Privacy Policy - ToyScope
ToyScope Privacy Policy
Last updated: 10 January 2025
Your Privacy Matters to Us
At ToyScope, we believe in being clear and open about how we collect and use your information. This privacy policy explains what information we collect when you use our website, subscribe to our newsletter, interact with us on social media, or use our training and consulting services.
About Us
ToyScope is based in the United Kingdom. We provide free educational resources about toys and play environments to help families make informed decisions, as well as training services for organisations (schools, nurseries, community groups) and consulting services for toy manufacturers and designers. You can contact us at ToyScopeUK@gmail.com with any questions about this privacy policy.
Information We Collect
We collect different types of information depending on how you interact with us:
When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your name, email address, country, and track how you interact with our emails.
When you visit our website, our platform (systeme.io) automatically collects technical information about your device, how you use our website, your IP address, and information from cookies.
When you interact with us on social media, we can see your public profile information, messages you send us, comments on our posts, and content you share with us.
When organisations enquire about or book our training services, we collect organisation name and address, contact details, information about training needs, booking details, and feedback data.
When businesses use our consulting services, we collect company information, contact details, project requirements, contract details, payment information, and product information shared for consultation purposes.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect in several ways:
For communication and service delivery:
- Sending newsletters and updates
- Responding to enquiries and messages
- Delivering training and consulting services
- Processing bookings and managing schedules
- Issuing invoices and processing payments
For improvement and development:
- Making our website and services better
- Creating more relevant content
- Understanding what information is most helpful
- Improving our training and consulting offerings
For security and compliance:
- Keeping our website secure
- Maintaining appropriate business records
- Complying with legal obligations
For community building:
- Sharing user content (with permission)
- Building our online community
- Developing case studies (anonymised and with permission)
Sharing Your Information
Service providers:
We use systeme.io (based in Ireland) to host our website, manage our newsletter, and track website usage.
Payment processing:
For paid services, we work with secure payment processors who handle transactions according to industry standards.
Legal and professional:
We may share information with professional advisers (e.g., accountants, legal advisers) and regulatory bodies as legally required.
Social media content:
If you share content with us, we'll always ask your permission before resharing it, only share it in agreed ways, and keep a record of your permission.
Business confidentiality:
We treat all business information as confidential and only use your information to provide the services you've requested.
How Long We Keep Information
We retain different types of information for different periods:
- Newsletter subscription details: Until you unsubscribe
- Website usage information: Up to 2 years
- Social media interactions: Up to 2 years
- Permission records for shared content: Up to 2 years after last use
- Training and consulting service records: 6 years after service completion
- Financial records: 6 years (to comply with UK tax requirements)
Your Rights
Under UK data protection law, you have several rights:
- Access your personal information
- Correct inaccurate information
- Request deletion of your information
- Object to certain uses of your information
- Withdraw consent for marketing communications
- Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
- Data portability (receiving your data in a usable format)
To exercise any of these rights, please email us at ToyScopeUK@gmail.com.
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to help it work properly and improve your experience. These small text files allow us to remember your preferences, understand how our website is used, and make the site work correctly.
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, though this may affect how our website functions.
Children's Privacy
While our website and digital services are primarily designed for adults, we recognise that the nature of our work involves children's play and development. We process information about children in the following contexts:
- Information provided by parents or legal guardians about their children's play preferences, developmental stages, and toy interests
- Observations and assessments during training sessions where children may be present with their parents or carers
- Feedback about how specific toys engage children of different ages and abilities
We never collect personal information directly from children under 16. All information about children is:
- Provided by their parents, legal guardians, or authorised carers
- Collected with explicit parental consent
- Used solely for the purpose for which it was provided
- Handled with heightened sensitivity and appropriate safeguards
If you believe we might have collected information from a child without appropriate consent, please contact us immediately at ToyScopeUK@gmail.com.
International Data Transfers
While we are UK-based, our website hosting provider (systeme.io) is based in Ireland, within the European Economic Area (EEA). Your information may be processed there, with appropriate safeguards in place to protect your data in accordance with UK data protection laws.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We'll always show the latest version on our website with the date it was updated. If we make significant changes that affect your rights, we'll notify you through our newsletter or website announcement.
Making a Complaint
If you're unhappy with how we've handled your information, you can contact the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):
- Website: www.ico.org.uk
- Telephone: 0303 123 1113
- Post: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, please email us at ToyScopeUK@gmail.com