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Parenting

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Original poster

Anyone else NOT TOLD about school photos?

82 replies

Reetpetite17 · 18/10/2016 10:48

DS came home from school with an order form and proof card sleeve in his bag. We weren't told that the kids would be having school photos taken, no letters were sent home. When he was at nursery they notified you. Parents permission was not sought, or even an opportunity to decline.

DP has now said they are holding the kids photos at ransom when you didn't even ask for it or know some stranger was getting paid by the school to take pictures of your kids without your knowledge. And you're then guilt tripped into buying it! They're not cheap either. I worked with a photography company so could have easily done it myself.

I don't know if I should buy it, so DS doesn't feel left out if the photos are handed out in class, or to just keep the proof photo and not buy any based on the fact we were not told about it? Surely I can't be the only one who thinks that's wrong. They have these kids pictures on their computers etc. with copyright, so they OWN it, and charging you to have a cute picture of your kid. I've not had any letters to sign about consent regarding hat is and isn't allowed to happen with DS when we got them all the time from his nursery. WWYD?

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kimlo · 18/10/2016 10:53

I would buy it if I wanted it, if I didn't then I wouldn't.

Everybody knows school photos happen at some point in the year, if you didn't want them done you should have told them when he started.

I don't really understand the problem.

PuppyMonkey · 18/10/2016 10:57

With our school, they just mention the date in the school newsletter at the start of term but there's no consent letter or anything to sign.

I very rarely buy it, overpriced and not particularly good photos imho. Loads don't bother buying these days, you won't be the only one.

I suppose you could contact the photography company if you have big concerns about them having photo of your child on their system. They might delete or something?

bruffin · 18/10/2016 11:00

The photos are for your childs school records, selling them to you is just a way of making money out of it.
If you dont want it then dont buy it. I sometimes did,sometimes didnt, just bought ds uni kayaking team photo,so ut diesnt even stop when they leave school

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insan1tyscartching · 18/10/2016 11:05

At dd's school we would be told so that younger siblings could be brought in and so you could make sure they had their stain free school uniform on.There is no obligation to buy so don't see the need for school to ask permission.

OhNoNotMyBaby · 18/10/2016 11:07

You're making a big fuss about nothing I'm afraid. As ^^, you don't have to buy them if you don't want to.

Mirandawest · 18/10/2016 11:08

I buy the class photos but not the individual ones. Did get one of DS and DD together a couple of years ago as they were year 6 and year 4 and was their last school photo together but neither of them seems to have been traumatised by my not buying individual photos over the years.

kimlo · 18/10/2016 11:09

and the school doesn't pay the photographer, they make money by selling them, it doesn't cost the school anything.

WatchingFromTheWings · 18/10/2016 11:11

The photos are for your childs school records

They don't keep photos in the school records that I'm aware of?!?!

treaclesoda · 18/10/2016 11:11

Did you sign a consent form when they started school? We don't sign consent forms for each individual set of school photos, just one overrall form when they join the school. If for some reason you don't consent to photos, or you consent to some photos but not others then the onus is on you to specify that at the outset.

But I wouldn't worry about them having photos of your child as such because that's how school photos have worked since forever.

BigGreenOlives · 18/10/2016 11:12

I think school photos are a hangover from when people didn't have cameras and reprints cost a lot. Why on earth would you want a picture of your child in the school uniform against either a 'blue sky' or 'library' back cloth?

CoffeeAtLukes · 18/10/2016 11:12

I think we get a text sent out a few days before but there are no permission slips or anything. I guess if any parent had a problem with it you could phone the school up and say.

I can work up the energy to get annoyed about it tbh. If I want the picture I'd buy it. If I don't want it I don't.

TheFallenMadonna · 18/10/2016 11:13

Photos are certainly part of school recording systems.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 18/10/2016 11:13

We do use them on records at secondary. They appear on our SIMs system. Very helpful for me trying to learn the names of the 120 new students I have this year.

WatchingFromTheWings · 18/10/2016 11:16

Never knew that! (Got no problem with it just had no idea)

Original poster

Reetpetite17 · 18/10/2016 11:18

I understand all your points. It didn't bother me that much until DP had a rant. But I remember we had letters when I was at school, my mum always knew so she did my hair nice etc. He's just started school and didn't even think about school pictures being done already! It's the wrong way to go about it though. I was willing to buy the cheapest bundle but DP refused as it has taken time out of his school day etc.
Just saying as nursery had to ask for consent before taking any pictures or videoing any of the kids.

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GardeningWithDynamite · 18/10/2016 11:19

Ours were done yesterday. They put a notice in the school newsletter, added it to the website, told the children AND put big signs up at the gate to remind people. I'm quite pleased that the school is good at communicating with us.

I bought the first one in reception (forgot when it was that year and sent DD in with toothpaste down her cardigan) but haven't since because they've been a bit pants. I tend to take a "school" photo myself at around the same time, against a plain background to give to grandparents etc. At least that way we can have a few goes and don't have the silly expression/glazed look/messy hair.

I'm not sure whether this sort of thing is exempt from the consent form thing. The photos are only of one child (or siblings) and they're only either staying in school or going to parents. Obviously, if you've not given permission for photos they shouldn't be in a class photo though.

treaclesoda · 18/10/2016 11:20

Did you not give consent at all? Because I'd say that puts a slightly different slant on it, in the sense that these days it is pretty standard to be asked for permission before photos are taken.

treaclesoda · 18/10/2016 11:20

But not individual consent every time photos are taken, just a general 'can we take photos' type thing.

Original poster

Reetpetite17 · 18/10/2016 11:24

It's a nice picture, he has a nice smile against white background so it's not horrible in any way. And he just had a nursery photo done about 4/5 months ago.

And no there were no consent forms given to me to sign. No texts sent out, nothing. Like I said nursery gave out consent forms each term for different things. I had a right to know regardless.

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gamerwidow · 18/10/2016 11:38

Schools normally get your to consent to take photos once at admission and then that consent is applied to everything unless you withdraw it.
It would be a nightmare logistically to try to get consent for 400 kids every time you wanted to photograph something.
The date was probably included in your last newsletter.

Hoppinggreen · 18/10/2016 11:41

Your do is being slightly unhinged about it.
Buy them or don't - I buy them if I like them but if not I don't give it another though.
It really isn't a big deal

supercaliforniasurfer · 18/10/2016 11:48

Really, I don't get your angst... Just don't buy it.

I genuinely can't see why you would have a problem with it. School photos happen every year, why would even expect a permission form. Can you imagine the extra paperwork that would create. I am honestly go smacked you would even expect it, I think you will be the first to complain about it.

Original poster

Reetpetite17 · 18/10/2016 11:51

I haven't had any newsletters. I check his bag every time I pick him up.

Hah I'll let him know you say he's unhinged. I think he knows he was getting wound up but couldn't figure out why it was bugging him so much. I think it's something to do with time being taken out of the kids education to take pictures without the parents knowing. He doesn't like interruptions to important things for something pointless.

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Original poster

Reetpetite17 · 18/10/2016 11:53

Not even a consent form but at least to let the parents know. And I'm sure I've already said there were no consent forms signed at the beginning of the year.

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JosephineMaynard · 18/10/2016 11:55

DS1's school had school photos done earlier this term.

We were told about it in advance, but there wasn't a specific permission form - as with pp, the school asked for permission to take photos when he started school, and I believe that permission stays in effect unless we contact them to withdraw it.

It was the same at nursery - one blanket permission form for photos that was valid for the entire duration of the DCs time at nursery.

The only extra permission forms we've had to sign for school stuff - both at school and at nursery - have been for school / nursery trips.

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