Cookie Policy
How the Early Years website uses cookies, and how you can choose which ones we use.
What cookies are
Cookies are small text files that a website stores on your device when you visit it. They help the site work, remember choices you make, and can be used by other services that are part of a page, such as an embedded video or map.
This policy explains which cookies the Early Years website uses, why, and how you can control them. It applies to early-years.org.
How we use cookies
We keep cookies to a minimum. We use:
Essential cookies, which the website needs to work. These are always on.
Videos and maps cookies, which are set by YouTube, Vimeo and Google Maps when we show their videos and maps on our pages.
Analytics cookies, which help us understand how people use the site, using Google Analytics.
Marketing cookies, which let Meta (Facebook and Instagram) measure how well our adverts work, using the Meta Pixel.
Videos and maps, analytics and marketing cookies are all optional. We only use them if you allow them.
Your choices
When you first visit the site, a banner asks whether you are happy for us to use optional cookies. You can accept them, reject them, or choose which ones to allow.
You can change your mind at any time using the Cookie settings link at the bottom of every page. If you choose not to allow videos and maps, you will see a short message in their place, with a link to watch the video or open the map on the provider’s own website instead.
You can also block or delete cookies in your browser settings. If you block essential cookies, some parts of the site, such as our forms, may not work properly.
Cookies we use
Essential cookies
These are set by Early Years and are needed for the website to work. They do not identify you personally and are not used for marketing.
Cookie | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
ey_cookie_preferences | Remembers the cookie choices you have made, so we don’t ask you again on every page. | 6 months |
Session cookie (its name ends in “session”) | Keeps the site working as you move between pages, for example when you send us a form. | 2 hours |
XSRF-TOKEN | Protects our forms from being misused by other websites. | 2 hours |
_GRECAPTCHA (Google reCAPTCHA) | Set by Google reCAPTCHA when you use one of our forms, to tell genuine enquiries apart from automated spam. | 6 months |
We also use your browser’s storage to remember which website notices you have closed, so they stay closed. This is kept on your device until you clear your browsing data, and is not shared with anyone.
Videos and maps cookies (optional)
Some pages include videos and maps from other services. These services may set their own cookies when the video or map loads, and may use them to recognise you across other websites. They only load if you allow videos and maps.
Service | Used for | More information |
|---|---|---|
YouTube (Google) | Showing and playing videos | |
Vimeo | Showing and playing videos | |
Google Maps (Google) | Showing maps of our locations |
Analytics cookies (optional)
If you allow analytics cookies, we use Google Analytics to understand how people find and use our website, such as which pages are visited most. This helps us improve the site. Google Analytics does not tell us who you are.
Cookie | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
_ga | Set by Google Analytics to tell visits apart. | 2 years |
_ga_ followed by an ID | Set by Google Analytics to keep track of your visit. | 2 years |
More information: how Google uses information from sites that use its services.
Marketing cookies (optional)
If you allow marketing cookies, we use the Meta Pixel. It tells Meta (the company behind Facebook and Instagram) when someone visits our site, so we can see how well our adverts work and show them to people who may be interested.
Cookie | What it does | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|
_fbp | Set by Meta to recognise visits from people who have seen our adverts. | 3 months |
More information: Meta cookies policy.
Links to other websites
Our website links to other websites and services, such as the NICSS portal, our membership portal, our shop and members area, and booking pages. These have their own cookie and privacy policies, which apply when you use them.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy if the way we use cookies changes. This policy was last updated on 15 October 2026.
For more about how we look after your personal information, see our privacy policy.