photo consent form - does anyone else say 'no'?

[stufftodo]

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I love it when my kids are in the paper at school events. My mum still has mine from when I was little. I don't get why (other than the child protection issue mentioned) anyone would refuse, it's OTT IMO.

Good posts Malory and AbbeyA.

Why wouldn't you want yr child in the paper? And yes, I do think the children will notice if a photographer comes to take a big group photo and they are whisked out of sight.

"local rag"

My DSs school has newspaper cuttings in scrapbooks in the reception area for people to browse while they are waiting.The school that I was in last week had a lovely display of activities for every month from last September and that included the several times that they had been in the newspaper. I think that it is very important for schools to have a high profile, for good reasons, in the local community. Some people are being snootily dismissive of the whole thing! All schools need to sell themselves these days and want good publicity.

Our primary assumes everyone is in - you are informed calendar etc is happening and asked to write in if you don't want your child appearing.

So much easier.

Wonder how many decline?

i thinnk its a bit of over kill unless there is a problem at home (DV)

I selected no - psycho ex might find us if he's published in external stuff

oh but he's photo'ed for school stuff - the website (never shows faces) and school display boards so he's not left out.

I'm currently adapting our borough's Model Child Protection Policy for our school - the paragraph on photographs says:

"PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN
We understand that parents like to take photos of or video record their children in the school play, or at sports day, or school presentations. This is a normal part of family life, and we will not discourage parents from celebrating their child?s successes.

However, if there are Health and Safety issues associated with this - i.e. the use of a flash when taking photos could distract or dazzle the child, and cause them to have an accident, we will encourage parents to use film or settings on their camera that do not require flash.

We will not allow others to photograph or film pupils during a school activity without the parent?s permission.

We will not allow images of pupils to be used on school websites, publicity, or press releases, without express permission from the parent, and if we do obtain such permission, we will not identify individual children by name.

The school cannot however be held accountable for photographs or video footage taken by parents or members of the public at school functions."

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We can't video or photograph ds' assemblies as someone (or some people) in the class ticked the "no" box when they enrolled their child.

In fact, it seems to be turning into a school wide ban.

I think it is sad, as ds won't have a record of his school days and school friends

The head teacher has convinced me that there are occasions (eg abuse, fostering) that a child does need to remain anonymous - and also doesn't want to be left out of the activity while the others are filmed. However, I beleive that many parents sign it at the time of enrolment and don't realsie what the ongoing impact it has on the whole class.

This is interesting - I had no idea about these reception-class photo supplements. Are they commonly done?

My DC's are adopted - I certainly don't want them featured in a county-wide newspaper with the name of our village school. It might be sad but for their own safety, they will have to miss out on being featured as "recycling Champions" or whatever the current feature is. But I can't see any problem with parents video-ing the school play.

Sorry but why can't the photographer take a second shot for publication with the one or two children removed whose parents have not consented to published photos?

At pre-school I said I had no problem with photos for internal or personal use, but please nothing published more widely with names.

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My child would be furious if I'd said no. She's very proud of her cuttings file.

blithedance, my paper does a reception class supplement every year and it's far from an original idea! Not all papers do it but it's a great money-spinner (of course) so is catching on.

If you had been to any of the sessions or seen the photog's schedule you wouldn't suggest they set up the photo then remove two childrenand do it again - twice the nightmare! (it's not easy getting 30 children to smile all at once - or even to look at the camera).

I'm quite shocked at the idea that children should never be named in the paper. Look in your local paper - you'll see lots of people old and young, in pictures - generally named. My boss won't accept a pic of fewer than 11 people without names.

Clary - thanks! I don't mind people or children in general being named and photographed in the paper - it is NEWS after all! Like many here I was in the paper myself from time to time as a child.

I will go and have a look on the adoption forums as to how I can accommodate the need for confidentiality without becoming the most unpopular parent in school! Let alone what I will do if the DC's actually win something...