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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask my sons nursery to stop using Sparklebox resources?

72 replies

pizzaqueen · 30/04/2013 19:58

My DS (2.5) attends a lovely private nursery 2 afternoons a week. I'm more than happy with his care and he is really happy there.

Today he brought home a 'home to nursery bag' each one has a different theme and the kids get to pick them to bring home. I was shocked to find some sparklebox resources and worksheets inside the pack.

For those that don't know sparklebox's owner (Kinge) was associated with having indecent images of children and sex offence charges a few years ago and many schools and childcare providers boycott sparklebox resources as a result.

More here: www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6041853

Would I be being unreasonable to draw the nursery's attention to this and explain I'm not happy about them using these resources? I don't want to come across as a trouble maker but this just sits really uncomfortably with me, I hate to think in a round about way I'm finding child pornography.

OP posts:
Original poster
pizzaqueen · 30/04/2013 19:58

Funding* not finding

OP posts:
MissAnnersley · 30/04/2013 19:59

YANBU. I think it should be pointed out to them.

ChasingStaplers · 30/04/2013 20:00

I am having the same dilemma. I noticed some pictures on the wall at my DC's nursery from sparklebox and w

malteserzz · 30/04/2013 20:00

I would tell them, my local authority don't let schools use sparkle box any more.

ChasingStaplers · 30/04/2013 20:01

Oops. Wondered if I should mention it.

Justforlaughs · 30/04/2013 20:02

Mention it, they may not be aware of the situation

McNewPants2013 · 30/04/2013 20:04

www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=6041853

Yanbu i would bring this to the owners attention.

KitNCaboodle · 30/04/2013 20:04

Some schools still use them but black out the sparkle box logo so that children do not see it and assume its a safe site.
I can understand your concern with funding as even though the resources are free there may be advertising on there.

madamimadam · 30/04/2013 20:10

YANBU. I mentioned it to mine after I saw one. Didn't want anyone assuming it was anything other than a front for that awful man.

FannyMcNally · 30/04/2013 20:19

We still use some old resources that are lying around but I tend to renew them if I spot them. We have used Twinkl.co.uk for some years now since it all blew up. I would mention it and then mention Twinkl as an alternative.

Original poster
pizzaqueen · 30/04/2013 20:40

Thanks everyone. Good to know its not just me who feels that way.

I've sent the nursery a polite email drawing their attention to it. Smile

OP posts:
LindyHemming · 30/04/2013 20:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CloudsAndTrees · 30/04/2013 20:44

I thought sparklebox had been improved and made safe since the story a while ago?

The nursery that I used to work in did stop using sparklebox resources, but have since begun to use them again.

ReallyTired · 30/04/2013 20:44

Prehaps the nursery do not know abou the darker side of sparklebox. I think you are right to draw the nursery's attention to that fact that sparklebox resources are made and marketed by a paedophile.

HarrietSchulenberg · 30/04/2013 20:44

They'll know already but will be using up resources. At the end of the day, they're just resources and they were quite handy ones too.

threepiecesuite · 30/04/2013 20:46

I used to use Sparklebox in my teaching and wasn't aware of this story.
I will not use them again. Yes, do let nursery (politely) know.

Picturesinthefirelight · 30/04/2013 20:47

The website may have been made safer but the last I heard Kinge was still making money out of it.

veryconfusedatthemoment · 30/04/2013 20:53

unfortunately my DS school uses sparklebox and no-one seems to mind. I definitely did mind the idea of that man being involved - it just seemed wrong somehow.

Clouds - do you have any more info?

kim147 · 30/04/2013 20:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

manicinsomniac · 30/04/2013 20:57

meh, I think YABU. SParklebox resources are awesome and save a massive amount of time.

This is the first I've heard of any problems with the site, they've been used for years in my school and nobody's mentioned a word of this.

Regardless, using them or not is not going to harm or protect any children in a teacher's care or elsewhere, they're just great, colourful display resources.

Hulababy · 30/04/2013 20:57

Sparklebox is barred from our LEA network, so not accessible at school. However, some teachers still use it where I work. They know my opinion on it and wherever possible I will not use the resources - I'd rather make my own or look elsewhere online. I hate it when I have no choice - sadly, I don't always get that choice (am a TA these days, if not knowing in advance and just presented with materials, etc).

CloudsAndTrees · 30/04/2013 20:57

No, I don't, sorry, I wish I did! I'm reading this thread with interest and hoping someone that knows more will come along.

I had been told by my old boss that the site was safe to use so she was going to start using it again, and she had always to rid of the logo anyway. But it hadn't occurred to me that the guy might still be making money from the site.

NotTreadingGrapes · 30/04/2013 20:58

That's hardly the point manic is it? Hmm

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 30/04/2013 21:00

Regardless, using them or not is not going to harm or protect any children in a teacher's care or elsewhere

I think the children being exploited in the child pornography that these resources are funding or have funded in the past would beg to differ.

There should be a 100% boycott of these products, no exception. It's disgusting.

kim147 · 30/04/2013 21:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.