Nathan Bennett, 30, was found guilty last month of two counts of raping a child under 13, four counts of the sexual assault of a child under 13 and two charges of sexual assault of a child under 13 by penetration.
Prosecutor Virginia Cornwall described the case as "every parent's nightmare".
Bennett was told he'd spend at least 24 years in custody, with an additional six years on licence.
The sexual offences against the five boys aged between two and three years old took place at the Partou King Street Nursery in Bristol.
A parent of a child that was under Bennett's care told Sky News the revelations were "horrifying".
They said: "You think that this can only happen in TV shows and films and to other people.
"And I never thought that I would be in a situation where my children had been looked after by someone who was actively taking part in such horrific things. I felt sick and ill."
Bennett, from Corston, near Bath, began working at the nursery in July 2024.
Concerns were raised in February 2025 after his manager reviewed CCTV following complaints by parents and staff over Bennett's behaviour.
He was seen in the footage putting his hands down the trousers of a child.
He was immediately sent home, and Bennett was arrested by Avon and Somerset Police shortly after.
The nursery closed in December 2025.
During a four-day trial at Bristol Crown Court in February, the jury heard how staff had noted that Bennett would sit children on his lap for lengthy periods of time, wear a pair of trousers with holes in the crotch area and seemed "territorial" over certain toddlers and their parents.
Read more from Sky News:
Flowers where newborn baby fell to her death
Tattooed man found dead in wheelie bin
One nursery practitioner described how Bennett had a "jealous attachment" with five children and would "take control of them".
Following sentencing, video footage of Bennett being questioned by police was released.
In it he denied becoming a nursery worker to have access to children in a sexual way - but said he found it easier being around children "in a professional way".
The jury were also shown video interviews with two of the children in the case - referred to as Child A and Child E.
Child E's mother told the jury her son had demonstrated how he'd been abused at the nursery.
"I got him to stop doing it. I asked him when did that happen. He said it happened at nursery," she said.
As well as the eight charges he was convicted of, Bennett had previously pleaded guilty to thirteen other offences relating to four of the five victims, who were aged two at the time, including charges of sexual assault.
Following Bennett's conviction, the investigating officer, DC Bethany Cook, said: "Nathan Bennett was trusted to care for very young children, but instead committed sexual offences against them at his place of work.
"This investigation involving such young children was deeply challenging and distressing for all concerned, and I would like to commend the support and strength shown by those families."
'Pollute their innocence'
Judge William Hart described Bennett as an "incorrigible and dangerous paedophile".
Handing down the sentence, he told the defendant: "The [nursery children] were at risk because unknown to staff and parents you were lurking ready to abuse them and to pollute their innocence with your own vile desires.
"Having presided over your trial and having heard and seen the evidence upon which you were convicted, I am unhesitatingly driven to the conclusion that you are an incorrigible and dangerous paedophile with an uncontrollable and ungovernable sexual interest in male toddlers.
The judge added: "I find it impossible to predict for how long you will remain such a danger.
"The simple fact of the matter though is that you prioritised your own sexual satisfaction over the welfare of these little children and that was due to your grossly distorted thinking and a degree of, to use an old fashioned word, evil."
'Abuse may have been prevented'
Families whose children attended the nursery issued a statement after the sentencing, believing opportunities were missed to prevent some of Bennett's abuse.
Specialist abuse lawyers, Leigh Day, who represent a group of 12 families impacted by Bennett's actions, issued a statement on their behalf which read: "Over the months before Bennett's arrest, a number of parents raised concerns about his behaviour.
"We know concerns were raised to members of staff - we believe those warnings and complaints were not properly followed up or escalated. Had appropriate action been taken sooner, we fear some of the abuse children suffered may have been prevented.
"Nothing can undo what has happened. Our focus is now on supporting our children as they grow, and on seeking answers and accountability from those responsible for ensuring their safety.
"We hope that by speaking out, meaningful changes will be made to protect other children in the future."
A member of the public found the body in a green council bin in a park in Coventry on Friday.
Inquiries are still ongoing to formally identify the victim and establish how he died, with police saying he may have been hit by a vehicle before being moved to the park.
In an update on Monday, West Midlands Police said a man and woman in their 40s and a man in his 20s were arrested overnight in Blackpool on suspicion of murder and assisting an offender. They remain in custody.
Police previously revealed the victim, thought to be aged between 40 and 50, had a tattoo of a cross with a snake wrapped around it on his back and the words "Little Stardust".
He also had a tattoo on his right arm saying "nan" with a clover and the colours of the Irish flag, the force added.
The body was found in Cash's Park off Daimler Road at about 5pm on Friday, police said.
Read more from Sky News
Nursery worker who raped and abused toddlers jailed
Students queue for antibiotics in deadly meningitis outbreak
Police are working with the council to find out where the bin that contained the body was moved from.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, from West Midlands Police's Major Crime Unit, said: "After beginning our investigation this weekend, we have made a number of arrests overnight.
"All of these people remain in custody at this time while we continue to build a picture of what might have happened.
"We are continuing to appeal to anyone who might know more about what happened and whether they can help our investigation."
The Premier League said the transfer ban for Chelsea's first team had been suspended for two years. The west London club have also been given a nine-month academy transfer ban.
All sanctions will "take effect immediately", with the club also paying the full costs of the investigation and disciplinary process, the league said.
However, sixth-placed Chelsea have avoided a points deduction.
The fine is the highest imposed by the Premier League, beating the previous record of £5.5m given to West Ham United in 2007 over the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
A league investigation found that, between 2011 and 2018, more than £47.5m of undisclosed payments by third parties associated with Chelsea were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties.
Payments were made from entities which the league said were "controlled by or associated with" the club's then owner Roman Abramovich to unlicensed agents and individuals connected to selling clubs which helped to facilitate transfers for players, including Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o and Willian.
The league was satisfied that no current Chelsea employee was involved in, or knew about, the payments. There was also no suggestion of any wrongdoing regarding the players involved in the transfers.
It was accepted that had the new US owners not proactively reported their concerns upon completing their takeover of Chelsea in 2022, the breaches would potentially never have been discovered.
That, combined with Chelsea's "exceptional" cooperation, and the fact the payments would not have put the club in breach of profitability and sustainability rules if they had been properly accounted for at the time, meant a points penalty was not deemed appropriate.
In a statement, the league said: "The payments were made for the benefit of Chelsea FC, and should have been treated as having been made by the club.
"The club has also accepted, among other things, that the making of these payments, as well as the failure to disclose them to the league, constituted a breach of the requirement to act in good faith towards the league."
Read more from Sky News:
Meningitis outbreak: Masked students queue for antibiotics
Emergency crews called to 12-vehicle crash on motorway
Chelsea, who shared more than 200,000 documents with the Premier League, said they were "pleased that the matter is now concluded".
In a statement, the club added: "During an extensive Premier League investigation, the club proactively disclosed many thousands of documents.
"From the outset of this process, the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators."
Speaking on Monday ahead of Chelsea's Champions League game against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, head coach Liam Rosenior said; "I think actually that's a line drawn through that issue, and we can move on and we can plan to make this club as strong as possible in the long term."
A separate disciplinary process involving the club's alleged breaches of Football Association regulations "arising out of similar conduct" remains ongoing, the league said.
South Wales Police said it received a live chat making threats to harm people at Llanishen High School and Eastern High School around 8.30pm on Sunday.
The information said an individual had the intention to attend the schools in possession of weapons, the force added.
"At this stage, the information is being actively investigated to assess the credibility and determine the origin of the threat," the force said in a statement.
It said the decision to close both schools was made after discussions between the police and Cardiff Council.
"This joint decision was not taken lightly but was made with the safety of pupils, staff, and the wider school communities in mind," the force said.
It also said there was "no evidence" of anyone attending either school posing a threat.
Read more from Sky News:
Nursery worker who raped and abused toddlers jailed
Three arrested after man's body found in wheelie bin
There will be an increased police presence in the area while the investigation continues.
"We understand this is causing concern for parents and the community," the statement said.
"It is important that we fully assess the information and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place."
The four were arrested on 6 March on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, relating to Iran.
The investigation relates to the surveillance of locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community in the London area.
A warrant for their further detention was granted on 12 March, allowing for them to be detained in police custody up until 20 March.
On Sunday, one of the men was released from custody without charge.
Another man has also been released without charge, said police.
Two men, a 40-year-old and a 22-year-old, arrested in the Barnet and Harrow areas respectively, remain in custody.
Read more:
Three arrested after man's body found in wheelie bin
Nursery worker who abused toddlers jailed
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, senior national coordinator for Counter Terrorism Police, said: "This has been a long-running investigation, and part of our ongoing work to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.
"We fully recognise that the public - and in particular the Jewish community - may be concerned, but I also hope the action we have taken reassures them that we will not hesitate to take action if we think there may be a threat to their safety.
"As ever, I would ask them to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that concerns them, then to contact us."