Orchard Early Learning Centre - Kirrawee

Our journey at Orchard Kirrawee looked promising - it seemed like a bright, open centre with ample outdoor space. However, my initial optimism quickly turned to disappointment over the months due to administrative neglect and indifference toward the well-being of the children. While the quality of food was excellent and the outdoor area is lovely, it's the only positive aspect I can commend. Some staff members appeared disengaged during pick-up times, neglecting visibly upset children. The exception was Miss Justine, who stood out as caring, kind, and approachable every time. Moreover, my child's demeanor at drop-off became increasingly unhappy, raising concerns. It's worth noting that I'm not the only parent with such concerns, as echoed in other reviews. Updates and photos of activities were infrequent, and an incident where my child hurt herself wasn’t notified to me in the app until months later. The lack of follow-up on unread or unsigned notifications is unsettling. Despite submitting a departure form for my child in December 2023, specifying her last day of attendance to be at the start of February 2024 - which was confirmed by the centre, I was dismayed to find continued charges for care weeks after her departure. The center claimed they had not received the departure form, despite evidence of its submission. I had to resubmit it as “they had no record of it.” This oversight not only caused financial inconvenience but also potentially jeopardised my Child Care Subsidy payments with the new centre we moved her to. Childcare centers should efficiently manage administrative tasks and provide a nurturing environment for children. I strongly caution against entrusting your child's care to Orchard Kirrawee. I suggest parents to explore alternative childcare options that prioritise professionalism, accountability, and genuine care for children's well-being. Since moving my child to a different centre, she is now happy and eager to attend. EDITED TO ADD: I appreciate your response and your acknowledgment of the situation. As a parent, I diligently followed your policies and procedures, including submitting the departure form in early December 2023, well in advance of my child's last day of attendance in February 2024. It is disheartening to hear that despite my adherence to your protocols, there were issues on your end that led to unnecessary delays and financial pressure for our family. Please understand that I cannot be held responsible for errors made by your business, and I urge you to recognise that while policies are in place, it is equally important for your Orchard to uphold them with integrity and efficiency. The experiences I and other parents have encountered highlight a significant gap in the delivery of your services, particularly in terms of professionalism and accountability. While I understand that administrative processes can sometimes take time, I must emphasise that my frustration stems not only from the delay in receiving my bond AND fees deducted due to an error on your part of approximately $690 back, but also from the multiple discrepancies and careless handling of administrative matters including private and sensitive information. It is a shame I had to involve external parties such as the Department of Education and Fair Trading to intervene. Moving forward, I hope that you take this feedback seriously and implement measures to improve your administrative procedures and customer communication. Parents entrust their children to your care with the expectation of reliability and transparency, qualities that have been lacking in interactions with Orchard Kirrawee.