Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy explains how Little Blossom Tree Nursery, operated by Little Blossom Tree Limited, uses cookies and similar technologies in connection with www.littleblossomtree.co.uk. It explains what these technologies are, why they may be used, the choices available to visitors and how to contact us about them. It should be read alongside our Privacy Notice, which provides further information about the handling of personal information.

This policy relates to the nursery website. External websites and services reached through links from our website may operate their own cookies and privacy practices.

1. What are cookies and similar technologies?

Cookies are small text files that a website or associated service may place on your computer, tablet or mobile phone. When you return to a website, a cookie may allow the website or its service provider to recognise your browser, remember a setting or support a particular function. Cookies do not all perform the same purpose, and not every cookie identifies a visitor by name.

Other technologies may perform similar functions. These can include browser local storage, session storage, tracking pixels, embedded content and technologies that access information held on your device. In this policy, references to cookies include similar technologies where relevant.

• First-party cookies: set by the website or its own domain.
• Third-party cookies: set by another organisation providing a feature or service on the website.
• Session cookies: generally expire when the browser session ends.
• Persistent cookies: remain for a specified period or until removed by the visitor.

The organisation setting a cookie, the information it can access and the cookie’s expiry period depend on the relevant technology and its configuration.

2. Why cookies may be used on our website

Cookies and similar technologies may support the operation and security of the website, enable visitors to use requested features, remember privacy choices and, where enabled and lawfully permitted, provide information about website performance or interactions with optional content.

Examples of purposes for which cookies may be used include:

• Keeping essential website functions working correctly, including page navigation and technical session management.
• Protecting website services against misuse, suspicious activity or automated requests.
• Remembering cookie choices or other settings selected by visitors.
• Supporting forms, booking enquiries or other features that visitors choose to use.
• Measuring how the website performs and identifying technical problems, where relevant permissions have been obtained.
• Enabling optional third-party content, such as video, maps or other embedded services, subject to applicable consent requirements.

The presence of a category in this policy does not mean that every cookie in that category is currently active on the website. Actual cookies depend on the website features and third-party services in use.

3. Categories of cookies

Strictly necessary cookies

These technologies are used where they are essential to deliver a website service requested by the visitor or to support functions such as security, session continuity and the recording of privacy choices. Under UK rules, consent is not normally required for cookies that fall within a relevant exemption, although information about their use should still be provided.

A cookie is not strictly necessary merely because it is useful to the website operator. We distinguish genuinely essential functions from optional measurement, personalisation or advertising activities.

Preferences and functionality cookies

These technologies may remember optional choices, such as preferred settings or how a feature was previously displayed. They can make the website more convenient to use. Where a preference cookie is not exempt from consent requirements, it should only be used after the appropriate permission has been given.

Analytics and performance cookies

Analytics technologies may provide information about page visits, navigation patterns, technical errors, device types and how website features are used. This information may help improve the usability and performance of the website. Some analytics services use identifiers that can recognise a browser across visits.

Whether consent is required depends on the technology, its purpose and the applicable UK rules. Where consent is required, analytics cookies should remain inactive unless the visitor has opted in. Any applicable legal exemption must be assessed against its specific conditions rather than assumed.

Marketing, advertising and tracking cookies

Marketing or advertising technologies may be used by some websites to measure campaigns, personalise advertising or recognise visitors across different websites. Such technologies are not necessary simply to provide information about the nursery. If these features are introduced, they must be addressed through appropriate transparency and consent arrangements before they are activated.

Third-party feature cookies

Embedded maps, videos, online forms and other external features may rely on cookies or similar technologies to operate. A third-party provider may have its own purposes and privacy practices. Where the relevant technology is non-essential, the feature should be configured so that consent is obtained before non-essential cookies are placed or accessed.

4. Third-party services and external websites

Our website may contain links to other organisations or incorporate external services, such as enquiry forms, visit-booking tools, videos, interactive maps or website infrastructure. When a visitor chooses to use a third-party feature, that provider may receive technical information about the device or browser and may set or access cookies in accordance with its own practices.

We encourage visitors to review the privacy and cookie information provided by those organisations. A link to another website does not mean that Little Blossom Tree Limited controls the cookies used on that external website.

Where we select providers to support the operation of our website, we consider relevant privacy and security requirements. We do not assume that cookies from an external service are exempt from consent merely because the service is useful or appears within our website.

5. Cookie consent and your choices

Under UK law, storing information on a visitor’s device or accessing information already stored there will generally require consent unless a specific exemption applies. Where consent is required, it must be informed, freely given and based on a clear affirmative choice. Simply continuing to browse does not, by itself, amount to valid consent.

Where non-essential cookies are used, visitors should be given understandable information and a genuine choice to accept or reject them. The website’s consent controls should allow visitors to make and, where applicable, revisit those choices without being pressured to accept optional tracking.

Rejecting non-essential cookies should not prevent visitors from reading the nursery’s core website information. However, some optional features supplied by third parties may be unavailable until the relevant permission has been given.

Visitors may withdraw consent for optional cookies. Withdrawal does not affect processing that was lawful before the consent was withdrawn. Removing existing cookies from a device may also be necessary in some circumstances.

6. Managing cookies through your browser

Most web browsers provide controls that allow visitors to inspect, delete or block cookies. The location of these controls varies depending on the browser, operating system and version in use.

• View cookies and website data stored on your device.
• Delete individual cookies or clear cookies and site data more generally.
• Block third-party cookies or restrict cookies for selected websites.
• Configure your browser to delete site data when it closes.
• Use private browsing settings, bearing in mind that these do not necessarily prevent all online tracking.

Blocking or deleting cookies may remove saved preferences and can affect functions that depend on them. Browser settings are separate from any consent controls presented by the website. If you use several browsers or devices, you may need to manage preferences on each one.

7. How long cookies remain on your device

The lifespan of a cookie depends on the service and its configuration. Session cookies are generally removed at the end of a browsing session. Persistent cookies may remain for a defined period unless they are deleted earlier or replaced. Some technologies, including local storage, can persist until the browser or user clears them.

The exact names, providers, purposes and expiry periods of cookies may change when website features or services are updated. Information presented by any cookie preference tool should reflect the cookies actually in use and should be kept consistent with this policy.

8. Personal information, security and international services

Some cookie data may be personal information under UK data protection law. For example, online identifiers, IP addresses and information linked to a particular device may be personal data when they relate to an identifiable individual. Where personal information is processed, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 may apply in addition to the rules governing cookies.

Our Privacy Notice explains how we handle personal information, the lawful bases that may apply, when information may be shared and the rights individuals may have. We take reasonable steps to protect information handled through the website, but no online service can guarantee absolute security.

Some third-party website services may involve processing or storage outside the United Kingdom. Where personal data is transferred internationally, applicable data protection safeguards must be considered and used where required.

9. Children’s privacy

Little Blossom Tree Nursery recognises the particular importance of protecting children’s information. Our public website is intended primarily to provide information and services to parents, carers and prospective families. Children’s nursery attendance, learning records and safeguarding information are handled separately in accordance with our Privacy Notice and relevant nursery procedures.

We do not consider unnecessary online tracking to be justified simply because a child attends the nursery. Any online service or feature involving children’s information must be assessed with their rights, welfare and privacy in mind. Where relevant, we take account of the higher level of protection expected for children under UK data protection law.

10. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may revise this policy when our website changes, new services are introduced, cookie practices develop or legal requirements change. The current version will be made available on this page. Where a change requires fresh consent, the relevant cookies should not be used for the new purpose until that consent has been obtained.

11. Contact us

If you have questions about this Cookie Policy, your cookie choices or the way personal information is handled through our website, please contact:

Little Blossom Tree Limited
Little Blossom Tree Nursery
Unit 8–11, The Precinct, High Road, Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, EN10 7HY

Email: info@littleblossomtree.co.uk
Telephone: 020 3576 7221
Website: www.littleblossomtree.co.uk