GEORGE NEWS - Four children at the Happy Feet Crèche in Parkdene were recently asked not to come back, as it was allegedly illegal for them to attend because of their age.
The crèche, which is run by Life Community Services, told the parents that their children's presence at the crèche is in contravention of the Children's Act 38 of 2005 and compromise the safety of these younger children.
The parents of these two-year-olds were told that 9 March would, unfortunately, be the children's last day.
These mothers were beside themselves with anger, confusion and disbelief.
They told George Herald that when they enrolled their children, they did not hide the fact that their children were only two years old, because the birth certificates had to be attached to the enrolment document.
They were however assured that age is not a problem, as long as their children are potty trained, which means they no longer wear nappies. They also chose this crèche because the children would be taught both English and Afrikaans.
They told George Herald it is important to them that their children are multi-lingual. For some of the parents who complained to the paper, the problem was resolved when their children turned three and could remain, and those turning three in the second term can return.
Maryna de Vries, the CEO of Life Communities, says they were not aware that incorrect information was given during enrolments or that lies were told during the process. De Vries explains that after an unrelated incident at the school, the manager had quit.
They then appointed an admin lady who showed promise to help with the day-to-day duties. This woman, who has since been dismissed, was the one who gave parents the wrong information.
"When we found out, it took us about a month to sort out the mess she had made. She was dismissed immediately, and then we tried to put it right.
"Some of the parents took offence with the phone calls to explain this, so we called a meeting. In fact, we had meetings on four nights in January, where we explained the situation to the parents."
De Vries says she also gave the parents five options for alternative facilities and the parents who had paid up front were fully refunded. "We also told them to come and collect all the stationery they bought for their child."
For one parent, the school's efforts to correct the situation was not enough. She resorted to name-calling, according to De Vries, and then involved two community leaders. She apparently also got a group of women together to protest outside the crèche.
This was the last straw for De Vries, who says her staff warned her that these women were apparently threatening to beat her up.
"We were considering to take back her child once the child turned three, but after what she had said, I told her the deal is off."
De Vries says she even contacted the department of social development to gain permission to allow the four children to stay. She was told that they had to adhere to the age group on their compliance certificate, or parents could take legal action against the facility if anything happened to their young child.
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