A safe, secure spelling practice app designed for Year 3 and 4 students. Everything runs locally in your browser - no data ever leaves your device.
All progress, settings, and personal information stays on your device only
No sign-ups, passwords, or personal information needed to use the app
Works offline once loaded - perfect for travel or limited connectivity
Any optional settings (like API keys) are encrypted in browser storage
Follows UK data protection laws with no personal data collection
Code is publicly available for transparency and security review
Word Buddies uses a scientifically-proven learning technique called spaced repetition. This method helps move words from short-term to long-term memory by reviewing them at optimal intervals.
Your child learns a new word
First review - reinforces initial learning
Second review - strengthens memory
Third review - builds long-term retention
Fourth review - confirms mastery
Final review - word is mastered!
Important: If your child spells a word incorrectly, it will appear again in 2 hours for extra practice. This ensures struggling words get more attention.
You might notice words with 100% success rate still appear for review. This is intentional! Just because your child spelled "thought" correctly once doesn't mean they'll remember it next week. The system ensures long-term retention through multiple successful reviews over time.
During regular practice sessions, words due for review are automatically prioritized. Your child doesn't need to use the special "Review" page - the app intelligently mixes review words with new words to maintain the optimal learning schedule.
Research shows: Spaced repetition can improve retention by up to 200% compared to traditional study methods. By spacing out reviews, your child's brain has time to consolidate memories, making spelling skills stick for the long term.
iOS devices (iPhone, iPad) have limitations with built-in text-to-speech that can cause:
ElevenLabs provides reliable, high-quality voice synthesis that works consistently across all devices.
Your API key never leaves your device:
Simple and secure process:
Use at your own risk: While we have implemented strong encryption and security measures, you are using your ElevenLabs API key at your own risk. We are not liable if your API key gets compromised through browser vulnerabilities, malicious extensions, or other security issues beyond our control. Monitor your ElevenLabs usage regularly and revoke/regenerate your API key if you suspect any unauthorized access.
Important: ElevenLabs integration is completely optional. The app works perfectly fine using your device's built-in voices on most computers and Android devices.
Absolutely! Everything stays on your device. Names, progress, spelling attempts - nothing is ever sent to external servers. When your child closes the browser, their data remains safely stored locally.
Yes! Once the app loads initially, it works completely offline. This makes it perfect for travel, areas with poor connectivity, or when you want to limit internet access.
Each browser profile maintains separate data. You can create different browser profiles for each child, or they can use different browsers (Chrome, Safari, Firefox) to keep their progress separate.
Yes! Word Buddies uses Year 3 and 4 spelling words from Oxford Owl, which aligns with UK National Curriculum requirements. The spaced repetition learning method is based on educational research.
Word Buddies is completely free to use. ElevenLabs API usage (optional) costs about £1-2 per month for typical usage, and you control this directly through your own account.
Any modern device with a web browser: iPhone, iPad, Android tablets, Windows PCs, Macs, Chromebooks. No app store downloads or installations required.
We're committed to providing a safe, educational experience for your child. If you have any questions about privacy, security, or how the app works, we're here to help.
Open Source: This app's code is publicly available for review at GitHub for complete transparency about how your data is handled.