Daycare fined after kid suffers serious burns to foot on hot summer day

A childcare centre has copped a whopping $14,000 fine after a toddler burned her foot playing outside on a 39C day.

A childcare centre has been fined $14,000 after a child in their care suffered serious burns while playing outside.

The girl was just under 18 months old on February 18, 2022 when she was at Cuddles Childcare Centre in the southern Perth suburb of Byford, on a day when the mercury tipped 39C and the UV rating hit 10.1.

A worker at the centre, which has a ‘Sun Safety’ policy, took the child outside to play about 1pm that day without putting shoes or socks on the toddler’s feet. She subsequently suffered second-degree burns on the ball of her foot.

Western Australia’s Department of Communities launched an investigation, finding the matter was an isolated incident caused by failure to adhere to the ‘Sun Safety’ policy.

The worker who took the girl outside had also only been working at the centre for four months, during which time she never had induction training.

The child suffered second-degree burns to the ball of her foot after being allowed to play outside on a 39C day with no shoes or socks on. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

The Department sent the matter to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT), who found the centre violated the Education and Care Services National Law (WA) Act.

SAT documents claim the centre failed to “ensure that every reasonable precaution was taken to protect children being educated and cared for by the service,” and failed to “take reasonable steps to ensure that nominated supervisors and staff members of, and volunteers at, the service follow the policies and procedures.”

SAT ruled the centre to pay $14,000 for breaching the Act, and also pay a further $1500 to the Department to cover legal costs.

Court documents show since the incident, the centre has taken steps to ensure staff have access to online training relating to the sun safety policies.

Signage has also been installed in the facility to remind staff of the policy.