1. CHILDREN’S IMAGES

2. An everyday activity
It is likely that all practitioners will take photos of children at some point
The overwhelming majority of photo events are entirely innocent and harmless
The vast majority of staff or visitors have no desire to hurt, abuse or exploit the children in their care

3. A harmless activity? The following scenarios may be acceptable:
Recording children’s achievements
Illustrating activities and events
Evidencing EYFS requirements
Other specific and known reasons for taking images of children

4. A step too far? The following scenarios seem questionable:
Collecting evidence for training portfolios
Taking photographs for personal use
Uncontrolled, indiscriminate use of cameras
Images taken on mobile phones
Removing images from the setting

5. Check with the parent
Whatever the reason for taking images of children, parents should give explicit permission in advance
If you are unsure of a parent’s wishes you should err on the side of caution and exclude a child from a photo until you have obtained written permission

6. Finding that happy medium
Ask yourself…
Why do we want to take this photo?
What will happen to it?
Who will see or be given copies of it?
Are there any children who must not be included?

7. Justify your decision
Could you justify your decision to take or allow others to take images of children, if asked to do so by:
Ofsted?
parents?
the media?
the police?

8. Ask the question Is it possible to take images of children?
Is it possible to remove those images from the setting?
Do staff question when images are taken?
Would you raise a concern about a colleague’s actions?

9. Keeping it in perspective
No one is suggesting that children and young people should never be filmed or photographed in a setting or on a trip, but this should be monitored and regulated.
The challenge for practitioners is to ensure that a balanced and properly considered approach is maintained.

10. Activity
In groups, or with your tutor / supervisor, discuss the situations when it would and would not be acceptable to take photographs
of children.
Look at your setting’s practices with regard to the taking of photos of the children. Do you need to be more specific about when and where photos can be taken? Do you control the equipment used to take photos of children and what happens to the images once they are taken?