SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN – MOBILE PHONE, TABLET AND CAMERA POLICY

Our setting recognises that mobile phones play an increasing part in everyone’s lives but that
procedures need to be abided by to fully ensure the protection of the children in our care.

Photographs of children are used to record observations of children’s achievements and these are
printed and deleted from the camera daily, to ensure that children are adequately protected.

Parents and Carers.

 Will normally be requested not to use their mobile or camera however we recognise that there
are occasions when a parent/carer may wish to capture a special moment. We ask that everyone
ensures that they only photograph their own child/children. Staff will monitor this.
 If other children are unavoidably included i.e. sports day, these photos must not be posted on
any social networking site i.e. Facebook.

Staff
 Mobile phones are kept in each person’s own bag or handbag. These are kept out of reach of
children.
 Mobiles will usually be accessed during the lunch break and away from the children. If access is
needed at other times it must be either in the kitchen or outside of the hall.
 No member of staff will take photographs of the children on their mobile phone.
 Staff are requested to use the pre-school phone number as an emergency contact number for
their family members, children’s schools etc.
 The Pre-school Manager or, in her absence, a deputy will keep a mobile phone on the table by
the main door throughout the day. The phone will be used for work related calls and also
ensures that a mobile will be available when the whole group is outdoors. When staff go out for
small group activities it is our policy that one person carries a phone in case of emergencies.
 Staff’s own cameras will not be used in the Pre-school.
 The designated Pre-school camera is used for photographs to record children’s development and
to share special moments with parents and peers.
 Photographs are printed at least once a week, and usually daily, on our own Pre-school printer,
with all images deleted after printing.
 Cameras and phones must not be taken out to the toilets.
 Parental permission to take photographs is requested on the Child Registration forms. If parents
choose not to give permission then we will not take photos of their child at Pre-school.
 It is the responsibility of all staff to be vigilant and report any concerns to the pre-school
Manager or Deputy.
 Concerns will be taken seriously, logged and investigated appropriately.
 The Pre-school Manager, or Deputy in her absence, reserve the right to check the images on a
member of staff’s phone should there be any cause for concern.
 Staff have the use of one shared Amazon Fire tablet which can be used for researching a topic of
interest to the children. To ensure safe use, this is used by the adults only to share information
with the children.

Websites and Social Networks sites

 Staff must not ever discuss children, parents or other staff members on any social networking
site or website.
 Parents should be discouraged from discussing and/or publishing photographs of their own
and/or other children on any social networking site or website.

Scout Hall Preschool Ltd Policy & Procedures – reviewed 21/07/2022