Cookies Policy
This policy explains what cookies are, which ones we use on our website, and how you can manage your preferences.
This Cookies Policy explains how Beyond Words Speech Therapy uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website. We are committed to transparency about the data we collect and to giving you meaningful control over your privacy. This policy should be read alongside our Privacy Policy.
Section 01
What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work efficiently, to remember your preferences, and to provide information to website owners about how their site is being used.
Cookies do not contain personal information such as your name or payment details, but they can be used to recognise your device and, in some cases, to link browsing activity to you as an individual.
Similar technologies such as web beacons, pixel tags, and local storage work in a similar way and are also covered by this policy.
Section 02
How We Use Cookies
We use cookies on our website for the following general purposes:
- To ensure the website functions correctly and securely
- To remember your cookie preferences
- To understand how visitors use our website so we can improve it
- To measure the effectiveness of our content
We do not use cookies to collect sensitive personal information, to serve targeted advertising, or to sell data to third parties.
Section 03
Types of Cookies We Use
Essential
Strictly Necessary — Always active
Required for the website to function. These cannot be disabled. They include session cookies and security cookies.
Analytics
Performance & Analytics
Help us understand how visitors use our site — for example, which pages are visited most and whether visitors encounter errors.
Functional
Functionality
Remember your preferences (such as language or previously entered information) to improve your experience on return visits.
Marketing
Marketing & Social
Used by third-party platforms (e.g. social media plugins) to track visits and build profiles. We aim to keep use of these minimal.
Section 04
Cookies We Use
The table below details the specific cookies currently in use on our website. We review and update this list regularly.
| Cookie Name | Type | Purpose | Duration |
| cookie_consent | Essential | Stores your cookie consent preferences so you are not asked again on each visit | 12 months |
| session_id | Essential | Maintains your session while you browse the website | Session (deleted when browser closes) |
| _ga | Analytics | Google Analytics — distinguishes unique users to help us understand site usage | 2 years |
| _ga_[ID] | Analytics | Google Analytics — maintains session state and records page views | 2 years |
| _gid | Analytics | Google Analytics — distinguishes users (shorter-term) | 24 hours |
| _gat | Analytics | Google Analytics — used to throttle request rate | 1 minute |
| [booking system] | Functional | Used by our online booking system to manage appointment scheduling sessions | Session |
Note: If you use a third-party booking or contact form on our site, additional cookies from that provider may be set. Please refer to that provider’s own cookie policy for details.
Section 05
Third-Party Cookies
Some cookies on our website are set by third-party services we use. These third parties have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to read:
- Google Analytics — we use Google Analytics to understand website traffic and usage patterns. Google may process data on servers outside the UK. We have enabled IP anonymisation to limit the personal data collected. See google.com/policies/privacy for details.
- Online booking system — if we use a third-party booking platform, it may set its own session or functional cookies.
- Social media plugins — if we include links or share buttons to platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, those platforms may set their own cookies even if you do not click them. We aim to minimise these.
We do not have control over third-party cookies and are not responsible for the data practices of third-party providers.
Section 06
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You have several options for managing cookies:
Through our cookie banner
When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a cookie banner where you can accept or decline non-essential cookies. You can update your preferences at any time by [insert link to your cookie settings tool or instructions]. How do I get this link?
Through your browser settings
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. You can typically find these under “Privacy”, “Security”, or “Settings”. You can set your browser to:
- Block all cookies
- Block only third-party cookies
- Delete cookies when you close your browser
- Notify you when a cookie is set
Instructions for managing cookies in popular browsers:
- Google Chrome: Settings → Privacy and security → Cookies and other site data
- Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
- Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
- Microsoft Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions
Please note: Disabling or deleting cookies may affect how our website functions. Strictly necessary cookies cannot be disabled as they are essential for the website to operate correctly. If you block all cookies, some features, such as online booking may not work as expected.
Opt out of Google Analytics
You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking across all websites by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, available at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Section 07
Cookie Consent
In line with the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and UK GDPR, we will ask for your consent before placing any non-essential cookies on your device.
Strictly necessary cookies do not require your consent as they are essential for the website to function.
Your consent is recorded and stored via our cookie consent cookie. You may withdraw or change your consent at any time by updating your preferences through the cookie settings on our website, or by clearing cookies via your browser settings.
Section 08
Children & Cookies
Our website is primarily aimed at parents, carers, and professionals seeking information about paediatric speech therapy services – it is not a website intended for children to browse independently.
We do not knowingly collect personal data from children through our website’s cookies or analytics tools. Our analytics data is anonymised and aggregated and is not used to identify any individual.
If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information via our website, please contact us and we will take steps to delete that information promptly.
Section 09
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time as our website evolves or as legal requirements change. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
We recommend checking this page periodically to stay informed about how we use cookies.
Section 10
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Cookies Policy or how we use cookies, please get in touch:
Beyond Words Speech Therapy
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 07462 364479
For more information about your privacy rights and data protection, please see our Privacy Policy.