ICO Licence - Did You Register ?

**Chanelle** · 30-10-2012, 12:18 PM

Just going through the process of updating Everything following EYFS revisation ...

I have got to ICO Licence on my list!

Did you all register ?

It is really infuriating me as we all have to pay for a piece of paper to say we can take a phoot of people or children in our case and hold info ...

Did you Bother?
What exactly does the £35 annual fee do?
At the end of the day, if the details do get into the wrong hands what exactly can be done about it? Its not like waving a piece of paper will make things better!

**hectors house** · 30-10-2012, 12:28 PM

I am somewhere in the process of registering - I rang up and explained I was a childminder, they sent me a "Notifications" pack with all the information filled in for a childminder - I sent it back on 2 Oct, with chq for £35, last week I said to my husband that I was going to chase them as where was my piece of paper worth £35! Saturday I got envelope in post from them, opened it thinking it was my certificate but it was a letter saying that they were still waiting for my form back and money.

Have phoned the bank, the cheque hasn't been cashed - so e-mailed ico saying that it has either been lost in post or it is sat on someones desk their end!

typical government office - haven't had reply to e-mail, tried ringing them on number given but goes straight to engaged tone!

**sweets** · 30-10-2012, 12:41 PM

Nope im not registered with them! Neither are any of my childminder friends. Only ever heard of them through this forum,its never been mentioned to me by ofsted or my development workers.

BuggsieMoo · 30-10-2012, 12:46 PM

Im registered. Its up to a £50k fine if you do not register when you should be registered and get court.

If you are taking and storing photos of children then you need to be on the register.

**TooEarlyForGin?** · 30-10-2012, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Chanelle

Just going through the process of updating Everything following EYFS revisation ...

I have got to ICO Licence on my list!

Did you all register ?

It is really infuriating me as we all have to pay for a piece of paper to say we can take a phoot of people or children in our case and hold info ...

Did you Bother?
What exactly does the £35 annual fee do?
At the end of the day, if the details do get into the wrong hands what exactly can be done about it? Its not like waving a piece of paper will make things better!

I am interested in a reply, I inform parents how I keep their information, when I have burned photos each term to a disk, I destroy all photos, as I do learning journeys and delete them. So I would also like to know (I understand we are told we have to be registered) what they actually do. If my laptop got stolen with some photos on, do they offer some form of protection?

As let's face it, it's easy money, telling 60 odd thousand people they have to register.

**Chimps Childminding** · 30-10-2012, 01:29 PM

I have!! We were told by our LA we have to register if we are using digital equipment to take photos of the children!! Yes it annoys me, but its one of those things you have to do (bit like paying Ofsted) - unfortunately

**JCrakers** · 30-10-2012, 01:35 PM

It's on my todo list

To do when?...I don't know...at some point

I'm cross with the whole thing so it will get done when I remember

**tas** · 30-10-2012, 02:58 PM

Yes I begrudgingly registered but think its ridiculous that we have to

Having parent’s permission to take and store photos should be enough!

I was told by CDW if I used an instant or disposable camera then I wouldn’t have to pay its only if you take digital images or store images on computer

**Tatjana** · 30-10-2012, 03:07 PM

Nope.

Who is going to 'catch' us not being registered?

I'm tired of paying out here, there and everywhere out of my minimal profit.

**mum24** · 30-10-2012, 04:35 PM

I have registered.
As far as I am aware, if you take any digital photos, keep any personal information on your phone, pc or laptop etc then you must be registered as a data controller.
There is a very hefty fine as someone has already mentioned, if you get caught out. However, I am not sure exactly how you would get caught out...
It is a serious offence though, and I would prefer to err on the side of caution.
For our money, we get a certificate, but we have to agree to keeping all confidential information safe, have passwords and pin numbers etc etc to protect any information we take or keep. I was told that even taking a photo and then printing it immediately and deleting the photo would still mean I needed to register.
However, I know a couple of childminders who have raised an issue with the ncma as the ico website keeps searchable records of names and addresses of those registered with them, and so there is a query re safeguarding, if they publish our details as childminders.
I didn't use much digitial record keeping before I registered, but now I practically do it all digiitally and send information by email, as I am determined that if I have to pay for it I am going to use it.
By the way it is £35.00 per annum, just paid my second year a couple of weeks ago.
We pay the same as a business employing hundreds of people and keeping all their records.
I really think that this needs addressing on our behalf. We pay out enough as it is.

**kindredspirits** · 30-10-2012, 05:35 PM

I am not paying it - unless I have an ofsted inspection and they action it on my inspection report, i will not be doing it. i think its just a stupid way to raise funds.

**BlondeMoment** · 30-10-2012, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Tatjana

Nope.

Who is going to 'catch' us not being registered?

I'm tired of paying out here, there and everywhere out of my minimal profit.

I know! I've just moved house which has meant that 1, I've had to pay out all over again to fit cupboard locks and kidproof everything and 2, I've lost a lot of work! I simply can't afford to be paying out for yet another ridiculous registration fee. And ya know what, if they want to shut me down over it then do it.
I think if we keep bending over and paying out for every little thing they ask us to, they'll keep on demanding it. If we stand our ground and say enough is enough, just maybe they'll start to get the message!

**funemnx** · 30-10-2012, 06:34 PM

I've paid twice now, every year we have to do it (I think) but ridiculous!

**bunyip** · 30-10-2012, 07:14 PM

I'm registered with ICO. I have a legal responsibility to do so, so I register.

The ICO fulfils an important role in safeguarding the way everyone's data is handled by all sorts of businesses and organisations throughout the UK. I value that role and the protection it gives me. I'm happy to pay what amounts to a very small contribution to that function.

There's a lot of other things I'd rather not be paying for: the Olympics, the Jubilee, bombs to drop on children just because they live in the wrong part of the world, fertility treatment, the list goes on. I've probably

ed off most people by now, but my point is that everyone's wish list of things they don't want to pay for will be different. But living in a civilised society gives us all rights and responsibilities which we're obliged to live with, even if we don't enjoy them all. There are some things I'd definitely stand up to the state over. But £35 to help make sure that data is managed within sensible parameters isn't something I'd object to.

Fulfilling our legal obligations is not only correct, but shows parents that we're serious about doing things properly. Also it's part of our 'contract' with the state to be a childminder and use/store data. So if we pick and choose which rules we choose to follow, we can hardly complain if parents want to do the same to us, and wriggle out of their contract with us. Hey, if mum doesn't understand why she shouldn't pay when the child is off sick, then why should she have to pay? It's the same principle.

Personally, I'm unhappy with the "I'm not paying £35 for a piece of paper" attitude. It isn't just a piece of paper any more than your road tax disc is just a piece of paper. Not understanding (or bothering to find out) why it's important isn't really any excuse.

There are plenty of illegal minders out there who, similarly, don't understand why they should go to the trouble and expense of getting a piece of paper from Ofsted.

That's my 2d-'orth. I'm now going to sir back and wait to b flamed.

**TooEarlyForGin?** · 30-10-2012, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by mum24

For our money, we get a certificate, but we have to agree to keeping all confidential information safe, have passwords and pin numbers etc etc to protect any information we take or keep. I was told that even taking a photo and then printing it immediately and deleting the photo would still mean I needed to .

But surely this is the problem we already agree with parents how we look after their confidential info, we are small businesses and we don't keep information about anybody we don't know so why do we have to do this? I actually understand it more for big companies where they are storing lots of information about a variety of customers, and a large workforce also storing info. But for a few photographs and some learning journey information it's absolutely bonkers. Unless they actually offer some form of protection or help if anything should go wrong I really don't see the point, and would be happy to argue it.

**mum24** · 30-10-2012, 07:31 PM

Originally Posted by bunyip

I'm registered with ICO. I have a legal responsibility to do so, so I register.

The ICO fulfils an important role in safeguarding the way everyone's data is handled by all sorts of businesses and organisations throughout the UK. I value that role and the protection it gives me. I'm happy to pay what amounts to a very small contribution to that function.

There's a lot of other things I'd rather not be paying for: the Olympics, the Jubilee, bombs to drop on children just because they live in the wrong part of the world, fertility treatment, the list goes on. I've probably

ed off most people by now, but my point is that everyone's wish list of things they don't want to pay for will be different. But living in a civilised society gives us all rights and responsibilities which we're obliged to live with, even if we don't enjoy them all. There are some things I'd definitely stand up to the state over. But £35 to help make sure that data is managed within sensible parameters isn't something I'd object to.

Fulfilling our legal obligations is not only correct, but shows parents that we're serious about doing things properly. Also it's part of our 'contract' with the state to be a childminder and use/store data. So if we pick and choose which rules we choose to follow, we can hardly complain if parents want to do the same to us, and wriggle out of their contract with us. Hey, if mum doesn't understand why she shouldn't pay when the child is off sick, then why should she have to pay? It's the same principle.

Personally, I'm unhappy with the "I'm not paying £35 for a piece of paper" attitude. It isn't just a piece of paper any more than your road tax disc is just a piece of paper. Not understanding (or bothering to find out) why it's important isn't really any excuse.

There are plenty of illegal minders out there who, similarly, don't understand why they should go to the trouble and expense of getting a piece of paper from Ofsted.

That's my 2d-'orth. I'm now going to sir back and wait to b flamed.

I agree with all the above points, just seems something of overkill though with the very small amount of information most of us keep, and surely a smaller amount to pay would still achieve the same result.

**TooEarlyForGin?** · 30-10-2012, 07:32 PM

Originally Posted by bunyip

I'm registered with ICO. I have a legal responsibility to do so, so I register.

The ICO fulfils an important role in safeguarding the way everyone's data is handled by all sorts of businesses and organisations throughout the UK. I value that role and the protection it gives me. I'm happy to pay what amounts to a very small contribution to that function.

There's a lot of other things I'd rather not be paying for: the Olympics, the Jubilee, bombs to drop on children just because they live in the wrong part of the world, fertility treatment, the list goes on. I've probably

ed off most people by now, but my point is that everyone's wish list of things they don't want to pay for will be different. But living in a civilised society gives us all rights and responsibilities which we're obliged to live with, even if we don't enjoy them all. There are some things I'd definitely stand up to the state over. But £35 to help make sure that data is managed within sensible parameters isn't something I'd object to.

Fulfilling our legal obligations is not only correct, but shows parents that we're serious about doing things properly. Also it's part of our 'contract' with the state to be a childminder and use/store data. So if we pick and choose which rules we choose to follow, we can hardly complain if parents want to do the same to us, and wriggle out of their contract with us. Hey, if mum doesn't understand why she shouldn't pay when the child is off sick, then why should she have to pay? It's the same principle.

Personally, I'm unhappy with the "I'm not paying £35 for a piece of paper" attitude. It isn't just a piece of paper any more than your road tax disc is just a piece of paper. Not understanding (or bothering to find out) why it's important isn't really any ethem Ie.

There are plenty of illegal minders out there who, similarly, don't understand why they should go to the trouble and expense of getting a piece of paper from Ofsted.

That's my 2d-'orth. I'm now going to sir back and wait to b flamed.

Why would you get flamed its your point of view.

But surely we must question charges as and when they happen, just as we would question any type of tax or fee. I understand road tax, National Insurance and even personal tax as I know they go to certain things. But when somebody asks me to pay £35 but won't tell me what that money goes to I will question it.

Just as we had to fight to allow us to listen to the radio during the day in our own homes. It seems as a small business we are a very easy target at the moment.

**cathtee** · 30-10-2012, 07:38 PM

I've just paid for the second year, it's another thing to write off against my tax

**mum24** · 30-10-2012, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by TooEarlyForGin?

But surely this is the problem we already agree with parents how we look after their confidential info, we are small businesses and we don't keep information about anybody we don't know so why do we have to do this? I actually understand it more for big companies where they are storing lots of information about a variety of customers, and a large workforce also storing info. But for a few photographs and some learning journey information it's absolutely bonkers. Unless they actually offer some form of protection or help if anything should go wrong I really don't see the point, and would be happy to argue it.

As far as I understand it, and I am not an expert, we are not paying so that they can help if we have problems, rather the opposite, we are signing up to say we follow best practise in keeping information confidential and secure, and if it is not then we are held liable.

This will still apply if we don't register but we also will have the added fine.

**bunyip** · 30-10-2012, 08:12 PM

If people don't understand it, then the ICO website is no more difficult to find than this forum. Whether many people can be a

ed to check it remains to be seen.

I'll concede that the fee structure is a little odd. Organisations only go beyond the higher fee threshold if they turnover something like £25million and employ over 250 staff (so at least CMs are in no risk of reaching that milestone.

) This probably make no less sense than all the cut-off points for tax credits, personal tax allowances, child benefit and so on.

I pay less to the ICO each year than I claim for free milk. Now I really don't understand why a child is entitled to free milk at an early years setting but not if their mum/dad stays home to look after them. But I'm not going to argue about that. Strange - I don't see any CMs getting upset about the generosity of UK/European taxpayers (including the childless ones) who are subsidising us giving free drinks to the children of our paying clients.