mobile phones

[tammys-tots]

just rang ofsted very nice lady, asked about new safeguarding policy including mobile phones , she said shes just been on a course, there is no set guidlines its up to us what we put, for example 'phones will be used to contact parents during working hours but will not be used to take photos, we have a camera that is used to take photos they are then put in the childs folder', she also said its up to us if we keep photos on our computer or delete them. They are not banning us from using mobile phones during the day or parents using them when they collect their child its up to us to make the decisions!!!

[hectors house]

Thank you for being brave enough to ask Ofsted direct - I'm just going to carry on as before, using my camera to take photos and making sure that no one else takes photos of my mindees without mine and parents permission eg: at children's centres and Xmas parties etc

Also going to add into my photo permission form - permission to email photos of mindee with playing with other mindees as I can't see that this is "inappropriate sharing of images" which is the only thing I can find in new Stats 3.6 regarding photos, parents have said they would like to see pics of their kids playing with their friends. ~Going to make parents sign to say that they will NEVER put these photos on facebook, no matter how cute - they can only put on ones of their own child.

[tammys-tots]

Thank you for being brave enough to ask Ofsted direct - I'm just going to carry on as before, using my camera to take photos and making sure that no one else takes photos of my mindees without mine and parents permission eg: at children's centres and Xmas parties etc

Also going to add into my photo permission form - permission to email photos of mindee with playing with other mindees as I can't see that this is "inappropriate sharing of images" which is the only thing I can find in new Stats 3.6 regarding photos, parents have said they would like to see pics of their kids playing with their friends. ~Going to make parents sign to say that they will NEVER put these photos on facebook, no matter how cute - they can only put on ones of their own child.

just make sure you put that in your safeguarding policy, mobile phones and cameras must be mentioned in the policy so its up to you what you do, she said 'all settings are different and have different rules'. i think as long as you have permission thats ok and its in there. It seems this new EYFS is about us making decisions well we will see what the inspectors say when they visit us.

[hectors house]

Yes I will add to safeguarding policy - think the world has gone mad to safeguard children from strangers when as that sad case last week it was yet again a family friend who murdered that girl Tia.

I met a mindee and his mum at the park a few weeks ago and she wanted to take a photo on her mobile of all children playing on the round a bout, but I had to ask her not to - but what a shame as I prevented her from taking a photo of her children playing with long term friends.

[kats]

I have actually done my policy today but now im confused ( nothing new there!!!) can some one tell me are we allowed to use our mobiles phones to take pictures or does it have to be a camera??? its what ive always done and its what ive written in my policy but now im not sure....

[rickysmiths]

Yes I will add to safeguarding policy - think the world has gone mad to safeguard children from strangers when as that sad case last week it was yet again a family friend who murdered that girl Tia.

I met a mindee and his mum at the park a few weeks ago and she wanted to take a photo on her mobile of all children playing on the round a bout, but I had to ask her not to - but what a shame as I prevented her from taking a photo of her children playing with long term friends.

That is sad when all you need to do is add a line to your permissions form asking for permission for all the children to be in each others photos and that these can be used in each others LJ. Then you could have said to the mum 'Its Ok I have some photos and they will be in xs LJ for you to have so you don't need to take any'.

[sarah707]

I have actually done my policy today but now im confused ( nothing new there!!!) can some one tell me are we allowed to use our mobiles phones to take pictures or does it have to be a camera??? its what ive always done and its what ive written in my policy but now im not sure....

Some local safeguarding children boards are not allowing childminders to use mobile phones to take photos.

That is a local requirement - not in the EYFS.

The EYFS just says you must be clear about when you do / do not use them and how they are used.

Hth

[Mouse]

Some local safeguarding children boards are not allowing childminders to use mobile phones to take photos.

Hth

How on earth can they say that

What about people who don't own a camera & use the one on their phone? What's the reasoning behind it?

[kats]

Thank you sarah xx

[karen m]

I use my phone for taking pictures don't always have camera with mei email picture to myself from phone then delete it.I have written this on the end of Safeguarding policy

[nikki thomson]

I always use my I phone to take pics, I then e-mail them straight to my account and delete them on my phone, I don't even own a camera and even if I did I'd never remember to take it with me and it would take me an eternity to actually then download them, it's taken me 4 mths to make a hair appointment for my 2 dds. X

[clareelizabeth1]

I don't want to stop using my phone to take pics it's always on me do if a child is doing something amazing I can snap a pic in seconds. With a camera I have to set aside time to take pics. It takes time to turn it on by which point the child has stopped doing the amazing thing I wanted to capture. My obs would be no where near as good.

[christine e]

In my safeguarding policy I have mentioned that I use my mobile and camera for taking photos and then transfer to my pc and delete from mobile and camera, I have also spoke about children in my care using mobiles with cameras and other devices that can take photos (basically I discourage but if brought can only be used under strict supervision), childminders who employ assistants or have students need to think about how they can ensure that they are not misused.

[tammys-tots]

In my safeguarding policy I have mentioned that I use my mobile and camera for taking photos and then transfer to my pc and delete from mobile and camera, I have also spoke about children in my care using mobiles with cameras and other devices that can take photos (basically I discourage but if brought can only be used under strict supervision), childminders who employ assistants or have students need to think about how they can ensure that they are not misused.

Yes its fine to use mobile phones to take pictures we just have to wtite it in our policy . Thanks christine you've reminded me got student on placement soon better email her teacher and tell her phone needs to be kept in her bagx

[clorogue]

Yes its fine to use mobile phones to take pictures we just have to wtite it in our policy . Thanks christine you've reminded me got student on placement soon better email her teacher and tell her phone needs to be kept in her bagx

The school obviously allows work experience placements with someone alone working from home. When my son did his placements, no placements were allowed in people's houses. Different schools, different rules! That is assuming you are working alone. Just got me thinking that's all! Hope it goes well.

[bunyip]

How on earth can they say that

What about people who don't own a camera & use the one on their phone? What's the reasoning behind it?

I'm guessing that this all pretty much sprung out of the Vanessa George case. The following is a quote from the Telegraph online (Novemebr 2010):

The Plymouth Safeguarding Children Board serious case review detailed a number of lessons learnt from the abuse, including the danger of mobile phones within day care settings, and an urgent need to develop effective staff supervision. The board’s chairman said he would support a mobile phone ban but that alone would not prevent abuse taking place.

The review found that the private nursery, which closed after the discovery of the abuse, "provided an ideal environment within which George could abuse".

IIRC, other nursery staff reported that they felt very uncomfortable and suspicious, but no-one 'blew the whistle' because there wasn't really any guidelines on staff use of mobile 'phones in the setting and, possibly, not much of a procedure for voicing concerns.

i think that's why the new EYFS stresses both the need for a camera and 'phone policy, and making sure staff can report anything they're uncomfortable about within the setting. I suppose one could argue that it's more a group setting thing than for CMs, but I guess EYFS is trying to be consistent across all settings.

[tammys-tots]

[QUOTE=clorogue;1145379]The school obviously allows work experience placements with someone alone working from home. When my son did his placements, no placements were allowed in people's houses. Different schools, different rules! That is assuming you are working alone. Just got me thinking that's all! Hope it goes well.[/QUOT

The school my daughter went to didn't allow placements at cm. I had a student last year not from local school. I also had enquiry for a years placement from uni student but I only take on under 16s.I now work with a co cm so its better

[Mouse]

I'm guessing that this all pretty much sprung out of the Vanessa George case. The following is a quote from the Telegraph online (Novemebr 2010):



IIRC, other nursery staff reported that they felt very uncomfortable and suspicious, but no-one 'blew the whistle' because there wasn't really any guidelines on staff use of mobile 'phones in the setting and, possibly, not much of a procedure for voicing concerns.

i think that's why the new EYFS stresses both the need for a camera and 'phone policy, and making sure staff can report anything they're uncomfortable about within the setting. I suppose one could argue that it's more a group setting thing than for CMs, but I guess EYFS is trying to be consistent across all settings.

I understand the reasoning behind the whole focus on using mobile phones in childcare settings and agree they shouldn't be allowed in a nursery setting, but can't understand how a LA could ban childminders from using mobile phones in their own home while they were working How can they decide what we can or can't do? If it was law that mobile phones couldn't be used in any childcare setting then it's different, but if it's just someone in a LA deciding that cms can't use a phone, I think it's daft.

One of the big things about the revised EYFS seems to be giving us more responsibility to make our own decisions (yay...at last we can use our common sense!), but some LAs seemed determined to to enforce their (in my opinion) misguided ideas on us.

[rickysmiths]

I understand the reasoning behind the whole focus on using mobile phones in childcare settings and agree they shouldn't be allowed in a nursery setting, but can't understand how a LA could ban childminders from using mobile phones in their own home while they were working How can they decide what we can or can't do? If it was law that mobile phones couldn't be used in any childcare setting then it's different, but if it's just someone in a LA deciding that cms can't use a phone, I think it's daft.

One of the big things about the revised EYFS seems to be giving us more responsibility to make our own decisions (yay...at last we can use our common sense!), but some LAs seemed determined to to enforce their (in my opinion) misguided ideas on us.

I agree with you and what will the LA do if you do use the phone anyway? They can't de register you and if they complain to Ofsted they have got to prove you have used the phone in an inappropriate way I would have thought before Ofsted would regard it a complaint.

[bunyip]

I understand the reasoning behind the whole focus on using mobile phones in childcare settings and agree they shouldn't be allowed in a nursery setting, but can't understand how a LA could ban childminders from using mobile phones in their own home while they were working How can they decide what we can or can't do? If it was law that mobile phones couldn't be used in any childcare setting then it's different, but if it's just someone in a LA deciding that cms can't use a phone, I think it's daft.

One of the big things about the revised EYFS seems to be giving us more responsibility to make our own decisions (yay...at last we can use our common sense!), but some LAs seemed determined to to enforce their (in my opinion) misguided ideas on us.

I could not agree more. In fact, I'll take it one step further and say this whole camera thing seems to be based on 2 false assumptions.

1. The authorities seem to be hoping that people will stop doing something just because a policy says they won't. Rubbish! People who misuse cameras/'phones/images surely know it's wrong whether or not a policy is in place. There seems to be a whacky notion that if you write a rule against something it's suddenly going to stop happening. If anyone believes that works, then they should stand on any busy road and count the number of drivers with mobile phones stuck to their ears.
2. People seem to have got the idea that there's something implicitly wrong, illegal or dangerous about taking perfectly innocent pctures. I've even heard EY workers say it's "illegal" for anyone to take a child's picture without consent. Sure, I very much try to respect parents' wishes. But I don't want my mindees growing up into a situation where the state begins to control freedoms such as taking photographs.

Oh no, I'm back on my soapbox again.

I'm going to try to be reasonable and call my county safeguarding children board today - see if they have any local guidelines for the new policies.