A mother's fight for justice after her baby was assaulted at a Wirral nursery has sparked calls for an overhaul of laws governing childcare staff. Elizabeth Adeagbo, the perpetrator, was convicted of assault by beating in 2025 and given a community order.
The victim's mother, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, is outraged that unqualified agency workers are still being used in nurseries. 'It's unacceptable,' she said bluntly. 'These staff don't know what they're doing, and it puts children at risk.'
Her concerns are echoed by the Department for Education, which is set to consider proposals for CCTV cameras in childcare settings. Without them, as she pointed out, 'there would have been no conviction'.
The nursery's conditions also raised red flags: a small room, rarely opened windows, and staff wearing fleeces while babies were in vests. The mother began to worry about her children's care from the start of their enrolment in early 2025.
It was in April 2025 that the most disturbing incident occurred: an unqualified agency worker grabbed the child by the shoulder, lifted him off his feet, and moved him across the room 'in a very angry and aggressive way'.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has pledged £8m annually to bolster safeguarding in early years settings through 3,000 extra Ofsted inspections each year.