A daycare in Westport, Ont., has been shut down after serious allegations of child abuse. The Ministry of Education launched an investigation into Westport Daycare on May 29 after a complaint about safety concerns.
An inspection report found several troubling incidents, including staff holding children down on cots, force-feeding, grabbing children, and withholding food as punishment. Four individuals, including licensee Wanda Seward, were named in the report.
Educators told the ministry they were instructed to keep children on their cots, even if that meant using physical force. The report also mentioned children being left unsupervised and staff swearing or yelling in front of them.
The daycare had 32 children under the age of 13 at the time. A protection order was issued on May 30, and the centre was forced to close immediately. The licence has been suspended. The daycare says it is fully cooperating and denies the allegations.
