Smart Devices Policy

Policy Statement 

It is our intention to provide an environment in which children, parents and colleagues are safe from images being recorded and inappropriately used, in turn eliminating the following concerns: 

  • Colleagues being distracted from their work with children 

  • The inappropriate use of smart devices and cameras around children 

  • Children’s E-safety 

 

 

 

Children’s use 

Children who bring mobile phones or electronic devices into an Wakitu setting will have these removed and stored securely and returned to their parents/guardian at the end of the session. 

There will be access to the internet via our Wakitu smart tablets and laptops. Children will be monitored as the play on any devices. All games and activities will be age appropriate. Screen time will be monitored for each child.   

All staff will cover E-saftey in their training to be aware of online dangers. 

 

Smart Devices Visitors 

  • All visitors must relinquish their smart phones/devices upon entering the setting. These must be stored in the same way as the colleague smart phones/devices. 

Smart Devices Parents 

  1. When parents drop off or collect their children they must have their smart phones/devices stored away in a bag or pocket. If their smart phones/devices are visible, then wakitu colleagues must challenge the parent and ask them to put the device away out of sight.  

All Colleagues, Volunteers and Visitors 

  1. If any colleague has a family emergency or similar and required to keep their mobile phone to hand, prior permission must be sought from the Area Manager. 

  1. All colleagues, volunteers and visitors will be requested to place their bag containing their phone in an appropriate location and asked to take or receive any calls away from the children where their phone must remain. 

  1. It is the responsibility of all colleagues to be vigilant and report any concerns to the Setting Manager or a member of the Senior Leadership team. 

  1. Concerns will be taken seriously, logged, and investigated appropriately. 

  1. Wakitu reserves the right to check the image contents of a colleagues phones/smart devices should there be any cause for concern over the appropriate use of it. 

  1. Any colleague found to have their personal phone/smart device on their person or be using their mobile phone/smart device without permission will automatically receive a written warning. 

  1. Should inappropriate material be found then the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) will be contacted immediately. We will follow the guidance of the LADO as to the appropriate action that needs to be taken. 

Cameras and Club Ipad 

Photographs taken for the purpose of recording a child or group of children participating in activities or celebrating their achievements is an effective form or recording their progression, sharing with parents and for training/observational purposes. However, it is essential that photographs are taken and stored appropriately to safeguard the children in our care. 

  1. Only the designated setting iPad/tablet phone is to be used to take any photos within the setting. 

  1. Images taken on this iPad/tablet must be deemed suitable without putting the children in any compromising positions that could cause embarrassment or distress. 

  1. All colleagues are responsible for the location of the iPad/tablet. 

  1. Wakitu colleagues must not send photos of children taken on work devices to their own personal devices. 

Marketing 

On occasions the marketing team may visit a setting to take promotional videos or photographs using Wakitu approved devices. 

Failure to adhere to the contents of this policy will lead to disciplinary procedures being followed.