Important revised data protection information for parents, carers and learners

Due to the impact of COVID-19 on education in Wales and following the announcement by the Minister for Education that schools will close on 20 March 2020, Welsh Government is taking immediate steps to provide all learners with access to Hwb Additional Services.

The Welsh Government believes that it is in the public interest to ensure every learner in maintained schools in Wales has full access to Hwb so that schools can use the distance learning tools available including:

• Microsoft 365 (including Word, Excel and Outlook e-mail), as well as Flipgrid and Minecraft: Education Edition, which is provided by the Microsoft Corporation;

• The Google G Suite for Education suite of online tools, which is provided by Google, Inc;

• Just2easy toolsuite, which is provided via CDSM Interactive Solutions Ltd subcontractor Just2easy.

Previously, these services have only been made available where learners or their parents/carers had given consent.

Therefore, from Monday 23 March 2020, every learner in maintained schools in Wales will be able to access Hwb Additional Services. Schools will no longer rely on consent and instead will provide these additional services as part of their public task. Further information is available on the ICO website at https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/does-an-organisation-need-my-consent/

Parents, carers or learners who have serious data protection concerns have a right to object and should contact their school explaining why the provision of these Hwb services infringes on the learner’s rights and freedoms. The school will weigh up whether providing access to Hwb Additional Services is outweighed by the gravity of the objection. Further information is available on the ICO website at https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/the-right-to-object-to-the-use-of-your-data/

The Welsh Government has been considering making this change for some time, but has brought forward the decision due to the unprecedented closure of schools in Wales and the need to provide distance learning support to all learners. This decision has been reached following legal advice and the ICO’s office in Wales has been informed. This decision will be reviewed once the current urgent situation has ended.

Please read our updated data protection information in the Hwb Trust Centre at https://hwb.gov.wales/support-centre/trust-centre/data-protection/

Further information about the distance learning tools that schools will use is available at https://hwb.gov.wales/distance-learning

Further information about online safety is available at https://hwb.gov.wales/onlinesafety

Have you downloaded your child’s free Microsoft 365 licence?

Whilst your child is able to access all the tools in Hwb Additional Services on any web connected device using their Hwb login and password, please visit [https://hwb.gov.wales/microsoft to find out more about downloading their free licence on up to 15 home devices.

Distance Learning on Hwb

https://hwb.gov.wales/distance-learning/

J2e

In J2e you will find creativity tools, apps and games for Maths, English, Computing and cross curricular creative activities in a completely personalised learning experience. All J2e documents have their own unique web address which means, as well as accessing them from any web browser, you can easily share them with teachers, learners, family and friends. All work completed by learners in J2e can be viewed by teachers in the Pupil Files area, allowing teachers to begin a real time learning conversation to provide feedback.

Interactive spelling and times tables games in J2blast will help to engage and motivate learners when working remotely. Teachers can keep track of learners’ progress with these games, with the option of viewing results by class or learner.