Breach of confidentiality or world gone mad....

[gigglinggoblin]

Am getting all paperwork sorted and am just wondering if I am being ott here... I guess not so much world gone mad as have I gone mad.

If I celebrate a mindees birthday and therefore let everyone know their date of birth is this a breach of their confidential information? Would you get parents to sign a permission slip?

Am being ultra careful I know but have heard some awful stories and firmly believe in safe rather than sorry!

[Alibali]

I have a birthday chart on my wall with all the kids birthdays on them!

[FizzysFriends]

What harm can a child come to if the other kids/parents know when his birthday is?

[gigglinggoblin]

well i know thats what normal, sensible people think but we dont have policies in place to protect us from them! Really it is confidential info isnt it?

[Carol]

Cant see any harm schools have birthday assemblies with other parents attending so cant see a problem.

Carol xx

[Chimps Childminding]

I have a birthday chart on my wall with all the kids birthdays on them!


So do I!!! and I put balloons and banners up saying **** is however old today on their birthday (or nearest minding day)! Never even thought about it being a problem - they celebrate birthdays at Nursery etc.

[sarah707]

This would be an interesting question to ask Ofsted!

It's not one I've thought about tbh... I have a birthday chart and I talk about birthdays in my newsletters. Never thought I was doing wrong but you never know do you??

[miffy]

I also put birthdays in my newsletters - no-one has ever objected.

Miffy xx

[peanuts]

i have a birthday chart but keep it in a folder not on show

[gigglinggoblin]

I was putting together a rough draft for a newsletter and was thinking of including a section 'this month we are celebrating' and wondered if I could put birthdays as it would be sent out to all the families. I know its common sense and realistically the child will tell everyone anyway but I thought technically a parent could complain

[miffy]

You're right - they could. If you're not sure you could ask them all first before you put anything in your newsletters.

Miffy xx

[angeldelight]

I have a birthday chart on my wall with all the kids birthdays on them!


Same here

Angel xx

[sarah707]

Just to let you all know, I asked Ofsted this question.

Their first reply was that I should ask the ICO (Information Commissioner's Office) ... I said the ICO would not be able to tell me what Ofsted inspectors are told to say to childminders about confidentiality.

Their second reply quoted some not very relevant bits of the Eyfs... I explained that I have read the statutory requirements and guidance and the answer isn't there which is why I am asking them for clarification.

They now tell me they have sent my query about birthdays and confidentiality to the directorate. :D

[rickysmiths]

This thread is mad!!! :eek: My parents all want to give each of the children a birthday presents and invite each other to their parties. I always do a little party. It is part of being in a community. I ask parents before I share the info.

What about all the school classrooms that have the childrens birthdays displayed and the teachers!!!!!! What about the birthday chocolates that seem to come out from school and preschool each day.

What about all the Parish Notes or Magazines that list the childrens birthdays!

I will carry on the way I am. I may include permission on my consent form when I revise it. :clapping: :clapping:

[gigglinggoblin]

lol sarah, they can never just say I DONT KNOW, can they?

I fully intend to celebrate birthdays but as far as I can see it is a breach. I accept it sounds like I am going a bit far but I have been doing risk assessments and feel slightly hysterical at all the red tape and rubbish that is required!

Just because everyone else does it doesnt make it ok! I assume you thought about it too ricky or you wouldnt ask first would you?

[Tatia]

They now tell me they have sent my query about birthdays and confidentiality to the directorate.
Oh how they love Sarah at OFSTED queries department! If it had been anyone else, they'd have given a quick answer but now they're whispering 'it's that Neville woman again...better make sure we get it right'. :rolleyes: :laughing: :laughing:

[sarah707]

Oh how they love Sarah at OFSTED queries department! If it had been anyone else, they'd have given a quick answer but now they're whispering 'it's that Neville woman again...better make sure we get it right'. :rolleyes: :laughing: :laughing:

:laughing: I will let you know what they say! :cool:

[Alibali]

Look forward to hearing what OFSTED say:)

[sarah707]

This thread is mad!!! :eek: My parents all want to give each of the children a birthday presents and invite each other to their parties. I always do a little party. It is part of being in a community. I ask parents before I share the info.

What about all the school classrooms that have the childrens birthdays displayed and the teachers!!!!!! What about the birthday chocolates that seem to come out from school and preschool each day.

What about all the Parish Notes or Magazines that list the childrens birthdays!

I will carry on the way I am. I may include permission on my consent form when I revise it. :clapping: :clapping:

You are right of course Ricky the world has gone totally mad.

However, as a member has asked the question I thought what the heck, best ask, then at least we all know.

So now we wait for the Directorate... see, even Ofsted don't know the answer cos it's not in the Eyfs :rolleyes:

[charleyfarley]

I have a birthday chart on the wall with ALL birthdays written on, it is in the playroom right at the far end though.

We always have a tea party to celebrate and other mindees are invited to the partys parents hold.

So does that mean we can't celebrate any birthdays now ???????

Complete breach of confidentiality then Mitchell got hit on the ear at pre school last week and they told me exactly who did it :eek: What would Ofsted say about that then :rolleyes:

Carol xx

[Pauline]

Only just seen this thread!

I think I have this covered in my 'sharing information with other settings and people' e.g.

Types of information shared:

your child's favourite activities - this helps with planning of activities for our Group Meetings.

Your child's birthday - if it falls on a meeting day we will have a little 'party'

trouble is the list could be endless - should we not tell another child/parent that child 'a' has gone on holiday and where?

[Blaze]

I just put in my newletter...

This month we are celebrating Max's birthday...& don't give age or date...
hth:)

[Bananabrain]

World gone completely 100 per cent,stark staring mad.

Is this an April fools joke?:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

[sarah707]

Well we have all waited very patiently and have been rewarded with a reply... :D

Dear Ms xx,

Thank you for your query.

You asked -

“The enquiry I am making relates directly to confidentiality and whether Ofsted inspectors are advised by Ofsted that childminders (and other settings) should or should not share information about children's birthdays through their displays or newsletters with other families in the setting.”

Directorate's reply -

We do not advise or provide guidance to our childcare inspectors on confidentiality in relation to children’s birthdays. As the regulator we inspect providers to ensure that they comply with the law, regulations and conditions of their registration.

We advise you to discuss this matter with the parents of the children that you mind in order to assess whether they would consider this a breach of confidentiality. As well as being aware of the need to maintain privacy and confidentiality, page 23 of the EYFS statutory framework states that you should maintain a regular two-way flow of information with parents.

If you are not able to resolve this matter by asking the parents of the children you care for then, as previously indicated, we suggest you contact the ICO.

So if you follow Pauline's suggestions in her 'sharing information with other settings and people' policy sample (in Policy Writing ideas ... free downloads... at the top of the forum) and parents are happy with this, then you will be fine :D

[claireLouise]

I have a birthday chart on my wall with all the kids birthdays on them!

I also have a claendar which I make on Birthdays and my policy is to ceklrate with a party each mindees birthday. No complaints so far.

Claire

[sarah707]

I also have a claendar which I make on Birthdays and my policy is to ceklrate with a party each mindees birthday. No complaints so far.

Claire

I have been doing a lot of research on this since the question was initially asked.

While a birthday chart is lovely and i have one on my wall, it is not inclusive for all children and maybe we need to think about this.

For example, we need to think how we would be inclusive if a family came to see us who have a child being brought up in eg a Jehovah's Witness family. If this happened, parents would state that their child would not be allowed to join in birthday celebrations and we might even lose the work because we make such a show of celebrating birthdays.

It is good to consider these things and work out a way to adjust what we do in case something like this happens.