Parents of nursery abuse victims to meet Bridget Phillipson
BBC World
March 3, 2026
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Parents of children abused at a London nursery by convicted paedophile Vincent Chan are set to meet Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to demand stronger safeguarding measures in early-years settings. Chan, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison last month for sexually assaulting children at the Bright Horizons nursery on Finchley Road, West Hampstead, carried out his crimes over seven years until he was suspended in 2024 after a colleague raised concerns.
The families of his victims are calling for systemic changes to prevent such abuse in the future. They have filed legal action against Bright Horizons and are advocating for an independent early-warning system that would allow parents and whistleblowers to report concerns directly to external bodies. Their demands include mandatory two-adult supervision, body-worn video cameras for staff, and stricter controls on nursery-owned devices.
Law firm Leigh Day, representing 52 families, revealed that parents had previously raised staffing and supervision issues at the nursery but were ignored. Bright Horizons has acknowledged its failure to act and is now implementing internal audits and safeguarding training to prevent similar lapses. The company emphasized its commitment to child safety, though it faced criticism for not addressing concerns earlier.
Phillipson has announced a local safeguarding review to address shortcomings in preventing abuse. While she has not mandated CCTV use in nurseries, an expert group is developing guidelines for their safe implementation. This comes after Chan's arrest following a whistleblower complaint about his inappropriate behavior, including filming sleeping children.
The case highlights the need for stronger oversight in early-years settings to protect children from predators. The families' advocacy underscores the importance of addressing safeguarding failures and implementing measures that ensure child safety remains a top priority for nurseries and government alike.
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Originally published on BBC World on 3/3/2026