Shellschildcare's 1 Star Reviews

AVOID if you are new business - cancelled contract

Genuine honest review of our experience, particularly for new parents looking to sign their child up with Shelley and Mike for the first time, as they will not hesitate to cancel your contract if a better situation arises for them.

I visited Shelley and Mike a couple of months ago, liked their setting and signed a contract with them for my little boy to start later this year. We had paid a deposit to secure our space and felt relieved that our stressful childcare search was over.

Shelley has now unexpectedly cancelled our contact with no notice and no reason. I had to ask why it was cancelled and only then did I find out that they had now been asked to look after their Grandson, and also that another existing child had decided to change their days and hours.

This has, as you can imagine, left us in an awful situation of now frantically trying to find childcare at such a late stage, where almost everyone (reputable) is fully booked. It’s got to the point where if we can’t find anywhere else, I’ll be forced to leave my job.

Shelley claims it is due to them ‘prioritising continuity of care’ which I am all for and completely support, however, to be fair to all, they should be giving existing parents a deadline to let them know if they want days and times changed, only after which point they should then be signing contracts with new business, when they know they can commit to it. This would be a much fairer way to handle it all.

Currently, it is quite clear that they are signing up lots of new business so that they have financial backup, but if existing children want to change they will not hesitate to cancel a contract.

Before visiting, I had read a bad review about a contract being cancelled last minute, however I noted it was due to Shelley‘s family’s ill health and so I chose to overlook it as I feel that (although difficult for the parent involved) that is unfortunate and understandable. However sadly it seems that they will also just cancel a contract if a better situation arises for them than to honour your contract.

There’s really no point signing a contract because it doesn’t give you any security at all.

Would really advise that if you are looking to sign your child up with Shelley and Mike for the first time, to completely avoid if you want security in your childcare choice. If you are an existing parent then you should be fine.

• Overall
• Setting
• Communication

by Tegan on 14/04/2025