Anyone else NOT TOLD about school photos?

[Reetpetite17]

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?

Also when ds was mugged in the park by a boy in school uniform,we went to the school with a police officer and viewed all the pictures to identify the boy.

Reet I can see that you are genuinely upset about this but honestly school photos are normal.

Speak to the other Mums, you've missed a communication somewhere, you might be missing something else too. I guarantee it will have been in a letter/email/induction info somewhere.

"random strangers" i.e. Visitors are in schools all the time for all sorts of reasons. They are signed in and out, monitored and will not be left alone with your child.

You don't have to buy the picture if you don't choose to.

If your DS is in first year of school you've got a long way to go. Listen to the posters here and try to see their perspective- otherwise it's going to be quite stressful for you (and your DS) as you go forward.

All our teachers have cameras/ipads and we use them daily to provide evidence for various activities or to form part of a display. Would that sort of thing worry you if you weren't told in advance?

Having worked in a school I can tell you your child won't feel left out if they don't have their photos bought- it's not as popular as it used to be.

I do think YABU talking about a 'stranger taking a photo' as though there are safeguarding concerns there. I would've been more concerned that DC didn't have smart looking hair that day and I forgot to remind them to smile with their teeth

i understand that trusting other people to look after your child in an unfamiliar setting is daunting, and you refer to personal reasons why you are upset about photos that you haven't authorised being taken of your child. However hopefully you'll see from the responses on this thread that this is not perceived as a threatening thing by the overwhelming majority of people within the school community. A PP is right, school is full of other people on a day to day basis, and photographs are used CONSTANTLY, particularly in the EYFS. But please be reassured that schools are full of people who have been rigorously trained in Child Protection and safeguarding and that schools have robust risk assessments and protocols in place to minimise risk to your children about pretty much everything they do. The photographer will not have access to your children, the photographer likely doesn't have access to your children's name as it's all done by code.
If you genuinely believe that the school has been lax in their safeguarding in some way that you have not mentioned then by all means go in all guns blazing, but nothing you have said indicates that.

I think the communication in your son's school sounds awful. How do you know what's happening or going to happen in school without getting newsletters, having them emailed to you or being on the website. What about trips/plays/non-uniform days/activities/sports days/parents evenings? How do they give you this information?

Anyway...did you sign anything at the start of school consenting to photos, or a home-school agreement form with various things to sign, computer and internet use, cooking/baking/food tasting, participation in sporting events or visits out, etc.
I think your child will have their photo already taken by the teacher for their portfolio as evidence of activities done, which you will get at the end of the year.

I feel you need a conversation with the secretary and headteacher regarding your concerns and the lack of information.

However, photo taking (usually by tempest photography round here) is an annual occurrence. They do it first thing so they are clean and younger non school age siblings can go in early to do a joint sitting. I wouldn't have any concerns regarding sinister activity though.

Well my dcs school sent a letter home a week before their school photos, they sent an email 3 days before and a text the day before.. Surely it's reasonable to let parents know what day the photos are being taken?