Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 28, 2026

Welcome to Early Connections Childcare! This privacy policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect personal information about families, staff, website visitors, and other users of our services. We try to be clear and a little quirky, but we take privacy seriously. Please read this policy carefully.

  1. Who we are

Early Connections Childcare operates childcare centers and related services ("we," "us," "our"). Our primary location and contact details are provided on enrollment materials and our center notices.

  1. Scope and purpose

This policy covers personal information we collect:

  • in person at our centers;

  • through enrollment forms and other paperwork;

  • via our website, mobile apps, email, and social media; and

  • during communications by phone, text, or in writing.

We use personal information to deliver childcare and related services, communicate with families and staff, manage operations, meet legal obligations, and for other legitimate business purposes described below.

  1. Information we collect

We collect different types of information depending on your relationship with us.

3.1 Information about children and families

  • Child’s full name, date of birth, gender, and photo.

  • Parent/guardian names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, emergency contacts.

  • Medical information: allergies, medications, immunization records, health care plans, physician contact.

  • Developmental, behavioral, and educational information, learning goals, incident reports, and progress notes.

  • Attendance records and pick-up/drop-off times.

  • Billing and payment information, including billing address and payment method details.

3.2 Information about employees, contractors, and volunteers

  • Personal identification (name, date of birth), contact details, social security number or tax ID where required, background check results, certifications, employment history, references, and payroll information.

3.3 Information collected automatically or electronically

  • Website and app usage data (pages visited, time on page, device and browser type, IP address, cookies, analytics data).

  • Technical logs and error reports.

3.4 Communications and photos

  • Communications you send to us (email, text, voicemail).

  • Photographs and videos of children used for care documentation or center activities. We obtain parental consent before using identifiable images for marketing or online posting.

  1. How we use information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

  • Provide childcare services, education, supervision, and safe care.

  • Manage enrollment, attendance, billing, payments, and refunds.

  • Communicate about your child’s day, progress, incidents, and scheduling.

  • Administer health and safety needs, including medical treatment and emergency response.

  • Conduct background checks and personnel management for staff and volunteers.

  • Improve our programs, curriculum, operations, and parent communications.

  • Comply with legal, licensing, regulatory, and reporting requirements.

  • Protect the safety and security of children and staff.

  • With consent, for marketing, newsletters, and promotional materials.

  1. Legal bases for processing (where applicable)

To the extent applicable under law, we rely on:

  • Contract performance: processing necessary to provide childcare and related services.

  • Legal obligation: processing required to comply with licensing, reporting, and employment laws.

  • Vital interests/public task: processing necessary to protect health and safety.

  • Legitimate interests: processing for operations, security, fraud prevention, and center management, balanced with individual rights.

  • Consent: where required (e.g., use of photos for marketing, certain communications).

  1. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell personal information. We may share personal information with:

  • Service providers and vendors who perform services on our behalf (payment processing, IT hosting, background check providers, maintenance, professional advisors).

  • Health care providers, emergency responders, or public health authorities when necessary for a child’s health or to comply with reporting obligations.

  • Government agencies, licensing bodies, or law enforcement when required by law.

  • Prospective placement or receiving care providers if families request transfers.

  • In the event of a business transaction (merger, sale, transfer), personal information may be transferred as part of the transaction, subject to privacy commitments.

  • Other third parties with your consent.

  1. Data retention

We retain personal information as long as necessary to provide services and fulfill legal, tax, and regulatory obligations. Retention periods vary by record type (e.g., enrollment records, immunization records, personnel files). After the retention period ends, records are securely destroyed or de-identified.

  1. Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Examples include access controls, staff training, secure storage, and encrypted transmission where feasible. No method of transmission or storage is