Privacy Policy

Safe Child Guide is committed to protecting your privacy. This policy explains what data we collect, why, and how we use it.

What we collect

We collect minimal data. Error monitoring runs for every visitor. Google Analytics and our page-load performance measurement run only if you accept in our cookie banner. Both are explained in "Monitoring and analytics" below. Beyond this, we do not collect personal information unless you contact us directly or choose to create an optional account (see "Accounts and sign-in" below), in which case we store your email address.

Monitoring and analytics

Here is exactly what runs, and when.

Error monitoring (everyone)

To catch crashes and broken pages, the site reports errors to a self-hosted, Sentry-compatible error-monitoring service. This runs whether or not you accept analytics cookies. A report contains details of the error, the address of the page where it happened, and technical information such as your browser type. We configure it not to collect personal data such as names or email addresses: we strip sensitive values (for example the email address and token in a sign-in or newsletter unsubscribe link) from page addresses, and remove cookies and IP-address fields from reports, before they are sent. As with any web request, the monitoring server sees your IP address and browser details when your browser sends a report. It does not set cookies in your browser.

Page-load tracing (only if you accept)

If you accept analytics cookies, the same error-monitoring service also records page-load and navigation timings for about 10% of your page loads and navigations, so we can find slow pages. If you decline, or have not made a choice, your browser does not record these timings. Separately, our servers sample about 10% of requests for the same purpose; this happens on the server, before we know anything about your cookie choice, and sets nothing in your browser. These server-side records contain technical details of the request, such as the page address, timings and browser type; we remove cookies, credentials, email addresses, sign-in tokens, IP addresses and the referring page before they are sent.

Google Analytics (only if you accept)

We use Google Analytics 4. The Google Analytics tag is not loaded, and nothing is sent to Google, until you accept analytics cookies in our cookie banner. If you decline or make no choice, it does not load at all. If you accept, the tag loads straight away (no page reload is needed), Google Analytics sets cookies in your browser, and it measures how the site is used. As with any web request, Google then receives details such as your IP address and browser information.

Our performance beacon (only if you accept)

If you accept analytics cookies, pages (except our embeddable widgets) load a small script from our own monitoring panel that measures how fast the page loaded. If you decline or make no choice, the script is not loaded. When you leave the page it sends one message containing: the site name and page path, your connection type (for example "4g", if your browser reports it), whether your device is a mobile, tablet or desktop, the page-load timings (such as time to first byte, first and largest contentful paint, interaction delay and layout shift), and a timestamp. The script does not set cookies, does not store anything in your browser, and does not send a user ID. As with any web request, the server receiving it sees your IP address and browser details.

Changing your choice

You can change your mind at any time. The button below clears your saved choice and shows the cookie banner again. If you then decline or make no new choice, Google Analytics and the performance beacon are not loaded again. A script already loaded in the page you are viewing cannot be unloaded and stays in memory until you reload the page: for Google Analytics we also tell the tag to stop collecting, but a performance beacon already loaded on that page will still send its one message when you leave it. Cookies Google Analytics has already set remain in your browser until you delete them in your browser settings.

Our embeddable widgets (pages under /embed shown on other websites) do not run Google Analytics or the performance beacon.

Accounts and sign-in

Creating an account is optional and free. You do not need an account to use Safe Child Guide — all our guides and resources are available without signing in.

Sign-in is passwordless: we email you a one-time "magic link", and clicking it signs you in. We do not create or store a password.

If you sign in, the only personal information we store is your email address, and we do not use it to send marketing. Any pages you save ("bookmarks") are currently kept only in your own browser, on your device — they are not uploaded to your account or our servers.

While you are signed in, we set a session cookie so the site knows you are logged in. This cookie is essential/functional — it is not used for tracking or advertising.

Accounts are intended for adults — parents, carers, and professionals aged 18 and over — and are not for children.

You can ask us to delete your account and the data associated with it at any time by contacting us via our contact page.

Cookies

We use essential cookies to ensure the website functions correctly. With your consent — given via the cookie banner — we also set analytics cookies (Google Analytics 4) to measure how the site is used. If you decline or make no choice, no analytics cookies are set and Google Analytics is not loaded (see "Monitoring and analytics" above for the cookie-free error monitoring that still runs). We do not use advertising cookies. We remember your cookie choice in your browser's local storage.

Third parties

We do not sell, rent, or share your data with third parties for marketing purposes. Google Analytics processes usage data on our behalf, and only if you accept analytics cookies (see above).

Children's data

We do not knowingly collect data from children. This website is designed to be used by adults responsible for children's safety.

Contact

If you have questions about our privacy practices, please contact us via our contact page.