Privacy Policy

Contact us at:
Spark Learning Limited
Ames House
7, Duke of York Street
London SW1Y 6LA

e-mail: support@sparklearning.com

Last updated 15 September 2003

The following provides details about our Privacy Policy. In general, we use the personal information that we collect from you to process requests, identify personal preferences and match your needs with relevant products and services.

Note: This policy only applies to Spark Learning web sites and not to the web sites of other companies, individuals or organisations to which we provide links.

Consent

You signify your consent to us collecting and using this information by your use of this web site. Should for any reason we elect to change our Policy, we will notify you of those changes here, so that you are always kept informed of how we collect and use the information, and when we would disclose it.

Your personal information may also be sold, traded or licensed to third parties (who may be located outside the European Economic Area) in order to enable them to send you details that they think will interest you. By submitting your personal details to us you consent to this transfer, unless you have unticked the relevant box on the registration form - you can however, subsequently change your mind by stating your request on e-mail to support@sparklearning.com.

In addition, your data may sometimes also be used by us and our associated companies to inform you about changes to our web site, new services and offers that you might find interesting. Again, by submitting your personal details to us you consent to this transfer, unless you have unticked the relevant box on the registration form - you can however, subsequently change your mind by stating your request on e-mail to support@sparklearning.com.

What and how do we collect information about you and how is it used?

Spark Learning collects the information you provide at registration including your name, e-mail address and your children's details. We may use this information to, for example:

provide you with personalised information such as event listings.
understand how you have been using the site and tailor the information we provide to you accordingly.
automatically complete forms on the Website with your name and address.
provide our advertisers and/or sponsors with aggregate Website usage and demographic data.
allow independent auditors to verify Website usage statistics.
mail or e-mail you with information about the Website or other Spark Learning products and services.

You agree that you do not object to us contacting you for any of the above purposes whether by telephone, e-mail or in writing and you confirm that you do not and will not consider any of the above as being a breach of any of your rights under the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999.

Only parents, after logging in securely, may change the demographic details relating to their children. Only designated "super-user teachers" may add teachers within their school.

Will we disclose the information we collect to Third Parties?

Spark Learning never make children's information available to any third parties.

Occasionally, we make the lists of parents' and teachers' postal and e-mail addresses volunteered on its Website available to other carefully screened companies or associations whose products or services you may find of interest. If you do not wish to receive these communications please indicate this on the registration form or send an e-mail to support@sparklearning.com

You should be aware that if we are requested by the police or any regulatory or government authority investigating suspected illegal activities to access and disclose individually identifiable information concerning your activities whilst using our web site, we shall do so. We also reserve the right to disclose individually identifiable information to third parties where a complaint arises concerning your use of our web site, and that use is deemed by us inconsistent with these conditions.
How Do We Protect Your Information?

When you review your information, we offer the use of a secure server. The secure server software encrypts the information that you input before it is transmitted to us. This protects the data from unauthorised access, improper use, alteration, unlawful or accidental loss or destruction. In addition, we have strict security procedures covering the storage and disclosure of your information in order to prevent unauthorised access to comply with the UK Data Protection Act of 1998. This means that sometimes we may ask for proof of identity before we disclose personal information to you.

Cookies

We also use 'cookies' and system-identification software. A cookie is a piece of information that is stored on your computer's hard drive by your web browser. On revisiting Spark Learning our computer server will recognise the cookie, giving us information about your last visit, such as your IP address (the Internet number which your PC uses when it is connected to the internet), the web pages you viewed, whether the page requests were successful or not and which browser you use to view the web pages. Most browsers accept cookies automatically, but usually you can alter the settings of your browser to prevent automatic acceptance. If you choose not to receive cookies, you may still use most of the features of our web site.

Use of cookies enables us to:

create a unique user ID for you and your home or school. This saves you and your children or pupils having to log-in each time you visit the site, although you are required to log in if you wish to change your personal details.
verify that only paid or free trial subscribers are accessing the restricted areas of the Website.
collect navigational information on the ways you like using our Website and the technologies you are using to access it. This will allow us to tailor our offering more appropriately to your requirements.
track what educational exercises children at home have completed and the scores they have achieved. This allows them to earn Megahops and enter competitions, and allows us to tell parents about how their children have done on specific exercises.

Editing or cancelling your registration details

You may edit your registration details at any time. Alternatively, if you wish to cancel your account and have your registration details deleted from Spark Learning's records, you may inform Spark Learning at support@sparklearning.com at any time.

Children

Spark Learning will not unknowingly collect any information from children under 16.

Note to parents: If your child is under 16 and has become a member of Spark Learning using a false age, please notify us by e-mail at support@sparklearning.com. We will immediately close the account and nullify all personally identifiable information collected from them. Your message should include your username, e-mail address and a termination request.

Customer Feedback and Complaints

We welcome your questions and comments about privacy issues and the design of our web site. Should you have such comments or have a complaint about how we are using your personal data, please send an e-mail to support@sparklearning.com.

Links

To add value, we may also link to other sites that are commercial, educational, or just plain fun. Although we are careful in selecting our web links, we are not responsible for those other sites, and we advise you to check their privacy policies as well.

E-Commerce Applications

Use of e-commerce applications on Spark Island is also subject to the policies and terms and conditions of such applications (if there are any), including those with respect to collection of personal information necessary to process any orders. The policies and terms of use of such applications can be reached from such applications. While a child may use these applications to create items, browse through products, and select customisation options, making an actual purchase on these applications is intended for adults and a credit card is required in order to complete the ordering process.
Spark Island e-Commerce Applications - We use outside contractors to process and fulfil orders made from certain e-commerce applications on the Spark Island web site. Your personal information is provided to them under an agreement of confidentiality and they, in turn, may provide it to their subcontractors, including warehouses and shipping companies, in order to process your order. We are not responsible for these outside contractors. In order to protect your privacy, we make sure that any Spark Island e-commerce application does not save any personal information unless and until the order is completed using a verified credit card during the check out process.
Third Party e-Commerce Sites - We may also feature links to other third party e-commerce sites which collect and use personal information and credit information to process your order subject to their own privacy policies. We are not responsible for those other sites and advise you to check their policies and terms of use since these may vary.

Spark Island makes no guarantees, warranties or representations that you or your child will be absolutely safe or insulated from inappropriate content or behaviour and we do not guarantee, warrant or represent that a child will not try to circumvent, or be successful in circumventing, the features on our site. Furthermore, Spark Island does not assume any obligations, liability, or responsibilities associated with such behaviour or associated with the obligations of parental/teacher supervision. (Click here for Net Nanny information).

Spark Island reserves the right to change the information, features, products, policies, promotions, disclosures and disclaimers at any time. Changes to this Privacy Policy will be posted on the Spark Island site. Please check these terms periodically for changes. At the top of the policy we indicate the date of the last update. The continued use of the Spark Island web site following the posting of changes to these terms will mean you accept such changes, and be deemed to apply to the revised policies and new or modified features. However, in the event there is a material change in our data collection, use or disclosure practices, we will obtain a new consent.

DISCLAIMER.

THE MATERIALS IN THIS SITE ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMISSIBLE PURSUANT TO APPLICABLE LAW, SPARK ISLAND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. SPARK ISLAND DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN THE MATERIALS WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THIS SITE OR THE SERVER THAT MAKES IT AVAILABLE ARE FREE OF VIRUSES OR OTHER HARMFUL COMPONENTS. SPARK ISLAND DOES NOT WARRANT OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS REGARDING THE USE OR THE RESULTS OF THE USE OF THE MATERIALS IN THIS SITE IN TERMS OF THEIR CORRECTNESS, ACCURACY, RELIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE. YOU (AND NOT SPARK ISLAND) ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR OR CORRECTION. APPLICABLE LAW MAY NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, shall Spark Island be liable for any special or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the materials in this site, even if Spark Island or a Spark Island authorized representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Applicable law may not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability or incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. In no event shall Spark Island's total liability to you for all damages, losses, and causes of action (whether in contract, tort (including, but not limited to, negligence) or otherwise) exceed the amount paid by you, if any, for accessing this site.

By using this site, we assume that you have read this document carefully and understand and have followed its advice. If you don not agree with this policy or with the advice we give, please do not use our sites.

Thank you for being concerned with privacy and safety issues and for taking the time to read this Privacy Policy. We hope that you and your children enjoy the Spark Island web site. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about our privacy policies or practices, we would like to know what they are so we can address them.

Please contact us at the address below:
sparkisland.com
Spark Learning Limited
Ames House
7, Duke of York Street
London SW1Y 6LA

Telephone: 0207 004 2606
Fax: 0207 004 2612
Email: info@sparkisland.com