Spring Kids Early Learning Centre Springvale South

recently completed a placement at this centre as a graduate student, and what I witnessed was deeply concerning. The environment is extremely unhygienic — there is no regular cleaning, and cleanliness is clearly not a priority. The work culture is toxic, with management often acting in a questionable and unprofessional manner. Many staff members are unqualified, with some unable to fill out basic incident forms or communicate effectively in English. The centre is consistently understaffed, which directly compromises the safety of the children. I witnessed multiple situations where children were at risk of accidents due to a lack of supervision. The food situation is also heartbreaking — children are not provided with enough food, and what is offered lacks proper nutritional value. There is a culture of fear among staff and students. Speaking up about any of these issues often results in punishment, such as losing shifts or failing placements. It’s also alarming that the management pressures staff to leave fake 5-star reviews online. In some cases, families are even offered discounts in exchange for positive reviews. Many staff participate in this unwillingly due to fear of retaliation. This is not a safe or suitable environment for young children. As a reminder, the proper staff-to-child ratio should be 1:4 for children under 3 years old and 1:11 for those over 3. If a centre is not meeting these standards, parents have every right to report the situation to the Department of Education or the relevant regulatory body. I strongly advise parents to consider these issues seriously before enrolling their children at this centre.