Safeguarding childs school photo

[CharlieBrown]

Hi.My child is attending a primary school. I am a single parent where the family courts have awarded me that my child shall live with me. Stipulations where made that if the other parent wishes to have any contact with the child, the parent must be professionally supervised at all times and the court as advised for the other parent to undergo psychoanalytic therapy. For final hearing the other parent verbally and in writting clearly confirmed / presented not wanting anything to do with the child at all. The other parent holds PR. 4.5 years later, following final hearing, the other parent, as expected, has shown no interest or had contact whatsoever in the child. Until recently, whereby after the school asked the other parent to I.D themselves if they wished to recieve school reports. Other parent did. School report released to other parent. Now, this unstable person wishes to have a current picture of my child and has repeatly asked the school for a school photo to be released to them.. school have informed me of this request and they know how I've been protecting the child's identity. I do not believe this is an innocent request. I believe by releasing a photo of the child, it would put a target on the child. The child likely could be subjected stalking or abduction. Either way, this is potential abuse / danger and a safe guarding matter and I wish to protect my child from this. Note: all court documents say they are confidential, that I am not to release them...(so I have nothing solid to show the school) in any event no court document states that the parent is not to have a photo. What can I do and how do I best advise the school, because madly the school are contemplating releasing a current photo? They say they are unsure what to do. I have made the school aware of the safe guarding risk, (currently as well as over the years in emails), and verbally informed this is a safeguarding concern / risk. Any advise please? I'm stuck. Thanks

[atticus]

Why not simply tell the school that you do not permit them to provide a photograph?

[CharlieBrown]

Hi. Thank you for your reply. I have verbally expressed this to the school. The school are still unsure whether to provide the photo or not. I've told the school that if they decide to provide a photo it would be a massive safe guarding risk. I now need to reaffirm this in writing to the school. Is there anything else I can or should do to safe guard my child from potential harm? Thanks.

[islandgirl]

Look at the schools policies and follow them. If it is not an academy write to the chair of govenors too. Even raise with the LEA safeguarding officer at the council

[PallasAthena]

I can see the school's difficulty here. The other parent also has parental responsibility and the guidance to schools is that whatever is provided to the parent the child lives with must also be provided to the non-resident parent if they request it. Unless there is a court order in force saying otherwise.

If you believe your child is at risk of stalking or abduction you need to see a family law solicitor and get their view on whether the court order should be reviewed

In the meantime you may be able to convince the school.that the the school photo is not part of your child's school educational records but is a private arrangement between you and the school which he is not entitled to have.

I imagine the school is taking advice from.their LA about the safeguarding issues.

[islandgirl]

Agreed but there is this: "Stipulations where made that if the other parent wishes to have any contact with the child, the parent must be professionally supervised at all times and the court as advised for the other parent to undergo psychoanalytic therapy." There is surely more to this than meets the eye.

[CharlieBrown]

Hi. I've emailed the school and have notified them that I do not give permission for the school to release the photo. I have also encouraged that they do there own investigations. All for the benefit and safety of the child, I feel that they must. Will keep you posted. I know, assuming the details are released they will find safe guarding issues. If these are bought to light, this should help the school no end, and then the school photo should not be released. Thank you