Childcare staff abused by parents for sending kids home due to heat
By Louise Walsh
The owner of a childcare centre has revealed that her staff were verbally abused by a number of parents after the facility had to send children home due to the sweltering temperatures.
Smart Start Playschool and Afterschool service had to contact parents to collect their children last Thursday after class temperatures climbed to 25 degrees.
Health and safety guidelines state that the temperatures in a room for children over the age of one should be between 18 and 22 degrees.
Owner of the facility in Drogheda, Co Louth, Denise Lynch said in a social media post that 'abusive or disrespectful' behaviour would not be tolerated.
The post said: "We understand that it is inconvenient to be asked to collect your child due to the current heat. However, the health, safety and wellbeing of the children in our care must always come first, and these decisions are made in their best interests.
"While we appreciate that this may cause disruption, we will not tolerate any member of our staff being spoken to in an abusive or disrespectful manner. Our team is simply following procedures to ensure the safety and welfare of every child.
"If you have any concerns or wish to discuss a decision, please contact me directly. However, I ask that our staff be treated with the respect and courtesy they deserve."
The facility was not the only one in Drogheda to have to close last Thursday, as five others also closed their doors, according to Denise who provides services to a total of 110 children from the age of two years, in the playschool and afterschool services.
"The temperatures climbed to 25 degrees on Thursday morning, and the Louth Co Childcare services gave us the go-ahead to close because the rooms were too hot for the children," she said.
"We have fans going, and I even bought paddling pools, but we had to decide to close. A small number of parents were abrupt and rude to my staff about having to collect their children, which I won't take.
"We didn't close to go to the beach, we closed for the safety of the children, and we obviously lost money because of closing too."
Denise, who has worked in childcare for over 23 years, is in the process of having air conditioners fitted in the classrooms now, which will cost her an estimated €30,000
"We are constantly reinvesting in the facilities here, both inside and outside, to ensure the best and safest experience for the children. Last week, there was no need for rudeness.
"I know five other similar facilities in the town also had to close due to the heat. The air conditioning will mean this won't happen again, but I ask all parents to have a bit of respect towards my staff who do the utmost for their children.
