Bristol Nursery Staff Ignored Warnings About Paedophile Nathan Bennett Before Arrest
Serious concerns regarding Nathan Bennett, a paedophile childcare worker, were reportedly ignored for months by nursery managers, according to a recent investigation. Bessie Martin, a former employee at Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol, states she alerted management to Bennett's behaviour, including his prolonged holding of children out of CCTV view. Her warnings were dismissed, with managers allegedly telling her she was 'imagining it'.
Bennett received a 30-year prison sentence in February for sexually abusing five boys aged two and three. Partou, a major nursery provider in England with over 100 sites, states it 'actively encourages' reporting concerns and has implemented recommendations to strengthen safeguarding. The King Street nursery closed in December.
The investigation found that Partou nurseries received more official notices to improve safeguarding, safety, or welfare after Bennett's arrest than the average across England. Similarly, Bright Horizons, another large chain, saw an increase in Welfare Requirements Notices from Ofsted following the arrest of another paedophile, Vincent Chan, in London.
Martin alleges she 'constantly complained' about Bennett for months. He was only suspended after she filed a whistleblowing report to senior management. However, Bennett was allowed to return to work, and two weeks later, CCTV review revealed him assaulting a child. He was then re-suspended, and authorities were informed, leading to his arrest.
Parents also reported Bennett's 'overly physical' behaviour to nursery management before his arrest, but some concerns were not passed to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) and Ofsted, despite legal requirements. One mother reported her child disclosed Bennett had 'tickled' him inappropriately under his clothes, noting Bennett often worked alone during morning arrivals.
Ofsted ratings, often perceived as indicators of quality, can be 'dangerously misleading', according to Dr. Tammy Campbell of the Education Policy Institute. She noted that a setting rated 'good' could still be 'completely failing', as ratings may not reflect numerous complaints or Welfare Requirements Notices. This issue is particularly pertinent given 98% of England's nurseries are rated 'good' or 'outstanding', often retaining these ratings even when concerns are raised between routine four-yearly inspections.
