Moves by Georges River Council to introduce fixed attendance schedules for children at the Penshurst Long Day Care Centre have been blasted by parents as hurting working families.
Parents were informed by email on August 17 of the changes that they would be forced into a fixed attendance schedule from January 1.
The parents say the rigid attendance policy will force them to either change their working arrangements to fit in or take their children out of the centre.
Janine Robertson, who has been sending her children to the centre since 2011, said the policy suggest that families must either adhere to a full-time enrolment, or have their children attend on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, or on Thursday and Friday.
“They have not provided for any flexibility which until this time has existed at Penshurst Long Day Care Centre and other council centres,” Ms Robertson said.
“There are no options for four days care, or split days which I now use on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.”
“Obviously working commitments, family arrangements, and the needs of working mothers and families are not being put first. Priority seems to be administration and financials.”
Ms Robertson said some parents to have to renegotiate their work contacts to accommodate the changes in attendance schedules.
“They are working against their own community, have provided no consultation opportunities and are forcing families into a position that we are unable to meet our child care needs, despite having current enrollments,” she said.
She said the changes will force many families to find somewhere else.
“Obtaining a placement and arranging child care is difficult and stressful. Families have now been placed in an ultimately unmanageable situation.
“The council appears to be pushing forward with their agenda to get this locked in before the council elections.
“They have now allowed for an extension to the date for families who have objected, to mid 2018. This is of no use, as obtaining a mid year enrolment will be just as difficult as obtaining one for January.”
Parent Claire Gollege said the families who have an existing relationship with the centre have planned their work, study and financial futures around the existing arrangements continuing as they were never given any indication these arrangements were at risk or even under consideration.
“We cannot emphasise how much stress, distress and uncertainty this change is presenting to families,” she said.
“We have communicated with all candidates at the upcoming election and have found no support for the change amongst those candidates and we have letters of support from both the ALP and Liberal party who are concerned that the shift is anti-family and anti-community.
“We are especially concerned at the attempt to rush these changes through before the Council election on September 9.”
She said parents are calling on the council to immediately review and reverse the decision.
Parent Rachel Hellyer, whose daughter, Tessa, two, attends the centre said many parents will be forced to take their children out of the centre.
“I job share and work particular days so I can’t change the days I work,” she said.
Penshurst Long Day Care Centre
A Georges River Council spokeswoman said to ensure that the council can continue to provide child care services within the Georges River local government area into the future, those services need to be operated in a financially viable manner.
“Council remains committed to providing a service that is financially sustainable for ratepayers and offers excellent quality and is affordable for all families.
“In order to maintain a financially viable service, a review of the number of single non-sequential vacancies was undertaken at three of Council’s centres. The outcome of this review revealed that the number of days vacant was economically unsustainable, as the number of non-sequential single day vacancies was more than 360 per month.
“This results in more than 4,300 vacant days per year, equivalent to a loss in revenue of more than $430,000 per year across the three centres.
“As a result of this review, Council intends to introduce services arrangements that provide for three-days, two-days or five-days of consecutive care.
“Council is aware of the inconvenience that the change in the service arrangements may cause to some families and has therefore provided 12 months’ notice of the intended change. The change will commence from July 1, 2018.
“Senior staff are also working directly with the small number of affected families to ensure that appropriate transitional arrangements are put in place to minimise any impacts that may occur.”
She said the parents could address their concerns to the council’s director culture and community, David Tuxford at DTuxford@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au.
Representatives of the parents hoped to address next Monday night’s council meeting but were told they would not be able to.
“A resolution was passed by council that states because the meeting of council will be held within five days of the upcoming Council Election, speakers will be restricted to only matters on the agenda,” the spokeswoman said.
Oatley MP Mark Coure has called on the council not to proceed with the policy.
"Child care needs to be flexible and meet the needs of local families,” Mr Coure said.
"I have written to Georges River Council urging them to not enforce inflexible enrollment policies that will hurt local working families.
"Local families need and want flexible child care arrangements and the change to the enrollment policy at Penshurst Long Day Care Centre will fail children and their parents".
Mark Coure will hold a community meeting outside the Penshurst Long Day Care Centre at 5 St George Road, Penshurst tomorrow, Saturday at 2pm to 2.30pm.
