The call comes after a serious case review published this week highlighted evidence that staff at the now-closed Birmingham nursery were reluctant to challenge Paul Wilson, who used his position as an assistant at the setting to rape a child, "in case this was seen to be discriminatory".
Although the review did not suggest Wilson's gender was a factor in his crimes, Richard Harty, the programme leader for early childhood studies at the University of East London, said the case revealed problems with "policy and procedure at all levels rather than individuals and gender".
“The worst thing that can happen from this would be a witch hunt about men and pedophilia,” he said.
“The witch hunt should be on the other side – why did Ofsted not investigate concerns? There’s been a real failure of safeguarding here.
“Safeguarding agencies need to speak to each other and we need to have good systems in place.”
Harty's call was echoed by London Early Years Foundation chief executive June O’Sullivan.
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