Cookie and privacy Policy

This privacy policy was last updated on 21 February 2023.

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Privacy and data protection

At Montessori House Brussels, we apply the privacy by default principle and take data protection very seriously. We comply with the standards set by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

#   The categories of children’s information that we collect, hold and share include:

• personal information (such as name, address, date of birth)
• characteristics (such as ethnicity, language, nationality, country of birth, early years pupil premium eligibility)
• attendance information (such as sessions attended, number of absences and absence reasons)
• observations and assessment information and tracking of progress
• medical information
• information on special educational needs and disabilities
• referrals to other relevant services
• safeguarding information (e.g. identification document from care taker other than parents/guardians).

We also collect, hold and share some information on the children’s parents/guardians:

• personal information (names, address, contact numbers and emails)

#  We use the children’s and parents’ data to:

• support children’s learning and development, and to enable staff to plan suitable activities to extend children’s knowledge and skills.
• ensure that all children are safe within our childcare provision.
• monitor and report on children’s progress.
• provide appropriate behavioural and emotional support as required.
• assess the quality of our services as a childcare provider.
• advise parents of excursions, reunions, summer school, and extra-curriculum courses.
• comply with the law regarding data sharing.

#   We collect and use children’s information under the following lawful bases:

• Contract: the processing is necessary for a contract we have with the parents/guardian of the child to provide childcare.
• Legal obligation: the processing is necessary for us to comply with the law.
• Legitimate interests: we will occasionally use email to notify parents of an excursion, a reunion, or a summer camp, or an extra-curriculum course. We will not use parents’ data with third parties except those with whom we have, or have had, a relationship and only if this data is essential to deliver our school’s services.

#  Collecting children’s information

While most of the children’s information parents provide to us is mandatory, some of it is provided to us on a voluntary basis. To comply with the GDPR, we  inform parents whether they are required to provide certain children’s information to us or if they have a choice in this.

#  Use of photographs

We take and use photos from the children (with the parent’s permission) for use in our website. Furthermore, we will share photos with the parents of their child’s class, for use in journals and to display around the school. All photos are deleted from the camera and tablet once shared with the parents.

#  Storing children’s data

We are required to hold children’s data for a reasonable period of time after children have left the school. Their data is held securely and will only be accessible by staff who are authorised to do so.

#  Sharing children’s information

We routinely share children’s information with:

• schools that the child might attend after leaving our school.
• childcare providers where the child is currently receiving care.
• our local authority.
• special education needs coordinators.
• health services such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists.

We do not share information about our children with anyone without the parents’ consent unless the law allows us to do so.

#  Data collection requirements

To be granted access to children’s information, organisations must comply with strict terms and conditions covering the confidentiality and handling of the data, security arrangements and retention and use of the data.

#  Requesting access to your personal data

Under data protection legislation, parents and children have the right to request access to information about them that we hold. To make a request for your personal information or be given access to your child’s early years record, contact Marcel van Ratingen at info@montessoribrussels.org.

#  What are your data protection rights?

Every user is entitled to the following by EU law:

• The right to access – You have the right to request copies of your personal data.
• The right to rectification – You have the right to request a correction to any information about you that you believe is inaccurate.
• The right to erasure – You have the right to request that I erase your personal data.
• The right to restrict processing – You have the right to request that I restrict the processing of your personal data.
• The right to object to processing – You have the right to object to any processing of your personal data.
• The right to data portability – You have the right to request that I transfer the data that I have collected to another organisation, or directly to you.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us Marcel van Ratingen by email at: info@montessoribrussels.org.

#  How to contact the appropriate authority

If you want to report a complaint, you may contact the Belgian Data Protection Authority:

https://www.privacycommission.be

Cookie policy

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The following cookies are necessary for the functioning of the site and cannot be deactivated:

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• Fusionredux_current_tab: this is a WordPress theme cookie which ensures the site functions properly. It stays on your browser for a week, after which it expires.
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The only tracking cookies which can be placed on your device when you use this websites are YouTube’s cookies. These are deactivated by default however and made sure that those videos require your consent before they are visible and before YouTube can place its cookies on your device.

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YouTube uses the following cookies:

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• SIDCC: this is a security cookie that protects the user data from unauthorised access and lasts 1 day.
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