Child left on bus in 31C heat by day-care staff at Capalaba Kids Early Learning Centre in Brisbane
Daycare centers leave a child alone in a hot bus for an hour before notifying parents of the gaffe via email
- South Brisbane nursery sent email to parents
- They said a 2-year-old child was accidentally left unattended on the bus
Parents are outraged after a toddler was left on a bus by daycare staff on a hot 30+ degree day.
Capalaba Kids Early Learning Centre, in Brisbane’s south, sent an email to parents on Thursday to notify them of the incident.
The child, 2, was left unattended on the bus for about an hour during an excursion with temperatures reaching 31.1C in the area.
Parents are outraged after a toddler was left on a bus by daycare staff on a hot 30+ degree day
No ambulance was called because the child appeared unharmed and returned to the facility the following day. brisbane times reported.
The email sent to the parents said staff were “absolutely devastated” and the incident prompted the center to launch an investigation.
Carly Pickett, business manager of the Capalaba Kids Early Learning Center, said all child transportation would be suspended in the meantime.
“We have met with the family this morning and will keep them updated throughout the process,” Ms Pickett wrote.
She said the Early Childhood Education and Care Department has been notified and is also completing their own investigation.
“As you are aware, we have immediately suspended all transportation and excursions while we fully review policies and procedures regarding the transportation of children,” Ms Pickett wrote.
The incident has already led to major changes and more are likely to follow.
“All team members will be retrained on Monday 20 March in all policies, procedures and documentation related to the safe transportation of children to support further quality improvement and continued improvement of health and safety policies,” Ms Pickett wrote.
It is clear that staff are very upset about the matter, although the email did not mention whether any had been suspended while the investigation was being conducted.
The incident comes less than a year after three-year-old Neveah Austin was left in a daycare bus for six hours on a hot day in May 2022.
She was airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane in serious condition to undergo a brain scan and be treated for kidney failure.
Neveah has since recovered.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Capalaba Kids Early Learning Center for comment.
No ambulance was called as the child appeared unharmed and returned to the facility the next day (stock image)