Using a secure password, parents of children at Cybertots on the Green in West Ealing, London, due to open later this year, will be able to watch them 'live' online in the play, eating and sleeping areas. But a spokeswoman from the NOF said that whether or not the nursery had a webcam was not an issue, 'as long as they're fulfilling the requirements of providing quality care for the children'.
She added, 'Our focus is on creating the places. The nursery would not have received funding if they had not met strict requirements.'
The NOF grant will pay for refurbishing a disused building and fund half of the 40 childcare places. Cybertots describes itself as 'Britain's first internet nursery' and opened in 1999.
Nina Ozols, founder of Cybertots, said she believed 'the benefits are highly visible; relaxed parents means happy children in a happy nursery.'
But Michelle Elliott, director of the charity Kidscape, said, 'It seems like Big Brother gone too far. We think it's sad that people think it's necessary and parents can't feel confident leaving their child.'
At Sheffield Children's Centre, where men make up half the 75 staff, chair Chrissy Meleady said the issue of installing a webcam was discussed with parents and staff several years ago, but safety concerns led the centre to opt for CCTV. She said, 'Because we're a mixed gender workforce, it's something the men particularly wanted.'
Cameras protect staff from allegations of abuse, while parents can visit the centre and watch their child on screen. Ms Meleady said, 'I think webcams can be open to abuse because you have no control over what's going on outside your four walls.'
* Technotots in Dundee, which installed webcams in 2002, has won an Investors in People award for its commitment to staff training and development.