Members of staff defended the decision after parents raised concerns, arguing that the children would not understand the images
A children’s book about Pride featuring men in bondage gear was shown to four-year-olds in a pre-school, it has emerged.
Parents had raised concerns with staff at Genesis Pre School in Hull after it was brought to their attention that children were being exposed to the images.
A staff member had checked with parents of the nursery pupils if they were happy with the contents of the book Grandad’s Pride to be shown to their children, but one flagged images of “partially naked” men in “leather bondage gear” as concerning.
A member of staff then defended the images, arguing the children would not understand the erotic and sexualised depictions.
The safeguarding lead at the school claimed the book showed people wearing costumes and rebuffed worries that the pictures were inappropriate, according to Hull Live.
Parents’ assessment was disputed
Will and Maria Taylor decided to remove their child from the school over the issue.
Mr Taylor told Hull Live: “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 and a studded dog collar around his neck and knee high boots.
“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.”
Mr Taylor had expected staff to apologise for the contents of the book that the children were exposed to, but the teachers disputed their assessment.
Trustees of the nursery later confirmed to parents that the book had been removed from the nursery while it carried out a safety audit, but said it was widely available at bookstores and libraries, according to Hull Live.
Genesis Pre School was contacted for comment.
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