Privacy Policy

At Tandem, we prioritise your child’s privacy and well-being. Guided by the UK ICO’s Children’s Code, we design our services to protect your child’s rights and support their development. Our goal is simple: to provide a safe, transparent, and enriching experience for your family.

Last Modified:  10 November 2024

Our 5 key pledges: 

  1. Your Data, Your Control: You control what data we collect, how long we keep it, and when it’s deleted. 

  2. We Protect What Matters: High-privacy settings are the default. We use encryption and conduct regular security audits. 

  3. No Data for Sale—Ever: Your data is never sold. We use it only to improve your experience and support your child’s growth. 

  4. Open Conversations: Clear, honest communication and regular updates about your data. Feedback is always welcome. 

  5. Beyond Compliance: We go beyond legal requirements to ensure your child’s best interests guide everything we do. 

Our Contact Details

What Data We Collect and Why

At Tandem, we collect and process specific types of information to provide the best possible experience for you and your child while ensuring we meet our legal obligations:

  1. Personal identifiers, and contact information such as your name and email address. Why? To create your account on our platform, stay in touch with you and comply with legal obligations.

  2. Information about how you use our app and website, like when you log in and how long you stay. 
    Why? To help you to manage your child’s screen time and help us improve our service. 

  3. Story choices and preferences such as book selections, ratings, and device preferences. Why? To offer a consistent experience on different devices and tailor our services to your family’s needs. 

  4. Audio recordings (optional) Why? If you choose, we can record your reading sessions to provide personalised feedback and coaching. 

How We Use Your Data

Most of the data we collect comes directly from you when you register or use our services. We use it to: 

  • Create and manage your account 

  • Deliver and improve our services 

  • Communicate with you about updates or support 

  • Meet our legal and contractual obligations 

We may share your data with third-party providers who are carefully vetted and contractually obligated to maintain strict data privacy standards. We only share data necessary to perform specific services (e.g. hosting or payment processing). 

No Data Sales—Ever 

We’ve made a simple, unwavering promise: Your data will never be sold. 

Tandem exists to support families, not to profit from your personal information. Unlike other companies, we don’t share your data with advertisers or sell it to third parties. In line with the ICO’s Children’s Code, we ensure that your child’s data is never used in ways that could be detrimental to their well-being. Your data is used solely to enhance your experience and improve our app for all families. Full stop. 

Our Legal Basis for Processing Your Data 

In compliance with UK GDPR regulations, we process your data under three lawful bases: consent for optional features, contractual obligation for providing our services, and legitimate interest to improve Tandem for all users. 

Your Privacy Choices 

At Tandem, we believe you should have full control over your data. Here’s how we make that possible: 

  • Personalised Data Control: From the moment you sign up, you can decide what data you want to share with us. Whether it’s audio recordings or reading session summaries, you’re in charge. 

  • Data Deletion on Demand: You can delete your data at any time through your Tandem profile. We’ll remind you periodically to review your choices, so you remain in control. 

  • Age-Appropriate information: We provide age-appropriate explanations to help children understand privacy choices where relevant 

  • Tailored Notifications: Prefer fewer updates? You can customise how and when we contact you. 

How We Protect Your Data 

Your trust is our top priority, and safeguarding your data is a responsibility we take seriously. In line with the Children’s Code, we design our services with security and privacy in mind from the outset Here’s what we do to keep your information secure: 

  • Advanced Encryption: All personal data is encrypted and protected from unauthorized access.  We use industry-standard encryption protocols. 

  • Secure Storage: We store your information on highly secure servers that are monitored 24/7. 

  • Regular Security Audits: Our systems undergo frequent independent security audits to identify and fix any vulnerabilities. 

  • Limited Access: Only authorised personnel with strict confidentiality agreements can access your data, and only for essential purposes. 

  • Incident Response Plan: In the rare event of a data breach, we have a robust plan to notify affected users immediately and minimise impact. 

We value your feedback 

If you have any questions about our use of your personal information, you can contact us at help@playtandem.com. We also run regular user surveys and feedback sessions.  

How to complain 

We are committed to resolving any concerns quickly and transparently. If you are unhappy with our response or how we have used your data you can also complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office at their website - https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint or on their helpline 0303 123 1113.

The ICO’s address: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

How to delete your data 

To delete your data, go to your Tandem App profile and select ‘Delete my account.’ If you encounter any issues, email us at help@playtandem.com. Please note that this action is permanent and cannot be undone.