Privacy Policy for MySpellings

Who we are and what this policy covers

MySpellings is operated by Dan Lockett, the independent developer behind the app. In this policy, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to Dan Lockett as the operator of MySpellings. For privacy questions or support, contact [email protected].

This policy covers MySpellings for iPhone, iPad and Android, the website at myspellingsapp.com, our printable worksheet tools and information you send directly to us. Locally stored mobile-app learning records are handled differently from website requests, app-store transactions and support correspondence.

A simple explanation for children

Your spelling lists, practice results and stars are saved in the app on your device. We do not receive those learning records or use them to show you adverts. A parent or caregiver can help you change or remove information.

The website works differently: it uses website measurement services, and words entered into its custom worksheet tool are sent to a server to make the PDF. If a grown-up emails us for help, we receive whatever they choose to send.

Information stored in the mobile app

No online MySpellings account, email address or sign-in is required to practise spelling. A child profile is a local profile on the device, rather than an online account.

Depending on the features used, the app stores a first name or nickname, selected school year or grade, profile preferences, custom spelling lists, favourite words, selected packs, Tricky Words, practice results and history, progress, stars, rewards, accessibility preferences, voice and language choices, Parent Area settings and information needed to remember whether Premium is unlocked.

We do not operate a server holding children’s mobile-app profiles, spelling lists or learning records. We cannot remotely view, change or restore those local records. Parents and caregivers should use a nickname or first name and avoid entering unnecessary personal information into profiles or spelling lists.

Photo Lists, camera and images

Photo Lists lets a parent or caregiver photograph a spelling sheet or select an existing image. The app recognises printed words on the device and lets the user review and correct them before saving a spelling list. MySpellings does not upload the spelling-sheet image or recognised words to a MySpellings recognition server.

Camera and image access is used when the user chooses these features. The app does not use the camera to monitor children, identify people or take photographs in the background. Permissions can be managed through device settings.

A spelling sheet may contain a name, class, teacher or school. Where practical, crop it to include only the words needed. Temporary working images may remain in app storage or its cache until removed by the app, the operating system or the user. Original photographs and photo-library backups are controlled separately through the device’s photo and backup settings.

Photo Lists on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, Photo Lists recognition takes place on the device. MySpellings does not send the image or recognised words to an external recognition service. The iPhone and iPad app does not include a separate analytics or crash-reporting service that sends app information to us.

Photo Lists and technical reporting on Android

The Android app uses Google ML Kit for on-device text recognition. Google states that ML Kit does not send input images or recognised text to its servers.

ML Kit separately sends Google technical information about the operation of its service. This can include device and app information, installation identifiers, processing performance, image format and dimensions, feature-use events and errors. Google uses this information to operate, maintain, secure and improve ML Kit. It is separate from the photograph and its recognised words.

Read Google’s ML Kit privacy information and Android data disclosures for further details.

Spoken words and audio

MySpellings uses the device’s text-to-speech services to read words and feedback aloud. Text to be spoken is passed to the relevant speech service. MySpellings does not record the child’s voice.

On Android, handling of spoken text depends on the installed speech engine and selected voice. Some providers or voices may use an internet connection. Those services operate under their own privacy policies and device settings.

Premium purchases and app stores

MySpellings offers an optional, one-time Premium purchase with no recurring subscription. Purchases are processed by Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPad or Google Play on Android.

The app receives purchase-status information from the relevant store so it can unlock, check or restore Premium. We do not receive your payment card number or bank details. Apple and Google separately handle store accounts, payments, transaction records and related services.

We may receive store-provided sales reports and aggregated information about store performance. These do not provide access to children’s locally stored spelling lists or progress. Deleting MySpellings does not delete store purchase records.

See Apple’s privacy policy and Google’s privacy policy.

Mobile-app advertising, offline use and backups

The mobile apps do not show third-party adverts or use children’s learning records to build advertising profiles. We do not sell or rent children’s local learning information. The Android recognition library’s technical reporting is described separately above.

Main spelling-practice features are designed to work offline. An internet connection may be needed for purchases, purchase checks or restoration, app updates, voice downloads and other platform services. Apple, Google and device-service providers may separately process technical or diagnostic information under their own policies and user settings.

MySpellings does not provide its own cloud synchronisation of learning records. Depending on the device, app version and backup settings, the operating system may include app information in a device backup or transfer. These backups are managed through Apple, Google or another backup service you use. We do not have access to them.

Keeping and deleting local app information

Local learning information remains on the device until it is changed or removed, app storage is cleared, or the app and its associated data are deleted. Parents and caregivers can use the editing, profile-deletion and reset options available in their version of MySpellings.

Some versions retain an older local copy of information during data migration after an upgrade. Deleting a profile removes it from active use but may not remove every older migration copy.

Android: use device settings to clear MySpellings storage or app data, or uninstall the app.

iPhone and iPad: use Delete App to remove the app and its associated local data. Offload App retains its documents and data.

Original photographs, backups, downloaded PDFs, support emails and app-store records are separate. Removing the app does not automatically remove those items. Restoring local information depends on any device backup you have; MySpellings cannot restore it from its own server because it does not hold a copy.

Children’s privacy

MySpellings is designed for children and families. Children do not need to create an online account or supply contact details to practise spelling. Parents and caregivers control information entered into local profiles and lists and should handle purchases and support enquiries.

If you believe a child has sent personal information directly to us, contact [email protected]. We will review it and remove information that we do not need to retain. Please avoid including unnecessary information about a child in an enquiry.

Website hosting and printable worksheets

The website is hosted using Cloudflare services. Cloudflare processes requests to deliver the website, run its worksheet tools and protect the service. This can include IP addresses, requested URLs, access times, browser or device information, and technical or security logs. See Cloudflare’s privacy policy.

Website custom worksheets are processed online. When you create a custom worksheet, the title, spelling words and worksheet settings you enter are sent over HTTPS to our Cloudflare-hosted service to generate the PDF. Settings can include region, school level, term, week and paper choice where applicable. This is separate from mobile-app Photo Lists and locally stored app spelling lists.

The custom worksheet service processes the submitted information to produce the requested PDF. It does not deliberately save submitted custom lists into our worksheet database or create an online child profile. Working request information is processed during PDF generation; technical request and error logs may be retained by the hosting infrastructure under its retention settings.

Ready-made worksheets use published spelling content stored in our worksheet database. That database is not a copy of children’s mobile-app learning records. Avoid including names, school details or other personal information in website worksheet titles or spelling words. Downloaded PDFs are controlled by you and any device or backup services you use.

Website analytics, advertising measurement and browser storage

Our marketing and worksheet pages use Google Analytics to measure website use and Google Ads conversion tracking to measure advertising results. The Google measurement tags load when those pages are opened, subject to browser settings or blocking tools. This privacy-policy page does not load those Google measurement tags.

These services can process page views, referral and campaign information, browser and device details, online identifiers, interactions with worksheet controls and clicks on store links. Google may use cookies or similar technologies to recognise browsers and measure visits or conversions. Website measurement is separate from children’s locally stored mobile-app records.

Our custom worksheet analytics events describe interactions and settings, such as region, worksheet mode, selected school level and word count. We do not intentionally include entered worksheet titles or spelling words in those event parameters.

The site also writes the selected region to browser local storage under the name myspellings-region. Browser storage can remain until cleared by you or removed by the browser. You can manage or delete cookies and site storage through browser settings, use browser blocking tools, and review Google’s cookie information and Google’s advertising controls. Blocking measurement does not prevent use of the worksheet tools or store links.

Support emails and direct contact

If you contact [email protected], we receive your email address, your message and any attachments or other information you include. We use this information to answer your enquiry, investigate a problem, respond to feedback or handle a privacy request. The address uses Gmail, so Google processes correspondence as the email-service provider.

Please remove unnecessary identifying information about children from messages and screenshots. We keep correspondence only for as long as reasonably needed to handle the enquiry, relevant follow-up, disputes or applicable legal obligations. You can contact us to request deletion of information we hold about you.

How information is used, retained and shared

We use information received through the website or direct contact to provide requested services, answer enquiries, maintain and secure the website, understand website use and measure advertising results as described above. Where applicable, our legitimate interests support necessary support and security activities, and legal obligations may require us to retain certain records. Applicable consent requirements govern the use of non-essential tracking technologies.

Information is handled by the relevant hosting, email, measurement, device or app-store service providers described in this policy. We may also disclose information where legally required or necessary to establish or defend legal rights. Locally stored mobile-app learning records are not available to us to disclose.

Retention depends on the purpose: local app information is controlled through the app and device; custom worksheet submissions are processed to generate the requested PDF; support messages are kept while needed for the enquiry and related obligations. Infrastructure logs, Google measurement data, cookies, backups and store records follow the relevant provider’s retention arrangements and account or device settings. Contact us if you need more information about information we hold.

International processing

The local learning records described above are not uploaded to a MySpellings server. Website requests, support correspondence, technical metrics and app-store information may be processed by providers operating internationally, including Google, Apple and Cloudflare. These providers may process information outside your country, including in the United States.

Their privacy notices describe their processing locations and international-transfer arrangements. You can contact us for information about the providers and arrangements relevant to information we hold about you.

Your privacy choices and rights

Manage local learning information through the app and device settings, revoke camera or image permissions through device settings, and manage backups through your backup provider. Website browser-storage and Google settings are described above.

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights to request access to, correction of or deletion of personal information we hold, or to object to or restrict certain uses. Other rights, including data portability, may also apply. Contact [email protected] to make a request. We may need enough information to verify and respond to it.

We cannot access or remotely delete learning records that remain solely on your device. You can also complain to your local data-protection authority. In the United Kingdom, this is the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Security, updates and contact

Keeping learning records on the device reduces the information held centrally by MySpellings. The security of local information also depends on device security, screen locks, operating-system updates and backup settings. Website requests use HTTPS.

We may update this policy when the app, our services or relevant requirements change. We will publish the revised policy at this address and update the date above. Where required, we will provide an additional notice of a significant change.

For privacy questions or support, contact [email protected].