Nursery Cameras - Opinions Please?

[Frances999]

I own and run a day nursery/pre-prep and we have recently been trying to decide about whether or not to install a new system which a couple of nurseries nearby have installed.

The "Nursery Cam" system involves a number of webcams placed around our premises. Parents can book a time slot in advance, log onto the internet, and look at the webcam images to see their child. We have the option to limit the time each parent can view and we receive login records of all those who have viewed that day. There is no audio - just film.

I have talked with the parents and nearly all seem in favour of us introducing the system. Some of the staff are not so keen, however. I think we might go for it, but I would be interested to hear some more opinions. Thanks

 

[Netty]

from a parents point of view i think its a good idea, and you know that you can see your child and therefore feel extra safe. not saying that there not already!!
from an employees view i would think they would feel like their being watched all the time and their actions monitored, and any slight move with a child may be critisised.
but i personally think it may be the way to go having a cam system.

 

[T16GEM]

Sounds like a good idea to me as a mom it would certainly give me peace of mind. I can see the employees point of view too, but then we have cameras in our offices at work and you do tend to forget about them after a while.

Where is your nursery based?

 

[emily1982]

If i were a parent i could understand the camera and i do think it's a good idea and as a nursery nurse i would think the same, although i would feel like i was being watched all the time.

 

[wils]

Um it's a difficult one - I'd be tempted to log in all the time! I have been quite restrained and only rung DD's preschool once (on her first full day).

Having said that I know friends who ring their children's nurseries/preschools a lot so I guess it would be a good way for them to check their child is content without taking any of the carers away from what they are meant to be doing!

I think limiting the time is a good idea

Do you have any contacts who have implemented this and can give you feedback on how it has worked out?

 

[kristieuk]

Hmmm....that's a tough one. My dd was in a private nursery for 5 years until she started school last year. She was obviously very happy there, and I was 100% satisfied with the way she was cared for.

I just don't know that I would want the 'temptation' to look in all day at her - if she was grumpy and crying, or had fallen and I could see she was upset, it would be awful not to be there for her - I can see me jumping up from my desk and rushing up the road!

I know the nursery would call me if there was a real problem, and it meant I could concentrate on work, knowing she was safe. I suppose if you've had good feedback from your parents, it's something you'll have to seriously consider doing, but I can understand the reluctance of your staff, and it's not something that I would personally think is important if, as you're obviously doing, running a safe and happy nursery.

 

[wilma-bride]

I am going to be contrary here and say that I really don't think it's a good idea. I'm sure that the pros for doing it, ie. giving parents peace of mind etc. are good ones but, personally, it smacks a bit of 'Big Brother is watching' to me. My DS has been in nursery full time since he was 6 months old and I do agree with some who say that the temptation to watch all the time would be too great but, if you are setting a time for parents to 'log in' then, as a parent, I would feel like I wasn't seeing the real picture anyway.

I don't know if I'm expressing myself particularly well but, from my point of view, if I saw something I didn't like on the camera (not suggesting ill-treatment or anything, more behaviour of other children towards my child or something along those lines) I would not be able to stop myself from saying something to the staff. Sometimes, I pick my little boy up from nursery and am told that there has been an altercation with another child during the day. Now, as far as I'm concerned, I am happy that the nursery have told me and trust that they have dealt with it at the time in accordance with their policies. If I was watching the incident on a camera, I might feel differently (more biased towards my child - after all no parent wants to believe their child is not perfect ) In addition, our nursery (as I thought all nurseries) has a policy where the staff don't tell the parents who the altercation was with, just that there was one. Again, if watching on a camera and seeing it in person, the parent would know and may be inclined to take some sort of action.

Hope I've said it clearly enough - I'm well aware of the fact that I've waffled a bit

 

[wideeyes]

I would not like it at my dd nursery at all. I do not like the idea of other parents being able to watch my daughter, as to me they are strangers. I also agree 100% with wilma-bride.

 

[disneyangel]

As a parent of a child who goes to a private nursery I wouldn't welcome this and I don't think my employers would either. I expect and trust my chosen nursery to look after my daughter within their boundaries whilst I'm at work and I can then spend this time working for my employer .I'd hate to only see half a story or have the webcam cut out as my DD was crying or something.I know she would stop but I couldn't settle after seeing it and also as others have said the way you would handle a situation may not be how I would at home but there have to be different rules in different situations. I think this would put pressure on your staff to act as they think the particular parents would like instead of using their own instinct/training.I would maybe feel differently if I didn't have such a good relationship with the nursery staff at the nursery I use but then I'd probably move nurseries if that was the case.

 

[vicky1bfc]

I agree with joh and think she makes good point's so, i have nothing else to add.

Good luck with whatever you decided though.

 

[Disney owl]

As a Nursery Nurse (I don't work In a nursery any More ) I would hate it.

And as a parent I don't see the need for it. If you want to see your child all day take them out of nursery & keep them at home

and if you are unsure about the staff you shouldn't be using the nursery any way.

i think it smacks of a lack of trust on both sides.

 

[Madjock]

I can see and appreciate the pros and cons for both sides of the argument on this one but personally I would have to say that I would not use it.

 

[Kernow_Clan]

I fall into the "NO" category on this one. Seems far to intrusive to me.

 

[Frances999]

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I appreciate the input.

At the moment, most of the parents are in favour. One father spoke to me today and said it would be wonderful for him to be able to see his DD whilst working overseas or waiting around in airports. Other parents have commented that they would be interested to see what their child is doing during the day and how they are developing, it would reduce a lot of their worries.

Some parents (a small minority) have said they do not like the idea of their child being on view to others, as others have commented here. I appreciate this feeling and (with a 3 year old DS of my own) can understand the concerns.

We had a meeting today and decided we would not go ahead with this without full support, so I think we might leave it for a little while. We have happy children, staff and parents plus a long waiting list, so like the old saying goes "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

[wilma-bride]

Good to know you are as considerate regarding the concerns of your staff as you are those of the parents