Montessori on 1st Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 2026
Montessori on 1st respects the privacy of parents, guardians, children, employees, applicants, website visitors and other individuals whose personal information we process. This Privacy Policy explains how Montessori on 1st collects, uses, stores, protects and shares personal information obtained through our website, enquiries, enrolment processes and related school activities. We process personal information in accordance with applicable South African legislation, including the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA) and, where relevant, the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 (PAIA). POPIA establishes minimum requirements for the lawful processing and protection of personal information by public and private bodies. (Justice)
1. Information we may collect
We may collect personal information such as:
We may collect personal information such as:
- Names and surnames
- Identity numbers or dates of birth
- Contact details, including telephone numbers, email addresses and physical addresses
- Information about a child's health, allergies, medication, dietary requirements and developmental needs
- Parent or guardian information
- Emergency-contact details
- Enrolment and attendance information
- Payment and account information
- Photographs or videos, where appropriate consent has been obtained
- Information submitted through website enquiry or contact forms
- Employment applications, qualifications and supporting documents
- Website usage and technical information, such as browser type, device information and IP address
Information relating to children is treated with particular care and will only be processed where there is a lawful basis and appropriate authority or consent.
2. How we collect information
Personal information may be collected when you:
Personal information may be collected when you:
- Visit our website
- Complete an online or printed enquiry form
- Apply to enroll a child
- Contact us by telephone, email, WhatsApp or social media
- Attend an open day or school visit
- Submit supporting documents
- Apply for employment
- Provide consent for photographs, videos, activities or medical care
- Make a payment or enter into an agreement with the school
3. Why we use personal information
Montessori on 1st may use personal information to:
- Respond to enquiries
- Process applications and enrolments
- Provide education, supervision, care and related school services
- Communicate with parents and guardians
- Maintain attendance, developmental and educational records
- Manage medical, allergy, dietary and emergency information
- Issue invoices, statements and receipts
- Administer school accounts and payments
- Manage school activities, events and outings
- Meet legal, regulatory, safeguarding and reporting obligations
- Recruit and manage employees
- Maintain the safety and security of children, staff and visitors
- Improve our website and services
- Send relevant school notices and updates
- Use photographs or videos for agreed purposes where valid consent has been given
We will not use personal information for a purpose that is incompatible with the purpose for which it was originally collected, unless permitted or authorised by the person concerned.
4. Children's personal information
As a preschool, Montessori on 1st processes information relating to children.
This may include identity details, health information, medical information, photographs, developmental observations, educational progress and emergency-contact information.
Children's information will only be collected and processed where necessary for the child's care, education, safety, enrolment or the school's legal obligations, and where the required consent or lawful authority exists.
Special care will be taken when sharing or transferring children's information, particularly to third parties or service providers. POPIA places additional safeguards around certain forms of sensitive and children's information (Information Regulator eServices).
As a preschool, Montessori on 1st processes information relating to children.
This may include identity details, health information, medical information, photographs, developmental observations, educational progress and emergency-contact information.
Children's information will only be collected and processed where necessary for the child's care, education, safety, enrolment or the school's legal obligations, and where the required consent or lawful authority exists.
Special care will be taken when sharing or transferring children's information, particularly to third parties or service providers. POPIA places additional safeguards around certain forms of sensitive and children's information (Information Regulator eServices).
5. Photographs and videos
Photographs or videos of children will only be used in accordance with the permissions and consent provided by the parent or legal guardian.
Where consent has not been provided, Montessori on 1st will take reasonable steps not to use the child's identifiable image for marketing or public social-media purposes. Consent may be withdrawn by contacting the school.
Withdrawal will apply to future use, although it may not always be possible to remove material that has already been lawfully printed, distributed or published.
Photographs or videos of children will only be used in accordance with the permissions and consent provided by the parent or legal guardian.
Where consent has not been provided, Montessori on 1st will take reasonable steps not to use the child's identifiable image for marketing or public social-media purposes. Consent may be withdrawn by contacting the school.
Withdrawal will apply to future use, although it may not always be possible to remove material that has already been lawfully printed, distributed or published.
6. Cookies and website information
Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to:
- Enable website functions
- Improve the visitor’s experience
- Understand how visitors use the website
- Measure website performance
- Support security and technical functionality
7. Sharing personal information
Montessori on 1st does not sell or rent personal information. We may share information with:
Service providers are expected to process information securely, confidentially and only for the agreed purpose.
Montessori on 1st does not sell or rent personal information. We may share information with:
- Employees who require it to perform their duties
- Teachers, assistants and authorised school personnel
- Medical practitioners or emergency services where necessary
- Therapists or support professionals with appropriate authority
- Accountants, IT providers, website providers and other contracted service providers
- Government departments, regulators or law-enforcement authorities where legally required
- Other schools where authorised or required for a child’s transition
- Insurers, legal advisers or professional consultants
- Third parties specifically authorised by the parent, guardian or person concerned
Service providers are expected to process information securely, confidentially and only for the agreed purpose.
8. Information security
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:
- Loss
- Damage
- Unauthorised access
- Unlawful disclosure
- Misuse
- Alteration or destruction
9. Retention of information
Personal information will be kept only for as long as it is reasonably required for:
- The purpose for which it was collected
- The provision of school services
- Record-keeping
- Legal, tax, employment or regulatory requirements
- Resolving disputes or enforcing agreements
10. Your rights
Subject to applicable law, a person may request:
PAIA provides a process through which access may be requested to records held by private bodies where the information is required for the exercise or protection of rights. Requests may be subject to identity verification and applicable legal limitations.
Subject to applicable law, a person may request:
- Confirmation of whether Montessori on 1st holds their personal information
- Access to their personal information
- Correction or updating of inaccurate information
- Deletion or destruction of information where legally permitted
- An objection to certain processing
- Withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent
- Information regarding how their personal information is used
PAIA provides a process through which access may be requested to records held by private bodies where the information is required for the exercise or protection of rights. Requests may be subject to identity verification and applicable legal limitations.
11. Third-party websites
Our website or social-media pages may contain links to third-party websites. Montessori on 1st does not control these websites and is not responsible for their content, privacy practices, availability or security. Visitors should review the privacy policies of those third parties before providing personal information.
12. Changes to this Privacy Policy
Montessori on 1st may update this Privacy Policy when necessary to reflect changes to our services, website practices or legal obligations. The updated date will appear at the top of the policy. Continued use of the website after an update constitutes acknowledgement of the revised policy.
Montessori on 1st may update this Privacy Policy when necessary to reflect changes to our services, website practices or legal obligations. The updated date will appear at the top of the policy. Continued use of the website after an update constitutes acknowledgement of the revised policy.
13. Contact details
Questions, requests or concerns regarding personal information may be directed to:
Montessori on 1st
54 1st Avenue
Dunvegan
Edenvale
Gauteng Telephone: 011 453 5300
Email: info@montessorion1st.co.za
Complaints relating to the processing of personal information may also be submitted to the Information Regulator South Africa, which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with POPIA and PAIA.
Questions, requests or concerns regarding personal information may be directed to:
Montessori on 1st
54 1st Avenue
Dunvegan
Edenvale
Gauteng Telephone: 011 453 5300
Email: info@montessorion1st.co.za
Complaints relating to the processing of personal information may also be submitted to the Information Regulator South Africa, which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing compliance with POPIA and PAIA.