Labour MP Calls for National Nursery Safety Guidelines After Child Deaths

A Labour MP has called for nurseries across England to implement enhanced DBS checks and new standardized sleeping guidelines to improve child safety. The MP cited nearly 20,000 serious childcare incidents reported in English nurseries over the five years ending March 2024, a 40 percent increase from the prior period.

The MP raised the case of a 14-month-old boy who died at Fairtytales Day Nursery in Dudley after a staff member placed a blanket over his head and repeatedly forced him to sleep. The MP described the incident as heartbreaking and said parents should not have to worry about leaving their children in unsafe conditions.

Current law already requires enhanced DBS checks with barred lists for anyone working directly with children. The Department for Education is updating the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework to add explicit safer-sleep requirements into legislation beginning September 2026.

The MP stated that despite these measures something has gone wrong and that management bears responsibility for screening staff, providing training, and identifying unsafe behavior.

A survey by the National Day Nursery Association found that about one-third of responding nurseries currently use CCTV. The MP said cameras address symptoms rather than root causes, noting that the Dudley nursery already had CCTV installed. Jenny Ward, chief executive of The Lullaby Trust, said CCTV should be used for ongoing monitoring and training rather than only after incidents occur.

Ward added that clearer statutory guidance, consistent training, and stronger safeguards are needed to support early years staff.