Last updated: October 2026
The short version: we collect only what we need to answer your enquiry and to teach your child well. We never sell your information or use it for advertising. This website does not use cookies or analytics. You can ask to see, correct or delete your information at any time by emailing betterlearningleigh@gmail.com.
1. Who we are
Better Learning UK provides 1:1 tutoring and 11+ summer school camps in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex. The business is run by Tony Dennis, who is the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. That means he decides how and why it is used and is responsible for keeping it safe.
We are a small business and are not required to appoint a Data Protection Officer. Please send any privacy question to Tony using the details above.
2. The information we collect
When you get in touch
When you use our website contact form, email or phone us, we receive:
- your name (as the parent or carer)
- your email address
- your phone number, if you give it
- your child’s year group, and their name if you tell us
- the service you are interested in, and anything else you choose to tell us in your message
Our website contact form is processed by Formspree (formspree.io) on our behalf. Formspree receives what you type into the form and delivers it to our email inbox; you can read how it handles data in the Formspree privacy policy. If you prefer, you can email or phone us instead.
When your child is taught by us
If you book 1:1 sessions or a summer school place, we will also hold:
- your child’s name, year group and any other details you choose to share, such as their current school
- tutoring records: session notes, work completed, practice and mock test scores, progress notes and feedback we share with you
- booking, attendance and payment records
- for summer school: emergency contact details, who is allowed to collect your child, and any consents you give us
- any information you choose to share about your child’s health, allergies, medical needs or special educational needs (SEN), so we can keep them safe and support them properly
We collect this information from you as the parent or carer, and through our own work with your child. We do not buy information about anyone.
3. Why we use it and our lawful bases
UK data protection law (the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018) says we must have a lawful basis for each way we use personal information. Ours are:
- Replying to your enquiry, giving you prices and availability, and arranging a first conversation: steps you have asked us to take before entering into a contract, and our legitimate interests in answering people who contact us.
- Providing tutoring and summer school, including planning lessons, keeping progress records and reporting back to you: performance of our contract with you.
- Keeping financial records such as invoices and payments: legal obligation (tax and accounting law).
- Keeping a record of past pupils and correspondence so we can deal with questions, complaints or disputes and improve our teaching: our legitimate interests. We balance this against your and your child’s rights and keep only what is necessary.
- Health, allergy, medical and SEN information. This is “special category” data, which the law protects more strongly. We use it only with your explicit consent, which you give when you share it with us for that purpose, or where it is needed to protect a child’s vital interests in an emergency.
- Safeguarding. If we ever have a concern about a child’s safety, we may need to share information with the local authority, the police or other agencies. We would do this to meet our legal obligations and under the safeguarding conditions in the Data Protection Act 2018, even without consent where the law allows.
- Photos, testimonials and occasional news emails (for example, when summer school bookings open): only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time. We never use a child’s full name or photo publicly without a parent’s written permission.
We do not use automated decision-making or profiling.
4. Children’s information
Most of the information we hold is about children, so we take particular care with it:
- We collect children’s information from their parent or carer, not directly from children online. Our contact form is meant for adults. If you are under 18, please ask a parent or carer to contact us.
- We collect only what helps us teach and look after your child, and we share progress information only with the parent or carer who booked, or with anyone else they have agreed we may update.
- Children have the same data protection rights as adults. For younger children, parents usually exercise these rights on their behalf. An older child who understands what is involved can make a request themselves, and we will always consider the child’s best interests.
5. Who we share it with
We never sell or rent personal information, and we do not share it with anyone for marketing. We share it only with:
- Service providers who help us run the business. For example, our email is provided by Google (Gmail), our website is hosted by IONOS, and our website contact form is processed by Formspree, which delivers enquiries to our email. They may use the information only to provide their service to us.
- Other people we work with, if any other tutor or helper supports the summer school. They see only what they need and are bound by confidentiality.
- Authorities where the law requires it or a child’s safety is at risk, as described above.
Some of our service providers, such as Google and Formspree, may store or process data outside the UK. Where this happens, the transfer is protected by safeguards recognised under UK law, such as UK adequacy regulations or the ICO-approved International Data Transfer Agreement or Addendum.
6. How long we keep it
We keep personal information only for as long as we need it:
- Enquiries that do not lead to a booking: deleted once they are no longer needed.
- Tutoring records (session notes, scores, progress notes): kept while we are teaching your child and for a reasonable period afterwards, then securely deleted.
- Summer school forms (emergency contacts, collection permissions, medical and allergy information): deleted after the camp, unless there has been an incident.
- Accident or incident records: kept for as long as is appropriate for records about children, in line with common practice and our insurer’s guidance.
- Financial records (invoices, payments): kept for as long as tax law requires.
- Photos and testimonials: until you withdraw your consent.
7. How we keep it safe
We use password-protected accounts with two-step verification, keep devices locked and up to date, and store any paper records securely. Access is limited to the people who need it. If a data breach ever put your information at risk, we would tell you and, where required, the ICO.
8. Your rights
You have the right to:
- access the information we hold about you or your child and receive a copy
- ask us to correct anything that is wrong or incomplete
- ask us to delete your information
- ask us to restrict how we use it
- object to us using it on the basis of legitimate interests
- ask for information you gave us to be transferred to you or another organisation in a commonly used format
- withdraw consent at any time, where we rely on consent. This does not affect anything we did before you withdrew it.
Some rights apply only in certain situations. For example, we may need to keep financial records for tax purposes. To make a request, email betterlearningleigh@gmail.com. There is no charge. We will reply within one month, and we may need to confirm your identity first.
9. Cookies and analytics
This website does not currently use cookies, analytics, tracking pixels or advertising tools. We do not track your visit and so we do not need a cookie banner.
Two technical points for transparency:
- Our pages use the free Google Fonts service to display text. When a page loads, your browser requests the font files from Google’s servers, which means Google receives your IP address and basic browser information. Google says this service does not set cookies and that it does not use this data to profile visitors or for advertising.
- Our website host, IONOS, may keep standard server logs (such as IP addresses and pages requested) for security and to keep the site running.
If we ever add cookies or analytics, we will update this policy first and, where the law requires it, ask for your consent before they are used.
10. Complaints
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your information, please tell us first at betterlearningleigh@gmail.com. We will acknowledge your complaint within 30 days, look into it promptly, and let you know the outcome.
You also have the right to complain to the UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO):
- Website: ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint
- Helpline: 0303 123 1113
- Post: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF
11. Changes to this policy
We will update this policy if the way we use personal information changes. The date at the top shows when it was last revised. If a change significantly affects you, we will let you know directly.
