Holy Trinity CE Primary School Confidentiality Policy

Aim

To protect the child at all times and to give all staff involved clear, unambiguous guidance as to their legal and professional roles and to ensure good practice throughout the school which is understood by pupils, parents/carers and staff.

Rationale

Holy Trinity CE Primary School seeks to put the child at the heart of the learning process and to provide a safe and secure learning environment.  It seeks to implement the underlying principles of the Every Child Matters Agenda and to address the issues, which may arise about confidentiality.  It is committed to developing creative and positive ways for the child’s voice to be heard whilst recognising the responsibility to use, hold and safeguard information received.  Sharing information unnecessarily is an erosion of trust.  The School is mindful that it is placed in a position of trust by all stakeholders and there is a general expectation that a professional approach will be used in all matters of confidentiality.

Objectives

  1. To provide consistent messages in School about handling information about children once it has been received.
  1. To foster an ethos of trust within the School.
  1. To ensure that all members of the School community are aware of the School’s confidentiality, policy and procedures.
  1. To reassure pupils that their best interests will be maintained.
  1. To encourage children to talk to their parents and carers.
  1. To ensure that pupils and parents/carers know that School Staff cannot be offer unconditional confidentiality.
  1. To ensure that there is equality of provision and access for all including rigorous monitoring of cultural, gender and special educational needs.
  1. To ensure that if there are child protection issues then the correct procedure is followed.
  1. To ensure that confidentiality is a whole School issue and that in lessons ground rules are set for the protection of all.
  1. To understand that health professionals are bound by a different code of conduct.
  1. To ensure that parents have a right of access to any records the School may hold on their child but not to any other child that they do not have parental responsibility for. 

Monitoring and Evaluation

  1. The policy will be reviewed as part of the School’s monitoring cycle.
  2. The PSHCE scheme of work, Sex and Relationship policy and Drug Policy will enable identified opportunities to deliver aspects of this policy in specified year groups.
  3. The Headteacher has responsibility for monitoring this policy.

Conclusion

Holy Trinity CE Primary School has a duty of care and responsibility towards pupils, parents/carers and staff.  It also needs to work with a range of outside agencies and share information on a professional basis.  The care and safety of the individual is the key issue behind this document. 

Other relevant policies

  • Inclusion and Equality
  • Behaviour
  • Anti-bullying and Cyber Bullying
  • PSHCE
  • Imaging Policy
  • First Class
  • Data Protection
  • Pupil Records