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An introduction to what early years settings, nurseries and childminders must do to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is an EU law that came into effect on 25 May 2018.

It replaced the current Data Protection Act 1998 and the changes remain in place even though the UK has left the EU.

GDPR gives individuals greater control over their own personal data.

Early years providers must be aware of GDPR and make changes to how they handle and store data in order to be compliant. 

GDPR principles

GDPR condenses the Data Protection Principles into six areas, referred to as the Privacy Principles. They are:

1. You must have a lawful reason for collecting personal data and must do it in a fair and transparent way.

2. You must only use the data for the reason it is initially obtained.

3. You must not collect any more data than is necessary.

4. It has to be accurate and there must be mechanisms in place to keep it up to date.

5. You cannot keep it any longer than needed.

6. You must protect the personal data.

These privacy principles are supported by a further principle – accountability.

This means your setting must not only do the right thing with data but must also show that all the correct measures are in place to demonstrate how compliance is achieved.

There is also an expectation that staff will be trained on data protection. Documentation on policies, procedures and training is going to be a key part of any effective compliance programme.

Areas to consider

Appointing a data protection officer — For most settings, appointing an individual who takes the lead on data compliance will be enough, although for larger early years provider chains may need to appoint a data protection officer.

Privacy notices — When you collect any data you must tell people exactly how you are going to use it, who might you share it with, how long you will keep it as well as information on consent and complaint.

Individual rights — People now have new and enhanced rights on the collection, access and deletion of their data so you must ensure your setting has mechanisms to allow individuals to exercise these rights.

Consent — GDPR requires early years providers to have a legitimate reason for processing any personal data. Where you rely on consent for processing data you must be able to demonstrate that the consent was freely given. Pre-ticked boxes or inactivity will no longer suffice. People have to actively opt-in.

Data agreements â€” Early years providers are now obliged to have written arrangements with anybody processing data for them. аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø¿ª½± must make sure that anyone processing data meet GDPR requirements.

New projects — Data protection must be incorporated into new projects and services at the development stage — not simply as an after-thought.

Breach notification — You are obligated to notify the  (ICO) of a data breach within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach. 

Fines — One of the key drivers of compliance is that organisations can be fined significant amounts if they are not. However you should focus on the benefits of ensuring you are handling your data properly.

Protecting your data

The government's National Cyber Security Centre has produced a downloadable leaflet for early years providers explaining how to protect sensitive information about your setting and the children in your care from accidental damage and online criminals.

Download: Early years practitioners: using cyber security to protect your settings.

GDPR support for Alliance members

For further detail on GDPR, Alliance members can:

• Download GDPR-compliant policies and procedures from , including a Sample Privacy Notice for parents
• Download GDPR mini guides from the
• Get free advice from our 24hr legal helping Law-Call on any GDPR or business matter
• Alliance members can take. 

Other early years GDPR resources

• A Sample Privacy Notice for employees is available to download from Alliance publication 
• The ICO has comprehensive including checklists of what organisations need to do.
• The ICO webinar Data Protection for the Education Sector looks at best practice when collecting and using personal information of pupils and staff within educational establishments and discusses the likely impact of GDPR.
• To keep up to date with upcoming Alliance GDPR resources subscribe to our Under 5 e-newsletter using the form at the bottom of the page.