Sydney childcare centre fined $14,000 after toddler went missing

One of the nation's biggest childcare operators has been fined $14,000 after a child was found wandering alone and in distress next to a major western Sydney road.

The two-and-a-half-year-old was missing for up to 10 minutes before staff at the Only About Children Centre in Rhodes were alerted via a head count during a busy pick-up period in 2017.

Burwood Local Court heard a passing architect saw the boy and intercepted him as he headed towards Homebush Bay Drive, he then returned him to the centre.

"Clearly on this occasion the centre did not protect (the boy) as they should have, the potential for harm to come to him was significant," Magistrate Alison Viney said.

"It certainly reinforces the vigilance which must be taken every day when children are in your care."

It's not the first incident involving the provider, which has more than 70 centres across the nation.

In 2016 it was officially cautioned for a similar incident and in 2017 it was fined more than $5,500 for multiple charges of failing to follow policies and procedures as well as failing to protect children.

In a statement OAC said it regretted the incident and took responsibility for it.

"We continuously work with our teams and The Department of Education to evolve and improve our operational procedures and practices to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children, families and team members."

Half of today's fine will go back to the Department of Education.