The plain-language
version.

Spalding Method: Phonogram Fun (“the app”, “we”, “us”) is published by Paul Alvares. We built the app for children to use under the supervision of a parent, carer, or teacher, and we collect as little information as possible to make it work.

★The short version

1Information the app handles

Photos you choose to scan

When you use the spelling-sheet scanner or the handwriting check, you take or select a photo. That image is sent to our AI text-recognition provider so the app can read the words on the page or check handwriting, then return a result. We do not store these photos on our own servers, and they are not linked to any identity.

Learning progress and settings (kept on the device)

Practice results, streaks, scanned word lists, and preferences (such as font size and voice) are saved locally on the device using the operating system’s standard storage. This information does not leave the device and is removed when the app is deleted or when you use the in-app reset.

Subscription information

If you subscribe, the purchase is handled by Apple. We never see your card or Apple account details. To know whether a subscription is active, we use a subscription-management service (RevenueCat), which receives Apple’s purchase confirmation and an anonymous identifier generated for the app. We use this only to unlock paid features and to restore purchases.

Crash reports and diagnostics

If the app encounters an error or crashes, a report is sent automatically to our crash-reporting provider (Sentry). This report contains technical information such as the type of error, the part of the app's code where it occurred, the device's operating system and version, and the app version number. It does not contain the words or content a child is practising, any personal details, or anything the child has typed. These reports are used solely to identify and fix problems in the app.

Feedback you choose to send

The app includes a feedback button intended for parents, carers, and teachers. Tapping it opens your own email app with a draft message addressed to us. To help us investigate issues, the draft is pre-filled with the name of the screen you were on, your device’s operating system version, and the app’s version number — nothing else. Nothing is sent automatically or silently: no information leaves the device unless you choose to press Send in your mail app. If you do send feedback, we receive your message and your email address (as the sender), which we use only to investigate and reply. There is no intermediary server or analytics service involved, and we do not use feedback for marketing.

2How we use this information

• To read scanned words and check handwriting.
• To generate practice words, example sentences, and short stories for the lists being studied.
• To save and show learning progress on the device.
• To unlock and restore paid features for subscribers.
• To diagnose and fix crashes and errors in the app.
• To read, investigate, and respond to feedback you choose to email us.

We do not use any of this information for advertising, profiling, or building a profile of a child.

3Service providers we share content with

To deliver the features above, limited content is sent to the following providers, who process it on our behalf and under their own privacy terms. We do not sell data to them or to anyone else.

• Anthropic — reads scanned text and handwriting, and generates practice content. Privacy policy
• Apple — processes subscription payments. Privacy policy
• RevenueCat — confirms subscription status. Privacy policy
• Sentry — receives crash and error reports to help us diagnose and fix problems. Reports contain technical diagnostic data only (no learning content or personal details). Privacy policy

Content sent to these providers is used to perform the requested task and return a result. It is not used by us for advertising, and we do not sell it.

4Children’s privacy

This app is designed for children and is intended to be used with a parent, carer, or teacher. We take children’s privacy seriously and have built the app to need as little information as possible:

• No account, name, email, or contact details are requested.
• No location, contacts, or device identifiers are collected for tracking.
• No behavioural advertising and no third-party advertising networks.
• No microphone access and no voice recordings — the app does not request or use the microphone.
• Photos are used only to deliver the scanning feature in use and are not stored by us or tied to an identity.
• The feedback button simply opens your own email app and is intended for parents, carers, and teachers — children are not expected to send feedback themselves.

We do not knowingly collect more personal information from a child than is needed for the app to function. A parent, carer, or teacher can remove all on-device information at any time using the in-app reset or by deleting the app. If you believe a child has provided information you would like removed, contact us at phonogramfun@gmail.com and we will help.

5How long information is kept

On-device progress and settings remain until you reset them or delete the app. Photos are processed to return a result and are not retained by us; any short-term handling by our providers is governed by their own retention terms, linked above. Feedback emails you choose to send are kept in our inbox only as long as needed to resolve the issue, and you can ask us to delete them at any time.

6Your choices and controls

• Camera access can be turned off any time in your device’s Settings; the scanning features simply won’t be available.
• Reset progress is available inside the app’s settings.
• Deleting the app removes all on-device information.
• Subscriptions are managed in your Apple account settings.

7Security

Content sent to our providers is transmitted over encrypted connections. No method of transmission or storage is perfectly secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect the limited information the app handles.

8International processing

The providers listed above may process information on servers located in the United States or other countries. By using the app, you understand that this limited content may be processed outside your country of residence.

9Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page. Significant changes will be reflected here.

@Contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or your privacy, contact Paul Alvares at phonogramfun@gmail.com.