Privacy Policy

Montessori @ Home Independent School
Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa

​

Last updated: September 2026

​

1. Our Commitment to Privacy

Montessori @ Home Independent School (“Montessori @ Home”, “the School”, “we”, “us” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information entrusted to us.

We process personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and other applicable South African legislation.

​

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, share and protect personal information relating to prospective families, enrolled families, learners, website visitors and other people who interact with Montessori @ Home.

It also applies to personal information submitted through our website, online enquiry forms, social media platforms and advertising campaigns, including Google and Meta platforms such as Facebook and Instagram.

​

2. What Personal Information We May Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:

• your name and surname;

• telephone or WhatsApp number;

• email address;

• your child's name and age or date of birth;

• the programme, grade or school placement you are interested in;

• information provided in an enquiry, application or tour request;

• information required as part of the enrolment and admissions process;

• communications between you and the School;

• information voluntarily supplied through Google, Facebook, Instagram, Meta or other enquiry forms;

• information provided through Transparent Classroom and other systems used by the School;

• photographs and video recordings where appropriate consent has been obtained;

• website usage and technical information, which may include device, browser, approximate location, IP address, cookies and interactions with our website and advertisements.

​

We aim to collect only the information reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it is required.

​

3. Information About Children

As a school, some of the personal information we process relates to children.

We recognise that children's personal information requires particular care. Information relating to children is collected and processed only where there is an appropriate lawful basis and, where required, with the consent of a parent, guardian or other competent person.

​

Once a child is enrolled at Montessori @ Home, additional information may be required for educational, administrative, safeguarding, health, regulatory and child-protection purposes.

​

Our more detailed POPIA consent and information procedures are provided to parents as part of the School's enrolment documentation.

​

4. How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information when you:

• contact Montessori @ Home by telephone, email or WhatsApp;

• submit an enquiry through our website;

• request an enquiry pack;

• request or book a school tour;

• complete an application or enrolment form;

• submit a form through a Google advertisement;

• submit a form through a Facebook or Instagram advertisement;

• communicate with us through Facebook, Instagram or another social media platform;

• attend an Open Day, presentation or school event;

• subscribe to or request communications from us; or

• otherwise voluntarily provide information to the School.

​

We may also collect limited technical and usage information automatically when you visit our website through cookies, analytics and advertising technologies.

​

5. How We Use Your Information

We may use personal information to:

• respond to enquiries about Montessori @ Home;

• provide requested information or an enquiry pack;

• contact prospective families regarding their enquiry;

• arrange school tours, meetings or visits;

• process applications and enrolments;

• communicate with enrolled parents and guardians;

• provide educational services to enrolled learners;

• maintain educational and administrative records;

• meet our legal, regulatory, safeguarding and child-protection obligations;

• manage school events and activities;

• improve our website, communications and advertising;

• understand how prospective families find and interact with Montessori @ Home;

• measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns; and

• communicate information about the School where you have requested or consented to such communication, or where otherwise permitted by law.

​

Submitting an enquiry does not oblige you to enrol your child at Montessori @ Home.

​

6. Google Ads, Meta Advertising and Social Media

Montessori @ Home uses online advertising and communication platforms which may include Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram advertising operated by Meta.

​

If you voluntarily complete a lead or enquiry form through one of these platforms, the information you submit may be provided to Montessori @ Home so that we can respond to your enquiry.

​

The relevant platform may separately process information in accordance with its own privacy policy and terms.

​

We may also use advertising and analytics technologies to understand matters such as:

• whether an advertisement resulted in a visit to our website;

• which pages were visited;

• whether an enquiry or other conversion took place;

• general advertising performance; and

• which marketing channels are most effective.

​

Where required, cookies and similar technologies will be subject to appropriate consent mechanisms.

We do not sell personal information obtained through our advertising campaigns.

​

7. Direct Marketing

Where you submit an enquiry about Montessori @ Home, we may contact you in order to respond to that enquiry and provide the information you requested.

​

We will seek consent where required before using personal information for unrelated electronic direct marketing.

You may ask us at any time to stop sending you marketing communications. An unsubscribe or opt-out request will not prevent us from communicating with you where communication is necessary for an existing school relationship, legal obligation or legitimate administrative purpose.

​

8. Sharing Personal Information

We do not sell or rent personal information.

Personal information may be shared with trusted service providers or other parties where reasonably necessary for the operation of the School or where required by law.

​

These may include:

• education administration and record-keeping providers;

• Transparent Classroom;

• website hosting and technology providers;

• cloud storage providers;

• Google services;

• Meta platforms, including Facebook and Instagram;

• professional advisers and service providers;

• relevant education authorities, including the Western Cape Education Department and education management systems;

• emergency, medical, safeguarding or child-protection services where necessary; and

• other third parties where you have provided consent or where disclosure is authorised or required by law.

​

We take reasonable steps to ensure that organisations processing personal information on our behalf handle it appropriately and securely.

​

9. International Processing and Storage

Some of the technology services used by Montessori @ Home are operated by organisations based outside South Africa or may store or process information in other countries.

These may include services such as Transparent Classroom, Apple/iCloud, Google and Meta.

Where personal information is transferred or processed outside South Africa, we take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is handled in accordance with POPIA and applicable requirements governing cross-border processing of personal information.

​

10. Transparent Classroom

Montessori @ Home uses Transparent Classroom for educational observation, record keeping and parent communication.

Information stored on this platform may include information relating to learners, parents and staff. Access is password protected and restricted to authorised persons according to their roles and responsibilities.

​

11. Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable organisational and technical measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.

​

These measures include, where appropriate:

• password-protected systems;

• multi-factor or two-step authentication;

• restricted staff access;

• secure cloud-based storage;

• antivirus and security software;

• locked storage for physical records;

• confidentiality obligations for staff and contractors;

• access controls for educational records; and

• physical security measures at the School.

​

No electronic system can guarantee absolute security, but we take reasonable steps appropriate to the nature of the information we hold.

​

12. CCTV

Montessori @ Home uses CCTV on the School premises for safety, security, safeguarding and incident-management purposes.

Access to CCTV footage is restricted to authorised persons.

Requests to view CCTV footage will be considered in accordance with POPIA, the privacy rights of other children, parents, staff and visitors, and the School's safeguarding obligations.

CCTV footage will not ordinarily be provided where doing so would unlawfully disclose the personal information of another person.

Footage is retained according to the technical capacity and operational requirements of the School's CCTV system and may be retained for longer where required in connection with a particular incident, investigation or legal obligation.

​

13. Photographs, Video and Social Media

Montessori @ Home may photograph or record children participating in school activities.

Where required, parent or guardian consent is obtained for the use of children's photographs or videos for purposes such as parent communication, school publications, the School's website, Facebook, Instagram or other promotional material.

Parents may withdraw consent for future use in accordance with the School's applicable consent procedures.

The School takes reasonable care not to unnecessarily disclose identifying personal information about children in public social-media content.

​

14. Retention of Personal Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, or for the period required by applicable education, financial, safeguarding, regulatory or other legal requirements.

Once information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted, destroyed, de-identified or otherwise disposed of as appropriate.

​

15. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to:

• ask whether Montessori @ Home holds personal information about you;

• request access to your personal information;

• request correction or updating of inaccurate information;

• request deletion or destruction of information where legally appropriate;

• object to certain processing of your personal information;

• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;

• object to or opt out of direct marketing communications; and

• lodge a complaint regarding the processing of your personal information.

​

Certain information cannot be deleted immediately where the School is legally required to retain it.

​

16. Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to operate correctly, understand website usage, improve our services and measure the effectiveness of advertising.

Some cookies may be provided by third-party services, including analytics or advertising providers.

Where required, visitors will be given appropriate choices regarding non-essential cookies.

You can also control or delete cookies through your browser settings, although disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

​

17. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services.

Montessori @ Home is not responsible for the privacy practices of independent third-party websites. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information.

​

18. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology, our operations or the services we use. The latest version will be published on the Montessori @ Home website with the date of the most recent update.

​

19. Contact Us

Questions, requests or concerns regarding privacy or the processing of personal information may be directed to:

Montessori @ Home Independent School
Paarl, Western Cape
South Africa

Attention: Head of School / Information Officer

Email: nici@montessoriathome.co.za
Telephone: +27 83 639 0633
Website: www.montessoriathome.co.za

Please include sufficient information for us to identify and respond to your request.

​

20. Information Regulator (South Africa)

If you have a concern regarding the processing of your personal information, we encourage you to contact Montessori @ Home first so that we have an opportunity to address it.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator (South Africa).

Current contact information and the online POPIA complaints service are available from the Information Regulator.

Information Regulator (South Africa)
Telephone: 010 023 5200
Toll Free: 0800 017 160
Email: enquiries@inforegulator.org.za

 

Montessori @ Home Independent School
Respecting the privacy, dignity and personal information of the children and families entrusted to our care.