Updated: Monday January 5, 2026 7.02pm
(This policy replaces the previous version dated 17 May 2020, 1:38am)
1. What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files that are placed on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function properly, improve user experience, and provide information about how the site is used.
Some cookies are strictly necessary for the website to operate. Others are optional and are only used if you give your consent.
2. How we use cookies
Essential School of Painting uses cookies to:
- Ensure the website functions correctly and securely
- Remember your preferences and choices
- Understand how visitors use the website, so we can improve it
- Support secure payments and form submissions
We do not use cookies for advertising purposes, and we do not sell personal data.
3. Types of cookies we use
a) Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are essential for the website to function and cannot be switched off. They enable core features such as security, page navigation, and access to forms or secure areas of the site.
Because these cookies are necessary to provide the service you request, they do not require consent.
Examples include:
- Security and fraud prevention
- Session management
- Load balancing
b) Analytics cookies (optional)
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use our website, such as which pages are visited and how users move around the site. This information helps us improve the website’s content and performance.
Where enabled, we use Google Analytics 4 (GA4) to collect information such as:
- Pages visited
- Time spent on the site
- How visitors arrive at the website
- General interaction patterns
This information is collected in an aggregated form and is not used to identify you personally.
Analytics cookies are only set if you give your explicit consent via the cookie banner or cookie settings.
Google acts as a data processor for this information. You can read more about how Google handles data here:
https://policies.google.com/privacy
c) Functional cookies (optional)
Functional cookies allow the website to remember choices you make, such as preferences or settings, to provide a more consistent and personalised experience.
These cookies are optional and are only set if you give consent.
d) Third-party cookies (optional)
Some services or content on our website are provided by trusted third parties. These may include analytics services, embedded media, or payment providers.
Third-party cookies are only set after you have given consent, unless they are strictly necessary to provide a service you have specifically requested.
4. Payments and PayPal cookies
If you choose to make a payment or booking via PayPal, PayPal may set cookies that are strictly necessary to complete the transaction securely.
These cookies are required to deliver the service you have requested and do not require separate consent. We do not control PayPal’s cookies directly. Further information is available in PayPal’s own privacy documentation.
5. Embedded content
Some pages on our website may include embedded content from third-party platforms, such as video or social media services.
These services may set cookies when you interact with the embedded content. Such cookies are only set after you have given consent, unless the content is required to provide a service you have requested.
6. Cookie consent
When you first visit our website, you will see a cookie banner that allows you to:
- Accept all cookies
- Reject non-essential cookies
- Choose your cookie preferences in detail
Non-essential cookies are not set unless you actively choose to allow them.
You are not required to accept optional cookies in order to use the website.
7. Changing or withdrawing your consent
You can change or withdraw your cookie preferences at any time by using the Cookie Settings link, available via the website footer or cookie banner.
If you withdraw consent, non-essential cookies will no longer be used.
8. Cookie duration
Cookies may be:
- Session cookies, which are deleted when you close your browser
- Persistent cookies, which remain on your device for a set period or until deleted
Specific cookie durations depend on their purpose and provider. Where applicable, details are available through the cookie settings panel.
9. Managing cookies through your browser
You can also manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to:
- View cookies stored on your device
- Delete cookies
- Block cookies from specific websites
- Block all cookies
Please note that blocking strictly necessary cookies may affect how the website functions.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this Cookies Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology, or how we operate the website.
Any updates will be published on this page, with the revision date clearly stated.
11. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Cookies Policy or how we use cookies, please get in touch via our contact page below