‘Our child woman was killed at nursery by a employee – now we’re talking out’ | UK | News | EUROtoday

The mother and father of a nine-month-old child killed at her nursery have launched a marketing campaign calling for obligatory protected sleep coaching and obligatory CCTV in all nurseries. Katie Wheeler and John Meehan say “urgent reforms are needed” as they begin the marketing campaign a 12 months after nursery employee Kate Roughley was jailed for 14 years after being discovered responsible of the manslaughter of their daughter Genevieve Meehan.

The 37-year-old swaddled Genevieve, strapped her face down on a bean bag and left her for an hour-and-a-half. Roughley was caring for Genevieve in her function as deputy supervisor and ‘child room chief’ at Tiny Toes Nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, in May 2022, the Manchester Evening News reviews. Manchester Crown Court heard that she had proven ‘hostility’ in the direction of the toddler within the days earlier than her dying.

Ms Wheeler and Mr Meehan have now launched a marketing campaign to enhance security requirements in early years settings.

As a part of the marketing campaign, they’re calling for obligatory CCTV in nursery settings; unannounced Ofsted inspections to be routine in early years settings; overview of CCTV footage in Ofsted inspections; clear, statutory protected sleep steering for early years settings; obligatory protected sleep coaching for all nursery workers and Ofsted inspectors; and clear statutory steering as to the usage of sleep merchandise in early years settings.

Ms Wheeler mentioned their daughter — who they name Gigi — “brought love, joy and laughter into our lives and we loved her instantly”.

Writing on behalf of the household, she mentioned: “Like many other working parents, we enrolled Gigi at a nursery. We trusted that she would be kept safe.

“In choosing a nursery, we relied on the information available to us via the Ofsted inspection reports and reviews from other parents. We never imagined that she would come to harm whilst in the care of trained professionals.

“The way in which Gigi was put down to sleep carried a high and obvious risk of death. Her death was entirely preventable.

“When Greater Manchester Police commenced an investigation into the circumstance of Gigi’s death they reviewed CCTV footage. In doing so, they discovered multiple examples of harm being caused to children over a short period of time.

“Gigi is not the only child to die in a nursery in the last 5 years. It is incomprehensible that other families are suffering the same heartache that we are and we want to ensure that no child dies or comes to harm in a place where they are meant to be safe.

“Gigi deserved to live a long and fulfilling life but instead she has suffered and died in a way that no child or person ever should. The system failed Gigi and urgent reforms are needed.”

The marketing campaign is encouraging individuals to contact their native MP to ask them for assist.