1. Introduction

Welcome to Kiddies Montessori School's Privacy Policy. This policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal information about students, parents, guardians, and visitors to our school and website (www.kmstvm.com).

We are committed to safeguarding the privacy of children and families who engage with our educational services. This policy complies with applicable Indian data protection laws and regulations.

By enrolling your child at Kiddies Montessori School or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Student Information

We collect the following information about students:

• Full name, date of birth, and age
• Gender and nationality
• Photographs and videos for educational and school records
• Medical history, allergies, and health conditions
• Academic records, assessments, and progress reports
• Behavioral observations and developmental milestones
• Emergency contact information
• Previous school records and documentation

2.2 Parent/Guardian Information

We collect personal information about parents and guardians including:

• Full names and relationship to the child
• Contact details (phone numbers, email addresses, residential address)
• Occupation and workplace information
• Government-issued ID proof (for verification purposes)
• Financial information for fee payments
• Communication preferences

2.3 Website Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address and browser type
• Device information and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Referring website addresses
• Date and time of visits

2.4 Other Information

• Inquiry forms and admission applications
• Feedback, complaints, and correspondence
• CCTV footage from school premises for security purposes
• Transportation route and pick-up/drop-off information

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

3.1 Educational Purposes

• Providing quality education and care to students
• Tracking academic progress and development
• Planning individualized learning programs
• Conducting assessments and maintaining academic records
• Organizing educational activities and field trips

3.2 Communication

• Communicating with parents about their child's progress
• Sending school announcements, newsletters, and updates
• Notifying parents of emergencies or urgent matters
• Responding to inquiries and requests
• Sharing event invitations and school programs

3.3 Administrative Purposes

• Processing admissions and maintaining enrollment records
• Managing fee payments and financial transactions
• Scheduling and coordinating transportation services
• Maintaining health and safety records
• Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements

3.4 Safety and Security

• Ensuring the safety and well-being of all students
• Monitoring school premises through CCTV systems
• Responding to medical emergencies
• Verifying authorized pick-up persons
• Investigating incidents or concerns

3.5 Marketing and Promotional Activities

• Featuring student work and achievements on our website and social media (with consent)
• Creating promotional materials and school publications
• Sharing success stories and testimonials

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not sell or rent personal information to third parties. However, we may share information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Your Consent

We will share information when you have given explicit consent, such as for promotional photographs or media features.

4.2 Service Providers

We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:

• Payment processing and financial services
• Transportation services
• IT support and website hosting
• Marketing and communication services

These service providers are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and use the information only for the specified purposes.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes, court orders, or government requests
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of the school, students, staff, or others
• Respond to child protection concerns or safety issues
• Cooperate with law enforcement or regulatory authorities

4.4 Educational Authorities

We share necessary information with CBSE and other educational authorities for accreditation, compliance, and regulatory purposes.

4.5 Emergency Contacts

In case of medical emergencies, we will share relevant information with healthcare providers and emergency contacts.

5. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect it:

• Secure storage of physical documents in locked cabinets with restricted access
• Password-protected electronic records and databases
• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training on data protection and confidentiality
• Secure disposal of outdated records following data retention policies
• CCTV systems with restricted access to footage
• Network security measures including firewalls and encryption

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but will notify you promptly of any known data breaches.

6. Your Rights as Parents/Guardians

As a parent or guardian, you have the following rights regarding your and your child's personal information:

6.1 Right to Access

You can request access to the personal information we hold about you and your child at any time.

6.2 Right to Correction

You can request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete information. Please notify us promptly of any changes to contact details, medical information, or other important data.

6.3 Right to Withdraw Consent

You can withdraw consent for specific uses of information, such as photography or promotional materials. However, this may not apply to information necessary for educational or legal purposes.

6.4 Right to Object

You can object to certain processing activities, such as marketing communications, at any time.

6.5 Right to Deletion

In certain circumstances, you can request deletion of personal information, subject to our legal obligations to retain records for specified periods.

6.6 Right to Complain

If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with us or with relevant regulatory authorities.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided at the end of this policy.

7. Children's Privacy Protection

The safety and privacy of children is of utmost importance to us. We have special safeguards in place:

• We collect children's information only with explicit parental consent
• Information is used solely for educational and care purposes
• We never share children's personal information for marketing purposes
• Access to children's records is strictly limited to authorized personnel
• Parents can review and request changes to their child's information at any time
• We obtain separate consent before using children's photographs or videos
• Our staff undergo training on child protection and data privacy
• CCTV footage involving children is securely stored and accessed only when necessary

8. Cookies and Website Tracking

8.1 What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit our website. They help us improve your browsing experience and understand how visitors use our site.

8.2 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for the website to function properly
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand visitor behavior and improve our website
• Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings

8.3 Managing Cookies

You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may affect your ability to use certain features of our website.

8.4 Third-Party Analytics

We may use third-party analytics services like Google Analytics to analyze website traffic. These services may use cookies and collect information about your use of the website.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, or external resources. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external sites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

We carefully select third-party links but do not endorse or assume responsibility for their practices.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with legal obligations:

10.1 Student Records

• Active student records are maintained during enrollment
• Academic records may be retained for several years after graduation or withdrawal
• Medical records are retained as per legal requirements

10.2 Financial Records

Financial and payment records are retained for a minimum period as required by tax and accounting regulations.

10.3 CCTV Footage

CCTV recordings are typically retained for 30-90 days unless needed for investigations or legal purposes.

10.4 Marketing Materials

Promotional photographs and videos are retained until consent is withdrawn or the material is no longer relevant.

10.5 Secure Disposal

When information is no longer needed, it is securely disposed of through shredding, deletion, or other appropriate methods to prevent unauthorized access.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Post the revised policy on our website
• Notify parents and guardians through email or school communications
• Obtain fresh consent if required by law for new processing activities

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.