the watchdog about serious incidents, children being fed a known allergen or not running evacuation drills as often as required.

There were also cases where staff were not aware of children’s medical conditions or medication stored on site had expired.

The Advertiser is not implying any of the centres identified in the education standards board compliance actions are responsible for any breaches.

“Where there is immediate and unacceptable risk to children at the service action is taken immediately to safeguard the children,” Ms Leaver said.

Opposition education spokesman John Gardner acknowledged that centre operators were under increasing pressure to find enough qualified staff but “it doesn’t reduce their responsibility to provide a safe environment for every child”.

“Every parent expects when they leave their child in the care of an accredited facility that their child is going to be well looked after and safe,” he said.