Nursery World - Nursery Chains: Security

Do bolts and biometrics reassure parents - or get in the way of building trust, asks Annette Rawstrone.

Fortress nursery, screamed the headlines when Asquith Nurseries launched its 'supersafe' initiative earlier this year.

CEO Andy Morris was bemused at the media reaction to his plans to install fingerprint scanning on nursery entrances, upgrade nursery locks and fences, extend CCTV and ban mobile phones across the company's nurseries.

'Why question that we are putting in tougher security? What is wrong with society? Children are the most valuable thing that we have got,' he says.

'I wanted to show that we are serious about security, not just paying lip service. Parents appreciate that we take every step possible to enhance security. I would never personally be able to accept it if something happened to a child in our care; I'd be devastated. It's my biggest fear and would make me leave the industry.'

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