Parents' Warnings Over Nursery Abuser Dismissed

Parents have shared their distress after feeling ignored by childcare bosses regarding a predatory nursery worker, Vincent Chan, who has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for 56 sexual offenses. Chan worked at a Bright Horizons nursery in north-west London with children aged two to four from 2017 to 2024. Concerns were first raised about his behavior when children exhibited bruises and unexplained rage, with parents reporting their warnings were dismissed as "hysterical".

Chan came to management's attention in May 2024 for filming children, but parents claim they had warned about his conduct months earlier. Police investigation uncovered "deeply disturbing material" on his devices, including videos of him sexually abusing children, some filmed on nursery iPads. Parents were forced to review images of abuse to ascertain if their own daughter was a victim, with their daughter's status remaining uncertain.

Bright Horizons stated that keeping children safe is their priority and that Chan broke their trust, acknowledging that if concerns were not acted upon, it is unacceptable. The nursery has since closed. Investigations into the safeguarding practices are ongoing, including a Local Safeguarding Practice Review commissioned by Camden Council. The parents are also involved in a civil case against Bright Horizons, alleging their concerns were repeatedly dismissed.

Ofsted rated the nursery "Good" a year after Chan's suspension, despite the parents' shock. An Ofsted spokesperson noted that the full extent of the allegations only emerged after the nursery resigned its registration. A dedicated NSPCC helpline is available for those affected by Chan's offenses.