A school in Essex has come under fire for using rave-style smiley faces to protect the identities of its children in an internet newsletter.

Clare Reece, head teacher at Cann Hall Primary School in Clacton-on-Sea, claimed that the decision to mask the children's faces was to prevent paedophiles using the newsletter to target children.

However, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children has described the incident as over the top.

"Anyone posting photos of children on the internet needs to consider the risk this poses to children," the organisation said. "But in this case the impulse to protect children's identities may have gone too far."

Some parents have supported the move. "I think it's right," said Deborah Fermor. "I don't think there should be pictures of children on the internet. It's a sign that the world is changing."

Cann Hall Primary School has now taken the pages off its website.