Cookie Policy
Last updated: January 2025
1. Introduction
This Cookie Policy explains how Tuition4U ("we", "us", or "our") uses cookies and similar technologies when you visit our GCSE Mathematics revision platform at tuition4u.co.uk (the "Platform"). Tuition4U is operated by TRAVEL UNIQ LIMITED, a company registered in England & Wales (Company Number: 09636173) with its registered office at 83 Vicarage Lane, Stratford, London, England, E15 4HG.
We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about the technologies we use. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect and use personal information.
By continuing to use our Platform, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this policy.
2. What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device (computer, tablet, or mobile phone) when you visit a website. They serve various purposes, such as remembering your preferences, enabling certain functionality, and helping us understand how you use our Platform.
Types of Cookies
Session Cookies
These are temporary cookies that are deleted when you close your browser. They are essential for the Platform to function correctly during your visit.
Persistent Cookies
These cookies remain on your device for a set period or until you delete them. They help us recognise you when you return to the Platform.
First-Party Cookies
These are cookies set by Tuition4U directly when you visit our Platform.
Third-Party Cookies
These are cookies set by other organisations through our Platform. We minimise the use of third-party cookies and do not use advertising or tracking cookies.
3. How We Use Cookies
We use only essential cookies that are strictly necessary for the Platform to function. We do not use advertising cookies, social media tracking cookies, or third-party analytics cookies.
Our approach is designed to protect your privacy, which is particularly important given that many of our users are children and young people preparing for their GCSE examinations.
4. Cookies We Use
The following table describes the cookies used on our Platform:
| Cookie Name | Purpose | Duration | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| session | Maintains your logged-in session and authentication state. This cookie is essential for accessing protected areas of the Platform such as your dashboard, quiz sessions, and class content. | 7 days | Essential |
| csrf_token | Protects against cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks. This is a security measure that helps ensure form submissions come from our Platform and not from malicious third parties. | Session | Essential |
5. Cookie Categories
5.1 Strictly Necessary (Essential) Cookies
These cookies are essential for the Platform to function correctly. They enable core functionality such as security, session management, and access to secure areas. The Platform cannot function properly without these cookies, and they cannot be disabled.
We only use strictly necessary cookies. All cookies listed in Section 4 fall into this category.
5.2 Cookies We Do Not Use
To protect your privacy, we do not use the following types of cookies:
- Performance/Analytics Cookies: We do not use cookies to collect information about how visitors use our Platform (such as Google Analytics or similar services).
- Functionality Cookies: We do not use cookies to remember choices you make beyond essential authentication.
- Targeting/Advertising Cookies: We do not use cookies to deliver advertisements or track your browsing activity across other websites.
- Social Media Cookies: We do not embed social media widgets or use cookies that enable social sharing features.
6. Third-Party Services
Our Platform uses the following third-party services to provide functionality. These services process data but do not place tracking cookies on your device:
| Service | Purpose | Cookies Used |
|---|---|---|
| Pusher | Provides real-time features for live quiz sessions, enabling instant updates when questions are revealed and answers are submitted. | None (uses WebSocket connections) |
| Resend | Sends authentication emails including magic links and one-time passcodes for passwordless login. | None (server-side only) |
| Stripe | Processes subscription payments securely. Stripe may set cookies on their own payment pages when you complete a transaction. | On Stripe's payment pages only |
For information about how these third parties handle your data, please refer to their respective privacy policies.
7. IP Addresses
When you visit our Platform, we may collect your IP address for security and fraud prevention purposes. This includes:
- Recording the IP address used when requesting a login link or OTP
- Detecting suspicious login attempts or potential security threats
- Rate limiting to prevent abuse of our authentication system
IP addresses are stored securely and are not used for advertising, profiling, or tracking your activity across other websites.
8. Local Storage and Similar Technologies
In addition to cookies, we may use browser local storage for:
- Temporarily saving quiz progress in case of connection issues
- Storing user interface preferences (such as theme settings)
- Caching certain data to improve Platform performance
Local storage data remains on your device and is not transmitted to our servers unless specifically needed for the service. You can clear local storage through your browser settings.
9. Managing Cookies
Since we only use essential cookies, disabling them will prevent you from using key features of the Platform, including logging in and participating in quiz sessions. However, you have control over cookies through your browser settings.
Browser-Specific Instructions
To manage cookies in your browser, follow these instructions:
Google Chrome
Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data → See all site data and permissions → Search for "tuition4u" → Delete
Mozilla Firefox
Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data → Manage Data → Search for "tuition4u" → Remove Selected
Apple Safari
Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data → Search for "tuition4u" → Remove
Microsoft Edge
Settings → Cookies and site permissions → Manage and delete cookies and site data → See all cookies and site data → Search for "tuition4u" → Delete
Mobile Devices
On iOS and Android devices, you can manage cookies through your browser's settings menu, typically found under Privacy or Security options.
Important: If you block or delete our essential cookies, you will not be able to log in or use the authenticated features of the Platform. You will need to log in again after clearing cookies.
10. Security
We implement appropriate security measures to protect the data stored in cookies:
- HttpOnly Flag: Our session cookies are marked as HttpOnly, preventing access by client-side scripts and reducing the risk of cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
- Secure Flag: Cookies are only transmitted over encrypted HTTPS connections.
- SameSite Attribute: We use the SameSite attribute to help prevent cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks.
- Token Hashing: Authentication tokens are hashed using SHA-256 before storage, ensuring that even if data were compromised, tokens cannot be reversed.
11. Children's Privacy
We are committed to protecting children's privacy. Our Platform is designed for students aged 14-16 preparing for GCSE examinations, and we take additional care to minimise data collection for young users.
Our minimal use of cookies (essential only, no tracking or advertising) reflects our commitment to providing a safe, focused learning environment. We do not use cookies to build profiles of young users or track their behaviour across websites.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, legislation, or our practices. When we make significant changes:
- We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page
- We may notify you through a notice on the Platform
- For material changes affecting how we use cookies, we may seek your consent again
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us:
- Email: contactus@tuition4u.co.uk
- Website: www.tuition4u.co.uk
Related Policies
- Privacy Policy - How we collect, use, and protect your personal data
- Terms of Service - Terms governing your use of the Platform
- Support - Get help and find answers to common questions