Photography and Video Policy

One of Kindercare’s core values is keeping children safe, including safeguarding children’s images online. Kindercare believes that parents should be able to record special events in their children’s centre. However, we must always give careful thought to the appropriateness of video recording and photos. To this end, we request that parents are mindful and respectful of other families and their ideals of privacy, particularly on publicly accessible platforms online. Parents using personal recording devices at Kindercare, do so on the primary understanding that such recordings are for your own private family use, and are not to be shared or posted on publicly accessible social media or video sharing sites.

Below, are Kindercare’s Policy and Guidelines around taking photos and videos of children at all Kindercare Centres.

Using Your Camera Courteously

A GUIDE FOR PARENTS WHO WISH TO USE PHOTOGRAPHY AND/OR VIDEO AT KINDERCARE.

Generally, photographs and videos taken of your children during their Kindercare years for personal family use, are a source of innocent pleasure and pride, which can enhance the self-esteem and learning of children and their families, as well as collecting precious memories during the preschool years.

Parents using personal recording devices at Kindercare, do so on the primary understanding that such recordings are for your own private family use, and are not to be shared or posted on publicly accessible social media or video sharing sites.

Parents also understand that using personal recording devices at Kindercare comes with responsibilities, and will observe the following guidelines:

• Recording or/photographing other than for your own private use would require the consent of all the other parents whose children may be included in the images.
• The Centre Director has the responsibility to decide if personal recording devices at centre activities are permitted.
• The Centre Director has the responsibility to decide the conditions that will apply for the use of personal recording devices, so that children are kept safe, that centre operations are not disrupted, and that children and staff are not distracted.
• Parents will follow guidance from staff as to when personal recording devices are permitted to be used, and where to stand in order to minimise disruption to the centre operations/activity.
• Parents will not use personal recording devices in bathrooms, toilets, baby change areas or in any areas with a heightened expectation of privacy.
• If you are accompanied or represented by people that centre staff do not recognise, centre staff may need to question who they are if they are using a personal recording device— please do not be offended.

Photography and Video Policy

RATIONALE

Photographs and videos of children during their Kindercare years for personal family use are a source of innocent pleasure and pride, which can enhance the self-esteem and learning of children and their families, as well as collecting precious memories during the preschool years.

POLICY DETAILS

Kindercare Learning Centres Limited (Kindercare) believes that parents should be able to record special events in their children’s Kindercare centre for their own private use. Events such as the child’s first day, birthday celebrations with friends and ‘happy last days’ are cherished moments that can aid children in feeling good about themselves.

However, we must always be mindful of the need to safeguard the welfare of children in our centres, and issues of child protection, and give careful thought to the appropriateness of recordings. Kindercare believes all children in our care deserve to be protected from the misuse of photographic and video images taken of them whilst they attend Kindercare.

From time to time, it is reasonable to expect that children who are not the primary focus of the photo or recording will nonetheless be visible in the recording. A child’s attendance at Kindercare implies a parent’s acceptance and understanding that, on occasion, their child may appear in the photographs and recordings of other families, which are intended for private use only.

Kindercare reserves the right to view any photographs taken and/or recordings made, and will request that these be deleted if deemed inappropriate by Kindercare.

Kindercare staff may, on occasion, be asked by parents to photograph/film their child in an event, when they cannot be there themselves. The Centre Director will decide if it is appropriate for a staff member to do this, after taking into consideration the supervision needs of all children in the room, the event, and the time required.

Kindercare staff will monitor the use of personal recording devices. People with no connection to the centre will not be allowed to use personal recording devices at Kindercare. Kindercare staff will question anyone they do not recognise who is using a personal recording device at a Kindercare centre.

The use of personal recording devices will be limited to designated areas as determined by Kindercare. At no time should personal recording devices be used in, or pointed at bathrooms, toilets, baby change areas or in any areas with a heightened expectation of privacy. Only images of children suitably dressed will be allowed, to reduce the risk of images being used inappropriately. Parents/caregivers who are in the centre to assist with dressing or changing children will not be permitted to use personal recording devices during this time.

Where another organisation/individual provides photographic services or activities separately, using Kindercare premises, Kindercare will ensure that the organiser concerned has appropriate policies and procedures in place in regard to safeguarding children.

Kindercare reserves the right to determine whether a Kindercare event is one at which personal recording devices will be permitted. Some events may not be recorded for copyright reasons.

Every reasonable effort will be made by Kindercare to prevent the capturing of images of any child who should not be identified for child protection reasons. However due to the common availability of personal recording devices this can not be assured.

If filming by the media occurs at a Kindercare centre (either with or without the prior consent of Kindercare) for publicity or other purposes, parents/caregivers of those children likely to appear will be informed as soon as reasonably practicable.