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Legal proceedings have been initiated by families whose children attended a nursery in north London, where a staff member recently admitted to sexually abusing young children. The individual in question, Vincent Chan, 45, confessed to filming abusive acts during naptime at the Bright Horizons nursery located on Finchley Road, West Hampstead. Additionally, he admitted to possessing thousands of indecent images of children.
Currently, 46 families are pursuing full accountability from the nursery, asserting that their concerns about Chan’s behavior were repeatedly ignored. Bright Horizons has stated that it would be premature to comment at this stage, as the Child Safeguarding Practice Review (CSPR) is still underway. Chan initially pleaded guilty in December to multiple offences, including sexual assault by penetration and making indecent images that fall into the most severe category of child sex abuse while he was employed at the nursery.
More recently, Chan admitted to an additional 30 charges, which include taking indecent photographs, acts of public indecency, sexual assault on a female, and voyeurism. These offences relate not only to children but also to six women and occurred between 2007 and 2017 during his time working at a school. The sentencing for all 56 offences is scheduled for 12 February. During the period Chan was employed at the nursery from 2017 to 2024, 700 children attended the facility; the families of these children have been contacted and are receiving specialist support. The nursery has since closed its doors.
The abuse was uncovered after a colleague raised concerns, leading to Chan’s suspension. The whistleblower reported that Chan had filmed a child falling asleep and put the footage to music, apparently in an attempt to entertain co-workers. A subsequent Metropolitan Police investigation revealed Chan had amassed a collection of over 25,000 indecent images of children. Those pursuing legal action include relatives of victims as well as families of children who were subjected to mistreatment in other forms, such as videos showing children humiliated or distressed. Legal representatives say the case highlights serious shortcomings in how childcare providers recruit, supervise, and safeguard staff, with warning signs being overlooked for extended periods. The families involved have emphasized the culture of dismissiveness at Bright Horizons, which they believe was a critical factor in enabling the abuse.
In response, Bright Horizons emphasized that it values parent feedback and takes concerns seriously. A company spokesperson condemned what happened as an “appalling breach of trust by one individual” and insisted this did not reflect the commitment of the vast majority of their staff. They stressed that children’s safety remains the highest priority and expressed a commitment to learning from this tragic case. The company also supports the ongoing Child Safeguarding Practice Review and encourages parental involvement to ensure comprehensive information is gathered. Meanwhile, Camden Council has launched an independent review and reiterated its commitment to protecting the integrity of the investigation process and supporting affected families. Additionally, the NSPCC has established a helpline for anyone affected by Chan’s offences
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