Jamie Chapman, 28, of Tamar Drive, Smith's Wood, Solihull, is facing 15 charges and was remanded in custody at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.
Mr Chapman is due at Birmingham Crown Court on 9 December.
Police said there was no evidence to suggest any inappropriate contact between him and children at the nursery.
Officers are also liaising with previous places Mr Chapman worked at.
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A number of items of computer equipment were seized following a search of his home when he was arrested on Wednesday, the spokesman added.
Mr Chapman is charged with rape, four counts of causing or inciting a boy to engage in sexual activity, and two counts of causing or inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.
He is also accused of taking an indecent image of a child, distributing an indecent image of a child, and six counts of making an indecent photograph.

Joshua Bwalya, who was 16, was found dead in the street when officers were called to Movers Lane, Barking, at about 01:00 BST on Wednesday.
Det Ch Insp Gary Holmes of the Met Police said the attack was "a senseless act of violence" that "was not only cowardly, but brutal".
A boy, 16, and a man, 20, suspected of involvement were also injured.
Both were taken to different hospitals in the capital before they were arrested on suspicion of murder, police said.
The teenager has since been discharged and released on bail while inquiries continue.
The 20-year-old has also been discharged from hospital and is being held at a London police station.
A post-mortem examination of Joshua's body found multiple stab wounds were the cause of death.
Mr Holmes said: "I urge anyone who has information that can help our investigation to come forward and help us to bring Joshua's murderers to justice."
A nursery worker has appeared in court accused of rape and inciting the sexual exploitation of a child.
[NEXT_CONCEPT]
A teenage boy stabbed to death in a "senseless" and "cowardly" attack in east London has been named by police.