EYFS requirement 3.4 Child Protection states (among other things) -
‘The safeguarding policy and procedures must cover the use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting.’
The EYFS does not say that cameras and mobile phones must not be used in childminding provisions, regardless of advice from some Local Safeguarding Children Boards. In fact, Ofsted state that ‘The intention in the EYFS is not to make communication difficult but ensure that mobile phones are only used when essential and you are not distracted by them when caring for children. ‘
Writing your policy - things you might need to include
Advice from Ofsted states that this requirement is in place because of the misuse of photographs and mobile phones in some childcare settings which led to children being abused. You should keep this in mind when writing your policy.
In your policy should consider talking about…
• How you use your mobile phone to make and take essential phone calls during the working day. Explain to parents that it is essential you have a mobile phone as it is the way they can best contact you in an emergency.
o If your mobile phone is used to record children’s progress - some childminders use software on their IPhones for example - then this must also be discussed.
o If you use your mobile phone to store parents / emergency contact numbers so they are available when you go on outings, inform parents about this and explain how you do everything possible to keep your mobile phone safe and the information stored on it secure so their details are not misused.
• How you use your camera (digital camera or phone camera) to take photos of children which are shared with parents to show evidence of their learning and development and for display to help them feel part of the provision.
• How you protect photos is you send them over the internet - for example by email - to parents or absent parents.
• How you ensure children are safeguarded eg how photos are -
o Used - Learning Journey booklets, daily diary, displays in the house, training courses, on the internet to advertise your business - only say what is relevant to you here!
o Appropriate - children are properly dressed; photos do not show intimate views of children etc.
o Stored - on memory sticks, cloud / online storage, CDs to give parents at Christmas (eg), password protected folder on your computer etc.
o Deleted - when no longer needed.
o Printed - on a dedicated printer or using other digital photo printers in a shop or online.
• Who might see photos of childminded children eg Ofsted, local authority development workers, the child’s parent / carer, Local Safeguarding Children Board if there is a safeguarding concern.
• How you manage children’s use of mobile phones, cameras and photos eg if an older child brings a mobile phone to the provision which also has a camera.
• How you relate concerns about photos to parents eg if a child’s parent takes a photo of a group of children or brings their mobile phone on your premises.
• How you relate concerns about photos to other childminders, visitors to your premises etc and manage any incidents where they might take or use photos of childminded children.
• How you monitor your own children’s use of mobile phones and cameras during working hours - and, for example, the phone and camera use of any friends they invite to your house after school.
• Your procedure for requesting written permission from parents / carers to take and use photos of their children.
• How you aim to keep your mobile phone and camera safe - in the house, garden and on outings to ensure any photos of children and data about families is kept secure.
• Registration with the Information Commissioners Office as a data handler because you take, store and retain digital photos of children.
• How your whistleblowing policy includes the use and misuse of cameras and mobile phones - if you work with assistants or a co-childminder.
• You might also need to discuss other devices which link to the internet and might be used to take photos eg IPods, laptops with cameras attached etc as these might potentially pose a risk.
Some childminders are using this policy as a way of reminding parents that their child’s stories about their day are more important than the mobile phone call which they are taking as they walk up the drive!
References
An article in Essential Childminder Magazine
EYFS (DfE, 2012)
The Childminding Forum - various posts
Knutsford Childminding blog
Showing posts with label camera. Show all posts
Showing posts with label camera. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 September 2012
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Information Commissioners Office
Childminders have been told that we are now classed as 'data handlers' if we use a computer or digital camera to hold information about childminded children or their families.
Since most childminders take photos of childminded children to help meet the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Eyfs) it affects us all.
So, I duly paid my £35 annual fee to the Information Commissioners Office and I can now use my camera, computer and any other digital devices to hold information about the children.
Now this is something I do not quite understand... before I paid this fee, I used to take photos, immediately print them and then delete...
Now I can take photos, store them on memory sticks, put them on my computer, upload them (with parents permission), send them online for printing etc.
Similarly, before I paid this fee, I never used my computer to process information about children, it was all done by hand.
Now I am busily typing up reports, summary assessments etc and preparing my invoices and other forms on the computer before printing.
While this has undoubtedly made my life easier and speeded up the monthly paper production process, I am doing far more on my computer and camera than ever before... and I am at a complete loss to see how paying £35 has made things safer for children!
If anyone can answer that one, please let me know!
Talk soon xx
Since most childminders take photos of childminded children to help meet the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (Eyfs) it affects us all.
So, I duly paid my £35 annual fee to the Information Commissioners Office and I can now use my camera, computer and any other digital devices to hold information about the children.
Now this is something I do not quite understand... before I paid this fee, I used to take photos, immediately print them and then delete...
Now I can take photos, store them on memory sticks, put them on my computer, upload them (with parents permission), send them online for printing etc.
Similarly, before I paid this fee, I never used my computer to process information about children, it was all done by hand.
Now I am busily typing up reports, summary assessments etc and preparing my invoices and other forms on the computer before printing.
While this has undoubtedly made my life easier and speeded up the monthly paper production process, I am doing far more on my computer and camera than ever before... and I am at a complete loss to see how paying £35 has made things safer for children!
If anyone can answer that one, please let me know!
Talk soon xx
Thursday, 9 July 2009
Cameras, childminders and the EYFS
With the shocking headlines that a Nursery worker has been abusing children and using photographs in improper ways, the camera debate has inevitably started up again.
Leading early years practitioners are calling for calm and common sense. They suggest that instead of panicking and losing so much of the good practice we have built up around taking photographs of children we must instead ensure our safeguarding practices are robust.
First of all, think about why you use photographs of children. You will...
• Display them around the setting to promote children’s self esteem (PSED);
• Give them to parents to feed back their achievements (2.2 Parents as partners);
• Use them to build up an interesting and informative learning journey (3.1 Observation, assessment and planning);
• Put them on birthday charts to teach children about a sense of time (KUW);
• Make albums with the children to show outings they have been involved in to promote a sense of place (KUW);
• Organise visits to promote activities such as people who help us and take photographs to remind children about their learning (3.4 The wider context);
• Send cameras home so children can take photos of their home lives to share within the setting, thereby promoting home and setting links (2.2 Parents as partners) and giving children a sense of belonging (PSED);
• Put on a CD to give to parents at Christmas or on birthdays (if celebrated) to promote partnership working (2.2);
• Use pictures of the children as story prompts (CLL);
• Add them to collages that promote equality of opportunity and diversity (1.2 Inclusive practice);
• Personalise resources such as adding baby’s photo to a jam jar lid for him to find in his treasure basket (4.2 Active learning);
• Make alphabet charts featuring all the children in the setting (3.2 supporting every child);
• Take pictures of children washing their hands or involved in other healthy living routines to support other children’s learning (1.4 health and well being);
• Photograph a child’s achievements (4.2 supporting learning) and document his learning to promote his continued interest (PSED)... and much more!
So, photos are useful and educational as tools to support us when we are working with children, working with parents and providing evidence of our activities etc for Ofsted.
However, we must make sure children are safe and protected from abuse so we need policies and safeguards in place...
• Parents must sign to say they are happy for their child’s photo to be taken and used in a variety of situations such as to display on your wall, put in their learning journey, go in general albums etc;
• You need to promote photos to parents and be clear with them about why you take them and how they are used. You could do this through your initial parent literature or by including information in your welcome booklet or on your website for parents to access (2.2 Parents as partners);
• Consider having an open door policy, so parents can stay and watch you with their child until they are confident you are the right person to work with them. This might take some parents longer than others and you may be concerned about the disruption to your setting but it is good practice and an excellent way to reassure parents that they are making the right decision;
• Ensure you have clear paperwork in place, which is shared with parents before their child starts with you, including information about how cameras are used in the setting;
• Prioritise regularly updated (at least every 3 years) safeguarding training for yourself and anyone who works with you;
• If you put photos from which children can be recognised on your computer, you must find out if you need to register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO);
• If you work with a co-childminder or assistant, they must have a valid CRB check which is shared with parents to reassure them that you take steps to ensure their child’s safety. If you act transparently in all dealings with parents they will have more reason to trust you;
• Have clear information, to be shared with parents, for co-childminders and assistants about how to whistle blow if they have concerns about bad practice related to anyone connected with your setting;
• Risk assessments need to be updated to say what you would do if you see adults taking photographs of your minded children in the park or on outings. It would probably not be wise to challenge them as you could get hurt (although that might be our first thought) but you would be within your rights to call the Police;
• A Confidentiality Policy that clearly safeguards a child and their family’s right to privacy and states what information may and may not be shared, including mention of photographs;
• Reassure parents that you do not store photos and explain how you taken them... promptly print them... then discard from all media to protect against theft of memory cards full of children’s pictures. You might also show parents where you lock cameras and memory sticks overnight so if there is a theft, they are safe;
• Share Visitor Policies and a visitor log book with parents, so parents can see (at any mutually convenient time) who has been in the setting when their child was there;
• Be absolutely clear when speaking with parents that you would never take inappropriate photos of their children for example, in the bath or without clothes. If parents would feel more comfortable seeing photos of their child before you print, organise this in a sensitive way that ensure confidentiality for other children’s images;
• Do not use mobile phones for photos – maybe adding this to your safeguarding policy – I feel a re-write of mine coming on;
• A clear Complaints Procedure and details provided to parents about how to contact Ofsted if they have a concern;
• If you work with students, they will never be asked to evidence their work by taking photos of children... but they might take photos of the setting and displays they have helped make etc. This information would need to be shared with parents as part of the information pack and permissions you give them if you agree to mentor a student;
• Childminders are their child’s key person – if you work with another childminder, you might share the key person responsibility. Parents must be told who their child’s key person is and that person should do the bulk of the child’s care routines to follow parents wishes;
• A Safeguarding Policy that is treated as a working document and updated at least annually, in partnership with the parents;
• A clear policy throughout the setting and shared with all assistants and co-childminders that the children come first – not parents, not colleagues and not visiting friends. If the children’s safety is compromised in any way, then steps must be immediately taken to protect them.
I hope you find this useful to add to your Portfolio of evidence of how you protect children from inappropriate use of cameras and photographs in your setting.
If you have any comments I would enjoy hearing them.
Please email me – knutsfordchildminding@hotmail.com
Leading early years practitioners are calling for calm and common sense. They suggest that instead of panicking and losing so much of the good practice we have built up around taking photographs of children we must instead ensure our safeguarding practices are robust.
First of all, think about why you use photographs of children. You will...
• Display them around the setting to promote children’s self esteem (PSED);
• Give them to parents to feed back their achievements (2.2 Parents as partners);
• Use them to build up an interesting and informative learning journey (3.1 Observation, assessment and planning);
• Put them on birthday charts to teach children about a sense of time (KUW);
• Make albums with the children to show outings they have been involved in to promote a sense of place (KUW);
• Organise visits to promote activities such as people who help us and take photographs to remind children about their learning (3.4 The wider context);
• Send cameras home so children can take photos of their home lives to share within the setting, thereby promoting home and setting links (2.2 Parents as partners) and giving children a sense of belonging (PSED);
• Put on a CD to give to parents at Christmas or on birthdays (if celebrated) to promote partnership working (2.2);
• Use pictures of the children as story prompts (CLL);
• Add them to collages that promote equality of opportunity and diversity (1.2 Inclusive practice);
• Personalise resources such as adding baby’s photo to a jam jar lid for him to find in his treasure basket (4.2 Active learning);
• Make alphabet charts featuring all the children in the setting (3.2 supporting every child);
• Take pictures of children washing their hands or involved in other healthy living routines to support other children’s learning (1.4 health and well being);
• Photograph a child’s achievements (4.2 supporting learning) and document his learning to promote his continued interest (PSED)... and much more!
So, photos are useful and educational as tools to support us when we are working with children, working with parents and providing evidence of our activities etc for Ofsted.
However, we must make sure children are safe and protected from abuse so we need policies and safeguards in place...
• Parents must sign to say they are happy for their child’s photo to be taken and used in a variety of situations such as to display on your wall, put in their learning journey, go in general albums etc;
• You need to promote photos to parents and be clear with them about why you take them and how they are used. You could do this through your initial parent literature or by including information in your welcome booklet or on your website for parents to access (2.2 Parents as partners);
• Consider having an open door policy, so parents can stay and watch you with their child until they are confident you are the right person to work with them. This might take some parents longer than others and you may be concerned about the disruption to your setting but it is good practice and an excellent way to reassure parents that they are making the right decision;
• Ensure you have clear paperwork in place, which is shared with parents before their child starts with you, including information about how cameras are used in the setting;
• Prioritise regularly updated (at least every 3 years) safeguarding training for yourself and anyone who works with you;
• If you put photos from which children can be recognised on your computer, you must find out if you need to register with the Information Commissioners Office (ICO);
• If you work with a co-childminder or assistant, they must have a valid CRB check which is shared with parents to reassure them that you take steps to ensure their child’s safety. If you act transparently in all dealings with parents they will have more reason to trust you;
• Have clear information, to be shared with parents, for co-childminders and assistants about how to whistle blow if they have concerns about bad practice related to anyone connected with your setting;
• Risk assessments need to be updated to say what you would do if you see adults taking photographs of your minded children in the park or on outings. It would probably not be wise to challenge them as you could get hurt (although that might be our first thought) but you would be within your rights to call the Police;
• A Confidentiality Policy that clearly safeguards a child and their family’s right to privacy and states what information may and may not be shared, including mention of photographs;
• Reassure parents that you do not store photos and explain how you taken them... promptly print them... then discard from all media to protect against theft of memory cards full of children’s pictures. You might also show parents where you lock cameras and memory sticks overnight so if there is a theft, they are safe;
• Share Visitor Policies and a visitor log book with parents, so parents can see (at any mutually convenient time) who has been in the setting when their child was there;
• Be absolutely clear when speaking with parents that you would never take inappropriate photos of their children for example, in the bath or without clothes. If parents would feel more comfortable seeing photos of their child before you print, organise this in a sensitive way that ensure confidentiality for other children’s images;
• Do not use mobile phones for photos – maybe adding this to your safeguarding policy – I feel a re-write of mine coming on;
• A clear Complaints Procedure and details provided to parents about how to contact Ofsted if they have a concern;
• If you work with students, they will never be asked to evidence their work by taking photos of children... but they might take photos of the setting and displays they have helped make etc. This information would need to be shared with parents as part of the information pack and permissions you give them if you agree to mentor a student;
• Childminders are their child’s key person – if you work with another childminder, you might share the key person responsibility. Parents must be told who their child’s key person is and that person should do the bulk of the child’s care routines to follow parents wishes;
• A Safeguarding Policy that is treated as a working document and updated at least annually, in partnership with the parents;
• A clear policy throughout the setting and shared with all assistants and co-childminders that the children come first – not parents, not colleagues and not visiting friends. If the children’s safety is compromised in any way, then steps must be immediately taken to protect them.
I hope you find this useful to add to your Portfolio of evidence of how you protect children from inappropriate use of cameras and photographs in your setting.
If you have any comments I would enjoy hearing them.
Please email me – knutsfordchildminding@hotmail.com
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