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Original poster

Childs name published

78 replies

Jenscotland1974 · 07/07/2015 10:47

My daughters full name has been printed on numerous garments, also with her school details. I was not asked for permission. Can I do anything?

OP posts:
SavoyCabbage · 07/07/2015 13:43

Our year sixes wear them all year. They are a crime against fashion that's for sure.

pissoffheadache · 07/07/2015 13:46

I too can't see a problem with safeguarding if your DD is leaving the school anyway.

MrsKCastle · 07/07/2015 13:53

I can see how it could be a problem with safeguarding, if a family moves away from an abusive ex/relative, who doesn't even know what part of a city the child lives in. See the name on a sweatshirt and someone could quite easily get chatting to the wearer of the sweatshirt. For 99% of families it wouldn't be an issue, but I've seen enough of the MN relationship board to see how it could be a problem.

OP, sadly I don't think there's a lot you can do about it and previous posters are right in saying it's very unlikely to cause a problem, but I do sympathise.

CornChips · 07/07/2015 13:55

OP, is her name going to be on all the hoodies? So other children wearing them will also have her name there? I can think of a few concerns if you have a safeguarding issue already right there.

CornChips · 07/07/2015 13:56

I am thinking on the same lines as MrsK

Jackie0 · 07/07/2015 13:59

I have never heard of leavers hoodies.
Presumably the people who have one of these hoodies already know your daughters full name.
I could see a potential problem if a photo ended up online I suppose.
I've just gone onto our local school's Facebook page and I can easily access photos and names, so I think you might have to make peace with the fact that this type of information isn't difficult to find.
It worries me that you say its a safeguarding issue.
Is she in danger?
I know of instances where children's names have been changed, is this the territory you are in?

SoupDragon · 07/07/2015 14:01

Did you tell the parent who organised these that your DD's name was not to be included?

thanksamillion · 07/07/2015 14:03

specialsubject I'm pretty sure that the school would remove any children with a known safeguarding issue from any photos to go in the press. The problem with this is that the school weren't involved.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/07/2015 14:08

If this hoodie is like the ones my dses have, the child's name (or a nickname if they prefer) in fairly large letters, and then the whole year's names in much, much smaller writing, within the shape of the year number - ie. this year, the names were all squashed into a 15. They really aren't easy to read, apart from the name of the owner of each hoodie.

I think, for 18-year-olds leaving school, they are a great keepsake - all my dses love theirs, and have worn them lots - but because they are 18, they aren't going to grown any more, so the hoodies carry on fitting - 11-year-olds are going to grow out of theirs pretty fast, which does make them less of a lasting keepsake.

CandOdad · 07/07/2015 14:49

So to be clear:

A name has been printed on around 60 tops, that will only be worn in the local area much of the time, these tops will be worn by people that knew the child and the families that would / could have heard the name while their own children were at the school and they will no longer be at that school?

I would say it would be more of a safeguarding issue for the child to be physically at the school or in the local area than a random on a top that could be any child of the same name.

Google your child and see that there are thousands of people with that name if you want to reassure yourself. I know all this seems a little harsh but the tone of "what can I have done about it" does seem, to me at least, to be a little on the angry and combative side. Perhaps you could ask yourself the question "What can I do to minimise this issue?". Which in reality is pretty much nothing since it's a private individual using info that's not under copyright or (I assume) protected by some form of injunction by the courts.

Original poster
Jenscotland1974 · 07/07/2015 16:35

I wish people would read before commenting.

The hoodies were made for a group of 13, one mother ordered them, but used all 50+ childrens leavers names.
It was NOT a school related order...
I ask as it relates to HER safety, it names her, it links her to a school, and the feeder secondary school...

A new order is now being placed offering to all pupils and seeking parental permission...that is not my question or issue...

I asked the question to ascertain if there was the same protective laws as there are for photography of children. This has not beed clarified.

OP posts:
Original poster
Jenscotland1974 · 07/07/2015 16:41

Thank you Mrs K...you clearly understand the question I asked :)

I am not some lunatic mother...I just have an issue with my daughters details being used without my consent...I do not think it was done maliciously, but the fact it was not thought through and done properly has now brought about an unpleasant situation which could easily have been avoided.

OP posts:
dancemom · 07/07/2015 16:45

I organised Leavers Hoodies for our departing class as a member of PTA.

I sent home slips with all pupils asking if they wanted to order one and if anyone wanted to opt out of having their name included also.

If the school didn't organise it then it's really between you and the other parent.

Chokingonhollister · 07/07/2015 16:45

I actually understand Jen. Ex has a general idea where we live and knows some people in our area who don't know dd. it would be easy for him to see dds name on a hoody and then know her school and feeder.

YeOldTrout · 07/07/2015 16:53

It's not part of PTA or school, is it? No permission required for me to print up a shirt (nafftastic) with the names of all of yr6 DS's classmates on it (not that either of us could possibly remember).

If it's truly a safe-guarding issue, you could offer to pay to have all the shirts reprinted without your DC's name on it.
Otherwise, you don't own that information. Don't see how you can stop someone from printing it on a t-shirt or stating it as fact on Internet, etc. Maybe you have a chance if there are criminal proceedings involved?

YeOldTrout · 07/07/2015 16:58

if there was the same protective laws as there are for photography of children. This has not beed clarified.

There is no general law against photographing children (either). There are laws against child pornography, or publishing pictures taken in very private locations, etc.

coolaschmoola · 07/07/2015 16:59

If it wasn't done through the school then I doubt you have a legal leg to stand on.

The school need your consent for photos - but anyone could take a picture of your child in public and that would be perfectly legal.

Clayhead · 07/07/2015 17:04

I see it as a safeguarding issue but it wasn't done by the school so it's a real tricky area.

At my dc's school it was also organised by another parents but we had to give signed permission.

It's a really thoughtless and potentially dangerous thing for the other parent to have done.

flessan · 07/07/2015 17:05

Anyone could take a picture of a child in public, but they couldn't publish it with the child's name without permission.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 07/07/2015 17:06

I honestly don't know the legal ins and outs, but I think it is a bit strange of the other mum to do these hoodies for only 13 children, and I do think she should have checked with all the parents to ensure they were happy to have their child's name on it.

If she wanted to do a Leavers' hoodie for her child and their friends, it would have been better to use only their names - each of the 13 children's names on the hoodie, plus the leaving year (either solid or containing the 13 names).

ChrisQuean · 07/07/2015 17:09

Unless you are on a witness protection scheme or there is some other over-riding - known - issue as to why your daughter may come to harm if someone sees her name printed on a leavers sweatshirt, then I think YABU here. Is there an issue OP?

quietbatperson · 07/07/2015 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CandOdad · 07/07/2015 18:47

So isn't this a non issue since the OP has said that the hoodies have since been reordered so no harm done?

Also as for a DPA breach, I think only one of the children at our school is going somewhere different to the others and between 16 sets of parents they could name all children.

WinterOfOurDiscountTents15 · 07/07/2015 18:56

Since when is your name confidential information? Hmm

Any private person can put anyones name on a hoody if they wish to. So to answer your question, yes its the same as photographing children; anyone can do that too!

Seriouslyffs · 07/07/2015 19:01

Winter it's the daughter's age name and location which has been circulated without permission.