Parent launches website to rate caregivers

05 May 2011 06:40p.m.

anon wrote:

I also left my son with Rachel for a couple of days before my gut instinct kicked in and I decided against it (despite my friend leaving her children there also) Rachel was STILL (according to my friends' son) leaving the kids alone (this was after the incident happened and before it hit the news) so she's not only incompetent but lacks integrity, honesty and has a self pity problem. I am disgusted, saddened and quite angry. I paid her GOOD money to look after my son. Rachel, you need to get some counseling. You are not in the right frame of mind to look after your kids and you CERTAINLY shouldn't be looking after other people's kids - shame on you for not telling me and my friend and only caring about the money you received from us. You deserve all the bad press and grief. THAT is your punishment. A year ago I would have really made sure you were sorry but I'm not that kind of person anymore - lucky for you. ps to all you people sticking up for Porse - obviously there are bad and good people in ANY organisation - the ONLY thing of importance here is our children and ensuring the carer is sane, caring and a positive role model.

21 Feb 2011 02:03p.m.

Anon wrote:

That was an excellent story and I thought Campbell raised some good questions about what we call 'Eduators'. I am currently working for a leading home based care company and have been shocked by the companies relaxed attitude to curiculum delivery and responsabilites of so called "edcators". Frankly, I think that they just think that anyone can do what a teacher has spent 3 years training in! I have been so disgustd I am leaving the company and going back to work in schools that recognise teachers for the training they have done. I pray that another incident doesnt happen but would not be surprised with the way the private companies are currently working in NZ.

19 Feb 2011 09:24a.m.

Rachel simons wrote:

I have acknowledged that I made a terrible mistake on the day Caspian was left alone,I had arranged other care which didn't work out&I had left the house because my daughter was ill.
I am desperately sorry,if I could turn back time I would.
I am disgusted that anyone would say i had left children alone before as it is untrue and as for my son changing nappies??!
I have a son with ADD and learning difficulties, I can't get him to tidy his own room let alone do other jobs and although i'm sure he loves his sister he never even plays with her or pays attention to her let alone a strangers baby!.
I would never expect him to look after children! he is 10 years old!
I wish the Gous family the best of everything in the future and I hope the website goes well but that it can go ahead without putting my family in the spotlight constantly.
My children don't deserve this and neither does my partner or the rest of my family.
I went to court to account for the decision i made and the judge took the evidence into account and made a decision also. I wish it could be left at that. I've lost the job I loved,my reputation,my familys' privacy, what more is there?

18 Feb 2011 08:46p.m.

anon wrote:

in responsen to
"My vote is for pre-schools were your carers are trained and are never alone with your child. The children get to do all sorts of great things that are actually structured around their needs - rather than fitting into the day of someone else in their home."
Clearly this comment comes from inexperience with a great in home enducator through porse or any other agency for that matter.all i know is that the educator my son goes to-she fits her day around the needs of the children.the activities my son and the other children do with our educator is AMAZING. Because of Jean (educator) our son is talking way beyond his age, is counting way beyond his age, knows shapes, colours etc all because of the time and effort she puts into teaching the kids. all the kids that go to Jeans are relaxed, well mannered, HAPPY children. To cast a blanket over all in home childcare and say that they don't do great activities and are not structed around the children's needs just is not fair. There are pro's and con's for both in home and centre care,but for me as a working mum (because that's what it takes for my family to survive) and for our family in home child care through a porse educator is working fantastic.

18 Feb 2011 06:59p.m.

Alisha wrote:

And that is why i am a stay home mum at the moment, What put me off is when i went to enroll my son into daycare a teacher had just been suspended for leaving a 4 year old girl out in the rain as punishment. My children are more important to me than money. I would rather be home where i know they are safe.

18 Feb 2011 05:13p.m.

Rochell wrote:

i work under PORSE and i am very angry that one person can give PORSE such a bad name, the families that hire us do that PORSE do not choose the families i am sick to my stomach that someone could be so careless as to leave a child on its own but just because one person did it should not give the rest of us a bad name i have worked under the umbrella for 4 years now and and have never heard of this happening. I am wonderful at my job and love what i do. I am an in home educator and that is what i do i teach children to walk talk and write and i have worked in daycares and would never go back as they can be just as bad i have seen it first hand so this one person should not reflect PORSE at all. I have my level 3 in early childcare and i have done other courses also i have my first aid and am very close to becoming professional so yes we do educate the children. WE ARE IN-HOME EDUCATORS.

18 Feb 2011 01:27p.m.

mum of 2 wrote:

I feel sad this has happened for all concerned. Whilst the family who is now running this website can get some sense of vindification and a rather large amount of financial comfort!- lets take a little time to feel for the needs of not only their own children but that of the educators children.

18 Feb 2011 12:29p.m.

Helen wrote:

I am in the childcare industry so have followed this story with great interest. Yes, it's a terrible thing to leave a baby home alone, no one is debating that, especially not Jenny Yule or PORSE. Yes, Rachel (Home Educator) made an extremely bad call, one that she now has to live with for the rest of her life.
While Caspian survived (thank goodness) this horrendous ordeal, how does attacking PORSE rectify the situation? It's my belief that PORSE did everything according to the regulations set out for any In-Home Care Provider. They contacted the Ministry of Education, they contacted the police, they met with both parties involved (family & Educator). Nothing has been swept under the carpet, no one is pointing the finger, support is being offered to those that need it! I'm sure systems are being reviewed to ensure everything possible is done to prevent a similar situation from ever occurring again for this company.
Why is it then that this one isolated incident has made such media headlines when numerous other incidents have occurred within the childcare industry of late, most notably a centre in Auckland leaving a baby unattended for a substantial amount of time? What's the 1 key difference between this and the other incidents?
The difference I would say is the family who this extremely unfortunate incident occurred to. What then is their real motivator for taking it to the media? How much were they paid for their story in Woman's Day? How much business will this new website generate for Mr Gous' company? My gut feeling is that the Gous family, well the father anyway, is in it for the money and using this as a means to promote his website which his company is starting up. My other gut feeling is that Mrs Gous is not supporting her husband in his personal vendetta against PORSE, 1 only had to read her body language when she was on the news, that she didn't want to be involved!

18 Feb 2011 11:37a.m.

F Lambert wrote:

Yes it's terrible what the women did...! My heart goes out to the family. Though let's keep it all in perceptive. PORSE is not at blame here. IT does support our educator who haas had both my children (who are five years apart. So she is truly becoming part of our extended family) to do the best she can possible do. Plenty of training support and home visits. The brain development of an up to three year old needs a one on one relationship to help form and grow. In-Home childcare provided this, not busy lives of day care centers.

18 Feb 2011 11:29a.m.

Sam wrote:

Note to Julie
SERIOUSLY - you dont think child neglect like this is news worthy! This IS something the media should be all over. People who do this kind of thing should be shamed and parents have the right to know what is going on out there. Just because this woman has children of her own does not mean she should be exempt - it is even more disgusting. She should have known better!

I have freinds who have had great experiences with PORSE and some who have not - like any childcare situation. But - I do think it is a little scary leaving your presious babe in someone elses home where there is no-one to be accountable to. Who knows what goes on when no-one is looking and these people do not have to be trained. Anyone can do it. Being a teacher myself I think this is ridiculous. Would you want un-trained teachers in your schools?!

My vote is for pre-schools were your carers are trained and are never alone with your child. The children get to do all sorts of great things that are actually structured around their needs - rather than fitting into the day of someone else in their home.