Campaign for Gigi: CCTV in nurseries step closer following parents' campaign after daughter's death
ITV Granada Reports journalist Emma Sweeney spoke to Genevieve's parents
The Government is considering implementing CCTV into nurseries following a campaign by the parents of a nine-month-old girl who was killed by her nursery worker.
Genevieve 'Gigi' Meehan died after she was tightly swaddled and strapped face down on a beanbag for more than an hour and a half at the now closed Tiny Toes nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, in May 2022.
Kate Roughley, who was the nursery's deputy manager at the time of baby Genevieve's death, was found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 14 years in May 2024.
Following their daughter's death her parents, Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, launched a campaign calling for major changes, including compulsory CCTV in nurseries, mandatory safe sleep training for staff and unannounced inspections by Ofsted to be routine.
John Meehan explains what the government minister told them
Now the minister for Early Education Stephen Morgan has said he is reviewing the calls - something which the pair say they "welcome" alongside the government's engagement.
Alongside mandatory CCTV in early years settings he is also considering if changes need to be made to safe sleep requirements.
In a letter, and following their meeting in London with Early Years minister Stephen Morgan in June, he said "ensuring the safety of children is of utmost importance to both the department and me".
He announced that the government "will continue to consider" their suggestions to make early years settings safer, including working with Ofsted to "look at the use of CCTV" in nurseries, pre-schools and playgroups.
He added that government officials will be meeting with Jenny Ward, CEO of the Lullaby Trust, and NHS colleagues to discuss if changes need to be made around safer sleep requirements in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
Mr Morgan also said, as of next April, Ofsted will inspect all new providers on the early years register "within 18 months of opening" and move towards inspections every four years, instead of every six.
What are the three main points of the campaign?
Use of CCTV
Compulsory CCTV in nursery settings
Review of CCTV footage during Ofsted inspections
Ofsted inspection process
Unannounced inspections by Ofsted to be routine in early years settings
Safe sleep
Clear, statutory safe sleep guidance for early years settings
Mandatory safe sleep training for all nursery staff and Ofsted inspectors and
Clear statutory guidance as to the use of sleep products in early years settings
In response to the latest update, Katie and John said: "We welcome the government's engagement with us and the campaign.
"Whilst progress has been made, there is significant work to be done and we look forward to working with the government to achieve the campaign's objectives."
They're now calling for people to write to their local MP to support their campaign.
Katie Wheeler says while they're pleased with the "speedy response" so far, they want to timeline to continue being "relatively swift"
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