Terms and Conditions

Welcome

 

The Sonya Marie Academy of Dance was established in 2007 and is situated near the centre of Darlington. A variety of fun and inspiring dance classes are offered for girls and boys from the age of 2 1/2 years to adult. Classes can be taken for pleasure or to work towards graded examinations. The syllabus of the International Dance Teachers Association(IDTA) is followed for all exam work. Workshop classes are held throughout the year, and may include singing, drama and Cheer Leading. We aim to stage a production in a local theatre every 2 years . We are regularly invited to dance competitions throughout the region and take part in professional shows. Classes are taught by the principal, with the assistance of another qualified dance teacher.

 

Miss Sonya attended the M.T Laundy School of Dance in Darlington from the age of 3 where she was trained until age 16 in RAD ballet and the BDTA syllabus before going on to Pattison College of Dancing and Theatre Arts in Coventry and gaining her teaching qualifications. Subsequently she spent time performing throughout the country and has appeared in pantomime at Darlington’s Civic Theatre, the Sunderland Empire and Leamington Spa. After spending 2 years travelling, singing and dancing with a band, she commenced teaching in 2003 before setting up her own school in 2007

 

Aims

To introduce all forms of dance as a fun and enjoyable experience, whilst maintaining its traditional discipline. We want our pupils to build confidence and gain a sense of achievement through their learning as well as developing listening and group work skills. Above all we wish to develop in all of our pupils an awareness of one’s body and their surrounding space, co-ordination, strength, flexibility and fitness, grace, musicality and freedom of expression.

 

From time to time I will need to correct your child physically so they can feel where they should be, if you do not wish me to touch your child please let me know

 

Quality assurance

 

Myself and my teaching staff are trained and qualified in what they do, hold current DBS certificates and have first aid training

 

We adhere to the current GDPR laws, all details are held under password protection and will not be shared.

 

I would like to welcome you to our warm and friendly dance academy.  Should you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact me

 

Sonya Marie Academy of DanceBooking Policy

Class Bookings

Sonya Marie Academy of Dance does not provide drop-in classes for children and young people on all term time courses.  All courses must be booked in advance through Class Manager before beginning of each month

New students may join courses during the term subject to availability and authorisation of the Sonya Marie Academy of Dance management team.

If there are no spaces on a requested course when booking, then Sonya Marie Academy of Dance will aim to provide an alternative option where possible.

 

Waiting List

Members on the waiting list will be contacted in order of the list. If members are unavailable no message will be left. The next member will be contacted and the first to make contact will receive the place.

Priority Booking

A priority booking period for current students will take place for two weeks before general booking opens. Those wishing to continue should register during the priority booking period to secure their places in the next term’s courses. If any current students have not registered during this time, one attempt to make contact will be made to determine whether the student is continuing before offering the place to someone else.

 

Placement Priority on sessions

 

·       Current Students continuing in same sessions

·       Current students changing sessions and additional sessions

·       Siblings of current students

·       Waiting lists of new students

 

Where possible Sonya Marie Academy of Dance will aim to let people know of any changes in venue or class time at least one week ahead of schedule.

 

Payments

Full payment must be received in advance to confirm a place.

For all current students, sessions must be registered in advance. Payment can be made up until the last day of the previous term to guarantee the place. If payment for registered places is not received by this time and the Sonya Marie Academy of Dance principal hasn’t been contacted in advance, then the place will be offered to another student using the priority listed above.

Non-payments

Failure to make payment before term starts may result in no place being available. If this happens Sonya Marie Academy of Dance will make every attempt to offer an alternative course or arrangement.  If this is not possible then your name will be added to a waiting list.

 

 Cancellation

 If a booking is cancelled before the start of term a minimum of a week’s notice should be given.

 

Occasionally some courses may be cancelled due to circumstances beyond Sonya Marie Academy of Dance control. The administration team will endeavour to contact paid customers and will either offer an exchange for the session or, in rare cases of a cancellation, a full refund will be given.

 

Sonya Marie Academy of Dance reserves the right to cancel a course if there are fewer than five participants in a session and the above efforts will be made to place a student in an alternative class

If a single class does not take place due to circumstances beyond our control, Sonya Marie Academy of Dance will view this class as postponed and will reschedule.

 

Refunds

Sonya Marie Academy of Dance cannot offer a refund if you do not attend courses.

The first  class is considered a 'trial' class to new students If for any reason the course is not suitable, we must be notified before the second class and a refund for classes not attended will be given. Please note, no refund or reduction will be made after the second class has taken place, whether further classes have been attended or not.

No refund will be given on any holiday programme that Sonya Marie Academy of Dance delivers.

 

 LOCALISED LOCKDOWNS and PANDEMICS:

 

If Sonya Marie Academy of Dance cannot deliver classes due to force majeure or government directive, we shall implement online classes via video conferencing software as a replacement. No refunds will be offered.

 

If a child or household member is told to self-isolate by NHS Track and Trace (or equivalent service)

A)    This will be classed as missed sessions and as per the below, no refund will be made.

 

If the closure is over a long period, a retention fee will be applied for forthcoming terms  and online lessons will be available in all subjects

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This is part of your agreement when joining Sonya Marie Academy of Dance. Membership is open to all subject to the following conditions:

 

·       Sonya Marie Academy of Dance accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of personal belongings while on the premises.

·       Sonya Marie Academy of Dance accepts no liability for any injuries sustained whilst participating in a class or on the premises.

·       Sonya Marie Academy of Dance Staff must be notified of any changes to the information provided on the Booking Form.

 

Staff/teachers:

All staff, including cover teachers (who may be brought in at short notice), are qualified, experienced and DBS checked. Volunteer class assistants and trainees on placements are all DBS checked. There is always a first aider on site.

 

Supervision while on site: 

Students must ensure they always get full permission from staff prior to leaving class. Toilet breaks will be supervised by either a member of staff or class facilitator and students will always be supervised whilst on site.

 

Behaviour: 

Racist, sexist and other offensive language and behaviour is not tolerated, and we reserve the right to terminate membership without notice, the final decision being undertaken by the Board of Directors. Behaviour of staff, parents and students must always follow our code-of-conduct.

Please note that under no circumstances are pets allowed on school premises due to Health and Safety reasons.

 

Shows: 

Parents/carers will be invited to one class/performance per term. Parents/carers are not permitted to watch otherwise. (If a child is new or particularly unconfident, parents/carers may be allowed to sit in during the first ten minutes of one class at the Site Managers discretion). Sonya Marie Academy of Dance provides costumes and props for shows where possible, but parents may be asked to provide basic accessories and basic costume if required.

 

Emergency contact number: 

Sonya Marie Academy of Dance emergency mobile phone is kept with the Site Manager. The number will be given out upon registration and must only be used if there are problems regarding the collection of children.

 

Food: 

Chewing gum/ fizzy drinks are strictly forbidden on the premises. No food is to be eaten in dance studios. 


 

 

 

 

Uniform:

This is basic but essential and gives the students a sense of belonging, a sense of ritual and sense of dressing for something important – their class. Appropriate clothing as below is necessary for health and safety and child protection:

Students must not wear their school uniform to any class – Sonya Marie Academy of Dance is not a school and wearing the correct Sonya Marie Academy of Dance clothing gives a sense of belonging, allowing all to feel equal, healthy and safe.

·       All t-shirts, shoes and bags must be clearly labelled – lost property is donated to charity at the end of every term.

·       Strictly no jewellery – no earrings (earrings are very unsafe during physical activity).

·       Hair must be tied back from the face for all classes. Mainly a bun or hair band for shorter hair that can not be tied back

 

 

Attendance:

Children must arrive and be collected promptly. It is very important that children arrive in time for their classes, preferably 5 minutes before the start. This allows the group time to settle from the moment the class starts. Latecomers will have to wait outside until an appropriate time to join the class. Children arriving after 15 minutes may be refused admission, as this may disrupt the professional attitude to classes we aim to foster.

 

Where possible Sonya Marie Academy of Dance will aim to let people know of any changes in venue or class time at least one week ahead of schedule.

 

 

Absence: 

Any child missing for more than three classes per term without reason may not be able to join future courses. Class numbers are limited, and many have long waiting lists, so good attendance and commitment to the course is essential.

 

Child Collection:

Sonya Marie Academy of Dance TEACHER POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Teachers must ensure that each child has left a session with an adult or older child (agreed in advance with parent). It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to ensure the child is collected punctually at the end of the class or session. Should a parent/guardian not turn up to collect a child on time – this is the procedure to follow:

·       Inform Miss Sonya, Principal who will contact the parent/guardian.

·       If  Miss Sonya  is not available, contact the staff member on duty.

·       If the office is closed, ask the child to contact the parent/guardian immediately.

·       If the child cannot call the parent/guardian, contact the parent/guardian directly to arrange collection.

·       If the parent/carer is not reachable, and you must leave, the emergency procedure is as follows:

·       Leave a message with the parent and contact the entire Sonya Marie Academy of Dance Management Team with all the information. Wait until another member of the team can arrive.

·       If the parent/guardian is not reachable and there is no adult available, you must take the child to the nearest police station. Telephone 101. Inform the police of all contact details for the parent/guardian and notify the entire Sonya Marie Academy of Dance Management Team as above. Leave a message for the parent/guardian to say where the child will be.