A nursery worker in North London has admitted to a series of vile sexual assaults against very young children in his care, prompting a government pledge to overhaul child safety protections.
Vincent Chan pleaded guilty at court on Wednesday to 26 separate offences, including the sexual assault of girls aged between two and four years old. The court heard some attacks were carried out as the children slept and others were filmed.
Parents' Warnings 'Not Taken Seriously'
Chan worked at a Bright Horizons nursery in North London from 2017 until his arrest in June 2024. Lawyers representing some of the 700 parents whose children attended the nursery during his employment have now revealed that multiple concerns were raised about his conduct prior to his arrest.
Alison Millar, the solicitor acting for the families, stated that allegations included children returning home with unexplained injuries such as bite marks, cuts, and scratches. Parents also reported that Chan was allegedly encouraging boys in his class to fight one another and that he shouted inappropriately at toddlers.
"We are sickened," the parents said through their lawyer, blaming Bright Horizons for failing to act on their warnings.
Nursery Chain's Troubled History and Response
In response, Bright Horizons said the alleged conduct was "unacceptable" and not in line with their policies. The company acknowledged that individuals who managed the nursery at the time are no longer employed, making it difficult to investigate the claims fully.
The case has also brought to light a previous incident involving the chain. In 2019, another Bright Horizons manager, Alison Whateley, pleaded guilty after being recorded describing herself as a paedophile. When asked if vetting changed after this, Bright Horizons stated both Whateley and Chan had passed all required checks and that their recruitment procedures are compliant.
The specific branch where Chan worked has now been closed permanently.
Government Vows Action on Child Safety
In the House of Commons, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson condemned Chan's "vile and abhorrent crimes" and announced a full child safeguarding practice review. She said the government would consider greater use of CCTV in nurseries and was committed to strengthening how children are kept safe.
"My promise to the families through these darkest of days... is not only that justice will be served, but that we will strengthen the ways in which we keep children safe," Phillipson told MPs.
Vincent Chan is due to be sentenced on 23 January 2025. The ongoing independent review will examine whether his offending could have been detected earlier.
