Video: Minister On Closure Of Daycare Facility
[Updated] Minister of Social Development and Sports Michael Weeks is holding a press conference this afternoon [Oct 30], with the Ministry saying the press conference is “regarding an incident involving a daycare facility.” We will have additional coverage later on and in the meantime the live video is below.
Update: The live broadcast has concluded and the 8-minute replay is below
Update 4.55pm: Minister Weeks said, “You will be aware of a recent incident whereby a 12-month-old boy was admitted to the King Edward Memorial Hospital on Friday, October 26 with a head injury, with the baby subsequently flown overseas on Saturday, October 27 for medical treatment.
“Initial inquiries into the matter lead the Department of Child and Family Services, who first reported the incident to police, to make recommendations for the closure of the daycare facility where the child is enrolled.
“I’m here to inform the public that, using my power under the Children Act 1998, a letter has been hand-delivered today to the nursery involved to inform them that they are to cease operations until the completion of a police investigation.”
“The Department of Child and Family Services takes these matters extremely seriously; the safety of our children is always our main priority. A letter will be issued to all parents this evening indicating the closure as well as providing a listing of alternative registered daycare facilities.
“This will affect 29 children currently enrolled at the daycare facility. We are very concerned with the condition of the child and our last medical update indicated that his condition had improved.”
The Minister did not name the facility, and said that while they have not determined yet if the baby’s injury occurred at school or at home, it is “better to err on the side of caution.”
Initial inquiries into the matter lead the Department of Child and Family Services, who first reported the incident to police, to make recommendations for the closure of the daycare facility where the child is enrolled.
The Minister did not name the facility, and said that while they have not determined yet if the baby’s injury occurred at school or at home, it is “better to err on the side of caution.”
… I fully support the utmost safety for all children and seniors but the statements above do not correlate. You erred on the side of caution even though you don’t know where the incident occurred….
I don’t understand how they close this daycare for investigation when they aren’t sure the child was injured at school when 3 friggin toddlers got out and into a construction sit from the other joint and they weren’t even closed a day!!
Why would they protect the name of the daycare facility, when 29 children’s health is at stake?
BECAUSE THEY HAVEN’T DETERMINED WHO’S AT FAULT! WHY SLANDER THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL IF THEY ARE POTENTIALLY NOT THE ISSUE?
Your caps lock is on
Yet the the school is closed without determination of fault. Something is not right here.
Wow, we have care givers hitting the elderley and now we have an investigation at a day care centre.
It is regrettable and most sad. Knowing Minister Weeks and the police services, they will get to the bottom of this rather sad and heart-wrenching incident.
PRAYERS for the toddler’s family!!