Four-year-old Brooke and her mother Hayley Steer who is angry about her daughter finding her way into a busy car park when she should have been in the safe confines of Brentwood Park Preschool. Picture: Stewart Chambers.
By Callan Date
A NARRE WARREN couple is furious after their four-year-old autistic daughter was left to wander out of her Berwick preschool and into a busy car park last Monday.
Brad Steer could hardly believe his eyes when he went to pick up Brooke from Brentwood Park Preschool last week and found her wandering outside by herself.
Mr Steer and his wife Hayley said they were shocked and scared that Brooke had been able to slip past two teachers at the preschool and end up only metres from busy Bemersyde Drive.
Ms Steer said her daughter has no road awareness and was lucky to not have been hit by a car. The worried parent was also concerned a stranger could have taken Brooke while she was outside the preschool.
“When Brad went to pick her up he saw her running up and down the car park and he couldn’t believe what he was seeing,” Ms Steer said.
Mr Steer quickly grabbed his daughter and then approached the two teachers who were responsible for the safety of Brooke.
“They didn’t know what had happened and just told Brad that she had had a great day.”
The concerned parent said there had been no perimeter fence at the preschool since the start of term two when council had ripped it down amidst safety concerns regarding its stability.
“I made a complaint about a month ago to council but I was told it was a DHS (Department of Human Services) issue and they would look at it.”
Brooke attends a morning session at the Berwick preschool and has the assistance of an extra carer provided by Casey Council who helps look after her special needs.
Ms Steer said the extra assistant has to leave 15 minutes early every Monday and this was when Brooke had somehow managed to make her way out the front door of the preschool.
“They really need to provide an extra person for that 15 minute gap when there is only two carers.”
Casey Council is responsible for overseeing the operation of Brentwood Park Preschool and community services director Jennie Lee offered a prepared statement in relation to the four-year-old ending up in the car park.
“The City of Casey was advised of the incident and all reporting procedures regarding the incident were followed. We can also confirm that our checking processes are constantly reviewed and are thorough,” Ms Lee said.
She said the matter is currently being investigated by the DHS and Casey Council is awaiting their response.
“To assist with supervision the additional assistant’s hours have been increased to cover the entire preschool session.”
Ms Lee added council had noted Ms Steer’s concern regarding the lack of fencing at the preschool but said no external fences are required under the Children’s Services Regulations.
