Lulla’s Children and Family Centre, Shepparton deals with hot bus incident
Nursery’s big change after admitting to leaving toddler SIX hours on a sweltering bus – as traumatized staff and parents begin to counsel
- Victorian daycare reportedly abandons toddler on hot bus
- Three-year-old Alyza would have been gone for six hours
- Lulla’s Children and Family Center is investigating the incident
Buses for a busy daycare have been suspended indefinitely after staff reportedly made a near-fatal mistake with a toddler.
Lulla’s Children and Family Center in Shepparton, northern Victoria, is under investigation by police after staff reportedly left three-year-old Alyza on a hot bus after her father tied her up just after 9am on Friday.
She was found almost six hours later, still strapped into her car seat, at 3pm while her mother Skye Seadon received a call shortly after confirming that her daughter had been taken to Goulburn Valley Hospital with heat stress.
The incident has since attracted the attention of Victoria’s Education Department and police after Ms Seadon took to Facebook to express her disgust.
Other immediate changes were also implemented by the nursery, including a break on buses and guidance for staff and families.
Alyza (pictured) was kept indoors with a high fever and dehydration, but was released on Saturday
Skye Seadon (pictured) demanded answers about how it happened, with little Alyza rushed to hospital in Shepparton on Friday
“The center only allows access to children and staff, beyond the gate, to ensure the safety of those who attend each day,” the nursery said.
“A member of staff will greet you at the front of the nursery entrance gate on Edward Street to facilitate check-in on arrival and for collection during the day.”
Ms Seadon aired about the incident on Friday, saying her daughter’s temperature was dangerously high.
“I promise you’ll see me first thing on Monday morning!! Your ineptitude left my three-year-old daughter on the friendly bus all day from 9:15pm to 3pm,” Ms Seadon wrote.
Alyza was put on the nursery bus to Lulla’s Children and Family Center at 9:15am and was found still on the bus six hours later
Lulla’s issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging the situation and confirming that a toddler had spent “an extended period of time on the center bus.”
“Children’s safety is paramount and we are committed to taking all practical measures to protect them from any harm,” the statement said.
Alyza left hospital on Saturday morning after doctors initially said she was severely dehydrated from the ordeal.
“How can you leave a child in a friendly bus, how do you forget, for example?” Ms Seadon told 9news.
The center was closed Monday for Victoria’s Labor Day holiday, but reopened on Tuesday.
Other agencies are involved in the investigation of the center to ensure accuracy and results are “executed immediately,” according to a statement from Lulla’s.
“The affected staff and family have been advised to support them through this process,” the statement said.
Lulla’s released a statement acknowledging that ‘a three-year-old toddler spends an extended amount of time on the center bus’