Story House Early Learning Windsor

This is a review for the Kindergarten Mirri room at Story House, Windsor. Let me first state that the ACECQA Exceeding Expectations label was received by this centre in 2019. It is used liberally in advertising, but truth be told this facility leaves much to be desired. Having put my son in 4 daycares before this one in different parts of Queensland, I've never had an issue getting an update on what he ate for the day. This was especially important to us being vegetarians. When asked what the policy was to ensure no cross contamination, I was repeatedly told "we've never had accidents". Within a month, my child had a non vegetarian meal and no one could verify if it happened or not. It hurt me as a parent immensely as I had been afraid of this very thing from the start and had voiced it numerous times only to be ignored. My husband and I had a sitdown and the manager nodded along to do better. But that was the first sign: a daycare that doesn't understand the adage that it is better to be safe than sorry is not one that can be trusted. Despite agreeing to update on Storypark what my son had for lunch - who only attends 3 days a week - I have had to beg for this information at least 6 times in 5 months. In person, over the phone, via email. The final nail in the coffin though, was when I asked the educator in the room for an update on my son - a reasonable request by a fee paying parent, right? What I was told was my son was too quiet, doing his own thing and never reached out so even they didn't know. I was told he hadn't formed trusting relationships with the adults in the room but was fine with peers . This was told to me as "a matter of concern" and I was told to get his hearing checked, due to him being unresponsive. Putting the onus on a 3.5yo to feel comfortable with his teachers felt incredibly lazy to me. We rely on teachers to bring out the best in a child and work with their strengths, which was clearly not the case here. Still, I took this ECT's feedback, and got my son assessed. The GP said he was perfectly fine and slowly my son revealed he didn't speak to the teachers because they were busy. I have good reason to believe my son was discriminated against, for no fault of his, except that he was introverted/quiet. The teacher didnt take him to Bush Kinder outings, didn't include his artwork near the entrance, never had pictures of him doing art work in Storypark - he would always be by himself in the sandpit. I didn't raise any of this trusting the teacher was dividing her time and working with each child. On his last day, when I asked for a copy of his work in the last six months, I was given nothing. Zero evidence of any work for six months at a centre when you pay $180 a day is ridiculous and also speaks to the callous nature of the ECT, who is so sure her disregard and incompetence will be protected by upper management. She didn't say goodbye, no best of luck, nothing. She knew we were leaving 2 weeks ahead of time. How toxic of an educator to behave this way to a 3.5 year old? How neglected and unsafe my child must have felt if this is the way she behaved in my presence with my child? No wonder he never approached her. As a general observation too, most teachers in the room don't greet kids, make them feel welcome, or show a nurturing spirit. They're disengaged and busy. This review is to affirm any parent whose gut is saying something is off with this centre. If your child is quiet, an introvert and if you as a parent seek some transparency and clarity on what you are paying for, avoid this centre at all costs. There is no way a pre prep child can thrive in such an environment.