Childcare centre forced to close after recording 126 breaches

Jenny's Kindergarten and Early Learning Centre in Bathurst has been forced to close after accumulating 126 safety breaches over a 12-year period. The independent regulator, the NSW Early Learning Commission, announced the permanent closure on October 13 due to ongoing non-compliance and safety risks. The centre, owned by C & J Corporation Pty Ltd, received a two-week notice before the decision to cancel its operating approval.

Since its opening in 2014, the centre has faced 14 visits from authorized regulators, resulting in 41 compliance actions and the confirmed 126 breaches. In March 2025, an investigation was initiated following three children fleeing the premises and being seen near a road by a passer-by. While there is no evidence of direct harm to any child, the regulator remains concerned about the persistent non-compliance that has led to this decision.

Commissioner Daryl Currie emphasized that the safety and wellbeing of children is the highest priority and that the centre's recurring non-compliance left no room for alternative actions. Families will be supported in finding alternative childcare options, and the regulator will conduct unannounced visits and compliance checks until the centre's closure. The provider was fined $9,240 in August for breaches involving the premises, unsafe furniture and equipment, and exposed electrical cords.