Guardian Childcare & Education Langwarrin North

I am writing this review to express my extreme disappointment with the Guardian Childcare and Education Centre in Langwarrin North. Our family recently faced a refusal to enrol our three year old son, which has been not only deeply upsetting but also a clear violation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. On December 10th 2024, I contacted the centre to inquire about enrolment for my son. I spoke with the acting director, Kelly, who confirmed there was availability every day of the week, as the centre had only opened in July. I informed Kelly that my son has a genetic condition that required two open heart surgeries, one as a newborn and another in 2023. I also emphasised that my son does not require specialised care, his needs are no more complex than those of a child with asthma for example. My son is slightly delayed developmentally, small in stature, and does not yet speak in full sentences. However, his care needs are no different than those of any other child in your service, and he has been attending mainstream daycare for over a year without issue or the need for any additional support. I was advised to book a tour online, so on December 12th 2024, my grandmother who is a retired kindergarten teacher attended the tour on my behalf, as I live in Geelong, two hours away. Afterward, my grandmother reported that while the centre seemed suitable, the staff member conducting the tour, Shelley (the Education Lead), was rude and unwelcoming. Shelley’s attitude only changed after my grandmother mentioned her own background in childcare. Despite this, Shelley still withheld important information about the centre when my grandmother asked questions. A few hours later, I called the centre to discuss further details about booking a tour for myself and my son, as well as his potential enrolment. To my shock, I was informed that despite the centre having full availability, they had consulted with head office and decided not to accept my son for enrolment. They had never met my son and had no direct knowledge of his needs, aside from a brief phone conversation with Kelly on December 10. The reason given was that, as a new centre, they needed to focus on other children, and many of their staff were new to Guardian. This reasoning was unacceptable. If the centre truly cannot accommodate a child with my sons needs which are the same as any other child's, they should not have any available spots for any other child. This refusal to enrol my son is not only upsetting but illegal. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, it is unlawful to deny a child access to education and care services based on a medical condition or disability unless accommodating the child would cause an unjustifiable hardship. Reggie’s needs are no more demanding than those of any other 3 year old child, and they do not require additional resources that would impose undue hardship on the centre. The Act mandates that reasonable adjustments be made to accommodate children with disabilities, and in sons case, this simply means providing him with the same care as any other child. I submitted a formal complaint directly to the head office six days ago, yet I have not received even an acknowledgment or response. This lack of communication is disgraceful. We’ve since found another beautiful local centre that opened around the same time as Guardian Childcare, and they welcomed my son with open arms. I would strongly advise against enrolling your child at Guardian Childcare and Education Centre, especially if they could potentially label your child as "additional needs". The treatment we received was discriminatory, unprofessional, and completely unacceptable. A refusal to enrol a child without even attempting to assess their individual needs, coupled with the lack of any response from head office, is appalling. I hope this review serves as a warning to other parents who expect fairness and respect when seeking care for their children.