A childcare worker has been charged over the alleged assault of a four-year-old boy in her care.

The crime allegedly happened at a childcare centre on Paterson Rd in Bolwarra, in the NSW Hunter Valley region, on June 24.

A report was made to police and they launched an investigation.

Police visited the 22-year-old woman’s home in the Hunter Valley on Wednesday afternoon before charging her with common assault and child subjected to corporal punishment.

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She was granted conditional bail and will appear at Maitland Local Court on July 22.