Le Smiley’s Early Learning Centre, where Nevaeh Austin was found in a van after almost 6 hours inside it, set to reopen on May 16

It has been revealed when the Gracemere early learning centre at the centre of an investigation is set to reopen after police last week declared it a crime scene. Full details here.

Le Smiley’s Early Learning Centre is set to reopen on May 16 as the family of a three-year-old girl demands answers to why she was left on a bus there for almost six hours last Wednesday.

Gracemere girl Nevaeh Austin was found unresponsive and rushed to Rockhampton Hospital in a critical condition and then flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Defying the odds of a five to 10 per cent chance of survival, Nevaeh pulled through and began breathing on her own last week.

Nevaeh Austin at Queensland Children's Hospital.

In a huge positive, her family says she is now “out of the woods”.

Last Wednesday, police declared the van which Nevaeh was found in and the child care centre a crime scene.

The centre was not allowed to operate until police released it.

The van was parked at the entrance of the centre, next to the gate where families and staff enter and leave.

Police crews investigating the scene.

On the afternoon of the incident, a police investigator spent hours taking photographs inside and outside of the van.

The van was removed from the centre driveway on Friday and police tape that was previously blocking the entrance was taken down.

Police confirmed the crime scene was closed just before 2.30pm on Friday and that police investigations were continuing.

Families of children enrolled in care at the Le Smiley’s Early Learning Centre were told on Friday night that the centre would reopen on Monday, May 16.

Nevaeh’s grandmother Pam Parker was shocked as she spoke to The Courier Mail about the news of the centre reopening.

“If I was a parent with a child at that centre or any Le Smiley’s centre I would be finding another provider as soon as possible, I would never be able to trust them with my child ever again,” she said.

Le Smiley’s has sought legal advice and has not responded to any requests for comment in the media.

“There has been no comment from the centre other than they will no longer offer a pick up, drop off bus service; they haven’t even bothered to contact Sheridan or Shane (Nevaeh’s parents) not even with some sort of apology,” Ms Parker said.

“That’s disgusting.

“I think the Department of Education should take a hard stance on this incident.

“One little boy has lost his life not even two years ago, an overhaul of standards was then put in place by the Department following that incident.”

The car park of the Le Smiley's Early Learning Centre Gracemere was empty on the afternoon of Friday, May 6.

Police tape has been removed from the entrance of the driveway of the Le Smiley's Early Learning Centre.

Previously, parents had been advised the centre was closed for the week (ending Friday, May 7) and all transportation would cease “from this point forward” (as of Thursday, May 6).

All education and care services are required under the Act to keep a compliance log, which must contain any compliance direction or notice issued to the service provider, suspension of service approval and amendment to service approval.

The centre was issued an Emergency Action Notice to “immediately cease the use of all service buses to transport children at all Le Smiley’s services”.

The Le Smiley’s company also owns two other kindergarten services, one based at Waraburra State School Gracemere and one in Rockhampton, which were referred to in the entry to cease transportation.

In April 2019, the Gracemere early learning centre was given an “exceeding quality” rating, which is the highest rating under the national law and regulations.

Comments on all three of the centres Facebook pages have been closed after people took to social media to share their thoughts about the incident.

People have also taken to Google Reviews to have their say.

Pauly Han wrote: “There needs to be legislation to stop this. Alarms need to be fitted in buses that detect movement because of incompetent people like this. This child is somebody’s world. As a mother myself I cried when I heard this awful news.”

Many other people expressed anger and asked how the incident happened.

Originally published as Le Smiley’s Early Learning Centre, where Nevaeh Austin was found in a van after almost 6 hours inside it, set to reopen on May 16