Outstanding nursery closure

**mumofone** · 09-02-2016, 08:03 AM

Did anyone catch the story in the news of the nursery graded outstanding that has now been branded inadequate because the manager took pictures of children on the nursery mobile phone and sent them to parents of the child to help them see their child was doing well and settling in?
I'm not sure I understand what the issue is? We can take pictures and send them to parents right...?

**mama2three** · 09-02-2016, 08:11 AM

I havent seen the story , there must be more to it surely?
maybe they are going against their own policies , or there wasn't adquate 'security' regarding the mobile / camera .

**moggy** · 09-02-2016, 08:16 AM

From what I read it was a sub-standard (or lack of, or not following) safeguarding policy and the fact the nursery worker used a personal phone, rather than a setting's phone/camera.
Not relevance to us as we are 'the setting' so the setting phone is our own phone.
But always wise to check our safeguarding policy meets EYFS requirements by mentioning our mobile phone policy.

**JCrakers** · 09-02-2016, 08:20 AM

Ofsted strips Cherubs nursery of Outstanding rating over a photo sent to a parent | Daily Mail Online

What I find quite ironic is that Yes it was a safeguarding issue but now the picture that she sent is all over the internet.

It was a nice gesture to send the picture and it would have been fine to do that years ago but now with all the strict safeguarding policies we are supposed to have, it went against the mobile phone policy. It looks like staff were allowed to take pictures on mobile phones which is not allowed.

**mumofone** · 09-02-2016, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by JCrakers

Ofsted strips Cherubs nursery of Outstanding rating over a photo sent to a parent | Daily Mail Online What I find quite ironic is that Yes it was a safeguarding issue but now the picture that she sent is all over the internet. It was a nice gesture to send the picture and it would have been fine to do that years ago but now with all the strict safeguarding policies we are supposed to have, it went against the mobile phone policy. It looks like staff were allowed to take pictures on mobile phones which is not allowed.

Thanks jcrackers sorry I couldn't find the link!

**FloraDora** · 10-02-2016, 07:44 PM

Sorry, I hadn't seen this thread and have just out poured my thoughts about this on another thread!

**BallyH** · 09-02-2016, 09:14 AM

The photo isn't the issue. It's how the photo was taken. On a private phone. So staff are allowed their phones in the setting. They should have taken the photo with the setting's camera that would remain in the setting over night and every night. Staff's phones should be taken off them during working hours to protect the children and themselves. They need to tighten their policies regarding cameras/videoing equipment.

**mumofone** · 09-02-2016, 09:28 AM

Originally Posted by moh

The photo isn't the issue. It's how the photo was taken. On a private phone. So staff are allowed their phones in the setting. They should have taken the photo with the setting's camera that would remain in the setting over night and every night. Staff's phones should be taken off them during working hours to protect the children and themselves. They need to tighten their policies regarding cameras/videoing equipment.

They were interviewed on tv and we're making out that it was the nursery a phone..

**mama2three** · 09-02-2016, 09:42 AM

If it was the nurserys phone and there was a strong policy in place showing how it would be used /stored / secure etc - and the practice the inspector saw showed that they were following their own policy... then I can see why they are appealing. Parent petitions will do nothing, those same parents would be the first to criticise if the lax policy / procedures has led to anything more worrying.
The report says there were also other areas graded inadequate , it sounds like the lady may have just become complacent or not kept up to date with current requirements , its likely to have been several years since her last inspection. We shouldnt be worried by this kind of reporting , we just need to make sure our own policy annd practice stand up to scrutiny.

**rickysmiths** · 10-02-2016, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by mama2three

If it was the nurserys phone and there was a strong policy in place showing how it would be used /stored / secure etc - and the practice the inspector saw showed that they were following their own policy... then I can see why they are appealing. Parent petitions will do nothing, those same parents would be the first to criticise if the lax policy / procedures has led to anything more worrying.
The report says there were also other areas graded inadequate , it sounds like the lady may have just become complacent or not kept up to date with current requirements , its likely to have been several years since her last inspection. We shouldnt be worried by this kind of reporting , we just need to make sure our own policy annd practice stand up to scrutiny.

Their last Inspection was in 2009 and was the only one since they opened in 2006.

If you read their Ofsted report there were a number of Safeguarding and Welfare concerns which was why they were downgraded.

**JCrakers** · 10-02-2016, 04:45 PM

It seems like 18,000 people have signed a petition to get the grade changed. But, having staff taking pictures of the children on their personal mobile phones is a big safeguarding issue. It only takes 1 member of staff to share those pictures with someone and anyone could get hold of them.

As a parent I wouldn't want staff taking pictures of my children with their own personal phones, wonder why 18,000 people cant see that?

(Although looking at the petition , I think the mums website means 1,800 not 18,000)

Simona · 17-02-2016, 09:26 AM

Just to clarify that this preschool did complain against Ofsted but it was not upheld....hence the petition.

**AgentTink** · 09-02-2016, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by mumofone

They were interviewed on tv and we're making out that it was the nursery a phone..

I think the problem lies in that their Ofsted report states that the staff used thewir own personal phones, whilst the nursery owner insists that the staff only use a work phone. The nursery will now have to prove to Ofsted that the phone was indeed a work phone and that no staff personal phone has ever been used. The nursery will have to complain to get it changed in their ofsted report and to avoid closure but as im sure we are all aware it is not easy to complain to ofsted about your inspection!

Simona · 13-02-2016, 09:23 AM

It maybe worth checking the Daily Mail article against NWorld ....the DM has a habit of embellishing reports.
The 2 articles differ a lot on what happened in this preschool.

Outstanding nursery's 'inadequate' downgrade over mobile snaps | Nursery World

if anyone remembers the Vanessa George Child Protection case it recommended 'staff's mobiles' must not be used to take photos of the children or any other use at all....only the nursery official mobile can be used
Any cm working in a nursery or preschool would be asked to lock theirs away on arrival? I certainly was asked to do so.
Worth looking at DfE Safeguarding publication as well.

Staff's mobile should be stored in a locker during nursery hours...please check this out....and there must be a policy backing this procedure.

Also maybe worth listening to the BBC this morning on what has happened on FB and why there is a new drive to make safeguarding more effective.

**Maza** · 13-02-2016, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by Simona

It maybe worth checking the Daily Mail article against NWorld ....the DM has a habit of embellishing reports.
The 2 articles differ a lot on what happened in this preschool.

Outstanding nursery's 'inadequate' downgrade over mobile snaps | Nursery World

if anyone remembers the Vanessa George Child Protection case it recommended 'staff's mobiles' must not be used to take photos of the children or any other use at all....only the nursery official mobile can be used
Any cm working in a nursery or preschool would be asked to lock theirs away on arrival? I certainly was asked to do so.
Worth looking at DfE Safeguarding publication as well.

Staff's mobile should be stored in a locker during nursery hours...please check this out....and there must be a policy backing this procedure.

Also maybe worth listening to the BBC this morning on what has happened on FB and why there is a new drive to make safeguarding more effective.

To digress a little...As I've mentioned in other posts, I'm now working in a primary school. We have recently had a reminder from he Head to not use our phones for photos or calls/texts BUT in light of the recent bomb threats/evacuations in some schools in our borough we were asked (by the Head) to keep our phones on us if possible. This was to make communication easier if we had to keep moving to different evacuation points, which one poor local school had to do. Also, we might have taken a child with us who wasn't in our class etc.

**blue bear** · 13-02-2016, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by Simona

It maybe worth checking the Daily Mail article against NWorld ....the DM has a habit of embellishing reports.
The 2 articles differ a lot on what happened in this preschool.

Outstanding nursery's 'inadequate' downgrade over mobile snaps | Nursery World

The comments on the nursery world piece (comments at the bottom) are an interesting read, it's claimed they are protesting against the report that it is not accurate,that the inspector assumed the photos were taken by staff mobile phones when In fact they were not.

**BallyH** · 09-02-2016, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by mumofone

They were interviewed on tv and we're making out that it was the nursery a phone..

Ahhh, I read it a couple of days ago that the phone belonged to the manager. mumofone try not to worry about yourself. If your safeguarding policy states that you do not allow visitors or family members or minded families or minded children to have access to their phones/videoing gadgets etc whilst in your home then you should be covered. That's what it says in mine. I send my parents WhatsApp photos daily. Ofsted know this. Parents have signed permission forms to say they are happy with this.

**Mouse** · 09-02-2016, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by mumofone

They were interviewed on tv and we're making out that it was the nursery a phone..

If you read the Ofsted report the nursery wasn't downgraded purely because of one photo. I guess they're now trying to cover themselves by saying it was a nursery phone. What was worrying to me was that the nursery manager didn't seem to appreciate that this could be a safeguarding issue for both the children and her staff. There's no harm at all in sending parents a photo to show that their child is settled and happy, but you do have to consider the implications when you're in a nursery setting and staff are using their private phones.

**bunyip** · 12-02-2016, 04:06 PM

No intention to cause offence or hurt here, but there are a lot of things tagged as "safeguarding issues" which, to my mind are nothing of the sort. In many cases, "moral panic" might be nearer the mark.

I totally agree that filming/photography in a changing room is unacceptable. But what's so wrong about filming a swimming race? When did seeing a person in a swimming costume become in any way pornographic? Will the swimming events at the Brazil Olympics have to be shown on a late-night adults-only subscription channel? Can we look forward to camera/phone bans on the beaches at popular seaside resorts?

I think this sort of nonsense makes it harder to safeguard children.

We should not be criminalising perfectly normal and innocent activities. We should not be training children to believe every adult is a threat. We should not be restricting civil liberties for all just because a tiny minority will abuse them (and would do so anyway, irrespective of such ridiculous rules.)

**Maza** · 12-02-2016, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by bunyip

No intention to cause offence or hurt here, but there are a lot of things tagged as "safeguarding issues" which, to my mind are nothing of the sort. In many cases, "moral panic" might be nearer the mark.

I totally agree that filming/photography in a changing room is unacceptable. But what's so wrong about filming a swimming race? When did seeing a person in a swimming costume become in any way pornographic? Will the swimming events at the Brazil Olympics have to be shown on a late-night adults-only subscription channel? Can we look forward to camera/phone bans on the beaches at popular seaside resorts?

I think this sort of nonsense makes it harder to safeguard children.

We should not be criminalising perfectly normal and innocent activities. We should not be training children to believe every adult is a threat. We should not be restricting civil liberties for all just because a tiny minority will abuse them (and would do so anyway, irrespective of such ridiculous rules.)

No offence taken. I do mostly agree - whatever 'mostly agreeing' means!