Please note: the Local Authority has not undertaken any quality assurance checks on items relating to goods, services and training events submitted by external organisations in this section.
Information Items
Model ESafety Policy
Applies to-All Schools
Click
here to view Model ESafety Policy - ( Prevent Duty) and Acceptable Use Policies that you may wish to consider adopting.
A number of schools have asked about the impact of the Prevent Duty on schools and should it be referenced in school's ESafety Policy – the answer is yes it should.
The Prevent Duty is the duty in the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 on specified authorities (Schools) in the exercise of their functions, to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism.
The general risks affecting children and young people may vary from area to area, and according to their age. Schools and childcare providers are in an important position to identify risks within a given local context.
Schools and childcare providers should be aware of the increased risk of online radicalisation, as organisations seek to radicalise young people through the use of social media and the internet.
The statutory guidance makes clear the need for schools to ensure that children are safe from terrorist and extremist material when accessing the internet. Schools should ensure that suitable filtering is in place.
For schools that buy back their web filtering from the Council the filtering will be fully compliant by April 2018 (For those schools who do not source their web filtering from the Council they will need to refer to their supplier)'.
Peter Richmond
Divisional Manager - Service Improvement and Governance
Resources, ICT Services
Halton Borough Council
Being Prepared for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Applies to-All Schools
Click here to view schools data protection
Click here to view school information security
Click here to view school procedure
Click here to view school model GDPR policy
I refer to my previous communications to schools about GDPR that will replace the Data Protection Act 1998 (DPA) with effect from 25th May 2018 and represents the biggest change to data protection law for 20 years. GDPR breaches will carry fines of up to 4% of global annual turnover or 20 million Euros. Individuals have stronger rights to be informed about how organisations use their personal information.
For the first time in data protection law, the GDPR will introduce the requirement of "accountability". In basic terms, accountability means that organisations will not only be required to comply with data protection requirements, but also that they must demonstrate that they comply.
Many of the GDPR's main concepts and principles are much the same as those in the current Data Protection Act, so if you are complying with the current law most of your approach to compliance will remain valid under the GDPR. However, there are new elements and significant enhancements, so you will have to do some things for the first time and some things differently.
The Information Commissioners Office (ICO) are the UK's independent authority set up to uphold information rights and they are committed to helping organisations improve their practices and prepare for the GDPR.
The ICO's overview of the GDPR is a good place to start.
The ICO has also published 12 steps to take towards compliance.
Following previous communications through the schools' E-Circular, schools need to address the following areas:
1. Raising awareness of GDPR at all levels within the school
2. Consider who in the school is going to fulfil the mandatory role of Data Protection Officer. Please see attached document regarding this.
3. Reviewing the schools' Data Protection policies and procedures. A model GDPR School Policy is attached.
4. Schools Privacy notices will need to be made more robust. The DfE and Halton Borough Council currently provide templates for schools to use, so look out for revised templates for pupils/parents and the school workforce which will be issued to schools when the ICO/DFE makes them available. The ICO's new Privacy Notice Code of Practice is a very useful document.
5. Review the schools' Information Security Policies and/or Procedures to make sure you have the right procedures in place to detect, report and investigate a 'personal information' breach. Please see attached document regarding this.
6. Update your Subject Access Request Procedures in light of the new timescales and no charge. Please see attached document regarding this.
7. Ensure data privacy is at the heart of all future projects, by carrying out Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA's). Look at how to implement them by following the ICO guidance and by using the ICO templates available on their website.
The support given by the authority relating to all areas of information governance, including the above will be incorporated into a traded SLA buy back service to schools with effect from the 2019/20 financial year. Can you please indicate whether your school would be interested in purchasing this buy back service.
I also need to stress that all reference to the school's Data Protection Officer relates to the school's internally appointed DPO and not that of the Council's Data Protection Officer.
Many thanks
Peter Richmond
Privacy Notice - Data Protection Act 1998
Applies to-All Schools
Click here to view privacy notice for you to use - you will see that you will need to delete non relevant sections and add relevant information about your school / academy
Suggested wording to give to pupils and parents for insight into how information about pupils is used in educational settings such as; schools, alternative provision, pupil referral units and early years providers
I refer to my communication in October 2017 that provided a draft Privacy Notice for schools and academies to use. The PN has now been updated to include appropriate reference to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that comes into effect on 25th May 2018.
A Privacy Notice must be issued to learners at a school and academy. A learner might receive the Privacy Notice as part of a school brochure or induction pack or in a school diary, and/or it could be posted on the school notice board
It is anticipated that young people who have the maturity to understand the nature and the implications of the request they are making and who have a general understanding of their rights under the Data Protection Act, should generally be able to request to see their personal information themselves under the Subject Access Provisions (Section .7) of the Data Protection Act. For children under 12, their parents will generally act on their behalf. In every case, it will be for the school or academy, as Data Controller, to assess whether the child is capable of understanding their rights under the Act, and the implications of their actions and so decide whether the parent needs to make the request on the child's behalf.
Many thanks
Peter Richmond
SPECIAL PROVISION CAPITAL FUND – CONSULTATION – CLOSING DATE, FRIDAY, 26TH JANUARY 2018
Applies to-All Schools
The Department for Education has committed capital funding to help local authorities create new school places and improve existing facilities for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The amount of capital funding available is £500,000 over a three year period. The Local Authority is consulting on a proposal to provide capital investment in both the primary and secondary sectors in Halton to assist in the reduction of placements at independent providers, particularly out-borough, and associated transport costs, for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. The full consultation document is available on Halton's website, and if you wish to respond to the consultation please do so using the following link: www.halton.gov.uk/sen by 5pm Friday 26th January 2018. You will not receive an individual response to any comment submitted, but following closure of the consultation the Local Authority will review the responses and formulate a short plan regarding how it intends making the capital investment provided under this central government funding. The plan will be published by 14th March 2018 on the Local Offer page of the website.
Ann McIntyre
Operational Director – Education, Inclusion and Provision
Schools funding
Click here to view funding bulletin
If you have a project or an idea that you require advice and funding assistance with, please fill out an Enquiry Form.
Funding Bulletins Home Page
Jonathan Patten
Funding Support Officer – Municipal Building
Enterprise & Property, Halton Borough Council
0151 511 7214/Internal: (16)7214
