Cameras, mobile phones and e-safety policy
It is our intention to provide an environment in which children, parents/carers and staff are safe from images being recorded and inappropriately used, thus in turn eliminating the following concerns:
1) Staff being distracted from their work with children
2) The inappropriate use of mobile phone cameras around children
Aim
Our aim is to have a clear policy on the acceptable use of mobile phones and cameras that is understood and adhered to by all parties concerned without exception.
MOBILE PHONES
1. The Nursery allows staff to bring in personal mobile telephones and devices for their own use. Under no circumstances does the nursery allow a member of staff to contact a current pupil or parent/carer using their personal device.
2. Users bringing personal devices into nursery must ensure there is no inappropriate or illegal content on the device.
3. All staff must ensure that their mobile telephones/devices are left inside their bag throughout contact time with children. Staff bags should be placed in the Staff Room unless requested by the Manager or Owner to move them to another appropriate location
4. Mobile phone calls may only be taken at staff breaks or in staff members’ own time.
5. If staff have a personal emergency they are free to use the setting’s phone or make a personal call from their mobile in the designated staff area.
6. If any staff member has a family emergency or similar and required to keep their mobile phone to hand, prior permission must be sought from the Manager or Owner and the mobile phone should be placed in the classroom cupboard.
7. Staff will need to ensure that the Owner has up-to-date contact information and that staff make their families, children’s schools etc. aware of emergency work telephone numbers. This is the responsibility of the individual staff member.
8. All parent helpers/students will be requested to place their bag containing their phone in the Staff Room or another appropriate location and asked to take or receive any calls in the Staff Room.
9. During group outings nominated staff will have access to a nominated mobile phone agreed by the setting, which is to be used for emergency purposes only.
10. It is the responsibility of all members of staff to be vigilant and report any concerns regarding the use of mobile phones to the Manager or Owner. Concerns will be taken seriously, logged and investigated appropriately (see our Allegations policy).
11. The Manager or Owner in her absence reserves the right to check the image contents of a member of staff’s mobile phone should there be any cause for concern over the appropriate use of it.
12. Should inappropriate material be found then our Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) will be contacted immediately. We will follow the guidance of the LADO as to the appropriate measures for the staff member concerned.
CAMERAS
Photographs taken for the purpose of recording a child or group of children participating in activities or celebrating their achievements is an effective form of recording their progression in the Early Years Foundation Stage. However, it is essential that photographs are taken and stored appropriately to safeguard the children in our care.
1. Only the designated Nursery camera is to be used to take any photo within the setting or on outings.
2. Images taken on this camera must be deemed suitable without putting the child/children in any compromising positions that could cause embarrassment or distress.
3. All staff are responsible for the location of the camera; it should not be left in rooms unattended.
4. The camera must be locked away at the end of every session.
5. Images taken and stored on the camera must be downloaded as soon as possible, ideally once a week.
6. Images must only be downloaded by the nominated senior member of staff.
7. If the technology is available images should be downloaded on-site. Should this facility not be available these may be downloaded off-site and erased from the personal computer as soon as the images have successfully been printed.
8. Photographs should then be distributed to members of staff (key workers) to record in children’s learning journeys.
9. Under no circumstances must cameras of any kind be taken into the bathrooms without prior consultation with the Manager or Owner
10. If photographs need to be taken in a bathroom, i.e. photographs of the children washing their hands, then the Manager or Owner must be asked first and staff be supervised whilst carrying out this kind of activity. At all times the camera must be placed in a prominent place where it can be seen.
11. Failure to adhere to the contents of this policy will lead to disciplinary procedures being followed.
Suitable steps are taken to securely protect all personal files, for both children and staff. Files are stored in a filing cabinet in a room that is locked.
E-SAFETY
Core principles
The Internet is now regarded as an essential resource to support teaching and learning. Computer skills are vital to accessing life-long learning and employment. It is important for children to learn to be e-safe from an early age and Chingford House Nursery can play a vital part in starting this process. There is a requirement to provide pupils with as safe an internet environment as possible and a need to begin to teach them to be aware of and respond responsibly to possible risks.
The E-Safety Policy is built on the following care principles:
• Guided educational use: Significant educational benefits can result from internet use including access to information from around the world. Internet use is carefully planned and targeted within a regulated and managed environment.
• Risk assessment: We have a duty to ensure children are not exposed to inappropriate information or materials. We also need to ensure that children know how to ask for help if they come across material that makes them feel uncomfortable.
• Responsibility: Internet safety in the nursery depends on staff, parents, carers and visitors taking responsibility for the use of the internet. We therefore limit internet access and monitor its effectiveness.
Why is it important for pre-school children to access the internet?
The internet is an essential element in 21st-century life. The nursery has a duty to provide children with quality internet access as part of their learning experience.
Pre-school internet access will be tailored expressly for educational use and will include appropriate filtering. Pupils will learn appropriate internet use. Staff will guide pupils in online activities that will support their learning journeys
The internet is also used in the nursery to allow effective planning and to enhance our business administration systems.
How will filtering be managed?
The nursery will ensure that the appropriate filters are applied on the laptops in the nursery and to the PC in the office. Staff will monitor the websites being used by the children during nursery sessions.
If staff or pupils discover unsuitable sites have been accessed on the pre-school room laptops, they must be reported to Mrs Akhtar or Ms Farrell immediately so that filters can be reviewed.
Managing Content
Staff are responsible for ensuring that material accessed by children is appropriate and for ensuring that the use of any internet derived materials by staff or by children complies with copyright law.
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Review date: August 2024