Calderdale Council – SENCO/SEND Audit App Privacy and Cookies Policy
Last updated: 15 October 2025
1. Introduction
Calderdale Council (“we,” “our,” “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. This Privacy and Cookies Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your information when you use the SENCO/SEND audit and action planning app (the “App”).
The App is designed for use by Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and SIT team members at Calderdale Council and partner schools. By using the App, you agree to the terms of this policy.
2. Who We Are
- Data Controller: Calderdale Council (contact details below)
- Data Protection Officer (DPO): [Insert DPO Name and Contact Email]
3. What Data We Collect
We collect and process the following personal data:
- Account Data: Name, email address, and school/council affiliation (required for login and collaboration).
- Usage Data: Logs of actions taken in the App (e.g., comments, audit submissions) to support accountability and statutory duties.
We do not collect or process:
- Special category data (e.g., health, racial/ethnic origin).
- Data about children or young people directly (only professional users’ data is processed).
4. Legal Basis for Processing
We process your data under the following legal bases:
- Public Task (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(e)): Processing is necessary for the performance of our statutory duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and the SEND Code of Practice 2015.
- Contract (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(b)): Where processing is necessary to fulfill our obligations to you as a user of the App.
5. How We Use Your Data
Your data is used solely for:
- Enabling SENCOs and SEND teams to collaborate on audits, action plans, and comments.
- Fulfilling our legal obligations to support children and young people with SEN.
- Maintaining records for accountability and compliance.
6. Data Sharing
Your data is shared only with authorized users within:
- Calderdale Council’s SIT team.
- Schools participating in the audit process.
We do not share your data with third parties for marketing or analytics.
7. Cookies
Functional Cookies
The App uses strictly necessary cookies to:
- Authenticate users and maintain secure sessions.
- Remember user preferences (e.g., login status).
No tracking or advertising cookies are used. We use Plausible.io for analytics, which is cookie-free and fully compliant with privacy laws.
Managing Cookies
Functional cookies cannot be disabled, as they are essential for the App to operate. No other cookies are used.
8. Data Security
- Access is restricted to authorized personnel only.
- We follow Calderdale Council’s data protection policies and UK GDPR requirements.
9. Data Retention
Your data is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill statutory duties or as required by law.
10. Your Rights
Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:
- Access, correct, or delete your personal data.
- Restrict or object to processing (where applicable).
- Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
To exercise these rights, contact our DPO at [DPO Email].
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy periodically. Users will be notified of significant changes via the App or email.