Cookie Policy
What cookies we use on the Handprints website and how to control them.
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites work correctly, remember your preferences, and provide information to site owners about how visitors use the site.
2. How we use cookies
The Handprints Nurseries website (handprintsnurseries.com) uses a small number of cookies to ensure the site works properly, to help us understand how visitors use it, and to measure the advertising we run for our nurseries on Google and on Facebook and Instagram.
Only the essential cookies are set automatically. Analytics and advertising cookies are set only if you accept them. When you first arrive you will see a short banner asking for your choice, and nothing beyond the essentials is stored until you make it. You can change your mind at any time; see section 4.
3. Types of cookies we use
Essential cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They are usually set in response to actions you take, such as submitting a form.
| Cookie | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Session cookie | Maintains your session while you browse the site | Session |
Analytics cookies
These are set only if you accept analytics cookies. We use Google Analytics 4 and Microsoft Clarity to understand how visitors find and use our site, so we can improve the experience for families researching childcare. These tools collect information such as which pages are viewed, roughly how long visitors spend on each page, and which links are clicked. Data is aggregated and IP addresses are anonymised.
| Cookie | Purpose | Provider | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Google Analytics 4; distinguishes unique users, measures page views and traffic sources. | Google LLC | 2 years |
| _ga_S464QTQNPP | Google Analytics 4; persists session state for our specific property (G-R4E7P5NPBE). | Google LLC | 2 years |
| _clck | Microsoft Clarity; persists the Clarity user ID and preferences for this browser so behaviour can be aggregated across visits. | Microsoft | 1 year |
| _clsk | Microsoft Clarity; links together multiple page views by the same user in one session (heatmaps, session replay). | Microsoft | 1 day |
You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on, or block third-party cookies in your browser settings. Microsoft Clarity respects your browser's "Do Not Track" setting where honoured.
Third-party cookies
Some pages on our site use third-party services that may set their own cookies:
- Google Fonts; used to load the typefaces on our website. Google may set a cookie to optimise font delivery. See Google's Privacy Policy.
- Google Analytics 4; see the Analytics cookies table above. Google's Privacy Policy.
- Microsoft Clarity; see the Analytics cookies table above. Microsoft's Privacy Statement.
- Meta (Facebook and Instagram); the Meta Pixel, used to measure our advertising. Loaded only with your consent; see the Advertising cookies table below. Meta's Privacy Policy.
- Formspree; used to process enquiry and contact forms submitted on our site. See Formspree's Privacy Policy.
Advertising cookies
We advertise our nurseries on Google, and on Facebook and Instagram through Meta. If you accept advertising cookies, Google and Meta may set cookies that let us see which adverts led to an enquiry, a tour booking or a job application, and that may show our adverts to you on other websites and apps. If you decline, these cookies are not set and we simply see less about where our enquiries come from.
| Cookie | Purpose | Provider | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| _gcl_au | Google Ads; links a click on one of our adverts to an enquiry or tour booking, so we can measure which adverts work. | Google LLC | 90 days |
| Google advertising cookies | Set by Google on its own domains to measure our adverts and, where you have allowed it, to show our adverts to you elsewhere. | Google LLC | Up to 2 years |
| _fbp | Meta Pixel; identifies this browser so we can measure how our Facebook and Instagram adverts perform, including enquiries and job applications that follow an advert. | Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd | 90 days |
| _fbc | Meta Pixel; stores the click identifier from a Facebook or Instagram advert, so a resulting enquiry or application can be attributed to that advert. | Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd | 90 days |
| Meta advertising cookies | Set by Meta on its own domains to measure our adverts and, where you have allowed it, to show our adverts to you on Facebook and Instagram. | Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd | Up to 90 days |
The Meta Pixel is loaded through our tag manager and only once you have chosen Accept all. Choose Essential only and it is never loaded, so none of the cookies above are set.
4. Your choices, and how to manage cookies
When you first visit the site you are asked whether to allow analytics and advertising cookies. Choosing Essential only means no analytics or advertising cookies are set, and the Google, Microsoft and Meta tools above are either held back entirely or run without storing anything on your device. Choosing Accept all allows them.
Your answer is remembered in your browser so you are not asked again. To change it, use the button below and the banner will reappear:
You can also control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Here are links to instructions for the most common browsers:
Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our website, including our contact and enquiry forms.
5. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time. The current version will always be available on this page.
6. Contact us
If you have any questions about our use of cookies, please contact us:
- Email: enquiries@handprintsnurseries.com
- Phone: 07787 22 8000
