School Policies

• Attendance

Please ensure you attend all classes where possible. Poor attendance not only hinders your child’s progress, but also the rest of the class, as we have to repeat the things that your child would have missed. Please inform your teacher prior to the lesson if you know you will be unable to attend. In the case that any student decides not to continue with their dance lessons, please ensure you let me know so that I can offer the place to those on the waiting list.

• Punctuality

Please ensure your child is completely ready and waiting before their class is due to start. Similarly, please ensure whoever is picking the child up is ready and waiting before the lesson is due to finish; late pick up affects the start of the next class so please don’t be late. In the interest of your child’s safety, if someone else is picking up your child then please inform the teacher.

• Uniform

We have a set uniform which must be adhered to. Uniform can be bought through the school which means you know you are getting the correct things. Uniform can also be bought from any dance shop/website as long as they stock the correct regulation uniform. High street stores and supermarkets do not sell the correct uniform so please do not buy it from there; you will only have to spend more money on replacing the incorrect uniform. All uniform should be well fitted to allow us to see clearly what the body is doing so we can help your child to use their muscles correctly. For safety reasons, dance shoes should be a good fit. Shoes that are too big pose a hazard for your child, and shoes that are too small are bad for the feet. For ballet, girls must either wear ballet socks or ballet tights, not ordinary ones. A list of uniform and images can be found on our website.

• Hair

Hair is to be neatly worn up for all classes with no loose hair around the face. Please use hair grips or a hair band to ensure no hair is in front of their face. If their fringe is so long it reaches their eyes then grips or a hair band must be used. For ballet a bun is preferred as their turns are affected by having hair whipping them in the face.

• Exams

Exams are not essential but it can be very rewarding for your child; it gives them a purpose and a goal, and they can feel a great sense of achievement when they pass. Taking ballet exams from grade 1 upwards requires a commitment of taking 2 lessons each week throughout the term of the exam. If you are not prepared to do this then please do not agree to your child taking an exam.

• Practice at home

Just like with school, musical instruments classes, and other such activities, extra practice at home between lessons is needed especially if your child is taking an exam. Practice at home means they will remember things better so we can then focus on improving their strength, technique, and performance to help them achieve their best. Regularly stretching at home is also needed.

• Personal property

Dance Fusion and its teachers are not responsible for personal property. Please ensure that any uniform or items brought to the class are clearly named so that they are not mixed up with other students’, or if lost they can be easily identified. This is especially important for warm up clothes, such as the ballet cardigans.

• Payments

Tuition fees are invoiced at the start of each term and should be paid by the half term holiday. If this is not possible please speak to Heather so that payment options can be arranged. Uniform should be paid for in advance of receiving the items. Exam fees must be paid for in advance or your child will not be entered for the exam. The preferred method of payment is by bank transfer as it is easier to keep track of who has paid. Payments can now be made by card. Cash is also accepted but must be provided in an envelope with the student’s name on, how much is in the envelope, and what the payment is for. If fees are unpaid, your child will not be admitted into the class until payment has been made. Any unpaid fees will be pursued.

• Cancelled lessons

It is very rare for lessons to be cancelled but in the event that this happens, you will be notified by email, text, or called, and it will be announced on our social media. Please ensure that you keep us updated with any change in contact numbers or email. If lessons are cancelled then we will try to rearrange them for another time or you will be refunded on the next invoice. No refunds will be issued for classes you do not attend unless that class has been cancelled by us. If we have to close and classes are offered online as a substitute, then no refund will be given as the class is still available.

• Injury

At Dance Fusion we take every step to ensure our students are safe while in our care, however, as with any physical activity injuries can occur. All our teachers are first aid trained and will carry out any assistance needed. If an injury occurs during class the teacher will inform the parent/guardian.

• Child safety

At Dance Fusion we take the safety and wellbeing of our students seriously. All teachers and guest teachers are selected as being suitably qualified to teach dance, and have an enhanced DBS. School teachers and volunteers will use their best endeavours in co-operation with parents and other responsible adults to ensure a safe and secure environment at all times. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately, and all staff and volunteers at the school have a responsibility to report concerns to the Safeguarding officer, Heather.

• Data protection

Any information collected by Dance Fusion and its teachers will remain confidential. The information provided on enrolment forms will be securely stored at home. This information will also be copied onto a database on an external hard drive where the information will be protected. When you no longer attend classes with us we will delete your information, except where we legally must keep it for reasons such as safe guarding and accounting purposes. No information will be passed on to third parties, except for when you have given permission for your child to be entered for an exam, to teachers so they have appropriate knowledge of the students attending their class, to our admin software providers, Membermeister, and to NHS Test and Trace. All data shared is protected and not passed on to any other third parties.

• Media rights

We would like to take photos/videos to use for advertising and to share on Dance Fusion social media. Your permission for this can be granted on the enrolment form. There is also the option to grant permission for your child to be photographed and videoed by professionals solely for the use in producing photos and DVD’s that you can purchase.

• Behaviour

At Dance Fusion we pride ourselves on being professional and respectful towards our students and their parents/guardians and we expect to be treated in the same way. Rude, disrespectful, or aggressive behaviour will not be tolerated from students or parents/guardians. If this behaviour occurs it could result in dismissal from the school.