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Parents who reported concerns about a nursery worker months before his arrest have shared with the BBC their feelings of being dismissed and labeled as overly emotional. Vincent Chan came under scrutiny after staff observed him filming children at a nursery on Finchley Road, West Hampstead, in May 2024. Nonetheless, the parents insist they raised alarms about his conduct well before this incident.
Following a police inquiry, authorities uncovered extremely disturbing content on Chan’s electronic devices, including videos showing the sexual abuse of children at the nursery. Some of the recordings had been captured on nursery-owned iPads. Bright Horizons, which operates numerous nurseries across the UK, expressed regret over the betrayal of trust caused by Chan’s actions and emphasized that safeguarding children remains their foremost priority. The nursery involved has since been shut down, and the Metropolitan Police informed around 700 parents from the nursery and 500 parents from a primary school where Chan was also employed about possible contact their children had with him.
A couple who spoke to the BBC under pseudonyms, Rachel and John, have a son and daughter who attended the nursery and were taught by Chan. They described how they first raised concerns when their son returned home with visible bruises and bite marks but felt their worries were ignored by nursery management. Rachel recalls her son displaying signs of distress and unexplained anger, sometimes expressing fear of Chan. At one point, she reported that another child at the nursery called her son “a bad boy.” Despite sharing these observations with both the nursery manager and deputy manager early in 2024, she says they treated her concerns as exaggerated, insisting Chan was “a very good teacher.”
Vincent Chan had been working at the Bright Horizons nursery since 2017, caring for children aged two to four, until his suspension in May 2024 following the staff member’s concerns. Police later discovered distressing videos Chan had filmed, including footage showing Rachel’s son crying while Chan mocked him and even incited other boys to physically hurt him. The discovery of videos depicting sexual abuse of girls in September 2025 forced the couple to painstakingly review the evidence to determine if their daughter was among the victims, but they remain uncertain. Both parents expressed disbelief that someone like Chan could work in such an environment for so long without detection.
The couple had chosen Bright Horizons believing its higher cost would mean exemplary childcare. They remain upset that Chan was not charged with cruelty relating to the videos of their son’s distress, with the Crown Prosecution Service currently reassessing the police’s decision. Ofsted conducted safeguarding inspections after initial concerns but rated the nursery as “Good” a year after Chan was suspended, a judgement that surprised the parents. Camden Council has initiated a Local Safeguarding Practice Review into the matter. The couple is also part of a civil lawsuit against Bright Horizons brought by Leigh Day solicitors, who accuse the company of repeatedly dismissing parental concerns and fostering a culture that allowed the abuse to happen.
Bright Horizons responded by stating they welcome parental feedback and have multiple channels for addressing complaints. They acknowledged the concerns shared publicly by parents and lawyers, admitting that if any raised issues were not properly acted upon, it would be unacceptable. The company encourages parents to document and communicate all concerns, including for the ongoing safeguarding review. Ofsted added that the nursery’s full inspection took place in May 2025 after management changes, prior to the full extent of Chan’s offenses becoming known. Camden Council reaffirmed its commitment to support affected families and improve safeguarding as part of the independent review.
Support is available for those impacted; a dedicated NSPCC helpline has been established. Further information on organizations offering assistance to victims of child sexual abuse can be found on the BBC’s actionline webpage
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