High-tech security systems installed in nursery chains around the country are attempting to make it a 'Mission Impossible' for unwanted visitors to gain access. The different systems, some more at home in a Hollywood movie than a nursery, are being used to boost safety procedures, reassure parents and streamline the nursery day.
Pixieland Day Nurseries based in Plymouth has introduced fingerprint recognition technology. 'You automatically have visions of James Bond and expensive, high-tech systems,' says nursery manager Karen Sweet. 'Our system, however, pays for itself through the time we save on managing access to the building. It enables us to spend more time with the children.'
The system costs 2,000, and access is gained by parents, staff and approved visitors entering a PIN and scanning their finger at the nursery entrance before the door is released.
Security systems at London's Happy Times also operate through either palm or thumb recognition - and the chain is even considering introducing iris recognition. Each system, including software, costs 25,000. 'They're excellent because it's not like having a key that can be lost or passed on to someone who does not have authorisation,' explains head of quality and training Jenny Barber. 'This system is more secure because everyone's palm print is unique and it only lets you in if your print matches the code.
'All employees and the child's main carers are logged on to the system via a very quick procedure. The security system can restrict entry to specific hours and it even logs entry times. There is the added benefit of being able to keep an eye on parents trying to drop off children too early or pick them up late. It also keeps a check on staff.'
Ms Barber regards the high-tech systems as an important service provided by a nursery chain. 'The parents are impressed when they look around the nurseries and see the system,' she says. 'I think parents would be willing to pay more for the added security. As a society, we're getting more security conscious, and naturally parents are concerned about the safety of their children. The Dunblane massacre is still in the back of many people's minds.'
Meg Macleod, director of Beechwood Nurseries in Ayrshire, agrees. 'You can't skimp on security. It is high up on our agenda and it's also a good marketing tool, because parents want to know their children are safe.' Beechwood Nurseries uses visual door entry systems, door codes, receptions near the main door and verbal passwords for use when someone other than the main carer is collecting a child. 'These traditional methods are often easier to keep tabs on. Even if we did have more high-tech systems installed, we'd still have the problem of parents letting other people in. Many don't want to be rude and close the door in someone's face.' Tom Shea, Jigsaw chief executive, says the company relies on security systems with 'two legs and a brain'. 'We prefer some kind of human recognition,' he says. 'We go for a covered reception area where people can wait in the dry, while a human being opens the door.'
Staff at Toad Hall Nursery Group have entry codes, and video entry systems are installed so that visitor's identities can be checked. Assistant general manager Nikki Wood says, 'The staff in our nurseries have a healthy balance about security and protecting the children. They know the children are secure but children attending our nurseries certainly do not feel locked in. Buzzing to gain entry to a building is now part of everyday life for the majority of workplaces, not just nurseries.'
The chain has nurseries at Shepperton and Pinewood Film Studios, but no additional measures are introduced for celebrity children. 'We treat all the children the same, so if a child with a high-profile parent is attending the film studio nurseries they do not have any special treatment,' says Ms Wood. 'I don't think there is anything more than we do already to tighten security and the high-profile parents prefer their children to be integrated into the nursery.'
John Woodward, director of Busy Bees, believes it is important to plan nursery security to suit the setting. 'We design our security so that once we have care of the children they cannot get out without our approval. Also, adults cannot get in to the setting without our approval,' he says.
'We also discriminate between our short-term creche provision and full daycare, because they have different security needs.
A greater flow of the general public use our creche facilities so that gives us a view of security that is different from daycare or workplace nurseries where often parents have to go through security anyway.'
Busy Bees uses a range of security measures such as swipe cards, code door entry systems and intercoms. In the creches, there is a physical barrier, electronic tagging and a closed-circuit television system.
'We will not let the child leave unless the right person comes to collect them, as there have been a couple of incidents where an estranged parent tried to gain access to a child,' Mr Woodward says. 'It isn't easy to say no to someone, but we have to be sure that we are right.
'We've also had incidents where a child hasn't been collected for hours because the parent has been arrested for shoplifting. Once a parent dropped their child off, left and had a heart-attack. Having good security means being prepared for all occurrences and the child's interests must come first - this means that sometimes we will upset people.'
Busy Bees ensures staff are prepared to deal with these pressures. 'We've got to get the administration right, develop good relationships with parents and train staff to deal with the disappointed and the irate,' says Mr Woodward. 'You have to consider what could go wrong and then gear up for that, such as an estranged parent trying to jump over a fence to grab a child. We must never get complacent, because the one time something out of the ordinary happens you have to get it right.'
According to childcare insurance specialist Morton Michel, insurers are concerned with the size of an individual nursery, its location and the amount of equipment on site. 'The real risks, as far as insurers are concerned, is not a rogue getting in to grab a child, but the risk of the building burning down or someone breaking in,' says partner Jerry Beere. 'All the jazzy CCTV cameras and fingerprint security equipment will never be a requirement by insurance companies - alarm systems aren't even required.'
Tom Shea believes Jigsaw's purpose-built nurseries have great security benefits with fitted deadlocks and mortice locks. There has only been one break-in throughout the chain and Mr Shea hopes this will remain the case when it opens nurseries in deprived areas. 'The security at neighbourhood nurseries will have no substantial differences. We don't think the security of the building will be a bigger issue than normal. We hope people will respect the nurseries - we'd much rather put up trust and value, than put up shutters.'
Unfortunately, the range of toys and equipment owned by nursery chains can have an appeal for a burglar. 'We occasionally have break-ins but it varies, Christmas is often a bad time as nurseries are great to rob then because you can get all your presents,' says John Woodward. 'We're more careful at that time. If we're opening a new nursery in January, we won't put new stock in before Christmas, otherwise it'd be ready gift-wrapped for the thief!'