Terms of Use

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to BrainBuzz. By accessing or using www.brainbuzz.co.uk ("the website," "BrainBuzz," "we," "us," or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, please do not use BrainBuzz.

For Parents and Teachers: If you allow children to use BrainBuzz, you are responsible for ensuring they follow these terms.

For Pupils: Ask a parent or teacher to read these terms with you so you understand how to use BrainBuzz properly.

2. Who Can Use BrainBuzz

BrainBuzz is designed as an educational resource for:

• Pupils: Children learning maths and spelling skills (typically ages 5+)
• Parents: Supporting their children's education at home
• Teachers: Using the activities in classrooms or for homework
• Educational Institutions: Schools and educational organisations

Most BrainBuzz activities are free to use and do not require registration. BrainBuzz also offers three paid subscription services:

• School Mental Maths — an annual seat-based subscription for schools, providing structured audio mental maths tests for Years 1–6
• School Spelling — an annual credit-based subscription for schools, enabling teachers to create custom spelling word lists with audio
• Home Access Mental Maths — a recurring subscription for home users, providing mental maths practice for children at home

Full subscription terms are set out in the School Subscription Terms (School Mental Maths and School Spelling) and the Home Subscribers Terms (Home Access Mental Maths).

3. Acceptable Use

BrainBuzz is provided for educational purposes. Here's what is and isn't allowed:

You May:

• Use BrainBuzz for personal educational purposes
• Use activities in classrooms for teaching
• Share links to specific activities with pupils
• Recommend BrainBuzz to other teachers and parents
• Use BrainBuzz on multiple devices
• Track personal progress using local storage

You May Not:

• Copy, reproduce, or redistribute our content without permission
• Use automated tools (bots) to access the website
• Attempt to hack, disrupt, or damage the website
• Remove or modify copyright notices or branding
• Use BrainBuzz for any commercial purpose without authorisation
• Scrape content or create derivative works
• Misrepresent your affiliation with BrainBuzz

4. Intellectual Property Rights

All content on BrainBuzz, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, activities, games, audio, code, and design, is owned by or licensed to BrainBuzz and is protected by copyright and other intellectual property laws.

What This Means:

• You can use BrainBuzz activities for learning and teaching
• You cannot copy our games or content for your own website
• You cannot sell or distribute our materials
• You cannot claim our content as your own

Educational Use:

Teachers and educational institutions may:

• Display BrainBuzz on interactive whiteboards for whole-class teaching
• Share direct links to activities with pupils for homework
• Reference BrainBuzz in lesson plans and curriculum materials
• Take screenshots for educational training purposes (with attribution)

5. User Conduct

While using BrainBuzz, all users must:

• Use the website respectfully and appropriately
• Not attempt to interfere with other users' experience
• Not use the website for any unlawful purpose
• Respect the educational nature of the platform
• Follow guidance from parents, teachers, or guardians

6. Website Availability

We strive to keep BrainBuzz available and functional at all times, but we cannot guarantee uninterrupted access:

• We may perform maintenance or updates that temporarily affect availability
• Technical issues, server problems, or internet disruptions may occur
• We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any part of BrainBuzz
• We are not liable for any interruptions or technical difficulties

7. Privacy and Data Protection

Your privacy is important to us, especially for young users. Quick summary:

• No Registration for Free Activities: Pupils can use the free areas of BrainBuzz without providing any personal information
• Subscription Services: Schools and home users must register and provide contact and billing details to subscribe — see the School Subscription Terms and the Home Subscribers Terms
• Local Storage Only: Pupil game progress is saved on your device, not our servers
• Minimal Data Collection: We collect only what's necessary to operate the service
• Cookie Controls: You can manage your cookie preferences

For complete details, including the Data Processing Agreement for schools, please read our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.

8. Disclaimers and Limitations

Educational Content

BrainBuzz is designed to supplement, not replace, formal education:

• Our activities are educational tools, not complete curricula
• Always follow guidance from teachers and schools
• We aim for accuracy but recommend verifying important information
• Consult educational professionals for specific learning needs

Technical Limitations

While we work hard to provide a reliable experience:

• Technology may occasionally fail or contain bugs
• We cannot guarantee the website will always work perfectly
• Performance depends on your device and internet connection
• We are not responsible for data loss due to browser issues
• Different devices and browsers may display content differently

External Links

BrainBuzz may contain links to external educational resources:

• We do not control content on other websites
• External sites have their own terms and privacy policies
• Parents should supervise children visiting external links
• We are not responsible for external website content

9. User Responsibilities

Users of BrainBuzz are responsible for:

• Maintaining the security of their devices and login credentials
• Ensuring appropriate browser settings and safety features
• Supervising children's internet use (for parents and teachers)
• Backing up any important data stored locally
• Using BrainBuzz in accordance with these terms
• Reporting any problems or inappropriate content

10. Reporting Problems

If you encounter any issues while using BrainBuzz, please contact us:

Technical Issues:

• Games not loading or functioning properly
• Website errors or broken pages
• Problems with score saving
• Mobile or tablet compatibility issues

Content Concerns:

• Mathematical or educational errors
• Accessibility problems
• Suggestions for improvements

Contact: [email protected] or use our contact form

When reporting issues, please include: device type, web browser, what you were doing, and any error messages.

11. Termination

We reserve the right to:

• Restrict or terminate access to BrainBuzz for users who violate these terms
• Modify or discontinue any part of the website at any time
• Remove content that violates these terms or applicable laws
• Block access from specific IP addresses if necessary

Users may stop using BrainBuzz at any time. Subscription cancellation terms are set out in the subscription terms for the service you use.

12. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms of Use from time to time to:

• Reflect new features or changes to BrainBuzz
• Comply with changes in laws or regulations
• Improve clarity and understanding
• Address user feedback

When we make significant changes:

• We'll update the "Last updated" date at the top
• Subscribers will be shown the changes, and asked to accept them, when they next log in
• Continued use of BrainBuzz constitutes acceptance of updated terms

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of England and Wales, United Kingdom. Any disputes arising from these terms or use of BrainBuzz will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Severability:

If any provision of these terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.

Entire Agreement:

These Terms of Use, together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and BrainBuzz regarding use of the website.

14. Contact Information

15. Summary

Key Points:

• BrainBuzz offers free educational activities for pupils, parents, and teachers — no registration required
• Three paid subscription services are available: School Mental Maths, School Spelling, and Home Access Mental Maths
• Use BrainBuzz for educational purposes only
• Do not copy, redistribute, or misuse our content
• All content is protected by intellectual property rights
• We comply with UK GDPR and data protection regulations
• Report any problems or content concerns to us
• These terms may be updated — check periodically

Thank you for using BrainBuzz and helping pupils develop their maths and spelling skills!

1. School Subscriptions

BrainBuzz offers two paid subscription services to schools: School Mental Maths and School Spelling. These School Subscription Terms apply to every school subscription. The terms for School Mental Maths are set out in section 2, and the terms for School Spelling in section 3.

2. School Mental Maths — Subscription Terms

BrainBuzz School Mental Maths is a paid annual subscription service providing structured audio mental maths tests for UK primary school pupils in Years 1–6. These terms apply to all school subscribers.

2.1 Subscription Model

• Subscriptions are sold on an annual basis per teacher seat
• The price per seat and any minimum annual charge are set by BrainBuzz and displayed at the point of registration
• Schools subscribe for a set number of teacher seats; each seat gives one teacher login access to the platform

2.2 Invoicing and Payment

• Invoices are issued via Stripe and sent to the billing email address provided at registration
• Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date
• Access to the platform is activated once payment is confirmed
• BrainBuzz does not accept cash, cheque, or payment methods other than those supported by Stripe
• All prices are exclusive of VAT. Where VAT applies, it will be shown on the invoice

2.3 Renewal

• Subscriptions do not renew automatically by direct debit or card charge
• A renewal invoice is automatically issued by Stripe and sent to the billing email address on the expiry date
• Access is suspended on the day of expiry and restored once the renewal invoice is paid
• BrainBuzz reserves the right to adjust pricing at renewal with reasonable notice by email before the renewal invoice is issued

2.4 Adding Seats

• Additional seats can be requested at any time from the admin dashboard
• Top-up invoices are prorated based on the number of days remaining in the current subscription period
• Additional seats activate on payment of the top-up invoice

2.5 Cancellation

• You may cancel your subscription at any time from the admin dashboard or by emailing [email protected]
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period; access continues until the expiry date
• Cancelling a subscription does not cancel any outstanding unpaid invoice

2.6 Refunds

• Subscriptions are non-refundable once the invoice has been paid and access has been granted
• If you experience a significant technical failure of the service that prevents use for a prolonged period, please contact us at [email protected] and we will consider a partial credit or extension at our discretion
• Refunds are not provided for unused seats, unused access periods, or change of mind

2.7 Acceptable Use of Seats

• Seats are for use by teaching staff and employees of the registered school only. The one exception is a cover teacher using a cover link set by a seat holder, as described in section 2.10
• Seats must not be shared with, or transferred to, individuals outside the registered school
• Schools may reassign a seat to a different teacher at any time via the admin dashboard
• Sharing login credentials between multiple individuals is not permitted
• BrainBuzz reserves the right to suspend access where misuse or sharing is suspected

2.8 Service Availability

• BrainBuzz will use reasonable endeavours to ensure the Mental Maths platform is available during normal school hours (8am–6pm, Monday–Friday, term time)
• Planned maintenance will be carried out outside these hours where possible
• We are not liable for loss of access due to circumstances outside our reasonable control

2.9 Changes to Subscription Terms

BrainBuzz may update these subscription terms from time to time. When we do, existing subscribers will be shown a summary of what has changed, along with the updated terms, when they next log in, and will be asked to accept them in order to continue using the service.

2.10 Cover Links

Cover links let a seat holder share a single Mental Maths test with a cover (supply) teacher for one chosen date, without that person needing a BrainBuzz account.

• A cover link is for one test, on one date, and for one cover teacher. The first person to open a link and enter their details is tied to it, and it cannot then be used by anyone else. Links must not be posted publicly or passed to pupils or parents
• Each subscription includes a number of cover links per subscription year, shown on the Cover Tests page. The allowance resets at renewal
• A cover link uses one credit when it is created. If a link is removed before anyone has opened it, the credit is returned
• Extra cover links can be bought in bundles by the school administrator at the price shown when ordering. They are invoiced via Stripe on the same terms as section 2.2, are non-refundable once paid, and carry over to your next subscription year
• An unpaid cover links invoice does not affect access to the rest of the service. Creating new cover links is unavailable only once your included and extra links have run out
• The school is responsible for sharing cover links only with staff it has engaged to cover its lessons
• BrainBuzz holds the name and email address of each cover teacher, and the school administrator can see who used a link. See section 2.7 of our Privacy Policy

3. School Spelling — Subscription Terms

BrainBuzz School Spelling is a paid annual subscription service that enables schools to create custom spelling word lists with audio for use in lessons. These terms apply to all school spelling subscribers.

3.1 Subscription Model

• Subscriptions are sold on an annual, credit-based basis
• Credits are allocated per year group; the number of credits included per year group and the subscription price are displayed at the point of registration
• One credit allows the school to create one custom spelling word list for a given year group
• Credits are valid for the duration of the subscription year and do not roll over to a new subscription period

3.2 Registration and Approval

• School Spelling subscriptions are subject to approval by BrainBuzz before access is granted
• On registration, a request is submitted and placed in a pending state; no payment is taken at this point
• BrainBuzz will review the registration and, if approved, will issue an invoice via Stripe to the billing email address provided
• Access is activated once the invoice is paid
• BrainBuzz reserves the right to decline a registration request without giving a reason

3.3 Invoicing and Payment

• Invoices are issued via Stripe to the billing email address provided at registration
• Payment is due within 30 days of the invoice date
• BrainBuzz does not accept cash, cheque, or payment methods other than those supported by Stripe
• All prices are exclusive of VAT. Where VAT applies, it will be shown on the invoice

3.4 Renewal

• Subscriptions do not renew automatically by direct debit or card charge
• A renewal invoice is automatically issued and sent to the billing email address on the expiry date
• Access and remaining credits are suspended on the day of expiry and restored once the renewal invoice is paid
• BrainBuzz reserves the right to adjust pricing at renewal with reasonable notice by email before the renewal invoice is issued

3.5 Cancellation

• You may cancel your subscription at any time by emailing [email protected]
• Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current subscription period; access and credits continue until the expiry date
• Cancelling does not cancel any outstanding unpaid invoice

3.6 Refunds

• Subscriptions are non-refundable once the invoice has been paid and access has been granted
• Unused credits at the end of a subscription period are not refundable
• If you experience a significant technical failure that prevents use for a prolonged period, please contact us and we will consider a partial credit or extension at our discretion

3.7 Content and Audio

• Audio for custom word lists is generated using a third-party text-to-speech service (ElevenLabs). By creating a word list, you confirm that the words and sentences you submit do not infringe any third-party rights and are appropriate for use with primary school pupils
• BrainBuzz reserves the right to remove word lists or audio that are found to be inappropriate or unlawful

3.8 Service Availability

• BrainBuzz will use reasonable endeavours to ensure the Spelling platform is available during normal school hours (8am–6pm, Monday–Friday, term time)
• Planned maintenance will be carried out outside these hours where possible
• We are not liable for loss of access due to circumstances outside our reasonable control