To think this is surely a Safeguarding issue on Social Media?

[Pawprint97]

I’m doing a EYFS course so I follow a few accounts on Instagram of Early Years Teachers/Practitioners.

One of the teachers I follow has put an instagram story up, sharing a post that a mum of a new reception starter in her class has put on.

On the post it has a full photo of the little one, not blurred out at all, their full name, and name of the school they attend at the top. Saying ‘my first day at …. Primary’. And a write up. The teacher has obviously sent this home with the little ones parents as a keep safe.

Surely this is a safeguarding concern though? Anyone of the teachers followers on instagram can see this post and any random stranger could see this post with all the full details, photo, name of school and their year group and teachers name as she shares that with her instagram followers. Surely as a teacher they should know not to share this mums post with their followers?

Btw, this teacher also has over 7,000 subscribers

Depends entirely on whether the parent has agreed to it being shared, presumably.

No it's not a safeguarding concern - if by that you mean it's putting a child at risk. But it is unprofessional and stupid, and possibly misconduct, depending on the social media policy of her employer.

Why do you think the parent hasn't given permission?

Well yes the mum may have gave permission. It’s just not something I would see any of the teachers at my DCs school doing. I always see posts saying blur out any uniform logos if posting your DCs online. I just wouldn’t want my DCs name and photo and school going out to random strangers on instagram

That doesn't make it a safe guarding issue

No at worst it would be a GDPR breach for sharing personal information. But only if the parent hadn't given permission. To be honest I wouldn't like it shared but then the parent has already posted it on their own Instagram so maybe they aren't that bothered about publicity sharing that sort of information 🤔.

I do think some people over share without thinking about it. But then that is their choice, maybe parents need more lessons in sharing to much on social media.

If the parent has consented then that's fine. The teacher may have violated a workplace social media policy, but that's not a safeguarding issue. Personally, I wouldn't do it either as teacher or parent but there's nothing actually wrong with it.

So the parents have uploaded this public story online and a teacher has linked to it? Why on Earth would that be a safeguarding issue?!?!

Most schools put pictures of their children up on the website, anyone who doesn't want their child online can opt out:

My Dcs school put photos yes but absolutely no names and they say this is for safeguarding the children

https://www.dovecote.nottingham.sch.uk/page/?title=Our+Classes&pid=6

Posted too soon.
Feels a bit paranoid really. I mean in what context is this going to lead to harm?

Presumably if the family were in hiding etc they wouldn't have any online presence at all.

It's not for me but it's really not uncommon for people to publicly blog their lives/that of their children and school uniform/first day pics are sure to be there too. It sounds like the parents have made this public on their blog and the teachers shared it - what safeguarding risk do you think the teacher has created??? Is it a famous child for which people are going to be trying to track down?

Yes, that's to protect children who may need to be untraceable online such as children who have fled domestic abuse or children in care or adopted. Posting a child's photo and name online isn't dangerous in itself.

My Dcs school put photos yes but absolutely no names and they say this is for safeguarding the children

Go buy a local newspaper. Look at all the photos of kids with full names, uniforms or team gear, and what school they are from, what team they play for, what village they live in. Public photos of kids has always happened, always will.

I find patents and teachers following each other on social media weird, to be honest, unless they know each other irl. Most teachers I know try their absolute best to keep it all locked down.

This, either the teacher and mum are friends so she'll know its been shared, or the mums made it public already.
Were you hoping for responses of 'SHE SHOULD BE SACKED!!!' 'REPORT HER TO OFSTED!!'??
You yourself must follow her to know she's posted it?

It’s unwise of the mum, and a very slight safeguarding risk- as in, a predator now has name, location of the child and could pull the ‘Hello Jane, mum sent me to collect you’, line. But that’s not going to work in practice anyway.

However, teacher just shared it on.

All the teacher has done is share the post. It's the mother who has posted the information in the first place.

Some people share absolutely everything about their children. It might not be a good idea but people do it and you must know that people do it.

It came out in the trial of the man who kidnapped the Australian little girl from the campsite that her mother had a social media account where she shared details of her life with her two daughters which the kidnapper followed.

I think that advice about blurring/covering school logos etc is sensible, but that doesn't automatically mean that not doing it is a safeguarding risk.

So the mother made the initial post?
So has no safeguarding concerns for herself or her own child?
She has put it on social media with full knowledge of who her ‘followers’ are and the fact that once she has posted anyone can share it etc
The teacher has been a bit naive. We are told firmly not to befriend parents or pupils on social media and she should really not be reposting things a parent has put on. It’s not really a safeguarding concern as the post originally can from the parent but it’s a bit foolish and school is likely to take a dim view of it.

It’s just not something I would see any of the teachers at my DCs school doing.

Are you on the social media accounts of the teachers at your dc's school?

I've been a teacher for twenty years and I have put photos of my own dc on social media and not blurred the school because my friends and family already know where they go to school. You probably don't know what the teachers at your child's school do and do post.

Full name is not good practice. Our school uses “Well done to Lucy E in Year 9” etc on the website. With parents’ permission, of course.

You are misunderstanding what safeguarding is. There is no requirement for every single child to be "safeguarded' in the way that you think.

That is what the school have said

Unless you're talking about a child of a rich, famous couple - who could potentially be at risk of being kidnapped and held to ransom, then I really don't see the problem.