Effective: 4 February 2025

Grow Early Education Limited (“Grow Early Education”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of children, families, whānau, staff, and visitors, and to being transparent about how we collect, use, and safeguard personal information.

This Privacy Policy explains:

• What personal information we collect

• Why and how we use your information

• When we may share your information

• Your rights regarding your personal information

By using our website (the “Website”), you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of the Website.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will take effect once posted. Continued use of the Website after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

Information We Collect

We collect the following types of information:

(a) Information You Provide

When you interact with us, you may provide personal information including:

• Parent or caregiver name

• Child’s name and date of birth

• Contact details (email address, phone number, physical address)

• Enrolment information and attendance details

• Emergency contact details

• Medical, allergy, or wellbeing information (where required for care and safety)

• Feedback, enquiries, or communications

• Employment or teacher registration details (if applicable)

(b) Information We Collect Automatically

When you use our Website, we may automatically collect:

• Pages visited and interactions with Website content

• IP address, device type, and browser type

• Referral sources

• Analytics and performance data

(c) Information from Third Parties

We may receive personal information from:

• Te Whatu Ora / health professionals (where authorised)

• The Ministry of Education

• Other early learning services (with consent)

• Professional registration bodies

• Service providers who support our operations

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Provide safe, high-quality early childhood education and care

• Meet our obligations under the Education and Training Act and Ministry of Education requirements

• Support children’s health, safety, and wellbeing

• Communicate with parents, caregivers, and whānau

• Manage enrolments, attendance, and funding

• Employ, support, and manage staff

• Improve our services, Website, and operations

• Send updates, newsletters, or centre communications (you may opt out where applicable)

We only collect information that is necessary for lawful and educational purposes.

Sharing Your Information

We do not sell personal information.

We may share information only where appropriate and lawful, including with:

(a) Education & Regulatory Bodies

• The Ministry of Education

• Education Review Office (ERO)

• Other government agencies where required by law

(b) Health & Safety Purposes

• Emergency services or medical professionals

• Public health authorities (where required)

(c) Service Providers

Trusted third parties who assist us with:

• Student management systems

• Payroll and accounting

• IT support and cloud services

• Website hosting and analytics

These providers may access personal information only as required to perform their services and must protect it appropriately.

(d) Legal Requirements

We may disclose information where required to:

• Comply with legal obligations

• Protect the safety and wellbeing of children

• Prevent or respond to serious risk, harm, or unlawful activity

Cookies & Website Analytics

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Improve Website functionality

• Analyse Website traffic and usage

• Understand how visitors interact with our content

You can manage cookies via your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect Website functionality.

Google Analytics

We use Google Analytics to collect anonymised usage data. Information collected is subject to Google’s Privacy Policy. You may opt out using Google’s opt-out tools.

Do Not Track: Our Website may not respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals.

Privacy Rights

Under the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020, you have the right to:

• Access your personal information

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information

• Withdraw consent where consent has been relied upon

• Opt out of non-essential communications

If you believe your privacy has not been respected, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (www.privacy.org.nz).

Requests can be made using the contact details below.

Data Security & Retention

Data Security

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure, or alteration. Access to sensitive information is restricted to authorised staff only.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as required to:

• Meet educational, legal, and funding obligations

• Support children’s learning and wellbeing

Information is securely destroyed or anonymised when no longer required.

International Data Storage

Some systems and cloud-based services we use may store data outside New Zealand. Where this occurs, we take reasonable steps to ensure personal information receives a level of protection comparable to New Zealand privacy standards.

Children’s Privacy

Protecting children’s privacy is central to our work. We collect and use children’s personal information only for purposes directly related to their education, care, health, and safety, and in accordance with legal requirements and parental consent.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how personal information is handled, please contact:

 Email: info@growearlyeducation.co.nz

 Website: https://www.growearlyeducation.co.nz