An Auckland childcare teacher is facing charges of assault against nine children, all aged under five.

The 58-year-old woman allegedly forced food into the mouths of three children, and used soap to wash one child's mouth out.

She is accused of putting sticky tape across another child's mouth, and also faces six smacking charges.

The woman was granted interim name suppression when she appeared in the Auckland District Court this morning, and will reappear later this month.

She faces 11 charges, which go back as far as October 2011.

Parents at the centre have told ONE News they found out about the investigation at a meeting at the facility a fortnight ago.

One mother said she was "absolutely shocked" to learn of the allegations, while another said she had considered the teacher a "very close friend".

Police, Ministry of Education officials and a child psychologist were among those in attendance at the meeting.

The woman facing charges declined to comment to ONE News today.

The centre owned issued a statement, saying the teacher had been suspended.