Privacy policy
Last updated: 8 November 2026
GrowNest is a lesson observation platform for schools, operated by the founders of ThinkNest. This policy explains what information GrowNest holds, why, and how it is protected.
1. Who is responsible for the information
Each school that uses GrowNest decides what is recorded about its staff and is responsible for that information. GrowNest stores and processes it on the school’s behalf, only to provide the service. Questions about information a school has recorded should go first to that school.
2. What information we hold
- School details: school name and emirate.
- Accounts for observers and leaders: name, job title, work email and a password (stored securely and never visible to us).
- Teacher records added by the school: name, work email, subjects, classes and role. Teachers do not create accounts.
- Observation records: lesson details, judgements, feedback, appraisal notes, targets and teachers’ replies to feedback.
- Photo evidence taken or uploaded by observers.
- Demo requests: the contact details and message someone sends us when booking a demo.
3. How we use it
We use this information only to run GrowNest: to show observations to the right people in the school, to send feedback emails, to build teacher records, appraisals and self-evaluation evidence, and to respond to demo requests. We do not sell information, use it for advertising, or share it with other schools.
4. Who can see it
Each school has its own private space. Within a school, observers see the observations they carried out, leaders see observations and learning walks across the school, and school admins see everything, including appraisals. Teachers receive their own feedback by email. GrowNest’s founders may access information only when needed to provide support or keep the service running.
5. Where it is stored and the services we use
GrowNest uses trusted providers to run the service: Supabase for the database, sign-in and private photo storage (hosted in the Tokyo, Japan region); Resend for sending emails; GitHub Pages for the website; and Cloudflare for the domain. Information is encrypted while it travels between your device and these services.
6. Photos of students
Schools should follow their own photo and consent policies when taking photo evidence. We recommend photographing students’ work, displays and activities rather than students’ faces. Photos are stored privately and can only be viewed by authorised staff of that school.
7. How long we keep it
Information is kept while the school uses GrowNest, so that teacher records build up over time. When a school stops using GrowNest, it can download its data, and we delete it on request or after the school’s agreement ends.
8. Your choices
Staff can ask their school to correct or remove information about them. Schools can edit or delete records, download data and close their account by contacting us.
9. Cookies
GrowNest only uses the storage needed to keep you signed in. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
10. Contact
For questions about privacy, email grownest.teacher@gmail.com.