Preschool sharing my child's information with her intended primary school

[Rosiepepper]

I have just become aware that the preschool would share my child's information with her intended primary school as she starts reception this September. I intend to suggest that certain private information should not be shared! Has anyone had any issue on this? Thanks

Normal and allowed. Of course they need to share information.

It’s required that they do!

I'm pretty sure they need your written permission in advance before sharing anything. My child also starts reception this year and I happened to be speaking to our nursery manager the other day, who said as much. if you're worried, write to them now and say you don't consent to sharing info. Personally I'm happy for them to have our records but I haven't any particular concerns so I'm sure if that's it the case you're within your rights to be cautious.

Yes you need to talk to them about it and what private information you would rather no be shared

You probably signed something about information sharing when you started.

Just go and talk to the pre school, because it is quite normal for them to pass on transition documents etc. They should be able to show you exactly what they're sending to school.

The school may also visit the Pre school and talk to staff about your child.

Speak to the preschool soon so they know what you’d rather didn’t get passed on. Usually it is things like learning journey, things they enjoy, how they learn best, assessments and SEN.

All settings have to do a transition record for the new setting, which include things like likes, dislikes, friendships, sen, trackers and assessments, if the family is “ know” to social services and any safeguarding concerns will also be advised but only to the new settings safeguarding officer. They should not pass on any personal information e.g. mum and dad separating etc

What don't you want sharing?

Why don’t you want them to share? Surely it’s in your child’s best interests that the school knows as much about her as possible?

I’m really baffled by this. Do you have something to hide, that might be on her records?

Completely normal for them to share...all nurseries and schools do.

Completely normal. The reception teacher will also have a chat with her key worker or come to the nursery to find out as much as possible in order to help the transition be as smooth as possible.
They also write a report that they forward to the school.
I'm confused why this would be an issue for you.

What's the issue?

I would’ve thought if the nursery is holding “certain private information [that] should not be shared" then you would already have reason to question the nursery's need to hold such information in the first place.

Both nursery and school ostensibly perform the same function (i.e. early years education) so their need/right to handle and share any particular data would be very similar or identical.

It’s going to be difficult to comment on this particular case without knowing the nature of the "certain information" involved.

I suppose if it's sensitive and not relevant then they would comply with you. I'm struggling to think what you could possibly not want sharing.

I mean, surely the information they share is to enable your child to thrive in her new school so unsure as to why you wouldn't want that?

Also, consent is only one legal basis for sharing and storing information. The fact that they do this might be in their terms and conditions of the agreement you signed with them so they're contractually obliged to? I'm not really up to date on data privacy issues for minors so I can't say for sure, but most people still seem to think that consent is the be all and end all of data retention and sharing, when often that's not the case.

You can not refuse safeguarding information.

Aah stupid phone! You cannot refuse for them to share safeguarding concerns.

Why wouldn't you want her primary to know as much about her as possible, they are not being nosy and have seen so many kids with so many different health, personal, family issues it would have to be something extraordinary to even raise on eyebrow. If this thing is false then you need to get it corrected so only correct information is shared.

Surely they only have information that would be required by the school anyway?

I don’t understand what your issue could be 🤷🏼‍♀️

You usually have to sign consent to share information. I'm pretty shocked that you wouldn't want their school to have information about them, what is it you don't want shared?

It's for the benefit of the children, that's the whole purpose of it.

It depends what the information is that you don't want to be shared. If it's about the child's health when they were younger that no longer applies then I would request they don't share. If it's surrounding any safeguarding concerns then they absolutely need to share.

I would ask, what have you got to hide? The primary school is doing its homework. It wants to be prepared and to have as smooth a transition as possible, so that your child settles and is as happy as possible, and as safe as possible, as soon as possible. Why would you not want that?