Oakhaul Pty Ltd directon Therese James who runs Little Champions Child Care at Oakey has case mentioned in Toowoomba Magistrates Court

The director of childcare company that runs a childcare centre has appeared in a Toowoomba court. See why here.

The director of a local childcare centre, which has been charged with a number of alleged breaches, has appeared before Toowoomba Magistrates Court.

Therese James, director of Oakhaul Pty Ltd which is listed as the provider of Little Champions Child Care in Oakey, sat quietly beside her lawyer Andrew Taylor, of Groom and Lavers Solicitors, during the brief mention of the matters in court.

Oakhaul Pty Ltd has been charged with a total 31 matters which include:

• three counts of failing to protect children from harm and/or hazard likely to cause injury,

• five counts of ensuring premises, furniture and equipment to be safe, clean and in good repair,

• 11 counts of failure to take reasonable steps to ensure documents are accurate,

• two of failing to comply with a compliance notice within period specified in notice,

• two of failing to comply with the conditions of a service approval held by the approved provider, ensuring outdoor space is enclosed by a fence or barrier that children preschool age or under cannot go through, over or under, as well as other matters.

The company has not yet been required to enter any pleas to the charges and no details of the allegations have as yet been raised in court.

Mr Taylor told the court the brief of evidence had been received and asked for a six week adjournment so he could go through the brief with his client and brief counsel.

Lawyer Jemima Crockford, of McCullough Robertson Lawyers, on behalf of the complainant, the Department of Education, appeared by phone and told the court the adjournment was by consent.

Magistrate Clare Kelly therefore remanded Ms James on bail and adjourned the matters for mention back in the same court on March 10.