Exclusive: Northport day care owner responds to abuse allegations; former employees speak out
In an exclusive phone interview with News 12, the owner said the facility has been operating for more than 16 years and has always followed state requirements for reporting suspected abuse.
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The owner of The Learning Experience in Northport is responding to allegations of child abuse and reporting failures at the day care.
In an exclusive phone interview with News 12, the owner said the facility has been operating for more than 16 years and has always followed state requirements for reporting suspected abuse. The owner also said the employee at the center of the allegations is no longer working at the day care.
The response comes as Suffolk County police and state investigators continue to look into abuse claims involving a staff member and multiple alleged violations at the Fort Salonga Road location.
The former staff members, who asked not to be identified, describe what they call abusive behavior at the day care.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate to be a place where children go to learn and grow,” one former employee said. “It’s not what it’s made out to be.”
The allegations include claims of corporal punishment.
“I have seen teachers spank, and that was probably one of my breaking points,” the same former employee added.
The accounts come as News 12 previously reported on abuse allegations at the facility and uncovered records from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services showing multiple violations. Those records include findings related to corporal punishment and failures to report suspected abuse.
State records also indicate children who were potty training may have been disciplined in ways that left them frightened or humiliated.
“Their approach was… if you pee your pants, you have to sit in it for a few minutes,” a second former employee said.
As of April 17, state records show the daycare’s license status is listed as “pending revocation,” and the facility has been removed from referral lists.
Suffolk police and state investigators say the investigation remains ongoing, and the future of the day care is unclear.
