19 August 2023 , 09:16
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A horrified couple have removed their child from a nursery school after they said she was exposed to sexualised images in a children’s book.
Will and Maria Taylor, from Hull, said they took action after they were left unhappy by the response from staff at the city’s Genesis Pre-School. The move comes despite a member of staff previously checking with Maria to see if she was happy with the contents of the book Grandad’s Pride.
At first the mum did not notice the images but after another parent flagged the content to them the couple decided to take matters up with nursery staff. But after being unsatisfied by the response from staff they decided to pull their four-year-old daughter out of the pre-school.
The book, Grandad’s Pride, written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate, includes a depiction of two men kissing at a pride parade while dressed in black leather gear. The publisher has said it is a “faithful representation of Pride Celebrations” but the image has caused controversy among some online groups, Hull Live reports.
Will said: “We identified two images of men who are partially naked in leather bondage gear. One has a leather cod-piece moulded tightly around his crotch along with garters running down his thighs. He also has a studded dog collar around his neck and knee high boots. Both have various leather straps around their bodies and studs/spikes. The main and most immediate concern is that children have been exposed to at least two age-inappropriate sexual or erotic images of a man in what can only be reasonably described as ‘bondage/fetish/BDSM’ gear.”
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The couple decided to tell nursery staff they thought the book was inappropriate but they became concerned by the response they got, prompting them to remove their daughter. Will said: “When we went to the nursery to raise concerns about the book, to be honest, we expected staff to instantly apologise and that would be the end of the matter. But the safeguarding lead began to defend the images. They argued the children would not understand or perceive erotic or sexual images. Staff claimed the image was just portraying “dress-up” and would not be perceived as erotic by a child as they have no idea what “erotic” is. They disagreed with our assessment that the images are erotic and stated “that’s just your opinion”.
“But this was no justification in our eyes. Arguing with us over the appropriateness of these sexual images quickly damaged the trust we held for the nursery team. At this stage I was concerned and took our daughter out of the nursery.”
Maria and Will Taylor removed their daughter after nursery staff argued that the images were not eroticWill argues that a child’s lack of understanding is no justification in exposing children to sexualised imagery. He said: “It seems those with safeguarding responsibilities are basing their decisions on what is safe and appropriate based on whether the child will recognise the risk for what it is. To be clear, the “perception” of the child is not the arbiter of what is age-appropriate or safe, regardless of their level of understanding.”
Will admits the action he and Maria have taken will result in a lot of criticism and accusations being levelled against them. “The staff felt I was being bigoted and I was not having that,” he said. “I have volunteered at both Hull and York Pride events. Some people will try and twist this and make me out to be some kind of homophobe. But if we want equality and understanding then we should respect certain boundaries.
“There are many LGBTQ+ books at the nursery which is great. They encourage children to be tolerant, respectful and not to judge people. But I believe this book has gone too far in introducing sexual imagery. I have been to many Pride events and there can be inappropriate behaviour for children which is why Hull has a family-friendly zone and that’s fine.
Genesis Pre-School, North Road, Hull (Google Maps)“It is a shame as this is a very good nursery and my children have been very happy here. The trustees have responded reasonably well and taken the book out while carrying out a safety audit. My criticism is with the staff who thought it was okay in the first place.”
The trustees of the nursery declined to comment. However, in a response to Will and Maria, seen by Hull Live, they confirmed the book has been removed from the nursery. In the response the trustees says the book is widely available at bookstores and libraries in East Yorkshire and was a Waterstones children’s prize book winner.
They say: “As Trustees, we agree that the images in the book Grandpa’s Pride are not age appropriate. This book has been removed from Genesis and a comprehensive audit of all other books has taken place to ensure all books, whilst celebrating culture and diversity, are age appropriate. We also intend to raise this with Hull Early Years and seek their advice on the illustrations within this book, when the new school year commences in September.
“After speaking to staff, we are confident that each staff member has a solid understanding of the statutory EYFS framework and safeguarding policies, including harmful sexual behaviours. We are also confident, after removing this book from the setting, that children who attend Genesis are not exposed to sexual or erotic images.”
But the trustees defended the response from the nursery staff and say they will continue to receive regular training in the policies and procedures. The trustees say: "It is with deep regret that you felt it necessary for you to remove your daughter from Genesis. We can assure you that Genesis Pre-school strives to create a culture of value and respect for each and every young person. As Trustees we are confident that Genesis does create a culture of safety, in which Safeguarding children is the highest priority.”
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The book Grandad’s Pride, written and illustrated by Harry Woodgate, has already courted controversy with some parents reacting angrily on social media when it was released earlier this year. That has prompted a response from the book’s publisher Andersen Press which states: “We stand by our author and illustrator Harry Woodgate and their book Grandad’s Pride. We believe it is a faithful representation of Pride Celebrations and Pride Parades around the country enjoyed by many families.
“We discussed the images of the Pride parade during our stringent and robust editorial process and decided collectively that we should show a true representation of what a Pride march looks like and what the many children who attend these events see. We consider accusations of “hidden messages” to be baseless, deeply offensive and homophobic.”