Wow, they loose your child and offer a $7 discount to make up for it

[daydream**believer]

A GOLD Coast mother is outraged that staff at a childcare centre lost her five-year-old son, then offered her $7 discount by way of apology.
Read more: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/gold-coast-mum-offered-7-discount-after-childcare-centre-...

WTF? Honestly, they would of been better off just giving the apology. Not billing her for the afternoon should of just been a given

[azureline**]

It was an hour, they lied and said 5 minutes, they should have known he was missing.

[azureline**]

That is disappointing Em, very unfair on you.

My grandchild is a "runner" but so far he has not been lost from school, daycare nor afternoon school care....... they are aware he is a runner and they take steps to make sure he is there.

[2106greencat]

You can call the police immediately - there is no time frame attached to a missing child the way there is with an adult.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I wasn't thinking of the police time frame, I just wondered how long a reasonable amount of time to search would be before going further. 

[azureline**]

Since they didn't know he was missing until the mum arrived it is irrelevant anyway?

[daydream**believer]

Well, we can't let the facts get in the way of a good story, can we??

She wasn't "offered a $7 discount", she was contacted by the regional manager who apologised to her and told she would not be billed for the afternoon.  Yes, to some a given, but as the child obviously wasn't looked after, I think it needed to be made clear she wouldn't be charged.

I'm not defending the actions of the carers who lost the child, that is simply appaling, but often, so is the media beat up about it.

Just my two cents

Precious :-x

A beat up?? He went missing for an hour. He had crossed roads. He was 2km away from the school. Its a bit more than just "as the child obviously wasn't looked after, I think it needed to be made clear she wouldn't be charged".

As for the use of the word "discount", well if she uses the childcare daily, then she has probably paid in advance (thats how it works at my kids school), so not billing her for that day would require either a refund or a $7 discount on her next payment.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

It might be handy to know if it happens again. 🙂 

I've never had anything to do with after school care so am curious about what level of care is given. I also wondered what their staff ratio is per child because $7 for 2 hours still seems cheaper than I would expect, so maybe you get what you pay for. ?:|

(NOT that that justifies losing a child and not noticing!)

[daydream**believer]

Another article on the story

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/05/16/11/06/mum-offered-discount-after-child-care-lost-her-son

[daydream**believer]

Our Out of Hours School Care (OSCH) caters for primary school aged children from Reception to Year 7.

Before School Care from 7.30 am

After School Care until 6.00 pm

Vacation Care 7.30am - 6.00pm

Im not sure how many kids to carers there is

[azureline**]

I believe it is based on the hours they use it for, more $ for less hours but less $ for more hours? if he goes every day it would be cheaper rate.