The parents of a nine-month-old girl who died at a nursery in Cheadle Hulme, Stockport, are calling for mandatory CCTV in all early years settings, arguing that without footage, her killer would not have been convicted. Genevieve Meehan was strapped face down to a beanbag for one hour and 37 minutes at Tiny Toes nursery in May 2022, with her cries ignored. Deputy manager Kate Roughley was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter last year.
In their first national newspaper interview, Katie Wheeler and John Meehan said they were shocked by systemic safety lapses they believe risk further tragedies. John Meehan stated: “But for the CCTV, we would have had absolutely no way of knowing about the way Genevieve was placed on a beanbag… We really only got an answer because of the CCTV.” The footage also led to a colleague's conviction for neglect of four other babies.
The couple are now backing a Labour MP's call for reforms, including mandatory CCTV in nurseries, more frequent Ofsted inspections, and greater regulatory powers. Currently, Ofsted inspects nurseries in England once every six years, compared with every four years for schools. Tiny Toes had been rated “good” five years before the incident, but the trial heard it was run “shockingly”, with staff-to-child ratios far exceeding legal limits.
Figures obtained by the BBC show nearly 20,000 serious childcare incidents in English nurseries in the five years to March 2024, a 40% increase on the previous period. Katie Wheeler said: “You’re never going to get a true snapshot of what a place is like and how safe it is unless you go out [unannounced].” The family hopes their campaign will prevent further tragedies.
