Name suppression for childcare worker charged with 11 counts of assault against nine children

The identity of a pre-school worker accused of force-feeding children in her care will be kept a secret until at least her trial.

The woman, in her 50s, appeared in Auckland District Court this morning facing 11 charges against nine different children, all under 5.

According to charge sheets the alleged offending began in 2011 and was still happening as recently as May.

Details in court documents show the woman is accused of washing a 4-year-old's mouth out with soap and putting tape across the mouth of another.

Three of the charges relate to forcing food into children's mouths, while six counts allege she smacked them.

The court heard from a lawyer from the childcare centre who said naming the woman and the company would cause undue hardship.

In a written submission, defence lawyer Graeme Newell supported the submission and it wasn't opposed by the Crown prosecutor.

Judge Anne Kiernan said the "important issue" was to preserve the woman's right to a fair trial and presumption of innocence, although she did appreciate parents of children at the facility wanted transparency.

"That public airing will happen, obviously, during the trial itself."

The suppression orders will continue until the woman's five day trial in May next year.

A charge of assaulting a child carries a maximum penalty of two years' jail.