Little Peoples Early Learning Centre Figtree: Extra safety measures ordered

A childcare centre has been ordered to improve safety after a toddler escaped through an open gate and was found wandering through traffic.

A childcare facility in the Illawarra has been ordered to provide more training for staff after a toddler walked out of the facility and was found wandering near traffic.

The two-year-old strolled out of a gate understood to have been left open by a tradesman at the Little Peoples Early Learning Centre in Figtree around 3.30pm on June 15, 2020.

Local woman Jackie Drleski spotted the toddler walking alone along the road before she grabbed her and took her to safety.

A nearby resident captured the moment the toddler was taken back to the centre by police. Picture: 9 News

Police were called to the centre following the terrifying incident, however handed the investigation over to the NSW Education Department.

The NSW Education Department confirmed the investigation had concluded and the centre had been issued with a compliance notice requiring a number of actions be taken to ensure the safety of children at the service.

“The service was required to provide further training for staff,” the department spokesperson said.

“The service was also required to put additional policies and procedures in place to ensure all children are accounted for at all times and visitors to the service are safely managed.”

Little Peoples was also ordered to provide evidence to the department that these additional requirements had been met.

Little Peoples Early Learning Centre at Northview Terrace in Figtree. Picture: supplied

At the time of the incident, Little Peoples released a statement saying “supervising staff have been suspended and we sincerely apologise to the parents of the child for this unfortunate incident”.

Little Peoples was again contacted by the Illawarra Star at the completion of the investigation regarding new safety measures and the status of the suspended staff member, however, the centre did not respond with a comment.

According to its website, Little Peoples is a family run business that opened its first centre in 2002.

WANT MORE OF YOUR LOCAL NEWS?

Bookmark your community homepage HERE and never miss out on the latest news near you.

Sign up to our newsletter HERE to get your updates delivered straight to your inbox.

To find us on social, visit twitter.com/illawarrastar and instagram.com/illawarrastar.