Explorers Early Learning - Nunawading

Last year, my child attended Explorer Kinder in Nunawading, where he unfortunately experienced bullying and physical aggression from other children. I was alarmed to find that the staff did not intervene or even inquire about my child's distress when he was found crying in a corner. Over a three-week period, my child sustained bruises on his face, yet no one informed us about these incidents. When we brought our concerns to the staff, they mentioned we could file an incident report, but this seemed pointless since they hadn’t acknowledged the situation at the time it occurred. My child, who is only 4.5 years old, can describe the events and has identified a specific child who caused him harm, including an incident where he was hurt against a wooden stump. Additionally, during pickups, there was often no staff member available to provide feedback or discuss my child's day. I decided to withdraw my child from the Nunawading center after an incident where he requested rice crackers from a teacher named Winnie, only to be told that snacks would be served in five minutes, with both her and another teacher smirking at his request. As an educator, I believe that even if snacks are not yet ready, responsive and supportive interactions with children are crucial. Such behavior reflects poorly on the environment provided for the children. I regret not sharing this review sooner, but I was preoccupied with finding a more suitable kindergarten for my child. I urge families to carefully consider the environment of any kindergarten before enrolling their children, ensuring it is a safe and nurturing place for them. Management should closely monitor staff behavior, as it sets an important example for the children.