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Original poster

Not consenting to child in public photos at school

160 replies

redheadonatractor · 11/06/2021 13:05

Hi,

When my child started school we ticked the box to say we do not consent to them being photographed for public use - ie on the school website and on promotional materials, leaflets and what have you. We did consent for them to be pictured for internal things (we had to choose one, both or none). So we're fine with child being on group photos for things like Tapestry and similar that are only seen by other parents, but not on the website or leaflets that are put out for the public. This is for safety reasons, but we didn't have to specify why.

Now since then (YR) I have been contacted twice by the school office to ask if my child can be used on a group photo for the website, with the picture sent to me. I have said no both times, we don't consent and that her face is clearly visible on the photos.

Now I've been contacted by the office again, saying that our child is starting to notice that she's being asked to step aside for photos and can we explain to her why. We can't explain to her why. She's five years old and the reason why would worry and scare her. I've explained to the school (just that, no further detail) and said that could they not just stand her at the end and then not get her in the picture or crop her off? They've said this isn't really possible. Apparently she's the only child in the school that doesn't have consent. They also take 'children at play' photos - I've said if they're doing that can they not distract DD with something else for a moment and take the photo without her in it?

I'm not sure where we go from here. Once child is older we will be able to explain more, but she has additional needs and resulting anxiety as it is. She also has 1-1 TA support at all times so surely it shouldn't be hard to distract her in the moment it takes to take a photo? It is a very well staffed, small class (ratio 1:5) so I really don't think I'm being unreasonable, but perhaps I am so I thought I'd see what other people think!

OP posts:

Bitofachinwag · 11/06/2021 20:57

@Vooga

Am I missing something or is there a reason they can't just take the photos then delete them later so she doesn't know she's left out? She's not gonna know whether she's on the website or not.

Because if they have asked you not to take any photos you shouldn't take any photos. Simple.

KisstheTeapot14 · 11/06/2021 20:59

We requested similar and never had a problem. School need to get a grip and deal with it in a way that doesn't upset the child. Smiley sticker or whatever. Tell them you will escalate if they keep contacting you. T

GreenCrayon · 11/06/2021 21:00

Because if they have asked you not to take any photos you shouldn't take any photos. Simple.

The OP hasn't said she cannot be photographed though has she. All she's asking is her child's image is not used in public.

Interested in this thread?

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5 year olds Families General education

Mulhollandmagoo · 11/06/2021 21:21

It seems a complete waste of time asking all parents to fill in consent forms of they're going hassle you constantly about what you have and haven't consented to.

Are the school aware that this is a safeguarding issue? This needs making explicitly clear to them - that should be the end of it as far as I'm concerned! There are definitely ways around it, but it sounds like they can't be arsed, if you consented then they wouldn't have to check any of the pictures they're taking or posting and they're trying to strongarm you into changing your mind for their convenience. Is moving schools an option?

laselvar · 11/06/2021 21:28

Surely it shouldn't be that big a deal. Your daughter has noticed she is not being included in some pictures and needs an explanation. She needs a reason, not necessarily the truth. Couldn't you just tell her you don't do social media. It's perfectly normal in school for a child to do things differently (often it's for health / dietary / religious reasons), but the children always know why, even if they don't fully understand it.

Original poster

redheadonatractor · 11/06/2021 21:32

Moving schools isn't an option no. She has an EHCP that the school is named on, it's not that simple.

Also she is very settled there and loves it. Moving her would be far more disruptive for her than your average child due to her additional needs, and the small class sizes suit her down to the ground which I wouldn't find anywhere else locally. I'm not moving her because someone can't be bothered to check photos, quite frankly!

OP posts:

GreenCrayon · 11/06/2021 21:32

Surely it shouldn't be that big a deal. Your daughter has noticed she is not being included in some pictures and needs an explanation.

Its actually quite a big deal because in this instance it genuinely sounds like the only reason she's become aware is because the teachers have made it very clear she's being excluded after the OP has refused to change the consent form. It sounds like it's being done out of spite which would make me question if this was a school I wanted my child in.

Bitofachinwag · 11/06/2021 21:33

@lljkk

tbh, this reminds me of colleagues who have no social media profile.

One such colleague insists that he was advised to never let a picture of himself appear anywhere online by govt (MI5 or 6) because he has official top govt clearance. What really happens is his anonymity is bizarre. It brings to everyone's attention that he has no usual internet photo or profile. So then anyone would wonder... why not.

You'll have to think of something to tell your DD, OP.

Lots of people don't have a social media profile!

Twocanplay · 11/06/2021 21:34

The school sound very unprofessional.

saraclara · 11/06/2021 21:45

If the child is in potential danger from a person, surely the safeguarding lead knows about this? It would be entirely wrong not to inform the school that your DD is at this sort of risk.

It only needs one person in the school to be aware of the reason she needs to be kept safe from being identified. They can then make it clear there are to be no approaches asking you to change your mind or to ask you to explain anything to the child, without giving any more information than that.

FASDE1517 · 11/06/2021 23:15

A good few in my class don't have consent.
I make them 'smile' leaders. I take one picture with them all in it, then take out the children without permission to stand at the front and "show the others how to smile". They've got no idea they're being excluded from the photo I actually need. Your school have got this all wrong. Also, I struggle to believe your little one is the only one!!

BeaMinus · 12/06/2021 07:23

@FelicityPike

Can they not just put a smiley face sticker thing over her face it the photo? That’s what our school does.

This is what happens at my dc's school.

Forfolkssake · 12/06/2021 07:31

I used to work in schools and I would take photos in the holiday clubs. I would take lots of photos of all the children so no-one felt left out and then simply delete the photos containing the kids with safeguarding issues afterwards. It's really not an event!

Dauphinois · 12/06/2021 07:39

The school are in the wrong here. In our school we'd never ask a child to step out of a photo, it's not fair to make them feel uncomfortable.

I always encourage the teachers to snap away freely, and then office staff crop/blur/edit as required.

It's time consuming and a bit of a pain but we absolutely respect the right of parents ( and children) to not be published if they don't want to.

Getoutofbed25 · 12/06/2021 07:42

I would actually worry that school want to take so many photo to be used externally, it’s not necessary.
But I’d also be concerned that parents may use the ones on Tapestry to use on social media. I’d be inclined to ask them to take no photos of my child if there was a reason I didn’t want them to be on social media.
I’d tell my child that I don’t want other people having their photo as that something just for family.

Dauphinois · 12/06/2021 07:42

And I'm amazed she's the only one in the school without photo consent tbh! At our school I'd guess it's about 20% of children, so not an insignificant number.

LadyGAgain · 12/06/2021 07:52

Meet with the Head. And chair of Governors. It's ridiculous that that are making a massive deal about something that is easy to manage but a huge deal if the person you are protecting the child from sees them. And to a PP, it's not a faff.
I do however think you should explain to the child. They are 5. Keep it very simple and not scary but you should find some words as that will go a long way to help the situation.

MargaretThursday · 12/06/2021 07:58

"Mummy and daddy don't want you in photos at school"
Is the explanation she needs from you.

Problem with sticking the smiley face sticker over one child is people start speculating which child and why.

Bitofachinwag · 12/06/2021 09:10

@Dauphinois

The school are in the wrong here. In our school we'd never ask a child to step out of a photo, it's not fair to make them feel uncomfortable.

I always encourage the teachers to snap away freely, and then office staff crop/blur/edit as required.

It's time consuming and a bit of a pain but we absolutely respect the right of parents ( and children) to not be published if they don't want to.

But if parents have asked for no photos to be taken that's still wrong. Someone could forget to delete/crop.

C8H10N4O2 · 12/06/2021 09:27

Why are teachers taking so many photos? It's just teaching children that everything they do needs to be photographed, documented and put on-line or shared. Surely that's what we should be stearing them away from?

^This

C8H10N4O2 · 12/06/2021 09:28

"Mummy and daddy don't want you in photos at school" Is the explanation she needs from you

No she needs the school to comply with a very fundamental consent issue until the child is old enough to have some form of explanation.

tiredteacher100 · 12/06/2021 09:31

The school should be more than used to this - looked after children (fostered, in care and often adopted children) are not usually shown in photos as standard so it shouldn't be a problem

KisstheTeapot14 · 12/06/2021 11:08

Poster who said we should not be teaching kids that everything we do needs documenting and pictures - totally agree!

We must be raising the most self conscious generations of children ever. I am positive that this is not a healthy move for MH and general happiness.

Personally I had concerns about safeguarding - strangers knowing which school DS attended (he is socially vulnerable and young for age), and also school using his image as part of their marketing basically.

No thanks, he's not attending school to be a PR tool! Maybe that is stating it a bit dramatically but that was my instinct.

whattodo2019 · 12/06/2021 11:13

Working in a school it is becoming increasingly more common for families to opt out of photos being used of their child jn social media or in marketing material.
However, in private schools the pressure to post on social media has increased beyond belief. As a parent you would think it's easy to remove a child from a photo of crop the photos but the reality is that time and pressure ...

We do try our absolute utmost I promise.

As children get older or by year3 it is really helpful if the child knows to step out of the photos.

CthulhuChristmas · 12/06/2021 11:43

I agree with this! Part of it, especially in EYFS, is the need to have 'evidence' for everything. When I started working in a Foundation Stage unit I'd jot down quick notes about what the children were doing and had achieved, and write these up neatly for their profiles afterwards. By the time I left, everything had to be photographed and put onto an online system or it was as if it hadn't happened. Staff were spending more time taking photos and typing captions for them than they were interacting with the children (one of the reasons I left!) It must have been so strange for the children.

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