Early years practitioners are particularly appalled that someone from their own ranks, ostensibly a trained, caring professional, could possibly carry out such acts with vulnerable babies and toddlers in her nursery. They are aware that parents may well have their faith in safeguarding procedures at their own child's setting shaken. Suspicion and fear do not make for happy, trusting relationships between parents and nurseries.
Hysteria should not be allowed to take a grip, however. Settings need to do everything they can to reassure parents that their child is safe and cherished when at nursery - transparency, an open door, good management and policies rigorously applied ... Yet this sort of criminal behaviour from a childcarer in a daycare setting is rare. Far more abuse takes place in family homes, carried out by family members or acquaintances. In a well-run nursery, there should be very little chance of something like this case happening.
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