Early childhood teacher banned for two years over physical force

Multiple children were left in tears due to their teacher's actions, the New Zealand Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal heard.

A teacher who admitted a series of aggressive outbursts towards children at an early childhood centre has had his teaching registration cancelled for two years.

Sean Charles Quinn was also censured for serious misconduct by the New Zealand Teachers’ Disciplinary Tribunal after it found he used physical force and emotional abuse during more than a dozen incidents at Kaleidescope Childcare Centre between August and September 2021.

Ten children at the Tauranga-based centre were victims of Quinn’s behaviour, which included chasing a 4-year-old into a bathroom and holding him down on a toilet seat, and grabbing a 23-month-old by the arm and pulling him down on to a mat, with Quinn’s raised voice making the child upset.

In other incidents, Quinn responded to a 3-year-old who accidentally ran a toy lawnmower over his foot by ripping a toy from the child, while a 2-year-old who wouldn’t settle in the sleep room was grabbed by his arms to stand him up before Quinn yelled in his face.

The boy then cried himself to sleep.

The same child was “forcefully” put on the floor by Quinn after throwing food on the floor on another occasion.

“This caused [the child] to cry. Mr Quinn picked [him] up and said words to the effect of, ‘Give me a cuddle, do you want another chance?’”

Sean Quinn initially denied the allegations made against him, saying he was "firm but fair" as an early childhood education teacher. Quinn later admitted responsibility for his actions. Photo / 123rf

A 3-year-old struggling to put his pants on was forced by Quinn to stay in one spot and do it by himself, with Quinn telling the “visibly upset” child not to ask another teacher for help.

In a later incident involving the same child, Quinn pulled the boy by his shirt and made him sit down in a chair, saying words to the effect of “you are not listening to me, now you can sit over there and you are not welcome outside”.

“This made [him] cry and another teacher had to console him.”

The same child was that day also stood over by Quinn, who pointed his finger and told the boy not to move for five minutes as he was under a “yellow card” after throwing a small wooden toy on to the floor.

Quinn told a Teaching Council triage committee in November 2023 he was “firm but fair” and had never been violent or abusive during his 20-year career.

“When I put on my firm voice and ‘disappointed face’, the children respond, and I have found that this often de-escalates behaviour in the children that has the potential to intensify if not quickly addressed.”

He believed he was the victim of collusion by other teachers.

But Quinn later admitted to the behaviour, accepting he was responsible for serious misconduct.

Multiple children were left in tears due to Sean Quinn's actions, the New Zealand Teachers' Disciplinary Tribunal heard.

Quinn’s actions were a clear departure from expected standards, and risked ongoing effects to the children’s feelings of safety, the tribunal found.

“It is well known that it is harder for children to learn when they are upset or stressed.”

He’d admitted the facts, but also shown no remorse or insight into his behaviour, they found.

The tribunal rejected a request for name suppression, finding Quinn’s fears of losing his current job in an unrelated industry wasn’t supported by evidence.

“Transparency and accountability walk hand in hand.”

He was also ordered to pay $4590.52 in costs.