Early help for children and families – an article by Richard Selwyn

What are cookies?

A “cookie” is a text file that is stored on your computer, tablet or phone or any internet device when you visit a website. A cookie is small in size, so does not usually have a noticeable effect on the hard-disc space on your device.

We use Cookies to facilitate and improve your experience of our site and to provide and improve our services. We have carefully chosen these Cookies and have taken steps to ensure that your privacy and personal data is protected and respected at all times.

There are different types of cookies:

Session Cookies: these are usually deleted when you close your browser.

Persistent Cookies: these remain on your device until they expire, or a site or you deletes them for your browser cache. These type of cookies help a site remember customised settings and information about your individual use of the site.

To find out more about cookies visit www.aboutcookies.org. From www.aboutcookies.org you can find out information about cookies, what cookies have been set and how you can delete them.

Alternatively, you can search the internet for other independent information on cookies.

How can I control cookies?

If you do not wish sites to set cookies, you are able to modify your browser so that it can either refuse all cookies or notify you when a cookie is set. You are also able to delete cookies that have already been set in your browser.

To block all or some web browser cookies then you can do this through using your browser settings. Your browser Help section will be able to help you with this. Alternatively, www.aboutcookies.org, contains information on how to do this.

Third party cookies

From time to time we embed photos and video content from websites such as YouTube, Flickr, Twitter (etc) to enable us to offer information and help guides (etc). Pages on our site that contain embedded content may present cookies from these third party websites. Also, when you click on any “Share this”, “Like”, “Tweet”, “Post” or “Send to a friend” links/buttons a cookie may be set by the service providing the functionality. We cannot control the use of these cookies so these settings will not block cookies from those websites. You can change the cookies on the third party website themselves. Please contact them for further information.

Pop up

When visiting our site you will be shown a pop-up banner requesting your consent to set those Cookies. By giving your consent to the placing of Cookies you are enabling us to provide the best possible experience and service to you. You may, if you wish, deny consent to the placing of Cookies; certain features of our site may not function fully or as intended. You will be given the opportunity to block non necessary Cookies.

Certain features of our site depend on Cookies to function. You may still block these Cookies by changing your internet browser’s settings as detailed below, but please be aware that our site may not work properly if you do so. We have taken great care to ensure that your privacy is not at risk by allowing them.

In addition to the controls that we provide, you can choose to enable or disable Cookies in your internet browser. Most internet browsers also enable you to choose whether you wish to disable all Cookies or only third-party Cookies. By default, most internet browsers accept Cookies, but this can be changed. For further details, please consult the help menu in your internet browser or the documentation that came with your device.

You can choose to delete Cookies on your computer or device at any time, however you may lose any information that enables you to access our site more quickly and efficiently including, but not limited to, login and personalisation settings.

It is recommended that you keep your internet browser and operating system up-to-date and that you consult the help and guidance provided by the developer of your internet browser and manufacturer of your computer or device if you are unsure about adjusting your privacy settings.