1.4 Confidentiality This policy is taken in conjunction with our policies for General Data Protection, Information Sharing, Children’s Records (including GDPR), Making Complaints, Data Retention and E-safety and Social Networking. Our work will bring us into contact with confidential information. To ensure that we can do so with confidence, we will respect confidentiality in the following ways:  In our setting, staff and managers can be said to have a ‘confidential relationship’ with families. It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality early years care and education in our setting. We aim to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children. There are record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; means of storing and sharing that information take place within the framework of the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.  Parents/carers will have ready access to files and records of their own children - but not of any other child.  We will not discuss individual children’s details or information with people other than the parents/carers of that child.  Information shared between parents in a discussion or training group is usually bound by a shared agreement that the information is confidential to the group and not discussed outside of it.  We inform parents when we need to record confidential information beyond the general personal information we keep (see our record keeping procedures) - for example with regard to any injuries, concerns or changes in relation to the child or the family, any discussions with parents on sensitive matters, any records we are obliged to keep regarding action taken in respect of child protection and any contact and correspondence with external agencies in relation to their child.  We keep all records securely and have procedures for accessing and storing information.  Information given by parents/carers to us will not be passed on to third parties.  Personal issues will remain confidential to the people involved.  Any anxieties/evidence relating to a child's personal safety will be kept in a confidential file and will not be shared with third parties except if appears to be a child protection issue. We highly recommend parents to inform us of any changes in the child’s home circumstances, care arrangements, who will drop off and collect the child or any other change which may affect the child’s behaviour such as a new baby, parents’ separation, divorce, new partner or any bereavement as this is vital information for us in order to support your child’s needs.  The details are easily accessible if any information is required for inspection by Ofsted in England, and some information related to allergies or medical conditions will be passed to the relevant practitioner in case of emergency.  We expect parents to keep private and confidential any information they may accidentally learn about other children and families attending the school, unless it is a Child Protection issue.  All the undertakings above are subject to the paramount commitment of the setting, which is to the safety and well-being of the child. Please see also our policy on child protection. In accordance with the Statutory Framework for the EYFS 2014 and General Data Protection

Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2016/679). www.smithschildren.co.uk

Updated 11/02/2018