Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre in court over death of Kaleb Wade

Whimsically named the Bumble Bee room, a quiet space in a childcare centre became the backdrop for a tragedy which devastated a two-year-old’s family and landed the business in court.

The Little Gems daycare centre at Maryborough. PHOTO: Google Maps

For up to 15 minutes a two-year-old boy was unsupervised as he drifted into a sleep from which he would never wake, court documents allege.

A Maryborough daycare centre has been charged over the death Kaleb Wade who tragically passed in its care in July, 2022.

KB Child Care and Early Learning Pty Ltd, trading as Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre, faces two charges of failing to adequately supervise children.

The case was mentioned in Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

According to court documents, the charges relate to the sudden death of Kaleb, who was found unresponsive at the centre on Saltwater Creek Rd on July 20, 2022, after going down for a nap.

The court documents claim that on the day of his death, Kaleb was allocated to the Bumble Bee room at Little Gems, which was split into a space for sleeping and a space for activities.

The sleep and rest policy stated that approved providers and supervisors had to take reasonable steps to ensure the needs for sleep and rest of the children being educated and cared for by the service were properly met.

That included ensuring sleeping children were always within sight and hearing distance so that educators could assess their breathing and skin colour.

Little Kaleb Wade died at the daycare centre.

Pamela Saltmer was the lead educator in the Bumble Bee room on the day Kaleb died, according to the court documents.

Fellow educators Rebecca Mathieson, April Mundy, Cassandra Elliott and Helen Madsen were also working at the centre that day.

None of the educators has been charged.

About 12 noon, children in the room, including Kaleb, were put to bed on the sleeping side and Ms Elliott went for lunch.

There were three educators in the room, rotating between 12 noon and 2pm.

Between about 2pm and 2.15pm, according to court documents, the educators were on the activity side of the room, and during that time there was no supervisor in the sleeping side of the room.

KB Child Care and Early Learning Pty Ltd, trading as Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre, had two charges of failing to adequately supervise children mentioned before Maryborough Magistrates Court on Monday.

About 2.15pm, Ms Elliot was asked by Ms Saltmer to turn on the lights in the sleeping side.

Ms Elliott found Kaleb face down on the bed and unresponsive, the court documents read.

According to the documents, at that time no part of Kaleb’s skin was visible

It will be alleged the children were not adequately supervised at that time because there was no educator in the sleeping side of the room.

In addition, it will be alleged that Ms Saltmer put Kaleb to bed with his hat on.

Kaleb was also allegedly wearing a hooded jumper at the time of his death.

According to court documents, the centre followed the Red Nose policy for safe sleeping, which included keeping the child’s head and face uncovered.

Leaving the child with a hat on and wearing a hooded jacket while he slept was identified by the court documents as having the potential to cause harm.

The matter was adjourned until October 21, 2024.

Originally published as Little Gems Child Care and Early Learning Centre in court over death of Kaleb Wade