FOR many parents, the thought of leaving their child at a day nursery is enough of a wrench without having to worry if they’ll be safe.

Recent events at the Little Ted’s nursery, in Plymouth, Devon, have thrust the issue of security into the spotlight.

Nursery worker Vanessa George, 39, was charged with offences including sexual assault and distributing child pornography. An investigation is under way, with two more arrests made on Wednesday.

Although such incidents are rare, how can parents leave their children during the day with peace of mind?

In Great Burstead, near Billericay, an award-winning facility has become one of the only nurseries in Essex to install a live webcam.

It means parents can log onto their computer while at work and watch their tots through the network of hi-tech cameras.

Andrew Stern, 52, founded Burstead Bears day nursery, at the Guildprime Business Centre, near Southend Road, in 2006.

He said: “I’d say 99 per cent of parents are drawn to the fact we have the webcam, and are totally in favour of it. We have lots of cameras, so parents can see when their children are in the garden or the sensory room, are learning, or eating lunch.

“Obviously, there aren’t cameras in the toilets.

“Parents get an encrypted password so only they can log on, and only when their child is at the nursery. We can monitor who is logging on and when. It’s all very safe.”

Mr Stern, of Redbridge, who had a successful career in business before setting up the nursery, added: “Parents often log on a lot at first, but then, as they get comfortable, they don’t feel the need to look so much.

“It’s nice to have it there if they want to see what’s going on, or they miss their child and want to see what they are doing.

“I think it’s sad we live in a world where security is such an issue, but that’s the world today, so we have to deal with it as best we can.”

So, how do Burstead Bears’ ten employees feel about being watched?

Sophie Hadkiss, 21, senior nursery practioner, said: “I know it sounds a cliche, but you honestly forget the cameras are there after a few days.

“It doesn’t make any difference to us, to be honest. The children don’t know they are there, so we just play and carry on with our days as normal.”

Trainee nursery practioner, Chloe Morecroft, 17, said: “I think it’s great parents can watch their children during the day. These days, parents are more concerned about security than ever.”

The nursey has also gained the Government’s five-star gold award for hygiene and healthy eating, and its 23 children are protected from viruses as well.

Andrew said: “With the outbreak of swine flu, we have increased our already stringent hygiene procedures. We steralise the play equipment several times a day, and we talk to the children about hygiene.”

Another security measure being installed by children’s nurseries and schools is biometric fingerprint scanning.

It has been introduced at the day nursery in Rawreth, Wickford, where parents are logged in and out of the nursery by scanning their fingerprints.

Owners Ray and Glenda Mitchell, from Canonsleigh Crescent, Leigh, say it has put everyone’s minds at ease.

Glenda said: “The parents think it’s great. They feel reassured, if someone were to get into the grounds, they wouldn’t be able to get any further unless we allowed them to.

“Children are our investment in the future, and we need to keep them safe.”