Reflections from the Childcare & Education Expo London 2026: Safeguarding Remains the Sector’s Top Priority

A Fantastic Two Days for the Early Years Sector

Last week our team attended the Childcare & Education Expo London, one of the most important events in the UK early years calendar.

The Expo continues to grow each year, bringing together nursery owners, managers, educators and sector experts who are passionate about raising standards across childcare and education.

For the Almas Industries team, the event is always a highlight. It provides an opportunity to meet professionals from across the country, discuss safeguarding challenges and share practical solutions that help nurseries operate safely and confidently.

But perhaps most importantly, it allows us to listen.

And this year one topic came up again and again in conversations with nursery leaders.

Safeguarding and security expectations are increasing.

The Growing Focus on Safeguarding in Nurseries

Across the two days we spoke with dozens of nursery owners and managers. While every setting is different, many of the conversations centred around the same challenges:

• Ensuring only authorised people can access the building
• Protecting staff as well as children
• Preparing confidently for Ofsted inspections
• Managing safeguarding across multiple sites
• Demonstrating clear evidence when incidents occur

These concerns are not surprising. Parents, regulators and insurers all expect nurseries to operate with robust safeguarding procedures.

Technology alone does not solve these challenges, but it can play an important supporting role.

The Continuing Debate Around CCTV in Nurseries

One of the most interesting discussions at the Expo this year focused on CCTV monitoring in early years settings.

While CCTV has long been used in many nurseries, the question of whether it should become mandatory continues to generate strong opinions across the sector.

Some leaders see CCTV as an essential safeguarding tool that provides:

• Clear evidence when incidents occur
• Protection for staff from false allegations
• Additional reassurance for parents
• Improved oversight across larger settings

Others raise concerns around privacy, culture and data protection.

It is a complex discussion, and one we explored in greater depth in this article: https://almas-industries.com/blog/should-cctv-be-mandatory-in-nurseries/

What was clear from our conversations at the Expo is that more nursery leaders are actively reviewing their CCTV policies and procedures as part of their wider safeguarding strategy.

Lockdown Procedures Are Also Receiving Greater Attention

Another topic that generated significant interest was lockdown planning.

While fire evacuation procedures are well established in most nurseries, lockdown procedures are still relatively new for many settings.

However, with increased awareness of safeguarding risks, nursery leaders are asking important questions such as:

• How do we alert staff instantly if there is a threat?
• How do we secure entrances quickly?
• How do we protect children while maintaining a calm environment?
• How do we train staff to respond confidently in an emergency?

A well planned lockdown system does not create fear. Instead, it provides clarity and reassurance that staff know exactly what to do if a serious situation arises.

Conversations That Matter

One of the most valuable aspects of the Expo is the quality of the conversations that take place.

Over the two days we spoke with settings ranging from single site nurseries to large multi site groups. While their challenges varied, the underlying goal was always the same: creating safe, secure environments where children can thrive.

We also heard from many nursery leaders who are reviewing their current security arrangements and asking whether their systems are still fit for purpose.

Technology has advanced rapidly in recent years. Modern systems can now provide:

• Secure electronic access control
• Biometric entry for authorised staff
• CCTV monitoring with clear audit trails
• Lockdown alert systems for emergencies
• Integrated safeguarding records

When these systems are designed specifically for early years environments, they can support safeguarding without disrupting the welcoming atmosphere that nurseries work so hard to create.

Congratulations to Our Competition Winner

The Expo also gave us the opportunity to run a small competition for visitors to our stand.

We are delighted to congratulate Alex from Seahorse Nursery, who won our competition prize of an Almas Bear, a bottle of champagne and 25% off a new installation.

Thank you to everyone who entered and to all the professionals who stopped by to say hello.

Looking Ahead

Events like the Childcare & Education Expo remind us how passionate and committed the early years sector is.

Nursery owners and managers carry enormous responsibility every day. They are not only educators and business leaders, but also guardians of children’s safety and wellbeing.

As safeguarding expectations continue to evolve, collaboration between nursery professionals and specialist providers will remain essential.

We are already looking forward to the next Expo and continuing the conversations that help strengthen standards across the sector.

If you would like to explore best practice guidance around nursery security and safeguarding systems, you can learn more here: https://almas-industries.com/sectors/nurseries-leading-nursery-security-solutions/