Exclusive: A distraught mother wants criminal charges laid after an educator slapped her neurodivergent toddler at a childcare centre in Melbourne's south-east.

Three-year-old Kayce's parents were called to collect him just 40 minutes after he arrived at the centre on October 17.

"We got the call at about 7.40am to say that his behaviour was quite bad and that he needed to be collected," mum Jaymie Barber told 9News.

But it wasn't until later that day that management called again to explain that Kayce had been struck across the face after he had hit an educator.

"I just broke down, I didn't know what to say," Jaymie said.

"It's horrible. They are there to protect your children and look after them."

Witness statements claim the little boy, who has complex behavioural needs, w

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