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?

For childcare proffessionals to be so blinkered about safeguarding is really concerning!

This is a real no no- not borderline, just totally unacceptable to post photographs of other people's partially clothed children in a public space.

I’m very surprised that the nursery didn’t remove old parents from their page.
It’s the first thing we do after a child leaves.

it's an open access page, not a members' page.
the whole place sounds poorly run, to say the least.

I would email the nursery and put in the subject title "safeguarding concerns"

Reiterate that the sharing of the photos on an open page isn't appropriate as they can be copied and manipulated (which they should bloody know).

Probably in underwear to stop clothes getting ruined but I wouldn't be happy about the photos going on Facebook

Blocking you is v unprofessional. I'd comment on the fb page photos!

Wow has everyone gone a bit weird. Even I’m turning my nose up at that.

That's really bad. Last year, my best friend's SD's mum put photos of her 11 year old in a bra and pants on her Facebook page, which I thought was very inappropriate, the child didn't even know the photos were being taken, because when she went to her dad's for the weekend, he was on Facebook and those came up, and she saw them over his shoulder and started crying, she was so embarrassed and horrified. Her dad reported them to Facebook but they said there was nothing wrong with them 🙄

[quote MandB23]@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.[/quote]
Out of interest, what's the name of it?

I don't think you are being even slightly oversensitive OP. I have worked in a number of nurseries and I can’t think of any that would have thought this was a good idea! I can't believe, with all the safeguarding training nursery staff are required to do, that nobody questioned the wisdom of such a photo shoot!
I'd be seriously pissed off, especially as they've had the nerve to block you. Hope you make your complaint formal.

@Toothsil

That's really bad. Last year, my best friend's SD's mum put photos of her 11 year old in a bra and pants on her Facebook page, which I thought was very inappropriate, the child didn't even know the photos were being taken, because when she went to her dad's for the weekend, he was on Facebook and those came up, and she saw them over his shoulder and started crying, she was so embarrassed and horrified. Her dad reported them to Facebook but they said there was nothing wrong with them 🙄

Oh my good god, that’s appalling.

Yanbu and I would report this. It doesn't matter imo if the parents agree. They're wrong and it is concerning they don't recognise the safeguarding issues too, actually. The nursery should be trained in these matters and not even propose posting the photos in the first place.

@MissyEllyPants I’ve emailed Ofsted. I was close to ringing the local safeguarding board. I don’t feel like emailing the nursery. I’ve shared my views. They’ve given a bad response and then blocked me. Seems pointless to go back to them. I’m not even a current parent.
Maybe I will ring the local board on Monday as I won’t hear anything back off Ofsted if they do decide to get involved.

@MandB23 Well done. No point in engaging with them.

The fact it's an open page would be a no for me! DS' nursery have two pages, one that's for advertising, prospective parents etc, they wanted to use a picture of DS for that I've and even though I'd consented to photos, they specifically asked if it was ok to use on the open page, he was with another child piling leaves into a wheelbarrow, in his nursery puddle suit and wellies. I said it was fine. The page they put weekly photos on and nursery info usually about events, but lately about the impact of ever changing Covid restrictions,is private and invitation only. They asked when DS started if we would like to join it, we said yes, they sent the invitations.
My cousin's son's nursery has an open FB page and recently did a FB live stream of a nature trip.... I found out because I was visiting our gran and she said oh I must log on to watch cousin's child's trip! I asked how she had access and she said anybody does, I went onto their page from my own FB and could watch the live stream. I would not be ok with that, let alone pictures in pants.

I think one of the oddest things in this story is that you follow the page actively but your children don't attend the nursery any more.

This is ridiculous! Glad you are reporting them.

I would report to ofsted as soon as they blocked me.

Very strange to undress children to do painting. Most kids just put large coveralls on. Even worse to plaster them all over face book in an open forum. I bet some parents will be furious if their child is exposed in this way.

@Pollynextdoor

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

I have never known a nursery take any child's clothes off at all unless they'd had an 'accident' of some kind.

Incredibly inappropriate

[quote MandB23]@MissyEllyPants I’ve emailed Ofsted. I was close to ringing the local safeguarding board. I don’t feel like emailing the nursery. I’ve shared my views. They’ve given a bad response and then blocked me. Seems pointless to go back to them. I’m not even a current parent.
Maybe I will ring the local board on Monday as I won’t hear anything back off Ofsted if they do decide to get involved.[/quote]
I'd ring the LA/council as well.

@MandB23 the fact that your child went there 3 years ago and you still have access to the page is concerning

I’ve emailed Ofsted. I was close to ringing the local safeguarding board. I don’t feel like emailing the nursery. I’ve shared my views

As I said earlier, it's the safeguarding department of the local authority early years team that this needs reporting to. They will look into it in addition to coming down hard on the nursery for not following up on a cause for concern. It is their job to then notify Ofsted or other agencies if necessary.
(Nursery Manager)

We try not to put on photos that even show children’s faces on our open fb page but do share photos of activities of the private parent page and even there we’re careful what gets posted. If anyone had concerns about any photo we’d remove the photo or review it.

As for painting in underwear - I’m guessing they were doing something like foot painting where they might be sliding about in paint and at risk of getting their lower clothes covered in it?

So many things aren't right about that. The photos of course, but the open page, blocking you when you raise concerns? The latter particularly is concerning, as they block you from contacting them but still let you see the page. That's not how any child related setting should operate. I don't think you're overreacting at all.