Privacy Notice
Teatimers Childcare Ltd
Sandygate Road
Marlow
Buckinghamshire
SL7 3LE
Introduction
We are committed to ensuring that any personal data we hold about you and your child is protected in accordance with data protection laws and is used in line with your expectations.
This privacy notice explains what personal data we collect about children and families, why we collect it, how we use it and how we protect it.
What personal data do we collect?
We collect personal data about you and your child to provide care and learning that is tailored to meet your child’s individual needs. We also collect information in order to verify your eligibility for free childcare as applicable. Personal details that we collect about your child include:
- your child’s name, date of birth, address.
- health and medical needs, development needs, and any special educational needs
- emergency contact details, and family details
- your name, home and work address, phone numbers
Where applicable we will obtain child protection plans from social care and health care plans from health professionals. We will also ask for information about who has parental responsibility for your child and any court orders pertaining to your child.
If you apply for up to 30 hours funded childcare, we will also collect:
- Your national insurance number or unique taxpayer reference (UTR), if you’re self-employed. We may also collect information regarding benefits and family credits that you are in receipt of.
Why we collect this information and the legal basis for handling your data
We use personal data about you and your child in order to provide childcare services and fulfil the contractual arrangement you have entered into. This includes using your data to:
- contact you in case of an emergency
- support your child’s wellbeing and development
- manage any special educational, health or medical needs of your child whilst at our setting
- carry out regular assessment of your child’s progress and to identify any areas of concern
- maintain contact with you about your child’s progress and respond to any questions you may have
- process your claim for up to 30 hours free childcare (only where applicable)
- keep you updated with information about our service
We will also record your child’s activities for their individual learning record. This may include photographs and videos. You will have the opportunity to withdraw your consent at any time, for images taken by confirming so in writing.
We have a legal obligation to process safeguarding related data about your child should we have concerns about their welfare. We also have a legal obligation to transfer records and certain information about your child to the school that your child will be attending.
Who we share your data with
Under the Childcare Act 2016 and related regulations, we are required to pass some of your child’s information to Buckinghamshire Council and the Department for Education (DfE)
In order for us to deliver childcare services we will also share your data as required with the following categories of recipients:
- Ofsted – during an inspection or following a complaint about our service
- the government’s funding eligibility checker (as above)
- our insurance underwriter
- the school that your child will be attending
- our software management provider
We will also share your data:
- where we are legally required to do so, for example, by law or by a court;
- If have to enforce or apply the terms and conditions of your contract with us;
- to protect your child and other children; for example by sharing information with social care or the police;
- if it is necessary to protect our/or others rights, property or safety
We will never share your data with any other organisation to use for their own purposes without seeking your permission.
How do we protect your data?
We protect unauthorised access to your personal data and prevent it from being lost, accidentally destroyed, misused, or disclosed by:
- Using a leading provider of childcare management software to store the majority of your information, thereby buying into a level of security, resilience and backup that we could not achieve by ourselves.
- Storing additional sensitive information in secure locations that are only accessible to named staff members.
- Locking any paper based records when not in use.
How long do we retain your data?
We retain your child’s personal data for up to 3 years after your child no longer uses our setting, or until our next Ofsted inspection after your child leaves our setting. Medication records and accident records are kept for longer according to legal requirements. Your child’s learning and development records are maintained by us and handed to you when your child leaves.
In some instances (child protection, financial or other support service referrals) we are obliged to keep your data for longer if it is necessary to comply with legal requirements.
Automated decision-making
We do not make any decisions about you or your child based solely on automated decision-making.
Your rights with respect to your data
You have the right to:
- request access, amend or correct your/your child’s personal data
- request that we delete or stop processing your/your child’s personal data, for example where the data is no longer necessary for the purposes of processing; and
- request that we transfer your, and your child’s personal data to another person
If you wish to exercise any of these rights at any time or if you have any questions, comments or concerns about this privacy notice, or how we handle your data please contact Toby Arnold.
If you require more information about how Buckinghamshire council and/or DfE store and use this information, then please go to the following websites:
Buckinghamshire Council: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/privacynotice
DfE: www.gov.uk/guidance/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-research-data
The majority of information we hold about you is in a single system. Although we use it for practical reasons, we are legally required to hold the majority of this information. You should be aware that in excercising your right to withhold consent, in some circumstances this would create a position where we cannot provide you with a service that meets our legal obligations.
If you have continue to have concerns about the way your data is handled and remain dissatisfied after raising your concern with us, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner Office (ICO). The ICO can be contacted at Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF or ico.org.uk/
Changes to this notice
We keep this notice under regular review. You will be notified of any changes where appropriate. Last update June 2021.