- The Nursery allows staff to bring in personal mobile telephones and devices for their own use. Under no circumstances does the nursery allow a member of staff to contact a current child or parent/carer using their personal device.
- Users bringing personal devices into nursery must ensure there is no inappropriate or illegal content on the device.
- All staff must ensure that their mobile telephones/devices are locked in the mobile phone locker (in the nursery office) throughout contact time with children.
- Mobile phone calls may only be taken in staff members’ own time and in the nursery office where there are no children present, permission from the manager must be sought.
- If staff have a personal emergency, they are free to use the setting’s phone or make a personal call from their mobile in the nursery office away from any children.
- If any staff member has a family emergency or similar and are required to keep their mobile phone to hand, prior permission must be sought from the Manager and the mobile phone should be placed in the office which will be answered by the manager and then the staff member will be called.
- Staff must ensure that the Manager has up to date contact information and that staff make their families, children’s schools etc. aware of emergency work telephone numbers. This is the responsibility of the individual staff member.
- All volunteers, helpers and students will be requested to place their bag containing their phone in the staff room and asked to take or receive any calls in the nursery office.
- During group outings nominated staff will have access to the setting’s nominated mobile phone, which is to be used for emergency purposes only.
- It is the responsibility of all members of staff to be vigilant and report any concerns to the Nursery Manager.
- Concerns will be taken seriously, logged and investigated appropriately (see Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy).
- The Manager or Deputy in absence reserves the right to check the image contents of a member of staffs mobile phone should there be any cause for concern over the appropriate use of it.
- Should inappropriate material be found then the Integrated Access Team, the LADO (Local Authority Duty Officer) and OFSTED will be contacted immediately. We will follow the guidance as to the appropriate measures for the staff member’s suspension/dismissal.
- Only designated nursery cameras are to be used to take any photo within the setting or on outings.
- Images taken on nursery cameras must be deemed suitable without putting the child/children in any compromising positions that could cause embarrassment or distress.
- All staff are responsible for the location of the camera; this should be placed appropriately in classrooms when not in use.
- Images taken and stored on the camera must be downloaded as soon as possible, ideally once a week.
- Photographs should then be distributed to members of staff (keyworkers) to record in children’s learning journeys.
- Under no circumstances must cameras of any kind be taken into the bathrooms.
- If photographs need to be taken in a bathroom, i.e. photographs of the children washing their hands, then permission must be sought from the Manager. Staff must be supervised whilst carrying out this kind of activity. At all times the camera must be placed in a prominent place where it can be seen.
- At no point must any member of staff take nursery cameras out of the setting without prior permission.
- At no point must any member of staff, volunteer or student take photographs of children with their mobile telephone devices.
- Failure to adhere to the contents of this policy will lead to disciplinary
Updated April 2019
