Terms & Conditions
Attendance
If a student is absent they will miss vital teaching and training. Frequent absences will likely result in the child not being ready or able to take exams or compete in competitions.
If you are unable to attend class for any reason please inform Miss Judith via email to judithkeyesdance@gmail.com or text to +44 7359 769259
Frequent absences may result in termination of your child's place.
Illness & Injury
Please let me know if your child will be absent for any reason.
Please report any illnesses or injuries to the ballet teacher before class. If your child is suffering from any illnesses that are contagious please keep them at home for 48 hours after the last symptoms until they are well again.
If your son/daughter has asthma and/or allergies and carries medication this must be brought with them into the dance studio. They do not need permission from their dancing teacher to administer their medication as required. It is up to the parent/guardian to teach the child how to self-medicate in the class environment as and when they need it.
The school will not be liable for any injury caused due to a parent/guardian by omitting relevant medical information.
Punctuality
It is with regret that dancers who are late for their session will not be permitted to class. The doors stay open five minutes after the session start time, after which point they are locked and there is no admittance to class.
Parents are responsible for collecting their children on time. The teacher cannot be responsible for children who are picked up late. The teacher will make contact by way of a telephone call if you do not arrive to collect your child.
Termination of Place
Judith Keyes School of Dance reserves the right to terminate a place in the event of:
- Unpaid fees
- If a parent/guardian does not adhere to the General Regulations or the Uniform Code
- Poor class attendance
- If staff or other students are treated in a disrespectful / abusive manner by a parent/guardian
- If a student's behaviour is disruptive or harmful to other students or staff
- · If the student fails to adjust to school/class etiquette and discipline
- . If a parent/guardian behaves in a manner that brings the school into disrepute or disrespects their teacher at a festival / event / examination.
Withdrawal from School
Judith Keyes School of Dance requires that three weeks notice (not including the Easter, Summer or Christmas holidays) is given in writing, or via email: judithkeyesdance@gmail.com when withdrawing from the school. This allows us to determine numbers for each class in the following term, as well as organising advanced studio bookings.
Failure to give the required written notice will result in receiving an invoice for the amount due, as well as any late fees incurred, whether the student(s) attend or not.
No refunds will be issued for withdrawing from the school.
Health & Safety Rules
Judith Keyes School of Dance accepts no responsibility for any incidents that happen outside the dance studio.
Parents must take responsibility for child’s safety, behaviour and well-being before and after their class.
Parents must ensure that their child holds onto the handrail when going up and down the stairs. Children must walk up and down to the inside wall.
Children and students are the responsibility of Judith Keyes School of Ballet teachers when in the studio, during class time only.
The studio is not a play area, and children should not run around it or play on the barre.
All breakages/damage due to behaviour out of line with school policy must be paid for.
The school will not accept any liability for injury / damage caused due to correct footwear not being worn to class.
Drinking breaks are at the discretion of the teacher. No juice is permitted, water only please.
Food or chewing gum is not permitted in the studio.
No toys must be brought into the class due to hygiene reasons surrounding the ongoing situation.
'Hands-on Teaching' is an important and necessary part of dance training.
Terms & Conditions of Fees
Fees are due in full in advance of the first class of each term by the required stated date. If no payment has been made by this date it will be assumed that you no longer require the place and it will be allocated to a child on the waiting list.
Pupils will not be permitted to participate in classes until fees are paid in full. At which point an extra administration charge of £10 will be added for late payment. Siblings will lose their sibling discount if paying late.
It is the responsibility of parents/carers/participants to contact 'Judith Keyes School of Dance' if they are experiencing email problems, or if their email address requires updating.
Missed classes must be paid for. This includes missed classes due to illness.
Class fees are for weekly lessons only, and are not inclusive of class awards, examinations, performances, competitions or other related activities.
Fees are non-transferable and non-refundable, regardless of reason.
COVID-19: in the event where classes need to pause due to the COVID-19 or another significant and uncontrollable event, the dance school will continue lessons on a digital basis via Zoom. It is at the discretion of the parent to continue digitally or to pause their child's membership. There will be no refunds given, a class credit to be used towards lessons only once face-to-face classes may resume. Parents may only make this choice from the point at wish the school officially decides to close, and not beforehand due to your own personal decision.
Fees will not be refunded in the event of a cancelled class or venue change.On the very rare occasion that a class is cancelled it will be rescheduled. If it is not possible for Miss Judith to reschedule or offer an alternative for a particular class within the term, fees will be subtracted from the forthcoming term fees. Fees will not be refunded in the event of a cancelled class. If the child no longer wishes to continue classes they can attend the next term for the number of classes they are owed... these classes must be taken in succession.
Occasionally due to circumstances outside of our control it may be necessary to change the venue, date or time of a class. Where the occurs Judith Keyes School of Dance will notify parents/guardians as soon as possible by email, telephone or word of month. Fees will not be refunded or subtracted from forthcoming term fees in this instance.
Where a member of teaching faculty is not available to teach their class, a guest teacher may be placed in lieu of said teacher.
Photography
Photography of any nature (static or moving) is not permitted to be taken in classes by anyone other than teaching staff.
Judith Keyes School of Dance does not publish or post any images (static or moving) of children under the age of 18, across any of its online channels without prior written consent.
Festivals & Exams
Children will only be entered for these if they are ready. This is a decision on a case by case basis on individual merit and standard... not based on what the child's friends or peers are ready for.
Children may only enter open festivals with a school dress.
Excellent class and rehearsal attendance is expected for those performing, and exclusion may be required, if good class attendance is not maintained.
Parents and pupils are expected to adhere to the guidelines set out relating to rehearsals, class attendance, uniform/hair/costume requirements, and parental assistance, fundraising, and performance costs.
Examinations sessions and entries are made at the discretion of the school principal at appropriate times during the academic year.
Students will only be entered for A.B.D. Examinations when they have reached the appropriate stage of their training, and are physically and cognitively prepared to do so. This is at the discretion of the Principal.
Students wishing to take exams will be required to attend all regular classes plus 1 extra coaching lesson per week (usually 5 weeks before) and to practice at home at least once a week.
Pupils are assessed entirely on an individual basis. Every pupil has the option not to enter for examinations, but encouraged to do so for progression purposes. If a child does not want to take part in the examination, the child will not be automatically permitted to move into the next level. This is at the Principal’s discretion.
Communication
In order to avoid wasting class time, parents/guardians should email judithkeyesdance@gmail.com with any queries, and avoid entering the studio to chat with the teacher where possible.
If you have any questions/queries please do not hesitate to contact us. There will be no response to social media messages, texts or emails during class time.
Lost Property
Judith Keyes School of Dance regrets that we cannot be held responsible if items go missing.
Found items will be held for 4 weeks, after this point they will be passed to a local charity shop.
Safe Teaching Practice
All Judith Keyes School of Dance teachers are trained to a high standard.
Teachers participate in mandatory Continual Professional Development, therefore keeping up to date with any changes in A.B.D. syllabus, examinations, and teaching strategies or similar.
All teachers hold relevant ACCESS NI clearance , insurance and where possible a First Aid Certified.
On occasions it may be necessary for a teacher to touch a child in a professional manner in order to assist the child’s understanding of a specific movement, or exercise.
Child Protection Policy
The Purpose of this Policy:
To provide protection to all children and young people who attend our classes.
To provide information to any staff or volunteers within our school, as to procedures that may be taken in the event of a child or young person experiencing bullying or reporting a case of child abuse.
Judith Keyes School of Dance aims to:
Provide a safe and happy environment for learning.
Treat our pupils as individuals, and with the respect they deserve.
Value them, and listen to any concerns they may have.
Respond to any worries expressed by a child or young person, and alert the correct persons or authorities if necessary.
Encourage all pupils to be kind and respectful to one another.
Ensure all teaching staff are suitably ACCESS NI checked, and insured