1.6 Mobile Phone & Camera Use

Policy Statement

We take steps to ensure that there are effective procedures in place to protect children, young people, and vulnerable adults from the unacceptable use of mobile phones and cameras in the setting.

Procedures

Personal Mobile Phones

• Personal mobile phones belonging to members of staff are not used on premises during working hours.
• At the beginning of each individual’s shift, personal mobile phones are stored in a box in the store cupboard.
• In the event of an emergency, personal mobile phones may be used with permission from the supervisor.
• Members of staff ensure that the telephone number of the setting is known to immediate family and other people who need to contact them in an emergency.
• If members of staff take their own mobile phones on outings, for use in the case of an emergency, they must not make or receive personal calls as this will distract them.
• Members of staff will not use their personal mobile phones for taking photographs of children on outings.
• Parents and visitors are requested not to use their mobile phones whilst on the premises. There is an exception if a visitor’s company or organisation operates a lone working policy that requires contact with their office periodically throughout the day. Visitors will be advised of a quiet space where they can use their mobile phone where there are no children present.

Cameras & Videos

• Members of staff must not bring their own cameras or video recorders into the setting.
• Photographs of children are only taken for valid reasons, i.e. to record their learning and development, or for displays within the setting.
• Photographs of children are only taken on equipment belonging to the setting or authorised by the supervisor.
• Camera use is monitored by the setting supervisor.
• Where parents request permission to photograph or record their own children at special events, permission will first be gained from all parents for their children to be included.
• Photographs of children are only taken of children if there is written permission to do so (found on the individual child’s registration form).
• Photographs are printed in ‘Boots’ by a member of staff and digital images are deleted from the memory card afterwards.