Operation Lanark

Operation Lanark Learning Review to begin in January 2026

A Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) into child abuse at a now closed Bright Horizons Nursery branch in North London will begin in December. The Camden Safeguarding Partnership has pledged to ensure that parent and carer voices are “front and central” as the review is carried out.

Independent Reviewer Sarah Lawrence has been appointed by the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership and will engage with parents, staff and lead safeguarding organisations before submitting her report in Summer 2026.

Parents/carers can register for updates and to engage in the review on the Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership website.

A LCSPR is a statutory process carried out when a child dies or suffers serious harm and abuse or if neglect is suspected. Its purpose is to identify improvements to how agencies work together to safeguard children and prevent similar incidents in the future. The time period under review will be 1 May 2017, which is weeks prior to the perpetrators start date at Bright Horizons to 3 December 2025.

Tim Aldridge, a spokesperson for the Camden Safeguarding Partnership, and Camden Council’s Executive Director, Children & Learning, said:

“This is a deeply troubling case which has affected many families in Camden, Barnet and beyond. The extent and nature of the offences against defenceless children has been truly horrifying and, as a safeguarding body, we are determined to learn from what has happened.

Keeping children safe is our biggest priority and we will make sure that operations, processes and procedures across all organisations with a safeguarding role in this case are reviewed thoroughly so that children can be better protected in future.

We know that this continues to be extremely distressing for the parents and carers of children who attended the nursery — support is still available, and we would urge anyone who needs it to get in touch.

We want parents’ voices to be front and central to this independent review because what is recommended here can shape how nurseries operate in the future. I recognise that this may not be something that everyone will want to be a part of but, for those who do, I want to reassure them that their voices will be heard, and that we will take great care around their involvement.

I am pleased that we have been able to appoint Sarah Lawrence to independently lead this review. Sarah comes with lots of experience and understands the deeply sensitive nature of what we are dealing with. Sarah knows how to work with a level of care needed to make sure that those who take part are supported properly and can engage confidentially.

I would also urge parents and carers to register with us confidentially through our web pages so we can provide them with updates on progress with this review.”

LCSPR Independent Reviewer, Sarah Lawrence, said:

“As I undertake this review, those who have been harmed will always be my first consideration. The pain that has been caused is immeasurable and great care must be taken by all agencies involved to support those affected families.

All agencies with safeguarding responsibilities have shown a keen willingness to be involved in this review and I will be working with them in the coming months to identify lessons that should be learned along with a set of recommendations that can be applied to these services in the future.”

Scope of review

Parents and carers will have the opportunity to shape the review but broadly it will focus on statutory requirements under the Local Child Safeguarding Practice Review (LCSPR) framework as set out in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. It is not intended to be a broad sector-wide analysis, rather it will focus on this specific case. LCSPRs are legally required to:

• Examine the circumstances surrounding serious child safeguarding incidents.
• Identify lessons to be learned by partners and practitioners.
• Make clear recommendations to improve local safeguarding arrangements across agencies.

This review will look at frontline operations at the now closed Bright Horizons nursery branch and explore organisational structures at the business. The Review will also consider the roles and responsibilities of agencies associated with the nursery’s operation. All agencies involved will be asked to review their interactions with the nursery over the specified time-period.

The following relevant agencies will be invited to share their learning with the Independent Reviewer, including the practitioners who were involved at the time:

• Bright Horizons nursery group in north London
• London Metropolitan Police Service
• Camden Council Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Service
• Camden Council Early Years Service
• NHS services
• OFSTED
• Any other appropriate organisations

This local review will be submitted to the Camden Safeguarding Partnership who will then apply the findings to their work and policies. Learnings and recommendations will be shared with the Department for Education.

The national Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel will support this local practice review by working with local safeguarding partners to ensure that methodologies, findings, and recommendations align with national standards and promote consistent learning across the system.

Biography of Independent Reviewer Sarah Lawrence

Sarah Lawrence is an independent safeguarding consultant with over 25 years’ experience leading safeguarding and public protection work. Sarah uses her expertise to provide independent child safeguarding scrutiny, safeguarding reviews, research and strategic support. Sarah takes a child and family centred approach, focussing on survivor engagement to strengthen systems and improve outcomes for children, adults and communities. Sarah has contributed to several local and large scale, complex national reviews including the National Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel review of Domestic Abuse and Child Safeguarding Practice, the John Smyth (Makin) Learning Lessons Review for the Church of England and holds independent scrutiny roles within Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships.

The Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership

The Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership brings together the Local Authority (Camden Council), the Metropolitan Police, and the NHS as equal partners, who work alongside education and voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations to safeguard children. The CSCP’s main role is to provides leadership and coordination to make sure all agencies work well together to keep children safe.

It oversees how information is shared, ensures agreed procedures and thresholds are followed, and checks that actions are properly coordinated to protect children and promote their welfare. CSCP also drives learning and improvement through audits, reviews, and multi-agency training. A key part of its work is making sure children’s voices and family perspectives are at the heart of everything it does.

Affected families can access a range of support

We understand that this has been a deeply troubling time If you need support, please reach out using any of the options listed below:

• You can call the dedicated NSPCC helpline number confidentially on 0800 028 0828. The operating times are 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 6pm on Saturdays and Sundays for the foreseeable future. They can also email NSPCC on help@nspcc.org.uk
• Camden Safeguarding Children Partnership’s dedicated email at SafeguardingReview-OpLanark@camden.gov.uk
• You can contact our Children’s Social Care team on 020 7974 3317 or email them at LBCMASHadmin@camden.gov.uk
• You can speak to their GP who will be able to help.