1. Who we are and what this policy covers
This policy explains how Right First Time UK Ltd (company number 17493370) uses cookies, website storage and similar technologies. It covers our main website at rightfirsttimeuk.com and, where relevant, RFTUK online services such as the members, application and Parent Contribution Service (PCS) websites.
A cookie is a small piece of information a website can store in your browser. Related technology includes local storage and scripts that read or store information on your device. Some features need these technologies to function; others, including Google Analytics, are optional.
2. Cookies and technologies we use
| Category | Purpose | Choice |
|---|---|---|
| Essential / functional | Login sessions, security, form protection, saving your cookie decision and functions you specifically request. | Used where genuinely necessary. Turning them off in your browser can prevent some services from working. |
| Optional analytics | Google Analytics 4 (GA4) helps us understand visits, page popularity and how people move around public pages so we can improve the website. | Optional. Your analytics choice can be accepted, rejected or changed using Cookie Settings. |
| Third-party content | External videos, social-media embeds, application services or payment providers may use their own technologies when those services are loaded or opened. | Depends on the service and its purpose. Non-essential tracking needs the appropriate consent or legal exception. |
RFTUK may also review server-side access or error logs to maintain security and reliability. These are different from Google's optional browser-based analytics cookies.
3. Google Analytics 4 — what we have added
We use Google Analytics 4, provided by Google, to help us understand whether visitors can find the information they need. Depending on its configuration and your choices, GA4 may process information such as:
- which pages are viewed and how visitors navigate between them;
- general browser, device and operating-system information;
- approximate geographic area and the website or source that brought a visitor to RFTUK;
- general interaction events, such as clicking a link or scrolling.
GA4 uses identifiers to distinguish visits and sessions, and information may be processed by Google. We use it for website improvement, not to decide someone’s entitlement to support or to assess a private PCS case. Personal details entered into RFTUK forms, bank details and sensitive case information should not be sent to Google Analytics.
You can read Google's Privacy Policy and Google's explanation of GA4 cookies.
4. Common Google Analytics cookies
| Cookie name | Provider / purpose | Usual maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics 4 — distinguishes users for statistics. | Up to 2 years by Google's default. |
_ga_* | Google Analytics 4 — retains session-related state. The name includes an analytics identifier. | Up to 2 years by Google's default. |
| Essential session or preference storage | RFTUK — account security, forms and remembering choices. Specific names depend on the service. | Session or service-defined period, depending on the function. |
These are the standard GA4 cookie names and default durations, not a claim that every listed cookie is present on every RFTUK page. Browser restrictions and site configuration may shorten them. Exact essential-cookie names and durations should be checked against each live service.
5. Your choices: accept, reject or change
On the main RFTUK website, use the cookie choice shown to you and the Cookie Settings control in the footer to manage optional analytics. You can change your mind later. Rejecting optional analytics does not prevent you from reading our public information pages.
In your browser's settings, you can also inspect, delete or block cookies and clear site storage. Blocking essential session cookies may stop logins, forms or other requested features working properly.
We do not treat scrolling, silence or continued browsing as consent to optional analytics. Where consent is required, optional technology must not be activated until the visitor has made the required choice. If we use a legal exception instead, its specific conditions must be met, including a simple, free means of objecting where required.
Choices may need to be made separately on RFTUK subdomains or external providers if their cookie systems do not share settings.
6. Embedded videos, social media and external services
Some pages link to services such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or other external organisations. Clicking an ordinary link takes you to the other provider's website, where its own privacy and cookie policies apply. An embedded player or widget can use additional technologies directly on an RFTUK page.
We aim to avoid unnecessary third-party tracking before the relevant choice is made. If a new external service or payment provider is added, we will review its purpose and cookie requirements and update this policy as needed.
7. Keeping information and protecting privacy
We keep cookies and similar storage only for an appropriate period for their purpose. Essential session data is normally temporary; preference data may last longer to remember a decision. Google Analytics cookie defaults are explained above. The period for which Google retains collected analytics reports is different from the lifetime of browser cookies and is managed in the GA4 property settings.
Cookie rules are primarily covered by the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), as amended. Where personal information is processed, the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018 also apply. Changes made by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 allow some narrowly defined statistical uses without prior consent, but those exceptions are not automatic and require their own safeguards. We treat GA4 as optional under the website's analytics choice rather than assuming the exception applies to its entire configuration.
For more information about how personal data is handled and your rights, please read our Privacy Policy and policy library.
8. Questions and updates
If you have a question about cookies or would like to report a problem with your choice being respected, please use our contact page. You can also find independent guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office.
We will review this policy when our technology or privacy practices change. The review date at the top shows when the wording was last updated.