Child Safeguarding. Nativity Play. No Photos Of Donkeys??

[EDDIE51]

Just been to my grandchilds Nativity play.
Told no photography. Took a few pictures of my own grandchild anyway.
Teacher came up to me and said if I had any pictures of the 'Donkeys' (children in donkey costumes) it was VITAL that they were deleted due to 'child safeguarding '
Can anyone explain why it is so VITAL to child safeguarding that no photos of kids in donkey costumes in a child's nativity play are taken?

[naomi24]

Why didn't you wait for that then?

Our local school just asks people not to post pictures on the internet.

[andy-hughes]

Similar to Naomi's experience, We attended one of our grandsons' nativities, and the request was not to post other children's images on social media, which I think is fair enough.

[tamborine]

Some schools rely on commission from sales of photos. Maybe you inadvertently thwarted that?

[Tuvok]

The Nursery at my work get all parents/guardians to give permission or not for their kids to be photographed.

Some can be photographed and used on internet, some can be photographed but not to go on the internet.

Some I can only photograph from behind as long as they are not recognisable!

All parents are told they can take photos/videos but they can't put them on the internet.

When I'm taking photos of the kids I ask the Nursery staff beforehand - those I can't take usually end up in the middle of proceedings!!!

If I'm taking photos of anybody else I ask permission first, or an announcement is made at the start of the event to make themselves known if they don't want their photo taken.

[fiction-factory]

Some schools and (children's sports centres or pools) have an absolute ban on photos on the premises. I suppose it makes the issue easier to administer compared to a system where judgement is needed- eg amount of naked flesh, is the relationship between taker and child known, could photos of donkeys etc inadvertently or otherwise pick up other children.

[EDDIE51]

Finally had it explained, it was that one of the donkeys was a child who could not be identified as they were 'vulnerable'.
If they had said that in the beginning I would have understood instantly. But the teacher just kept on about ' no photos of donkeys are allowed.' She mentioned 'Donkeys' at least 5 times but not the bit about a vulnerable child.
Actually had a community officer call round about it. But once I explained she said there was no problem, the school had overreacted and I did not need to delete the photos.
So all's well that ends well!

[EDDIE51]

Two years ago the same school had a photo ban on sports day and school plays. But that was because they had a professional photographer who filmed them and then sold the CDs for £8 each !

[bednobs]

why the hell should they have to tell you? they asked you NOT to take photos, yet you and other idiots did anyway, coz the rules clearly don't apply to you

[anneasquith]

If a child is vulnerable, at risk, on the child protection register, photographs taken by strangers which can be uploaded on the internet may be dangerous , whether we like it or not if we are asked not to take photographs, we shouler not.

[pixie374]

I am really surprised they are allowed to tell you which are "vulnerable children". That's quite shocking.

[Baldric]

Bednobs makes a good point!

[EDDIE51]

The school '***ed Up' even the community officer said as much though not in the same words.
I took 2 photos of my grandchild in the actual play, the rest were at the PO shoot of the kids in groups just standing on the stage. Others were openly videoing the entire thing but nothing was said to them! That is why I thought it ok to take 2 photos of my grandchild putting his gift in the crib! I admit I was wrong, I have apologised to the school.

[bednobs]

good! Perhaps the others also had a pcso visit.

[Tilly2]

Sad, innit?

I know it's a cliché but the world's truly gone mad!

[anneasquith]

Eddie. You don't seem very perturbed that a police officer has visited you at home, so I'm assuming the "school" must have reported the incident ?

[EDDIE51]

I'm not perturbed as I knew it was a 'storm in a teacup' as the officer confirmed.
She has reported back and told me she is telling the school they mishandled the affair!

[anneasquith]

I'm finished on this thread .

[mikey4444]

And while all this nonsense is going on, our kids are at risk when playing football, right under the noses of the football Clubs !

[roopower]

I have a feeling it may have something to do with the child's family. We had a pair of siblings that were kept out of all photos, no matter who took them. The father did not know where they were and wasn't allowed to know.

[EDDIE51]

^^ Yes that's what it was . But the teacher did not say that , she just kept on about photos of the 'donkeys' were not allowed.
If she had said there was a child who could not be identified I would have understood instantly. My mind was thinking there must be some strange 'donkey fetish' going around! Plus I didn't have a photo of the donkeys anyway ! There were also children dressed as sheep but there was no mention of no photos of sheep!