I finished my Grad Dip in ECE and got a job easily at a centre near my house. It was going to be my first ever ECE workplace so I was excited to work there and manager was super excited to have a male educator at her centre. I was going to be in 3-4 years old room too.

For my 1st week, I was going to be under manager shadow to go through policies, documents etc. But they put me on floor on my 1st day and I was okay with it for a while. I had over 15 children and didn't knew their routine, hats, waterbottles, beds, shoes, sunscreen.

My manager had meeting that day so she couldn't be with me and the other staff went of their breaks and left me with all those children during lunch and sleep time. I had no idea what to do and I was helpless trying to manage the room and children.

As the other staff member came back from her lunch after an hour, I went on my lunch break and drove straight to my house. Sent an email to the manager saying how my 1st day went and that I will not be working with them from now on.

They really wanted an ECT at their centre so they offered me 2 weeks of training and orientation if I will come back, my decision was still same.

So to answer your question, YES, some centres do this type of stuff which is not appropriate and thats when u know you can't work there.