Early childhood education expert calls for more training after Adelaide childcare centre staff sacked over child head tapping

Issues revealed at a Klemzig childcare centre that prompted the sacking of staff could have been prevented with a simple fix, an expert says.

Training standards for early childhood workers should be raised to avoid the “preventable” issues of inappropriate images and discipline reported at a Klemzig childcare centre, an expert says.

An investigation into inappropriate discipline practices at the Little Shining Stars Early Learning Centre site resulted in the sacking of three female staff members for tapping children on the head in an attempt to calm them down before sleep.

Authorised officers then discovered “nappy rash” photos of children stored on-site.

It was determined the photos were a misguided attempt to show pre-existing rashes and injuries and no criminal charges were filed.

UniSA early childhood education expert associate professor Lesley-Anne Ey said inappropriate behaviour often stemmed from “a lack of training”.

UniSA early childhood expert Professor Lesley-Anne Ey. Picture: Supplied.

Prof Ey is calling for a federal government inquiry into training for childcare workers.

“The things that are occurring in these childcare centres are preventable and we’re just not doing enough,” Prof Ey said.

“We’re still not taking seriously enough the importance of early childhood and how it structures the brain.”

She advocated for anyone in the early childhood education and care industry to have “at least two years of training”.

Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority data revealed Little Shining Stars Klemzig had a rating of “working towards national quality standards” for children’s health and safety.

However the service had an overall rating of “meeting national quality standards” when taking into account other factors such as educational programs, physical environment and staffing arrangements.

Little Shining Stars Early Learning Centre in Klemzig came under scrutiny for inappropriate discipline and photos of children. Picture: Kelly Barnes

It is understood Little Shining Stars was complying with staffing requirements including correct qualifications and staffing levels.

Currently, early childhood educators and volunteers must, at a minimum, complete “responding to risks of harm, abuse and neglect” training, in addition to relevant history screening.

Prof Ey argued protective practices courses, which teach educators about behaviours that are permissible and inappropriate, should be part of mandatory training.

“It’s things like having children on your laps, not using children’s toilets for your own need … not buying children things, not going to children’s birthday parties,” she said.

“Some of those behaviours, the naive person who hasn’t been trained, they wouldn’t see anything wrong with that.”

In response to the workers tapping children on the head to get them to sleep, Prof Ey said she had “never heard of any such practice being evidenced or effective in any way”.

“I’ve heard of swaddling to help children feel safe and secure and calm but I cannot see why childcare workers would be doing that (tapping on the head),” Prof Ey said.

“It’s not an evidence-based practice that anyone would teach.”

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said child safety training was a priority. Picture: Jason Edwards / NewsWire

Education Minister Blair Boyer said he would put training improvements “on the agenda” at a meeting with his state, territory and federal counterparts next month. Picture: Keryn Stevens

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said he would introduce new laws to cut funding to childcare centres that “aren’t up to scratch” when parliament returns this month.

Mr Clare, along with his state and territory counterparts, were unanimous in viewing child safety training as a priority in the June education ministers’ meeting.

The revelations at Little Shining Stars had prompted SA Education Minister Blair Boyer to commit to “put training improvements on the agenda” at next month’s meeting.

Originally published as Early childhood education expert calls for more training after Adelaide childcare centre staff sacked over child head tapping