Warning: This story contains graphic images.
A concerned mother plans to lay a formal complaint against an early childhood education centre in Manawatu that's facing a raft of serious allegations.
Pitter Patter Education Centre in Feilding is under investigation following multiple complaints spanning at least five years, including claims misbehaving toddlers were smacked and locked in rooms.
This particular education centre doesn't have a connection to Auckland centres with the same name.
The centre had its licence suspended for three weeks in November while the Ministry of Education conducted an investigation, although it hasn't confirmed what the complaints are. It has since reopened, although the investigation is continuing.
The mother, who has asked to remain anonymous, pulled her son out of the centre in June.
She says she first became concerned following an incident last year.
"I got a phone call telling me to come pick him up, that he'd hurt himself," she says. "His jacket, his jersey, his hands were covered in blood."
She says she picked up her son whose hand was bloody and bruised and wrapped only in a fabric rag.
"When the doctor saw him, he said that it looked more like a crushing injury."
Her concern grew after her son brought his muesli bar home with teeth marks in it.
"His muesli bar had not been opened for him, and it looked like he had attempted to eat through the plastic in order to get to the muesli bar … like, you trust them."
She plans to lay a formal complaint with the Ministry of Education - but the centre's community is shocked and divided about the allegations.
Newshub has spoken to parents and caregivers of children at Pitter Patter Education Centre.
One mother, who didn't want to go on camera, said her family only ever had a positive experience there. Another said her nephew was being kept home for the day until the family had more information.
After a three-week closure, the centre was able to reopen this week. The Ministry of Education says it met the conditions placed on its suspension.
"The ministry wouldn't have taken that step to allow the centre to reopen unless they were satisfied children were safe and going to be okay," Early Childhood Council CEO Peter Reynolds says.
Pitter Patter Education Centre - run by manager Pauline Murphy - did not respond to Newshub's multiple requests for comment.
The Ministry of Education will visit the centre next month as their investigation continues.
