04/11/2010

Little Ted's 'Ideal Environment For Abuse'

A review has found the nursery where a worker sexually abused children in her care "provided an ideal environment for abuse".

Last year Nursery worker, Vanessa George, 40, was jailed for taking indecent photographs on her phone as she abused children at the Little Ted's nursery in Plymouth.

Following her arrest, Plymouth City Council's Safeguarding Children Board launched a report interviewing those connected with the nursery.

The report found that a lack of formal staff supervision was partly to blame with a combination of weak management and poor training. A lack of effective external scrutiny "provided an ideal environment within which George could abuse".

It also highlighted how her colleagues failed to report anything when her behaviour and conversations became increasingly sexualised.

Staff described George as "horrible" but also as the "life and soul of the party".

The review added: "Her age, personality and length of service could have created an illlusion of power and encouraged a sense of trust.

It added: "K (George) is of the ability to behave in a highly manipulative manner and hence gain high levels of trust in others.”

The report concluded that a number of lessons needed to be learned, but "ultimate responsibility for the abuse must rest with K (George)".

A spokesman for education watchdog Ofsted said: "Today's serious case review highlights a number of areas of concern. It is important that lessons are learnt from this case.

"Ofsted has already implemented a number of changes in the way we work as a result of this review and to address the recommendations made."

(BMcN)

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