Sperenza day camp suspended due to supervision issues, says child care board

The P.E.I. Child Care Facilities Board has suspended the license of Sperenza Sport for five days due to what the board says are supervision issues.

Board chair Bobby Camerontold CBC Newsthe day camp's license was suspended for theweek startingMonday after severalcomplaints were investigated.

Cameron said the five-daysuspension was given to Sperenzafor not meeting a number of licenserequirements, but he wouldn't give specifics.

We decided that we had to provide Sperenza enough time to correct their practices and policies, so that was what the suspension was for.- Bobby Cameron, P.E.I. Child Care Facilities Board

"There were issues with respect to supervision and a number of other issues as articulated in the Child Care Facilities Act and regulations," he said.

Cameron said thefive-day suspension was to allow the camp timeto fix the problems.

"We decided that we had to provide Sperenza enough time to correct their practices and policies, so that was what the suspension was for."

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Sperenza continued to operate, says board

Cameron saidSperenzais now also being investigated forcontinuingto operate during the suspension.

Cameron confirmed Sperenza violated the order to not to operate this week, something he saidthe board is "veryconcerned"about.

"The board is now aware and concerned with any type of violation of the order," said Cameron.

"Our inspectors will be following up and continuing to work with Sperenzato ensure that the child care facilities are safe."

Parents have been notified

All parents with children at the camp were informed by the board's inspectors that Sperenza is operating under a suspended license, said Cameron, giving the parentsthe option to find other child care.

The board investigates any complaints it receives about child care facilities whichit licenses.

We have appealed the suspension, it is now with our lawyer, we look forward to a reversal and the record being set straight.- Sperenza Sport

It investigated an incident last monthafter a young boy attending the Sperenza day camp nearly drownedat a pool.Cameron told CBC News the current investigation is "beyond" thatcase.

"The investigation is ongoing. So it's happening now. The Child Care Facilities Board will be following this until we can ensure that facilitieswhich are licensed are operating in a safe way and delivering quality child care services."

Cameron doesn'tknowhow long the investigation willtake.

Sperenza Sport emailed a response to CBC News.

"We have appealed the suspension, it is now with our lawyer, we look forward to a reversal and the record being set straight."

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