Mobile Phone & Digital Device Policy at Mulberry Garden
This policy refers to all electronic devices able to take pictures, record videos, send or receive
calls and messages. It includes mobile phones, tablets, smartwatches and cameras. Given that digital technology is one that is constantly evolving, we will adapt our policy to include all devices we deem necessary to safeguard children. This policy works in tandem with our Online Safety and IT policy, to ensure children are kept safe in our care.
Mulberry Garden promotes the safety and welfare of children in our care. Our staff are attentive during their hours of working to ensure children in the nursery receive good quality care and education. To ensure the safety and well-being of children we do not allow staff to use personal mobile phones or digital devices during working hours.
We have the following procedures in place:
● Staff mobile phones are not kept in the same building as the children during the working day.
● Staff mobile phones are stored securely in the Rova Cabin during the working day.
● Staff mobile phones are not accessed during working hours.
● Staff only access their mobile phones during a designated break.
● Personal devices are not connected to the nursery Wi-Fi.
● The use of nursery iPads, MacBook and iMac are only used for nursery purposes.
● Apps on Mulberry Garden devices are downloaded by managers, to ensure only age appropriate apps are accessible to staff or children.
● Passwords for nursery devices are kept secure and changed regularly.
● Mulberry Garden owns a camera-free mobile phone to provide a means of contact when the children are on off-site visits.
● Staff accompanying children on off-site visits will switch their mobile phones off and only access them if on a designated break, away from the children.
● Mulberry Garden iPads are the only devices used for taking photos or filming videos, for the purpose of recording observations for a child’s online journal or for displays. Our iPads are set with parental controls.
● Staff will never take photos or record videos of children with their personal mobile phones or digital devices.
● Nursery devices are not taken home with staff and remain secure at the setting when not in use.
● Mulberry Garden iPads do not contain social media apps.
● Mulberry Garden MacBook and iMac are used only by staff managers for admin purposes.
Parents’ and visitors’ use of mobile phones
Parents and visitors may not use their mobile phones whilst in the nursery or when collecting or dropping off their children. Mulberry Garden is a “mobile-free” environment and we will ask all visitors to read this policy on arrival. Parents and Parents and visitors who visit Mulberry Garden must keep their phone out of sight and switched off whilst inside our premises to ensure the safeguarding of children in our care.
Photos and videos
At Mulberry Garden we recognise that photos and video recordings play an important part of life in the nursery. We ensure that any photos or recordings taken of children in our nursery are only done with prior written permission from each child’s parent and only share photos with parents in a secure manner. Mulberry Garden obtains this permission when each child is registered and updates it on a regular basis to ensure that parental permission is still valid.
Mulberry Garden asks for photo and video permission for a range of purposes including:
● use in the child’s online learning journal
● display purposes
● printed and online promotion materials e.g. Mulberry Garden website, local press
We ensure that parents understand their child might appear in another child’s photo, e.g. in a group activity or in the background, and the photo may be used in another child’s learning journey. Photos and videos will never be taken in areas where intimate care routines are carried out.
During special events, e.g. Christmas or leaving parties, staff may produce group photos to distribute to parents on request. We will gain individual permission for each child before the event to ensure all photos taken are in line with parental choice. We request that photos of events such as Christmas parties are not posted on social media unless permission has been granted from parents of all children included in the picture.
Mulberry staff are aware of the whistleblowing policy if they observe staff not following the safeguarding procedures outlined in this policy.