GDPR changes
18th May 2018
Dear Parents and Carers,
ACTION NEEDED – Two important changes: 1) Data Protection Law, 2) How we communicate with you
You may be aware that from May, the rules around data protection are changing as new legislation comes into effect – The ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (GDPR). As a school we have a legal obligation to process and use certain data, but the new legislation brings with it some changes including strengthening your rights over your own data.
The point of this is to make sure sensitive or private information about yourselves and your children stays safe. Whilst it is similar to the current Data Protection Act in many ways, there are a few differences, so we need to make a few changes at the school in order to ensure we remain compliant.
One of these changes is that we have updated our privacy notice which tells you why we need certain information and what we do with it. You can find the changes on the school website under “Policies”.
As part of our work to comply with the GDPR, we are also re-seeking consent for using photographs or videos of your child on our website, or other school materials. We have enclosed this form, and would appreciate it if you filled this out and returned it to the school office before half term. The information in this form will be used throughout your child’s time at school. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting the school.
Further to this, we are making changes to how we communicate to you. The table overleaf shows the way that we plan to communicate information to you. You will need to consent to receive some of this information.
Communicating with you
We are now going to send the school newsletter as part of the class newsletter that you receive each week. We recognise we send out lots of information, in many different ways. We hope that sending out all the information via the class newsletter will encourage you to keep up to speed with everything that is going on at St Peter’s.
We do send out some non-essential information (Community news etc.) that you will now need to opt-in to receive at this link: http://eepurl.com/du6PjP or add your email here: _______________________________
You can opt out at any time.
| What we need to communicate: | How? | Consent needed |
| Class newsletter, including the school weekly flyer of ‘need to know’ information. | email, or paper by request | No (essential information) |
| Trips and visits | Paper letter via child | No (essential information) |
| Sporting events | Paper letter via child | No (essential information) |
| School performances and music events | Paper letter via child | No (essential information) |
| Ad hoc information about important day to day running of the school | Paper letter via child and/or email | No (essential information) |
| Important reminders about trips, visits, events, performances etc | Text message | No (essential information) |
| Important reminders about upcoming deadlines | Text message | No (essential information) |
| Important reminders about the day to day running of the school | Text message | No (essential information) |
| Essential information about medical or other emergencies | Phone call and/or text message | No (essential information) |
| ‘Need to know’ weekly flyer | Website and email | No (essential information) |
| Community and other news | Website and email | Yes, via this link http://eepurl.com/du6PjP (same as above) |
| Parent evenings and other parent events | email or paper letter | No (essential information) |
| PTA news and events | Website and email | No (essential information) |
| Marketing information from outside of school e.g. Primary Times. | By collection only. We will leave out for parents to take if they wish. | Yes. Parents to take as you require. |
If you have any questions about how the GDPR affects you, or how our school is preparing, you can contact Mrs Stone in the school office.
Many thanks,
Steve Hitchcock
Headteacher