Purpose: To ensure that digital photography is managed to protect the privacy and dignity of children.
Scope: Technology has a place in learning environments and can be an important way to involve parents in the daily activities of their children.
Digital photography can be an efficient way to document and display a child’s activities. It is imperative that images of children are not used in ways that could be harmful to a child. All use of digital technology at LEL should be within the boundaries of this policy.
Policy statement: The use of digital cameras and photographs is integral to the children’s learning and providing feedback to parents. Staff ensure that photographs are only used in ways that are appropriate and authorised by parents/guardians.
Our responsibilities:
LEL employees have a responsibility to ensure that:
- We gain permission from parents/guardians/children to take any photographs of children in our care.
- We gain permission from parents/guardians/children to use any photographs in publications or for training purposes.
- Photographs do not contain images of children who are not dressed, or who are toileting or sleeping.
- Photographs of children may be emailed to the child’s parents/guardians only if the photographs do not include other children.
- We do not keep copies of digital photographs of children for personal use.
- Centre digital cameras and memory sticks stay on site, except for centre-related reasons that include excursions, training conferences and professional development sessions.
Source: The Victorian Information Privacy Act 2000
National Quality Standard 2011
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Early Years Learning Framework
Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework
Policy reviewed August 2017
