Privacy Policy
Updated: May 25, 2026
ELA Alcove is owned and operated by Encourage Elementary Education Services, a sole proprietorship registered in San Jose, California, USA. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect about you, how we use it, how we keep it safe, and what choices you have. Please read it carefully before using the ELA Alcove website or purchasing resources from our store.
This Privacy Policy works together with our Terms and Conditions and Refund Policy. Please read those documents for more details about using our site, purchasing resources, and refunds.
We care about your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information.
1. Information we collect
We collect information in two main ways:
a) Information you give us
You may choose to share personal information with us when you:
Make a purchase in our store
Sign up for our newsletter or email list
Fill out a contact form
Create an account or profile (if available)
This information may include:
Name and contact details (such as your first and last name, email address, mailing address, city of residence, organization/school)
Order and billing details (such as billing address and payment-related information processed through our payment provider)
Any information you choose to include in messages or forms you send us
We use this information to:
Process and deliver your orders
Communicate with you about your purchases and account
Send newsletters or updates if you have subscribed
Respond to your questions and support requests
b) Information we collect automatically
When you visit the ELA Alcove website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and your use of the site. This may include:
Your IP address, browser type, and operating system
Time zone and basic device settings
Which pages you visit, how long you stay on them, and how you move through the site
Which websites or search terms brought you to our site
Some of the cookies installed on your device
We use this information to:
Keep our website secure and running properly
Understand how visitors use the site so we can improve it
Identify and prevent possible abuse or technical issues
This information is used in a way that is not meant to identify you personally on its own.
2. Cookies and similar technologies
Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to give you a better experience. A cookie is a small text file stored on your device by your web browser.
We use:
Essential cookies that are necessary for the website to work properly (for example, to remember items in your shopping cart). These do not require your consent.
Optional/marketing and analytics cookies that help us understand how visitors use the site and, in some cases, show relevant content or offers.
You can choose to accept or decline optional cookies through your browser settings or any cookie banner or settings provided on the site. If you disable certain cookies, some parts of the website may not work as intended.
For more details, including how cookies are used and how you can control them, please see our Terms and Conditions and any cookies section described there, as well as this Privacy Policy.
3. How and why we use your information
We use your personal information only when we have a valid reason to do so, such as:
To provide services you request (for example, to fulfill and deliver your orders, manage your account, or send you resources you purchased)
To communicate with you (for example, to respond to questions, send purchase confirmations, or share updates if you’ve subscribed)
To improve our website and resources (for example, by analyzing how visitors use the site)
To protect our website and business (for example, to detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or security issues)
To comply with legal obligations, such as record keeping and responding to lawful requests
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, we typically process your information:
To fulfill a contract with you (such as when you make an order)
To pursue our legitimate business interests (such as improving our site and communicating with you), where these interests are not overridden by your rights
With your consent, when required by law (for example, certain types of marketing)
Your information may be transferred and stored outside of Europe, including in Canada and the United States.
4. Sharing your information with third parties
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share your information with trusted service providers who help us run our website and business. These may include:
Payment processors that handle your payment information securely
Email service providers who help us send newsletters and transactional emails
Website hosting and maintenance providers
Analytics and performance tools that help us understand how the site is used
These service providers are only allowed to use your information to provide services to us and must protect it appropriately.
We may also share information if we are required to do so by law or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to:
Comply with a legal obligation, court order, or government request
Protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our users or others
Investigate or prevent possible wrongdoing, such as fraud or security issues
5. How long we keep your information
We keep your personal information only for as long as necessary to:
Provide the services and resources you have requested or purchased
Maintain accurate business and financial records
Meet legal, accounting, or reporting requirements
When we no longer need your information for these purposes, we will delete it or anonymize it, unless a longer retention period is required or allowed by law.
6. Information security
We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, modification, or disclosure. For example, we store information on secure servers and limit access to people who need it to run the website and our business.
However, no method of transmitting or storing data over the internet is completely secure. While we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Your rights and choices
Depending on where you live, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information.
If you are a European resident (EEA or UK), you have the right to:
Be informed about how we use your data
Access the personal data we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data
Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
Restrict or object to the processing of your data in certain circumstances
Request that we transfer your data to another organization (data portability)
Object to certain types of automated decision-making or profiling (if we use them)
If you would like to exercise any of these rights, or if you have questions about your rights, please contact us using the details at the end of this Policy.
If you live outside Europe, you may still contact us to:
Ask what personal information we hold about you
Request that we update or correct your information
Request that we delete your information where possible
We will handle your request in line with applicable laws.
We aim to respond to privacy-related questions or requests within 10–15 business days.
8. Links to other websites
Our website may contain links to other websites that are not owned or controlled by us. This Privacy Policy applies only to ELA Alcove.
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites or third parties. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any other websites you visit that may collect personal information.
9. Legal disclosure
We may disclose information we collect, use, or receive if required or permitted by law, such as to:
Comply with a subpoena, court order, or similar legal process
Protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others
Investigate fraud or other potential wrongdoing
Respond to a government or regulatory request
10. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational reasons.
When we make changes, we will post the updated Policy on this page with a new “Last updated” date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
11. Contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your rights, or have concerns about how your personal information is handled, you can contact us at:
Email: beth@encourageeducation.net
We aim to respond within 10–15 business days.