England Considers Requiring CCTV in Nurseries After Child Deaths

Ministers in England have asked experts to consider whether CCTV should be required in all nurseries following recent cases of child deaths and abuse. A committee of MPs is also examining protections for children in early years settings. Decisions on CCTV remain optional for providers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

A nursery worker was sentenced to 14 years in prison for manslaughter. The judge described her death as "absolutely avoidable". Later that year, 14-month-old Noah Sibanda died at a nursery in Dudley, West Midlands. A nursery worker who wrapped him tightly in blankets and placed a leg across his lower back was sentenced to three years and four months for gross negligence manslaughter.

The nursery owner received a suspended six-month sentence for health and safety offences. In recent months, Vincent Chan was jailed for 18 years for abusing children at a nursery in north-west London. In Bristol, Nathan Bennett received a 30-year sentence for sexual offences against children.

Police used CCTV footage in multiple cases to secure convictions.

Genevieve's parents, Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, are campaigning with the Lullaby Trust charity for CCTV to be installed in every nursery. They also want Ofsted to review footage as part of inspections. John Meehan said that without the cameras, "we'd still be wondering" how their daughter died and there would have been no trial.

"It's very likely that something would have happened and Genevieve wouldn't have died," he added, citing unsafe sleep practices visible on the footage. The cameras also captured instances of verbal abuse and ill-treatment of other children. A survey by the National Day Nursery Association in April found that, of 276 respondents, 94 currently use CCTV, 98 have no plans to introduce it and 84 are considering it.

This indicates roughly one third of responding nurseries have cameras installed.

A BBC investigation identified a 40% increase in serious incidents reported by nursery staff to Ofsted in England between 2019 and 2024 compared with the previous five years. These include accidents, illnesses and injuries as well as safeguarding concerns.

Jayne Coward of Ofsted told MPs that the overwhelming majority of early years settings are safe. Coward said the rise may reflect greater staff confidence in reporting rather than an increase in incidents. Tim McLachlan, chief executive of the National Day Nursery Association, stated that instances of abuse in nurseries are rare but "one is too many".

He noted that the vulnerability of young children makes such cases higher profile. Current national data on serious safeguarding incidents does not routinely specify location, making it difficult to determine whether nursery abuse is rising. In response to recent cases, Ofsted has shortened inspection cycles for early years settings from six years to four years.

Parents have increasingly asked nurseries about CCTV presence following media coverage. Some argue its absence raises concerns. In Bristol, Nathan Bennett was arrested after a nursery manager caught him on camera inappropriately touching a child. Campaigners say inspectors should be able to review footage to check practices such as safe sleeping and staff-to-child ratios.

Jenny Ward, CEO of the Lullaby Trust, said the majority of settings do an "incredible job" but parents need reassurance that practices are being checked. Chalk Nursery has installed cameras covering children's rooms, outdoor spaces and reception areas at its sites in Bristol and London.

Operations director Bethany Patrick said the system acts as a deterrent and adds reassurance for families. She expressed concern about costs for smaller providers and opposed routine Ofsted review of footage, preferring in-person assessments. Some nurseries, including Bright Little Stars in north London, now provide parents with limited live access to footage from their child's room.