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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

manicinsomniac · 30/04/2013 22:10

fanny I've never heard of twinkl but will check it out (sounds like a site for young children? I use KS2 stuff from sparklebox)

And it's only a parenting site that's told me that LAs have 'banned this stuff for years'. I've been teaching for years in more than one area and have never heard a whisper of a problem. Hence the doubt and the meh.

I'm curious now so will ask around but I don't think I know a teacher who doesn't use it.

LindyHemming · 30/04/2013 22:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kim147 · 30/04/2013 22:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

teacherandguideleader · 30/04/2013 22:14

Definitely mention it. I remember when the whole sparkle box thing kicked off - I had a lot of stuff from them. I still use the ideas, but not the actual resources.

Some of the more recently qualified staff knew nothing about it - they were uni students at the time (not education students though). Some were using the resources as they had no idea of the history.

It may just be a simple mistake - I know I don't check the history of every website I ever use.

ClayDavis · 30/04/2013 22:16

Try this link manicinsomniac

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8462650.stm

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

manicinsomniac · 30/04/2013 22:22

Thanksclay I'll look into it

Feenie · 30/04/2013 22:25

Yes - please read some links and educate yourself. Manicinsomniac. I'm assuming you don't know how to google yourself, then?

FannyMcNally · 30/04/2013 22:27

If you want an example you can read the email sent to all HTs in Hertfordshire from the LA in 2010. scroll down a few paragraphs

ClayDavis · 30/04/2013 22:35

I do find it quite surprising that there seem to be so many teachers who don't know about Kinge and Sparklebox. His second conviction was a national news story. I think Panorama also did a documentary on it.

Tanith · 30/04/2013 22:50

Doing a search for Sparklebox on Mumsnet will bring up all you need to know about the site and its nasty, grubby owner.

Personally, I wouldn't hesitate to tell the nursery. In fact, I've told my own DD's nursery.

The more Sparklebox on their walls, the less room there is for the children's own work. In some classrooms, Sparklebox leers out from every available vertical surface! It says an awful lot about the teacher who put it there, in my opinion

Sparkeleigh · 30/04/2013 23:47

CloudsandTrees regarding getting photos off a users PC using cookies, it's not possible for cookies to be used like that. Here's some info if you're interested
www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-cookies

My nickname seems horribly inappropriate on this thread, sorry about that!

CloudsAndTrees · 30/04/2013 23:55

Thank you, that's good to know Sparkleigh.

I don't think there's anything wrong with using these types of resources though. In many settings they are used a lot but it's to display the days of the week, or to label train set box for example. I'm thinking more of foundation stage stuff, but there is space for these types of resources as well as the children's own work.

ClayDavis · 01/05/2013 00:24

It wasn't cookies that were the problem. The site used to have a toolbar that you downloaded to your PC and it let you know when new resources had been added. The reason most LAs blocked the site at the time was that it was thought the toolbar may have had malware attached that would allow access to images from the user's PC or network.

As far as I know, the police investigated this and it turned out to be the case and the toolbar was harmless.

Original poster

pizzaqueen · 01/05/2013 12:32

Got a reply from the nursery this morning. The manager wasn't aware of the background story of sparkle box and neither were the staff she spoke to. She's going to remove all sparkle box resources from the nursery and ensure they are not used in future.

I'm really happy with the response and that they are removing sparkle box materials. I believe it really was just that they weren't aware of the background.

Thanks for your opinions everyone. If your DC school/nursery is using sparkle box I'd encourage you to raise it with them, chances are they aren't aware and will stop using those materials.

OP posts:

Original poster

pizzaqueen · 01/05/2013 12:34

I'm really happy with the response and that they are removing sparkle box materials. I believe it really was just that they weren't aware of the background.

Thanks for your opinions everyone. If your DC school/nursery is using sparkle box I'd encourage you to raise it with them, chances are they aren't aware and will stop using those materials.

OP posts:

Finola1step · 01/05/2013 15:33

Well done queen

ChasingStaplers · 01/05/2013 16:46

Well done pizzaqueen :)

You prompted me to do the same and I've had much the same response. The manager thought that only by downloading the toolbar would he get any revenue - they didn't think about adverts etc. am glad I did mention it now.

Thanks to the person who recommended twinkl - I've passed that on too.

thebody · 01/05/2013 16:51

Gosh never heard of this and our school uses the resources and know others that do too.

Thanks for the info and will raise this at school tomorrow.

fromparistoberlin · 02/05/2013 08:27

I am sorry, but if he has been arrested, and the stuff is good and free.....

sorry!

Feenie · 02/05/2013 15:48

He has indeed served his time, but he committed child pornography offences twice - once as an award winning Reception teacher and once as the owner if Sparklebox. I am not happy to fund his lifestyle, and have no confidence that will not reoffend.

'Good and free' ? Have you heard yourself?!

Finola1step · 03/05/2013 13:16

Fromparis. Do you actually know what he was intending to do with his website as a way if using it to get direct access to children through chat rooms? I suggest you do a bit more research.

Feenie · 03/05/2013 17:49

And just who are you apologising to, anyway, fromparistoberlin - the victims in the child pornography he was convicted of repeatedly downloading?

What is the matter with people?

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