TERMS & CONDITIONS & Privacy Policy
By taking lessons with me, you automatically agree to these Terms & Conditions:
Lessons
- You must inform me if there is any reason why you cannot drive safely or legally. This includes the loss of your valid driving licence and also includes, but is not limited to, being under the influence of drink or drugs, including prescribed medication that may affect your ability to drive.
- Please ensure that you are medically fit to drive. If you have any medical condition and you are not sure if your ability to drive is affected, please speak with your Doctor and the DVLA to report any notifiable medical condition. You must also be able to read a number plate from a distance of 20.5 metres.
- I reserve the right to withdraw the use of the tuition car for driving lessons and practical driving tests if I believe that you are unsafe, not legal, or not up to test standard. If I believe that you are not up to test standard, I will discuss this within plenty of time before your test and discuss the options available to you.
- I reserve the right to refuse to take you to your driving test if you haven't told me when your driving test is and therefore I am unavailable, if you haven't moved your driving test date when I advised you to, if you haven't had regular lessons or I believe you are unsafe to be driving my tuition car by yourself on test.
Cancellations & Punctuality
- If you cancel your lesson with less than 48 hours notice, you will be liable for the price of what your lesson would've been charged at.
- When I arrive for your lesson, I will text you. If you haven't arrived, I will ring you and if possible, I will knock on your door. If you have still not arrived or contacted me within 15 minutes, I will cancel your lesson which will be charged as above.
- If you are late for your lesson, your lesson time will be reduced as I cannot be late for my next student. You will still be charged the full price of the lesson, as this is considered 'cancelling' part of your lesson with less than 24 hours notice.
- If I have to cancel your lesson through no fault of my own, for circumstances such as mechanical breakdown of the tuition car, bad weather which may affect your ability to learn safely, heavy traffic or the previous student's lesson or driving test has overrun for unavoidable reasons, and it means I cannot arrive at your lesson within good time, I will rearrange your lesson for the next available, mutually convenient, date and time.
- If I am late to your lesson for reasons such as the above, you will still receive the full lesson time.
- If I feel your behaviour or attitude whilst driving is threatening, dangerous or compromises safety, I reserve the right to cancel the lesson in progress and any future lessons. I cannot risk a driver who threatens their own safety, my safety, other road users or pedestrians.
Payment & Refunds
- Your hourly lesson rate and 10 & 20 hour block booking rate is as agreed with me.
- I accept payments in the form of bank transfer.
- Payments must be made before the lesson starts.
- Block booking payments must be made up front and before the first lesson commences.
- I cannot issue a refund for any lessons already taken. If you are dissatisfied with a lesson for any reason, please do talk to me as soon as possible and we may be able to work something out.
- If you have paid for a block booking and wish to discontinue lessons for any reason, I can refund the remaining hours at the price that you paid for them.
- Gift vouchers must be redeemed within 24 months of purchase.
Accidents & The Law
- I make every effort to avoid damage and accidents, and I do anticipate that accidents may happen as you are learning to drive, however if I believe you were driving in a dangerous manner or ignoring my instructions and actual damage is caused to the tuition car, you may be expected to contribute towards the repairs cost (e.g. tyres).
- I will make every effort to avoid you breaking the law or committing any traffic offence - you are under my close supervision during every lesson and I may use controls such as speed limiters and verbal or physical control, such as giving verbal instruction, taking the steering wheel or using the dual control pedals where necessary, to avoid dangerous situations or accidents, however I cannot accept any responsibility of you breaking the law - this includes speeding, traffic offences, regulations or laws that you could break whilst driving. Any fines or penalties are legally the sole responsibility of the driver. It is an offence on my part, if I fail to give the driver's details to the DVLA or Police when asked to provide that information as to who was driving at the time of an offence.
Data Protection and Privacy Policy
- In line with the GDPR, by you taking driving lessons with me, you automatically consent and agree to me holding your personal information such as:
- Name, address, contact information and date of birth
- Driving Licence number
- Records of your driving progress
- Medical conditions that may affect your driving
- Driving test information
- Pictures taken during driving lessons or upon passing your test (with your permission)
- Receipts of payments
- I hold your information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. I hold your information for the purpose of being able to provide good quality driving lessons to you.
- I hold your information securely, which is either locked away securely, or secured on phone, tablet or computer, which are all password protected.
- Your information is stored on the TotalDrive app which is kept secure. I use TotalDrive to book in your lessons, store your contact information, record lesson progress and information, record payments etc.
- I can assure you that I do not pass your information on to anyone without your prior permission and agreement. If there is a need to share your information (such as booking tests on your behalf with the DVSA, I will inform you first, explain who I am sharing the information with, why I am sharing the information and ensure that you give me your consent and permission.
- You have the right to see any information I hold about you.
- You have the right to ask me to destroy any information I hold about you.
- Once you pass your driving test, or if you wish discontinue lessons with me for any reason:
- Your account on TotalDrive will be made inactive and kept inactive for 5 years before being permanently deleted.
- The reason I keep records for 5 years is in case you need any of that information again for any reason, and also for my tax and accounting purposes.
safeguarding policy
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect children and young people who receive Cathy Stidworthy's Driving School services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use my service.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning.
I believe that:
-Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
-I have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
I recognise that:
-The welfare of children and young people is paramount in the work I do and in all the decisions I take all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
-Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their lack of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
-Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare.
I will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
-Valuing, listening to and respecting them.
-Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice throughout my policies.
-Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
-Making sure that children, young people and their families know what to do if they have a concern. Using safeguarding and protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, where there is risk of harm.
-Ensuring that I have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.
How I deal with disclosures from young people
I will endeavour to listen carefully to the young person and involve their family or an appropriate adult where possible. I will seek to offer the most appropriate support, to gain advice from the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 where needed and to contact the relevant agencies where appropriate.
How I deal with concerns about young people
I may become aware of concerns through the young person, the family, or a third party. I will endeavour to listen to all concerns and take the most appropriate action where the risk to a young person is immediate or life threatening, I will contact the police on 999. I may contact the NSPCC for advice on 0808 800 5000, and/or I may contact the local authority to report my concerns. Whilst I follow GDPR regulations, I will share concerns with the appropriate authorities if a young person or family is at risk.
Photography and sharing images
Cathy Stidworthy Driving School will always ask permission before taking and sharing images. These images will be of when pupils pass their driving test, and I recognise that some pupils will be under 18 years old. No pass photos will be taken or shared without verbal or written consent from the young person, or any other pupil. If I am in any doubt that the young person is unsure of what they are agreeing to, I will not take or share any pass photos.
Contact Details
Name: Cathy StidworthyText: 07769 595405Email: stidworthyc@gmail.com
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
This policy was last reviewed on 15 February 2021