Concerns Ignored at Bristol Nursery
Serious concerns regarding a childcare worker, who was later convicted as a paedophile, were reportedly overlooked for an extended period by nursery management, according to a BBC investigation. A former employee at Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol claims she informed her superiors about Nathan Bennett's concerning behavior before his abuse of children was uncovered.
Bessie Martin, the former employee, stated that she reported Bennett for holding children for excessive durations and positioning them on his lap away from CCTV surveillance. She alleges her concerns were dismissed and she was told she was 'imagining it'. Bennett was subsequently sentenced to 30 years in prison in February for sexually abusing five boys aged two and three.
Partou, one of England's largest nursery providers with over 100 locations, has stated it 'actively encourages' the reporting of concerns and has implemented recommendations to enhance safeguarding and oversight. The King Street nursery closed in December.
Increased Scrutiny for Nursery Chains
The BBC investigation found that after Bennett's arrest, a higher-than-average number of Partou nurseries received official notices from the regulator Ofsted to improve safeguarding, safety, or welfare. Similarly, Bright Horizons, another large chain operating 270 UK nurseries, also saw an increase in Welfare Requirements Notices (WRNs) following the arrest of another paedophile, Vincent Chan, in London. Before these arrests, both chains' figures were closer to the national average. Ofsted confirmed it intensified inspection work at both Partou and Bright Horizons after these cases emerged.
Whistleblower's Account and Parental Concerns
Bessie Martin detailed her suspicions about Bennett's behavior, noting how he would prevent children from moving away from him. She claims she 'constantly complained' for months, and only after she filed a whistleblowing report to senior management was Bennett suspended. However, he was allowed to return to work shortly thereafter. Two weeks later, a review of CCTV footage revealed him sexually abusing a child. Bennett was then suspended again, authorities were notified, and he was arrested.
Parents also reported Bennett's 'overly physical' behavior to nursery management in the months preceding his arrest. The investigation found that some of these concerns were not passed on to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Ofsted, despite legal requirements. Due to limited CCTV evidence, some parents may never know if their children were abused. One mother recounted her child saying Bennett had 'tickled' him inappropriately under his clothes, noting that Bennett often worked alone during morning arrivals.
Ofsted Ratings and Safeguarding Issues
The investigation revealed that Partou nurseries were twice as likely to receive a WRN from Ofsted than the average nursery in the four years leading up to March 2025. This likelihood increased to more than seven times the average in the 12 months following Bennett's arrest. WRNs can address various issues, including failures to report abuse allegations, unsafe premises, poor record-keeping, and inadequate staff vetting. Partou emphasized that safeguarding is its 'highest priority' and that an independent review identified individual failures at the Bristol nursery, leading to staff changes and internal actions.
At Bright Horizons in West Hampstead, where Vincent Chan worked, a former staff member described him as 'very cold and didn't show any emotion,' believing he should not have been working with children. Chan was jailed for 18 years for abusing children and using nursery iPads to film his crimes. Bright Horizons stated there was no indication other staff were aware of Chan's crimes, but the company faces legal action from 46 families alleging their concerns about Chan's general behavior were dismissed.
Before the arrests, both Partou's King Street Nursery and Bright Horizons in West Hampstead had 'good' Ofsted ratings. Dr. Tammy Campbell of the Education Policy Institute suggests that Ofsted ratings can be 'dangerously misleading' as they may not reflect underlying issues, complaints, or WRNs. Most English nurseries (98%) are rated 'good' or 'outstanding,' and these ratings often remain even if concerns are raised between routine inspections. Ofsted has committed to strengthening its response to nursery concerns and implementing a 'much more rigorous' approach.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, acknowledges a 'disproportionate number of concerns' in recent months but stresses that the 'vast majority' of nurseries are safe. He advocates for government investment to alleviate pressure and improve staff training. Early Education Minister Olivia Bailey highlighted government measures including tougher recruitment checks, clearer whistleblowing procedures, and new training standards.
Source: Paedophile nursery worker could have been stopped sooner, says former colleague