Special Educational Needs and Inclusion Team (SENIT) Privacy Notice
Who are we and what do we do
The SEN Inclusion Team is part of the Education, Schools and Inclusion Service is part of Gateshead Council. We are based at the Civic Centre, Gateshead. We provide the following services:
- the High Incidence Needs Team (HINT) provides assessment, advice, recommendations and support to schools and settings for children and young people aged 3-25 with high incidence needs in the areas of: communication and interaction; social, emotional and mental health needs; and cognition and learning difficulties
- the Low Incidence Needs Team (LINT) provides support to children and young people aged 0-25 with a hearing, vision or multi-sensory impairment and/or physical and medical needs
- the Portage Service provides a home-visiting educational pre-school (0-3) service for families with babies and young children with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
This privacy notice provides specific information about how we process your personal data. It is an addition to the information contained in our Corporate Privacy Notice.
What type of information is collected about you
We collect personal information to understand your needs and provide services. Information may include:
- name
- address
- date of birth
- gender
- educational information
- family details
- parent/carer name, address and phone number
- school/setting details
- social care information
- UPN
Special category data:
health information
How we collect information about you
We collect information about you from various sources to ensure that we meet your needs, including:
HINT
- schools and settings
LINT
- health care professionals
- schools
- settings
0-4
- healthcare professionals
- settings
self-referrals
We also receive supplementary information through:
- letters and reports about specific children from council colleagues within Education, Schools and Inclusion
- as part of the referral process
- from other local authorities when children move into the area
- from other health and social care professionals
Why we need your information
Our purpose for collecting personal information is to enable us to:
provide you or your child with appropriate services and support
We also subsequently use this data to:
- help us develop and improve our services
- measure whether our services are improving provision for children with SEND
- complete statistical returns to Government departments
Local Authorities are required to pass on some information (not the names of individual children) to the Department for Education (DfE) who use this information to inform policy development, Local Authority performance management and funding. and to assist with the development of good practice. Partner services (internal/external) are also provided with information to expand their understanding of the needs of children living in Gateshead, to influence the commissioning, and development of related services.
The lawful basis for our processing is:
- legal obligation to which the data controller is subject to Children and Families Act 2014, SEND Code of Practice, Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022
- task in the public interest
Our lawful basis for processing of sensitive personal data is:
reasons of substantial public interest (with a basis in law)
Who your information can be shared with
Our Corporate Privacy notice explains information sharing the Council carries out. This sharing fulfils statutory obligations, legal requirements and service delivery. Where necessary the SEN inclusion team can share your information with:
- Education, Schools and Inclusion colleagues which includes Educational Psychology Service, REALAC (Virtual School), SEND Team, Education Support Service and the School Improvement Team
- social care teams
- health professionals
Our lawful basis for this sharing is task in the public interest and your consent is not required.
If we wish to share your information with other council services or third parties for purposes outside of those listed above we will ask your permission.
How long we will keep your information
We keep your information for as long as we need to provide services to you. We may also need to keep your information in accordance with legal or other obligations. Where we have no need to keep your data it will be securely destroyed. We keep a Record of Processing Activity (a requirement under the GDPR). This sets out the specific retention periods applicable in different circumstances. For more information please contact: senitsupportteam@gateshead.gov.uk
Where your information is held
We hold your information within secure electronic filing systems which can only be accessed by authorised council staff.
How you can update your information
Our delivery of efficient services depends on the accuracy of your information.
Please inform us of any changes to the following:
- email address
- personal circumstances
- postal address
- any of the other information we hold
Please contact: senitsupportteam@gateshead.gov.uk
Your information rights
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Marketing and e-newsletters
Gateshead Council always acts upon your choices around what type of communications you want to receive and how you want to receive them. You have a choice about whether or not you wish to receive marketing information from us. We will always ask for your permission or provide an opportunity to opt out.
On occasion you may be contacted by e-mail and asked to complete a short survey to help us improve and develop our service provision. Survey responses are anonymous and there is no obligation to take part however we value your opinion and use your feedback to make improvements as appropriate.
Business intelligence, profiling and automated-decision making
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Protecting your information
Please see the relevant section of our Corporate privacy notice.
Data Protection Officer
Data Protection Officer
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
0191 433 3000
Information Commissioner's Office
The Information Commissioner is the UK's independent body for upholding information rights. Visit their website to find out more about your rights under Data Protection law, and what to expect from us.
For privacy practices or data protection rights concerns, contact the Information Commissioner's Office:
Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire SK9 5AF
0303 123 1113 or 01625 545 745