School Photography and Children Safeguarding

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School Photography and Children Safeguarding

by pose-worldwide

1 hour

Hi everyone:

I have spent the past few months building a technology solution to a problem you definitely know well; something I believe could genuinely benefit parents and ultimately all schools.

Photography at school events is a subject most Heads navigate carefully and with good reason. There is the very real safeguarding concern of who might be taking photos and where those images end up. For schools who do allow photography, many parents feel uncomfortable with images of their children being posted to public networks such as Instagram and Facebook etc. In the same breath, all want memories. For schools who do not allow photography memories aren't necessarily captured. The distraction of parents with phones at events, and the tension with parents who simply want a memory of their child's moment on stage or on the pitch but aren't allowed — it's a difficult balance to strike. School policies do differ but ultimately there is a concern more often than not. Many Hea...See MoreHi everyone:

I have spent the past few months building a technology solution to a problem you definitely know well; something I believe could genuinely benefit parents and ultimately all schools.

Photography at school events is a subject most Heads navigate carefully and with good reason. There is the very real safeguarding concern of who might be taking photos and where those images end up. For schools who do allow photography, many parents feel uncomfortable with images of their children being posted to public networks such as Instagram and Facebook etc. In the same breath, all want memories. For schools who do not allow photography memories aren't necessarily captured. The distraction of parents with phones at events, and the tension with parents who simply want a memory of their child's moment on stage or on the pitch but aren't allowed — it's a difficult balance to strike. School policies do differ but ultimately there is a concern more often than not. Many Heads and Safeguarding Leads are duty bound to utter the same no photography instructions at every single event.

I've built an app called Pose that, I believe, resolves this tension entirely and reframes it completely. In short, a designated staff member takes photos or videos during the event via the app on a smartphone/ipad — a sports day, a play, a concert, a residential, a fixture — and Pose delivers them in real time, securely, directly to the devices of the parents of the children involved. Parents do not have to touch their phones during the event, yet they will receive anything captured by the school instantly and automatically with no added effort from the school. No open access, no public sharing, no unauthorised capture, GDPR compliant. The school stays in full control; parents get the memories they treasure and real-time updates/photos/videos. It is instant and seamless and secure. It does this without the need to 'share' or 'post' - it is automatic. It is extremely easy to use and non admin intensive.

I created it specifically because I would like to have been able to capture more of my children's school journey and growth. At the same time, I completely understand the safeguarding issues and entirely respect the school's stance.

My solution allows the school to take snapshots of events and videos of concerts and get them to parents without doing anything else other than capturing the moments. It removes all discomfort, admin, engages parents more and saves schools a great deal of hassle; not least staff having to constantly remind parents that cameras and photography are a no-go area.

Given the utmost care you take over both safeguarding and the parent experience, it felt like a natural place to start.

Worth adding that it is completely free.

A major benefit to schools is being able to demonstrate and reaffirm that the kids' safety is really the primary concern.

Please take a look: http://www.pose-worldwide.app