A 41-year-old woman has been charged after allegedly slapping a three-year-old boy at a Melbourne early childhood education centre.

Shakila Nasseri was dismissed from her role at First Early Learning in Pakenham after allegedly slapping three-year-old neurodiverse child Kayce Barber on 17th of October . The Narre Warren woman faces charges of aggravated assault and unlawful assault.

It is reported that Kayce had been kicking and spitting at educators that morning, and Nasseri picked him up in an attempt to calm him. He reportedly slapped Nasseri across the face, after which she allegedly struck him back.

Child psychologists have raised concerns about the use of physical force as a form of punishment. Psychologist Brittany Wadford stated, “The research is there. We know that the impacts of physical harm in early childhood have significant long-term effects.”

Following the incident, Kayce has been enrolled in a smaller family daycare with only one or two children, after being removed from the Pakenham centre due to behavioural issues his mother Jaymie believes may stem from sensory processing challenges. Jaymie said, “He kind of melts down, so we didn’t feel we were getting support from the managers, and everything was being put back on us. I moved him to see if it was an environmental issue. I’m trying my hardest as a mum to get him the help he desperately needs.”

It remains unclear whether Nasseri’s Working with Children Check is still valid or has been cancelled. Child safety advocates have emphasised the need for a national overhaul of the system. Nesha Hutchinson, vice president of the Australian Childcare Alliance, said, “Employers’ ability to access workplace history is still limited. Nasseri is banned from working in Victoria, but could potentially work interstate or in other vulnerable sectors like aged care. This kind of information sharing is essential to keep children safe.”

A new national childcare employee database is expected to be rolled out in the coming months as part of urgent reforms to the childcare system.

Nasseri had worked at the centre for around two years and had no prior legal issues. Parents at the centre described her behaviour as out of character. One parent said, “From every encounter I had with Shakila, she was very nice, so I would never expect that to occur.”

Nasseri has been granted bail and is due to appear at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in January.