I recently went to a school play at my sons school. Before the performance started the head teacher said that no photos or videos could be taken - due to the Child Protection Act.

Does anyone know if this particular ruling is actually law, or something dictated by the local education authority, or school governors, etc...

I absolutely agree that children need to be protected, but isn't this taking things a bit far?

Norbo

It is not law for all schools, it could be a decision the governors have made or the head but parents should have had a letter home.

My daughters school still allows cameras and videos.

I agree children should be protected but I would like to be able to take photos and videos and its great when they grow up and bring their girlfriends and you watch them together as a family.

I would ask at school.

It could be that some kids in a particular school are at risk from 'errant' fathers who would take the child against the mothers' wishes.

Sometimes these fathers don't know for sure which school the kid attends. These details would not be handed out by the school to him, so it may not be beyond him to ask someone to photograph an event in the hopes that he recognises the kid.

Just a scenario where I think this sort of ban may be enforced.

Hmm, yes I hadn't thought about that sort of scenario. It's all a bit sad really but I really think it is a bit of an extreme measure.

Yes, you're right, but sadly that's the atmosphere we live in.

Then there's the parent who might just say, "I don't want my Tarquin's photo taken, there's too many funny people about."

The school would have to honour that request as well, even if it meant that no kids got photo'd in the prossess.

what is the world coming too???? You can't film ur own kid's play? But could anyone see the school actucally throwing someone out because of it?

This school might have had a reason. If asked, the Head would probably explain.

I have had no experience of this with my kids' schools.

Just recently the shop I work in, had a fun day. By the way, I work in a toy shop. I mentioned to my boss about bringing in my camcorder, no harm in that I thought, but I was told that I wasn't able to bring it in, due to the child protection act. This proves how sad and sick this world is. How crazy is that you can't film your kids. It makes my blood boil.

A world created by the same filth who stop us sending our kids to play in the woods safely, or simply talking to someone they don't know yet.

And the same filth who make us adults too scared to offer a lost child help, or give a scared child a hug in case we are labelled as something nasty.

I think its a case of 'Better be safe than sorry' these days.

Norbo

Its not law but what you need to do mate, is first send a letter to all the parents using the school to liaise with, telling parents what you are doing, why you need the photo, if its going to published then where or if its for just evaluating the project.

That's what I do and its worked fine because I work with schools and colleges and I help artists get work in schools, colleges, so its best to build partnerships with schools, organisations to link in with what you are doing, and have a good track record with the work you do.

Plus, I build a strong positive relationship with parents and show them why, what and where the photographs go, and each child I photograph the parents get a copy. Its best getting parents, community involved and I even got the police involved too, by filling in form to get my credentials checked, went on to a data childrdn protect act courses to learn the do's and don't, and one of them Norb which you will know is..

No matter if the child falls, you're not allowed to pick them up, touch them, and you got to get the workers to do it, i.e. tutors.

You're not allowed to be alone with the children and isn't your responsibilty to do so, and best to have a supervisor or teacher of the establishment/school to be there while you are ding work.

Finally, the parents needs to sign a form of consent for the photographer to take photos of the students.

Hope thats helpful and thought its strict I believe in it to be this way for the safety of the child as there's some awful people in world.

AS someone said here 'its better to be safe than sorry' believe me, it is because it brings a whole lot of mess on your head, even if you done nothing wrong but wanting to help.

I think he was talking about photographing his own child who was in the play. Not taking official school photo's.

It's a complete overreaction on the behalf of the school by the sounds of it.

If one parent did actually say they didn't want photo's taking, the answer is to take that child out of the play.