Hello from the Holiday Team!
Whilst we try to keep our terms and conditions as brief as possible, because we are working with children, as well as adults, we are naturally obligated to many rules, regulations and legislation including Ofsted, the Local Authority, the DfE and PHE. We take our responsibilities very seriously and, in that regard, we aim to be clear with our families about the frameworks within which we operate. Your acceptance of our terms is initiated at this registration stage and this agreement naturally has legal implications. Therefore, please take the time to fully read the following terms and conditions, as it will help us provide and maintain the highest standards of education, pastoral care, health and safety.
General Terms and Conditions
REGISTRATION
The online registration form should be filled in to apply for your child’s place as a member of holiday provision. This form should be submitted online. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Payment should be made upon the submission of this form via the credit card payment system or in advance via your Childcare Voucher provider scheme. Details of these scheme payments are below. After booking, you have 14 days to decide to cancel your place. After this 14 day period, cancellation incurs a 30% charge.
FRIENDS REQUESTS
A request can be made prior to the start of camp for children of the same age. We work really hard to accommodate these where practically possible, but please bear in mind it isn’t always possible. We’re unable to guarantee friend requests as we must ensure we fulfil staff-child ratios, plus camps are all about making summer memories and new friendships.
PAYMENT
The whole cost of the camp is taken by credit or debit card at the time of booking. If you wish to pay by childcare voucher scheme, please get in touch prior to booking your place.
WAITING LISTS
We operate on a strictly first come first served basis. If the camp you require is fully booked, you will be placed on a waiting list and in the event of any cancellations, or changes in numbers, we will attempt to contact you and book your child on to the camp. If there is enough interest occasionally we do staff for and release more spaces, so it’s worth registering.
COMMUNICATION METHODS
Due to the immediacy of sharing information with our families, we often share glimpses of our training classes on Facebook and Instagram, with parental permission. If you are not using these sites, we urge you to set up an account, and follow the school on Facebook, as this is the fastest and most accessible way we have to share information on our days, and quick parent events/ updates/ reminders. We do operate an e-mailing list, which we use for more formal communications, and regular newsletters, so please ensure your email is kept up to date. Memos regarding holiday provision may end up in your spam box to start with so it’s worth keeping an eye in there!
LEAVING UNACCOMPANIED
We require written parental consent for children under the age of 16 to leave class unaccompanied.
CODE OF CONDUCT
All teaching and pastoral care staff work so hard to ensure that all students are training, learning and developing in a safe and comfortable environment. In order to achieve this please take note of the following guidelines. Being part of our Holiday provision at ACTAcademy or Performatots means joining a family. We pride ourselves in being inclusive, welcoming and professional. We endeavour to provide an atmosphere and culture that encourages community and promotes the arts. We expect students and families to support each other. We do not discriminate on background, ability, race or religion and regularly trains and monitors staff to maintain school teaching policies.
Aggressive, abusive or anti-social behaviour is not tolerated from any members of ACTAcademy in any part of the premises or at any time, whether toward staff, visitors or peers. ACTAcademy Stage School is only one part of the wider organisation and therefore we ask that you remember that the headquarters is a workplace for many different people. All customer incidents will be reported and investigated accordingly. We encourage all students to be at class in good time to make the most of the sessions. Students should arrive wearing appropriate clothing and trainers which includes no jewellery. Regular attendance is important for student development.
We will not accept any responsibility for any loss or damage to property left on the premises at either training venues or performance venues. Parents, guardians and students have a responsibility to notify the teacher of any injuries before the start of the class.
At ACTAcademy and Performatots, we are committed to seeing students develop and grow in a supportive and friendly environment. We will always do as much as we can to help your child, occasionally we will make decisions in class or on castings for example, that as parents, or students, you may not always agree with. Whilst we are open to discussion, please bear in mind that we are always trying to do what we think and see, as professional coaches, is best for your child and we ask you to trust and respect our judgements, corrections, directions and teachings are in the best interests of your child’s development overall.
Teachers will always treat pupils and parents in the stage school with care and respect. In return we ask that if you would like to discuss anything further, to approach the workshop Director or Choreographer at a suitable time after class in a calm and respectful manner. Our staff will always do the same for you.
If you have any complaints or grievances about your child’s class, in the first instance, please speak to the teacher after the class. If you would prefer to speak to someone else you may contact info@actacademy.co.uk or the school office via telephone or follow our complaints policy and procedure.
For more information on our Child Protection Policy, Privacy Policy, Health & Safety Guidelines and Policy on the use of electronic devices and mobile phones in classes please request a copy of the relevant policies.
SICKNESS AND ILLNESS
Any child who has or develops an infectious illness must be kept at home. This includes signs of early infection such as lethargy or temperature, rash or sore throat/respiratory infection (runny nose, dry or chesty cough etc) We respectfully ask that you DO NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD CALPOL AND BRING THEM IN to Stage School. This is absolutely essential to limit the spread of any illness within the classes, a temperature is one of the body’s first responses to infection or illness.
Please note that fees are payable at the normal rate during any sickness period.
You are required to be contactable whilst your child is at ACTAcademy. In the event of the need for you to pick up your child who is showing signs of illness, we need you to be able to do this within 30 minutes MAXIMUM. If you are unable to ensure this is the case, please make sure your alternative emergency contact is available, or arrange for another friend or family member to come and collect. As per our policy, we have to remove ill children from their classroom immediately and this requires 1 to 2 teachers to be just with your child in the school office, whilst we wait for you to collect them. Quite often, ill children are distressed and do need to be at home as soon as possible resting. If you do not collect your child within 30 minutes maximum of being informed they are ill, and/or we cannot make contact with you or your emergency contacts, we will make a charge of £35 per additional ½ hour or part thereof and will follow our Uncollected Child Policy.
FORCE MAJEURE
In cases of disruption to service, ACTAcademy and Performatots will do everything in its power to operate our normal services, where it is safe to do so. However, severe disruptions may require the closure of the stage school and/or result in a diversification or reduction in service. In such cases, fees remain payable during any period of closure outside of our control. Examples of force majeure include but are not limited to extreme weather (including snow/ice) other acts of God, pandemic, or third parties outside of the school’s control including disruptions to highways, public transport, utilities and industrial action.
PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS
Upon registering, parents/guardians are asked to opt in or opt out of photographic consent for their child. Parents will be given this option on the online registration form. Photos or videos may be taken by ACTAcademy and Performatots staff for the purpose of shows, exams, during classes, performances, workshops and rehearsals for purposes such as training or sharing our work. If you have given consent for your child to be in photos taken by ACTAcademy we reserve the right for these photos or videos to be used on the website, Facebook or for advertising purposes.
INFORMATION SHARING
There may be circumstances where information is shared with other professionals or agencies without your consent, in the interests of safeguarding and child protection. We do not share information with any other companies for any other purpose.
DATA PROTECTION
The company holds information about our customers to enable us to carry out our business, classes and training. This information includes the contact details you supply to us. Please ensure all contact details for your child are correct and up to date. All details will be help in strict confidentiality (Data Protection Act 1998) and will not be passed on to outside parties.
CHANGES TO INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS FORM
It is the responsibility of the parent/guardians to keep this form updated with any changes to the information given here. Please ensure you let the school office know of any changes to anything detailed in this registration form, especially relating to your contact details or child’s allergies/ medical information.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
To give the very best experience, we have a number of policies in place regarding the safety and welfare of the children in our care. If you want to view the school policies, please just ask in reception.
We would love for all families to read our policies and procedures. This enables parents and carers to understand our expectations and operating procedures when your child is in our care. Policies include but are not limited to; health and safety, child protection, use of mobile phones, our cancellation policy, data protection policy and administering medicines policy.