Preschool Information 

From 1 September 2025, a ban is in place on the use of personal mobile devices in early childcare services and programs. This helps to support a safe preschool environment and ensures that parents and carers consent to images of their child being taken, used, or stored. 

The Department for Education has released a new policy called Safe use of digital technologies and online environments policy relating to preschool and playgroup. Modbury Preschool has a site-based procedure to support us to follow the policy from the Department for Education. To keep our children safe, Modbury Preschool is a personal mobile device-free area.

All staff, including volunteers, are not permitted to have a personal electronic device in their possession that can take images when:

• they are working directly with children

• they are in a space or spaces that are primarily used for children's programs or services 

whilst children are attending the service. This extends to all staff in the school in spaces where preschool-aged children are present, irrespective of whether they are working directly with children. 

Personal electronic devices will be stored in educators' bags or lockers in the preschool office or front office. Smart watches or any other device that does not have the capability to take images or videos can be worn at the service. 

Parents of children enrolled in our service and programs will be discouraged from using their personal electronic devices while at the service. Parents will not be prohibited from taking an image of their own child, but must not take images of other children, including when their child is part of a group for example at assemblies, end of year concert, and on Sports Day.

Parents will be discouraged from sending inappropriate digital images of their child to the service, for example, children who are minimally clothed eg: swimming attire. Due to safety and security risks parents are requested not to bring children’s digital devices from home including smart watches and air tags.

We have posters requesting that families do not take photos in the preschool, and we appreciate the positive response from families supporting this request.

Our staff use department-issued devices in the course of their duties. Only staff authorised to take images of children will do so on a service-issued device. Prior to taking images and videos, appropriate consents from parent and carers will be obtained through our media consent form in the Modbury Preschool Enrolment pack. 

Educators will limit children’s screen time in line Australian Government physical activity guidelinesby age which set out recommendations for the maximum amount of screen time for children.

Physical Activity Guidelines

Links to support our families:

how to choose good online content – eSafety Commissioner

Media & technology for preschoolers – Raising Children Network  

We encourage families to speak to staff for more details about the policy and the site procedure.