Social Media Policy

(Updated for EYFS 2025)

Policy Statement: At Just Little Ones Childminding, we recognise the growing role of social media in communication and information sharing. However, we prioritise the privacy, safety, and professionalism of our childminding services. This policy ensures that all staff, parents, and stakeholders use social media responsibly while safeguarding the well-being and confidentiality of children.

Responsible Use of Social Media

  • Staff members must use social media professionally and responsibly, ensuring their online activities do not compromise the reputation, confidentiality, or security of the childminding setting.
  • The childminding setting will maintain official social media accounts for professional purposes only.
  • Personal social media use must remain separate from professional interactions related to the childminding setting.

Confidentiality and Privacy

  • Under no circumstances will staff share confidential information, photographs, or personal details of children, parents, or colleagues on their personal social media accounts.
  • Parents must provide written consent before any photos or updates involving their child are posted on official childminding setting social media accounts.
  • Even with consent, all identifying details (such as names, school names, or locations) will be excluded from public posts.

Separation Between Personal and Professional Use

  • Personal opinions shared on individual accounts must not be attributed to the childminding setting.

Respectful and Professional Communication

  • Staff must engage in respectful, professional, and appropriate discussions on all social media platforms.
  • Staff must not participate in online debates, disclose workplace disputes, or use offensive language that could reflect poorly on the childminding setting.
  • Parents and staff are expected to communicate directly with the setting to raise concerns rather than using social media for complaints or discussions that could breach confidentiality.

Parent and Child Privacy

  • Parents will be informed about the childminding setting’s use of social media, including how and why content might be shared.
  • No child’s image or information will be shared without explicit, signed parental consent and a clear explanation of how the content will be used.
  • Social media posts will not share specific locations, identifiable backgrounds, or real-time details of outings or events to protect children’s safety.

Monitoring and Oversight

  • The childminding setting reserves the right to monitor its official social media accounts to ensure content aligns with its policies and values.
  • Any posts or online activities that conflict with safeguarding policies may result in appropriate action, including policy reviews or disciplinary measures for staff.

Reporting Concerns

  • Staff and parents are encouraged to report any inappropriate, offensive, or misleading content related to the childminding setting on social media.
  • Any concerns about a staff member’s online activity will be addressed confidentially and in line with safeguarding procedures.

Alignment with EYFS 2025 Changes

From September 2025, the updated EYFS framework reinforces the importance of online safety and digital responsibility in early years settings. This policy aligns with EYFS 2025 updates by:

  • Ensuring compliance with new safeguarding guidelines, including social media use and digital communication.
  • Protecting children’s privacy by requiring written consent before sharing any images or personal details online.
  • Preventing unauthorised social media interactions between staff and parents that could breach professional conduct or safeguarding expectations.
  • Providing clear procedures for handling inappropriate online behaviour, aligning with whistleblowing and reporting protocols.
  • Educating staff, parents, and children on online safety, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025 and Information Sharing best practices.

Review and Compliance

This policy will be reviewed annually or more frequently if required to ensure compliance with the EYFS 2025 framework and local regulations. We encourage feedback from staff, parents, and external agencies to continuously improve our social media policy while maintaining a safe and professional digital environment for our setting.

Signed: Jemma & Dale Ferriday
Date: August 2025
Review Date: April 2027