Importance of Confidentiality in Schools

The assignment discusses the significance of confidentiality in schools, emphasizing the need for professionals to maintain secrecy regarding students' personal information. It highlights the Data Protection Act 1998's principles and the Confidentiality Policy followed by schools. The document also explores situations where confidentiality protocols must be breached, such as child abuse or medical emergencies, and justifies these instances. Overall, the assignment underscores the importance of protecting students' privacy and maintaining confidentiality in educational settings.

Communication and Professional Relationships
with Children, Young People and Adults
Principles
The aim of this task is to
Explain why effective communication is important in developing positive
relationships with children, young people and adults.

Effective communication is important with children, young people and adults
because it will show them that their opinions are valued and they will also feel valued.
When communicating with children, young people and adults they need to feel at ease and
relaxed, this will make them communicate back comfortably and with the confidence they
require, if you approach and respond in a positive manner children, young people and adults
will feel comfortable in your presence whilst you are supporting them.
We all have had role models in our life as children, as children grow they begin to
understand to respect people these being teachers, teaching assistants, head teachers all
adults and understand these people need to be listened to and respected. When giving
orders and praising children and young people this should be done clearly for the child to
understand and helps establish respect and trust. This is very important if a child ever needs
to confide in yourself they will be able to do this.
When communicating with an adult it is important to address them with their title
e.g mr, miss, mrs and their surname by doing this you will be showing them respect also the
children around you will also learn to do this. It is important to gain the trust of parents as
they will be confident to approach you if they have any concerns regarding their child, when
speaking to parents or teachers try not to do this in front of the child as they will overhear
these conversations and could feel like trust is broken and the confidence will be shattered .
Verbal communication can be simply defined as a means of communication whereby
information are exchanged through words. It is generally of two types that is written and
oral communication. Verbal communication can be done via face to face conversation,
interview, group discussion, calls,etc. These are form of oral communication process.
Written can be done through letters, memos, notes, email, reports,etc. On the other hand,
non verbal communication can be defined as a way of conveying information that are done
without using any words. This involves apparent behaviours like expression of face, eyes,
voice tone and touching as well as obvious messages like dress and spatial distance between
one or more people. The characteristics of non verbal communication are listed below:
 No use of words: This mode of communication is done without using any words or
languages like written or oral. But this uses facial expression, postures, eye contacts,
touching,etc. in order to communicate information with others.

 Culturally determined: Non verbal communications are learnt in immaturity that is
in childhood as this passes from one to their parents. Through this method of
growing up in a specific society, one can follow the taints and peculiarity of their
cultural group.
 Vague and imprecise: The non verbal communication is quite undefined and inexact.
As in this communication, words are not used so it expresses a clear-cut message to
the receiver.
Explain the principles of relationship building with children, young people
and adults.
Relationships are built on respect, caring, love and willing to listen. Building a
relationship with a child is extremely important as they need that extra attention, children
are very tender, they look for a relationship with caring adults and have a lot of questions in
their minds as to where or if they belong, they need to know if they are safe, they look for
answers in their relationships.
Children and young people may not ask you the questions they are feeling but are looking
for answers in you as an adult by listening to them they will begin to accept you as you have
accepted them. Children and young people seek attention in their peers and if they receive
this from you they will also care for you and show the respect you deserve.
Effective communication are belonging to the value of positive relationship building
and also involves respect and consideration towards others, hearing to what other person
have to say and memorising important personal problems, being clear when speaking to
others and having a sense of humour when the condition demand so. When relationship
and communication are created or built with the children and young ones, then one has to
be clear about the stages of linguistics and social development in order to understand at a
specific age and what type of communication are expected from them. Young kids start
saying first word at the age of 12 to 18 months and began creating sentences at the age of 3
to 4 years. They start to make complex sentences when they are age of 8 years old.
The key to build relationship with adults is respecting them and the understanding
from both sides. All the relation are created on the basis of trust and data that is given in

confidence have to remain secret unless there is problem about child safety. If there is no
strong relationship with adults then there will be a risk that information get passed
inaccurately or that it is withheld due to deficiency of trust. This results in serious results.
So, it is better to build trust with adults.
Explain how different social, professionals and cultural contexts may affect
relationships and the way people communicate.
Sometimes there is a lack of understanding when communicating and building
relationships as there are different backgrounds and cultures of people of different social,
professional and cultural context. There are many behaviours that are interpreted
differently by people. We all cone from different backgrounds and cultures but we need to
adapt to others as they will adapt to us. In schools children will be taught different to the
way they get taught at home, parents will have to also adapt to the understanding of the
school policy and to the way their children are taught. As support staff we need to learn the
cultural backgrounds of our pupils for better communication in order to do this we need to
listen to each other and take an interest.
When communicating we need to adapt in the environment we are in whether that be at
work or out in the public or even at home as all these places have a different situation. We
also need to remember people from different cultures have their own ways of
communicating and behaving.
There is formal and informal communication formal is when you are having a meeting with
parents or teachers discussing matters regarding children’s reports or any issues there might
be regarding the child. Informal communication is when the children, young people are
outside having fun and the children spend time with teachers just getting to know one
another and just building relationships.
Skills

Explain the skills needed to communicate with children and young people.
When communicating with children, young people or even adults you need to
demonstrate many skills like your body language, eye contact, listening skills, simple sign
language such as Makaton which is a simple form of sign language which uses signs and
picture symbols as well as speech, even just going down to their level for them to feel
comfortable. It is important to give children, young people and adults a chance to give their
views or if they have any concerns you should give them a chance at the end of the day or
even in morning or thought the day for them to approach you ask them how they are and
how their days been, it will give them the opportunity to tell you they feel. Using eye
contact and appropriate body language will help as children, young people and adults will
be more comfortable, when communicating react appropriately as this will help build
confidence if they use the incorrect terms correct them tell them where they are going
wrong as they will think using terms and sentences they think is correct which are incorrect
will help them in the future.
It is important that when listening to children, young people and adults you give eye contact
as they will feel comfortable and respect you as they will feel you are taking an interest, also
praise them if they are telling you about something good they have done as they will feel
you are proud of them, try using words like ‘that is brilliant well done’.
Try getting involved when communicating with children and young people, when they are
doing an activity ask them questions about what they are doing what the activity is about
for example if they are drawing a picture you ask them who is in the picture where the
picture is even what the weather is like. They need to know you are taking an interest in
them it is good for them as they will feel confident in what they are doing. There are many
benefits with effective communication it helps builds trust, respect, teamwork, self-esteem
and team work.
Explain how to adapt communication with children and young people for: the
age of the child or young person, the context of the communication and
communication differences.

There are different ways of communication with children and young people which
needs to be adapted to. Children need different levels of support than young people as their
age range varies, a younger child needs more attention and requirements than an older
child.
When communicating with young children it is important to use eye contact, also
use easy words and short sentences for them to understand. With children who have
learning difficulties it is important you use hand gestures also pictures or symbols which will
help them understand.
With an older child it is important they receive praise and encouragement too as
this will help them socialise more and improve their skills. We need to give older children a
chance to express themselves and let them know their opinions matter, it is important we
make them feel we are taking an interest in them. Adults should take proper ways to adopt
communication for young people who are of 12 to 19 years old. They will requires different
levels of attention. Younger children are requiring more support specifically when first
staring school. They might require more physical contacts as a result. As they are getting
mature, they would need more assistance with talking through problems and describing
their own point of views. So, parents requires to adapt their vocabulary and think how they
can interact positively with them as they hear and give response to them. It is possible that
the parents will adapt the way of communication with them without making them aware
that they are doing so. They should often alter the way of reaction as other one are reacting.
Context of communication we need to adapt to the environment we are in when
communicating with children and young people, when in the classroom and are doing an
activity which is important we need to stay focused, without any distractions for them to
complete the activity. If there is an activity outdoors it would be somewhere you can build
relationships with the children as it will be fun and friendly environment where children will
be playing games and you can take part in this environment.
It is also important to build relationships with children with learning difficulties, as we need
to be patient and understanding towards them. We should never second guess what a `child
with learning difficulties needs for example a child who has speech difficulties we should not
assume they need something just because they cannot tell you what they need, they will get

nervous and this will make them more anxious. There are different ways to communicate
such as using pictures and simple sign language, you can also use Makaton which is a simple
form of sign language which uses signs and picture symbols as well as speech . When
communication with different other adults all have to pay attention to several aspects that
may create difficulties for them in expressing themselves. Issues may arise when the family
belongs to a different nation and has therefore different social rules or norms in terms of
conversation. Clearly speaking and also giving opportunities to the parents to speak can
assist in creating a positive and trust worthy environment. If some is doing conversation
with his parents who is hearing impaired, then they may be assure that they are facing them
by giving eye contact so that they can read their lip by their facial expression. However, if
they have contacts with adults who are having certain other communication issues, they
might require to reflect by making sure that they are adapting their means of
communication. If there is another condition, when some one has to communicate with
adults who are speaking English as additional language , they might need a translator and do
meeting together if the information they are conveying is complex or difficult to understand.
Explain the main differences between communicating with adults and
communicating with children and young people.
The difference between communicating with adults and children, young people is
the language we use should appropriate to age and understanding. When communicating
with children we need to speak in simple and short sentences for them to understand,
young children is slightly different we need think about their concentration levels as they
understand better than a child, they may also have a preferred name they would like to be
called whilst in school than what they may have on the school records. Never interrupt a
child or laugh at what they are saying as it will lower their self-confidence, be polite and
make sure you are listening to their opinion and take note of this.
Young children are more self-conscious when speaking, provide opportunities for them and
they will develop communication skills, try using written communication which will help
build their confidence, also adults communicate can build their social skills by using good
manners. Being polite and understanding will also help them with their confidence and will
help them communicate better by respecting them they will learn to respect their peers and
communicate more effectively.

When communicating with adults it is good to refer them by surnames and titles as there
may be children around to hear, also when communicating with children, young people and
adults your tone of voice would need to be adapted to the environment or appropriate
setting so no one will take offence if they feel you may be rude within your tone of voice.
Explain how to adapt communication to meet different communication
needs of adults.
When communicating with adults it is important to show them respect, talk in a
language where they also feel comfortable address them in the manner of using their title
and surname this is very important as children will see this and begin to do the same thing.
It is important to do this at it will make them feel comfortable as you will be working very
closely with them be whether they are a member of staff or a parent, it will make it easier to
work together as it will show them respect. Also take on board their ideas and views it will
encourage them to communicate more with yourself as it will be easier for you to work in a
clam friendly environment with no upset.
Case Study
If some one is communicating with a person who are suffering from hearing and visual
impairment then should follow a different form of communication. Here one can use body
language and sign language or lip reading procedures. They can understand the sign
language easily. One who is doing conversation with such a people then they should do eye
contact with them so that they can read their lipping. Also, if conversation is carried on with
another people who have English as an additional language, then at that situation some
needs a translator who can translate their language into their native tone effectively.
Explain how to manage disagreements with children, young people and
adults.
Schools have procedures and guidelines they follow, there will be disagreements
every day in school life, encourage children to sort their issues out themselves instead of
you trying to do it for them. Adults should not deny children and young people the help they
need, speak to them let them reflect on their actions and explain there are two sides. Make

sure you listen to both sides and make them understand it is important for both parties to
have a chance to speak ask if they need your help in sorting out the problem.
It must be taken into account the age of the child if they are children who need help
understanding and are arguing over toys for example try and make them understand that
sharing is caring, it will make them understand if you share something with someone it
means you care and when they realise this they will want to share with everyone because
they will want everyone to care for them as children would want that as it is also attention
they require. The main steps dealing disagreement between children are listed below:
 Help children calm down: When children are facing conflicts, they are full of
emotions and are not in a situation to get ready to resolve that. At that time, one can
give them a gentle touch and speak them calmly about the reason of conflict.
Children should feel that they are being heard by some one and they get calm down
easily.
 Talk about wants and needs: Every children who are engaged in conflict requires a
chance to express their needs. Adults should give them for what that are crying.
 Help the children find a solution: After that they can give other option so that they
can easily forget that issue. By this way they can find their solution to their conflicts.
Disagreements also occur with adults for example if an angry parent comes into school
demanding to speak to a teacher regarding their child, it is important for the teacher to stay
calm as you would not want to anger the parent any more than they are. Once the parent
has had their say you can then apologise and speak to the parent and make them aware of
the situation if they were not aware of this, this will be due to the lack of communication
between staff members and parents. The disagreement with adults can be dealt by
following ways:
 Be prepared: One can start preparing to resolve conflicts by checking their own
nature and behaviour. Then planning should done about what have to be explained
by themselves from their part.
 Don't wait: The sooner one can resolve conflict, the easier it is to resolve.

 Find a private or natural place: Talking about conflict cannot be resolved in a open
place or a public place. It must be resolved in a private place where no other people
are present.
 Be aware of body language: At the time of resolving conflicts, it is important to
behave relax. Eye contact should be done but not in weird way. It should be normal.
 Making solution: As adults have sense of humour, they should not fight for small
matters. So it is important to solve the issue by finding an appropriate solution.
Regulations
Summarise the main points of legislation and procedures covering
confidentiality, data protection and the disclosure of information.
All adults who work with children and young people need to have knowledge of the
legislation and how it should be used. All staff who work with children and young people
must follow the data protection act 1998 as a guideline for school procedures, all
information given to you must be kept confidential.
If parents have any concerns or comes to speak to you regarding their child for example if
the child has medical issues this information must be recorded, you do not discuss this
information with other members of staff apart from the school teacher, also school records
should not be discussed with parents.
When a child starts attending school there is information you will gather regarding the child,
like if they have any allergies or medical conditions if the child needs to take medication
whilst in school even any dietary requirements or educational needs. All information given
to you is confidential and must not be disclosed to anyone unless given consent by parents.
There are different laws and procedures that covers confidentiality , data protection and
revelation of information. This protects the secrecy and do upliftment of children. The
UNCRC (United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child) is a set of 42 promises that is
made by governments from almost all nations in the UN to the kids and young person. This
consist of their right to education, right to opinion, equal treatment. Protection to the data

assures that any data about the child should be keep private in a school. Data protection act
1998 sates that information collected by schools must comply with a collection of 8
principles. It must be keep up to date and must not transferred to other nations with proper
protection. This information can be kept by locking it into cupboards and can be kept by
setting passwords in computers.
Explain the importance of reassuring children, young people and adults of
the confidentiality of shared information and the limits of this.
It is important children, young people and adults understand what they discuss with
you will stay confidential, they need to understand confidentiality will only be broken if their
lives are at risk, if a crime has occurred or is likely to occur and the information given by
children, young people and adults will not be abused. It is also important for professionals
to understand how to store this information and disclosed to other professionals.
All schools have a Confidentiality Policy which they follow, and all staff need to be aware of
this gives schools guidelines on how to handle confidential information. The Data Protection
Act 1998 states any organisation holding confidential information should be registered with
the Data Protection Commission. The individual of several age groups needs support in the
terms of security of their private information shared at the time of interactive session during
the process of communication. Certain other types of personal information such as SEN
records, medical details or court orders should be kept in a private area so that no one can
access that. Such data are not transferred to any one without taking the permission of their
owner. Parents, carers and children are reassured that these information will remain
confidential and not shared to others. This can only be shared with another on a
requirement to know basis.
Justify the kinds of situation when confidentiality protocols must be
breached.
When working with children and young people over time you come to know
personal information about them like address, date of birth, any medical conditions they

may have, you may come across some sensitive information, also family background
information. We as professionals need to understand all this information needs to be kept
confidential, you must protect their identity and do everything in your power to protect
their privacy.
This can be done by storing information in a safe and secure place, information can be
passed onto authorised and legitimate professional but permission from parents and carers
is required. This involves parents signing a consent form if parents do not agree you have no
right to pass any information on. Although data protection acts do not give permission to
adults for sharing information of children and young people with other entity. However
under some conditions these confidentiality laws needs violation of this. In the case of child
abuse by family, the adults connected with that kid at school needs to be effectively
transferring the secret information belonging to the child to the legal point of contact in the
terms of neglecting the disposition towards experiencing important psychosocial harm
following the home abuse. Furthermore, evidences tracking linked to the child abuse by care
takers at school also needs intensifying private information to the legal authority regarding
following the guilty for rescuing the kid from non-human conduct under unfavourable
circumstances across the community surrounding. Similarly, for facilitating any police
enquiry the school authority may share the demographics and images of child in the lack of
parental consent with the legislative statues. In the another case, when a child is suffering
from food allergy, asthma or diabetes, then it is needed to share this personal information
with other members of staff in order to keep the child safe. This is only the situation when
data is conveyed to other. Nevertheless, personal information are not transferred to others
as per the norms of data protection act.