To be concerned about nursery posting pictures of children in underwear on Facebook?

[MandB23]

This is my child’s old nursery but I still follow the page.
They’ve put a post on of the children doing a big floor painting in their underwear. There are 31 pictures.
I messaged them to say that I don’t think the pictures are appropriate for an open Facebook group and they replied to say they follow policies and ask parents questions about their preferences around photographs on induction.
I tried to reply to say that i still don’t think it’s appropriate as I don’t imagine they have actually specified to parents that the images may be of their children in underwear but it looks like they’ve then blocked me on messenger as it won’t send.
I’m concerned as to why a nursery wouldn’t just hear the concerns from a parent point of view and remove them? What’s it to them if those pictures need to be removed? Is it worth the potential safeguard concern of a child?

I would find it a bit strange to strip them down to tops and pants for painting. DD’s pre-school put them in overalls so their clothes were protected.

I think the nursery are on dodgy ground with those photos being shared publicly.

The fact they are stripped down to pants, but have left tshirts on is weird as well!

I also think it's wierd to strip down to pants to paint. The fact that they've shared the pictures (the way you've described) so publicly is a safeguarding concern and I would report them to the authorities.

What they do is use Spare clothes from nursery and get them all changed to do this type of painting. As far as I know from when my child was there about 3 years ago.
So you then have the issue that the whole class are getting changed into spare clothes and undies. Reading other peoples comment I am wondering if any dignity is spared for the kids as they all get stripped and changed. I’d never thought of that point before. My immediate issue was the Facebook picture. I hate when parents put pictures on of their kids bums or in the bath and I just report them. But a nursery putting them on. Seems mad to me!!!
I’m emailing ofsted and attaching the images and response I received

@Pollynextdoor

I don’t think it sounds inappropriate. I think you sound more weird noticing little boys bulges to be honest.

Yep. And tee shirts are not underwear, so I'm not sure why OP is calling it that.

@JuliaJohnston
Ok, and it may not be a police matter. I’m perhaps a bit sensitive to it because my DH worked in criminal justice catching pedophiles. Some of which were nursery workers (both male and female) and this just rings alarm bells to me. Like the tip of an iceberg, or smoke from a fire.

One of the clearest warning signs of a pedophile is enthusiastic taking of photographs or videos of children, even children who are fully dressed, but preferably, and behind a parent's back, of children half dressed to nude. A nursery that has for some reason not only allowed but is posting pictures half dressed children on the FB page has had more than a momentary lapse of judgement. This is being enthusiastic about having seen and sharing their half dressed state. And the blocking concerned parents- that’s defensiveness that they don’t see anything off with it at all.

There quite realistically could be some abuse going on there behind the scenes and to me this warning sign should not be ignored.

I hate when parents put pictures on of their kids bums or in the bath and I just report them.

You report pictures that parents have put on FB of their own kids in the bath?!

@Duckwit yeah.
I don’t think you realise that pedophiles will use images like that.
It’s everyone’s responsibility to safeguard children.

I agree with you OP it does seem inappropriate for a nursery to be putting pictures online of the children in their underwear.

I wouldn't worry about the children getting changed in class together though . My DC's nursery used to do this with the children to ensure they were able to dress / undress themselves, fasten buttons etc before they started school. I found it helpful as we were normally on too much of a rush in the morning for DC to take their time around this .

@saraclara well you can see their underwear. Children deserve respect. I wouldn’t post pictures of myself in my knickers and t shirt on Facebook so I don’t think children should be posted on a public forum for all to see like that either.

Sounds completely bizarre to me and an inappropriate Facebook post too. Why don’t they use painting aprons? Isn’t that the normal thing to do? If I were a parent of a child at that nursery, I would be very unhappy on both counts (ie stripping them down for painting and posting the photos).

No that’s not appropriate at all! I know there are some parents out there who are very laid back and have a “it says more about you than them” attitude if appropriateness is brought up but once you’ve worked in childcare and been on safeguarding courses it gives you a completely different perspective - a depressing one but there you go. The fact that a nursery has done this is beyond me. The thing is it’s so easy for parents to think well if no one else has got a problem I won’t say anything for fear of looking prudish and ott. You’re definitely right to take this further.

Is this a Facebook group? If so, yes they should remove you, but should have done it ages ago when your child left nursery, with all the other ex-pupil parents - that’s an issue in itself that they don’t regularly review membership of the group.

@Doboopedoo it’s just an open page. It isn’t private. I assume they use it as some kind of marketing. It has hundreds of followers and some are from my child’s age group. I guess I never thought there was an issue with me being on there as they usually just share what they’re up to - fundraising, open days etc. The odd activity picture.

I think this warrants a phone call or email to the safeguarding officer at your local authority early years department. Make sure they know you raised it as a cause for concern but was then blocked rather than them acting on it.

My children in nappies/underwear on my locked down fb?

No problem

My children in nappies/underwear on a public Facebook page...yeah I wouldn’t like that at all

@Emma10702

I saw a post from one of our local nurseries on Facebook yesterday with a very similar picture. Babies in nappies doing painting. I wouldn’t be happy if it was one of my children. I was surprised they thought it was appropriate to post it actually.

What’s inappropriate about a baby in a nappy 😱

@Feministicon I suppose it isn’t. In an ideal world. When you’ve worked with children and safeguarding you know that actually it is concerning and we need to protect children as some people will use those images of freely available. All staff in nurseries know this. They are trained to safeguard children. That’s where the concern is, for me anyway.

[quote PlanDeRaccordement]@JuliaJohnston
You can have that opinion. Personally I see stripping and entire class of children down to their underwear for activities and then photographing it as very concerning. Where is the parents consent? Or the child’s consent for that matter? I can’t imagine every child was happy to undress in front of class and staff. At least one would have been coerced into it.[/quote]
Wtf???

[quote MandB23]@Feministicon I suppose it isn’t. In an ideal world. When you’ve worked with children and safeguarding you know that actually it is concerning and we need to protect children as some people will use those images of freely available. All staff in nurseries know this. They are trained to safeguard children. That’s where the concern is, for me anyway.[/quote]
I’m surprised the parents are ok with an open Facebook page, seems very unusual.

No that’s not appropriate at all. It also begs the question why have they blocked you. Are they trying to hide something and know you have “prying eyes”. I’m not jumping straight to paedophilia because to paraphrase what a PP said “Surely, they wouldn’t be as open as to put pictures up of kids in their underwear on a public Facebook page” However we do know it goes on. I’m sure we can all remember Vanessa George.

Wow! I never mind normal photos of my son being shared but I would never ever have him in any state of undress. Agree this is totally unacceptable.

YANBU, that's gross and completely unacceptable. I am quite sure the parents of the children in the nursery wouldn't be happy with that.

@Feministicon this was an open Facebook page with the children who attend the setting pictured. I agree it shouldn’t be an issue in an ideal world but it just didn’t sit comfortably with me. I work in childcare so I’m possibly overthinking it but it’s certainly not something I would do nor would I be happy if it was my child on the photo.

I would be fucking livid if this was my daughter. I'd report it to the police if I raised concerns and they blocked me. They're obviously not interested in having an adult conversation.