Nursery manager Gemma Capon with the new fingerprint entry system

by Nick Lillitos

A toddlers' nursery in Maidstone has stepped up its security – using a James Bond-style fingerprint entry system.

Only parents, staff and carers will be able to get through the nursery's main door by placing their finger or thumb on a glass plate. The system will recognise prints pre-scanned and stored on computer.

And the world of Bond doesn't stop there. The nursery, Brishing Barn at Boughton Monchelsea, is using cam technology that enables working mums and dads to see online their toddlers at play.

Some nine web cameras are installed in six of the nursery's play rooms which cater for 76 children ranging in age from three months to five years.

Armed with a special password, parents are given picture access only into the room where their children are located according to age groups. The picture shows general floor shots of play activity, but not close-ups.

Nursery owner Elisabeth Balfour said: "It's a new millennium and our nursery is definitely taking the hi-tech route. We're giving parents that extra peace of mind and extra security for their children."

Both the fingerprint scanning and cam picture technology have been installed by Berkshire company NurseryCam Ltd.

Its managing director Melissa Kao told the KM: "We have installed more than 500 scanners and web cams in nurseries around Britain. This is the first of its kind in a Kent nursery.

"Modern parents are always busy at work, missing out on their children's important milestones and the camera gives them a chance to witness their children at play.

"Password security is as safe as the banks."