My daughter has been at this centre for 18 months, since she was just over a year old, and our experience has really changed for the better in the last two months under new management.
I won't pretend the journey here was smooth. The previous management could be standoffish, and it felt genuinely uncomfortable raising concerns, especially when I raised one about infection control, which is a huge thing for our family as we have someone who is immunocompromised. When I repeatedly raised concerns about bite marks on my daughter, they were brushed off until I put in a formal written complaint, and when it was finally addressed, the explanation left me with real questions about supervision. The centre often didn't feel welcoming, and we stayed mostly because of the close bond our daughter had formed with another child, while watching good staff leave one after another made us second-guess our decision constantly.
Since Antonia took over, it's been a breath of fresh air. When an incident involving my daughter and her best friend left us with two conflicting stories, Antonia responded immediately to the email I sent with a phone call, explained clearly what had happened, apologised upfront for the confusion, and gave us a real plan to stop it happening again, something we'd never experienced before. Staff and family turnover has continued to be a challenge since her commencement, but she's been warm and honest discussing it with us, with genuine plans for consistency, including more incursions and excursions to make the centre a place the kids actually look forward to come. It hasn't helped that some of the educators, who were really loved by my daughter suggesting that people should leave, I truly think it should be the opposite.
We're also really excited to see the educators who have stayed continuing on, as we can genuinely see how good they are with the children and how much they care. Antonia has also refreshed the room set-up to create new moments and experiences for the kids, something that hadn't happened all year, and it's made a real difference.
What's meant the most to me, though, is how she is with my daughter, who has some really hard drop-offs. Antonia listens to my suggestions for little distractions to help ease the goodbyes, and takes them on board. That kind of attentiveness to one small, anxious about separation, but truly out there once I am gone two-and-a-half-year-old says a lot.
We're feeling genuinely confident and hopeful about staying, and grateful for the change in direction.
Response from the owner:Shannon, thank you for taking the time to share such honest and thoughtful feedback. We truly appreciate your openness about both the challenges you've experienced and the positive changes you've seen in recent months. It's wonderful to hear that Antonia's communication, transparency and genuine care have helped rebuild your confidence and made such a meaningful difference for both you and your daughter. We're also pleased to know the refreshed learning environments, plans for new experiences and the dedication of our educators are having a positive impact. Your comments are incredibly valuable, and we're grateful for your continued trust as we work to create the welcoming, consistent and nurturing environment every child and family deserves.
