Terms and Conditions

Please take a look at our terms and conditions, cookies and privacy policy as well as our child safeguarding policy. It is important to read through this document as it contains information for your time with us at The Chelmsford Drama Centre. When you or your child sign up to classes at The Chelmsford Drama Centre, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions detailed below.

Please note that when you fill in our online form, you will be added to our mailing list, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.

Cookies Policy

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Other cookies may be stored to your computers hard drive by external vendors when this website uses referral programs, sponsored links or adverts. Such cookies are used for conversion and referral tracking and typically expire after 30 days, though some may take longer. No personal information is stored, saved or collected.

 

Terms and conditions – updated 21st October 2022

This is an agreement which sets out the terms and conditions that will govern the relationship

between us, The Chelmsford Drama Centre and you the Parent/Guardian. It is a legally binding

agreement. Please read carefully as these rules enable us at The Chelmsford Drama Centre to

maintain high standards and the safety of our students and staff.

 

• A trial and any discount is only offered at the discretion of the Director of The

Chelmsford Drama Centre.

• The Chelmsford Drama Centre has the right to remove any student from class if the student

is putting the health and safety of other students or staff at risk. We reserve the right in this

instance, to permanently exclude students.

• We also will not tolerate rudeness, bullying, abuse or inappropriate behaviour from

students, parents or guests. Such actions will result in exclusion from The Chelmsford Drama

Centre.

• Excluded students will still be liable to pay the full term fees

 

• Term fees are to be paid monthly or in full, the date to be determined by the Director.

Failure to pay fees by the date stated may result in another student being offered your

child’s place. Any fees outstanding after attempts at communication have failed, will be legally pursued.

Late fee payments will be charged at £5 per week and will be added to your term invoice.

Students must purchase a CDC t-shirt as all students attending CDC clubs are required to wear them - as of June 2023.

 

• If your child is unable to attend class, you must let us know as soon as possible. Missed classes will not be reimbursed. In the

unlikely event of The Chelmsford Drama Centre cancelling classes, we will endeavour to

reschedule. Reimbursing in this instance is at the discretion of the Director.

 

• Please arrive on time for lessons. Lateness will not be tolerated and consistent lateness will be escalated to the Director of The Chelmsford Drama Centre.

 

• After registration, it is important all parents leave their child with the teachers at The

Chelmsford Drama Centre, no parents are permitted to sit in or attend lessons. 

• If students are consistently absent we have the right to issue a warning and escalate, if this continues The Chelmsford Drama Centre has the right to ask students to leave The Chelmsford Drama Centre as we need commitment from all students for the wellbeing of their fellow classmates. If students are asked to leave, no refund will be issued.

 

• All students will be supervised at all times at The Chelmsford Drama Centre, however

deliberate damage or destroying of property by students will result in an invoice for the

repair being issued.

 

• The Chelmsford Drama Centre reserves the right to use any individual or group photographs

or films of your child for press or promotional purposes. If you are unhappy with this, you must

specify on sign up.

 

• We reserve the right to make changes to these rules and will communicate any changes to

you at the address or email specified. Proof of sending such notice shall be sufficient

evidence of receipt.

 

• Half a term's notice period is required if you or your child wishes to leave The Chelmsford Drama

Centre. This must be submitted in writing or email. Refunds will not be issued if the remaining time is less than or equal to the notice period. You will be required to pay for the remaining dates for the half a term's notice. Failure to do this will result in legal action.

 

• All confirmed LAMDA exams must be paid for in full by you. Absence from an exam will never result in a refund. After you or your child has been submitted for the exam - no refund can be issued in any circumstance unfortunately (unless LAMDA cancel). This is LAMDA policy. An admin fee will also be charged.
• Failure to pay any outstanding amount due for LAMDA examinations will result in legal measures to recover the fees.
• All child classes will be charged £13.50 on first registration
• Uniform is a Chelmsford Drama Centre t-shirt. Hoodies are optional. These can be ordered here: T-shirts and Hoodies
• All adult classes will be charged for a trial class.
• Any complaints must be brought to our attention immediately, so we can work with you to rectify any issues. Any attempt to maliciously damage the company reputation without working with us first will be legally pursued.

Covid-19 policy

All classes will be delivered in a covid secure environment, following government guidelines. In the event that we go back into lockdown, lessons will resume online via Zoom. Refunds will not be issued in this instance.

Sudden change in national / global circumstance policy - updated 2nd March 2022

If a sudden change in the global or national circumstance, such as outbreak of war / natural disaster (including but not limited to hurricane, flood, earthquake) The Chelmsford Drama Centre reserves the right to not issue refunds due to missed lessons and will endeavour to provide alternative lessons if at all possible.  

 

 

 

SAFEGUARDING POLICY - updated 2nd March 2022

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY

for

The Chelmsford Drama Centre

1 Introduction

1 The Chelmsford Drama Centre is a for-profit organisation run by:

Leanne Johnson

2 The Chelmsford Drama Centre is based at:

Chelmsford Essex.

3 The Chelmsford Drama Centre is managed by a management team (the Team). One of the management team has particular responsibility for safeguarding children.

4 The Team has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at The Chelmsford Drama Centre to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of The Chelmsford Drama Centre.

2 Purpose of the Policy

1 This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us.

2 As an organisation we believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people and this policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

3 The risks to children

Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are situations where children need protection including:

• • Sexual abuse

  

• • Grooming

  

• • Physical and emotional abuse and neglect

  

• • Domestic violence

  

• • Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers

  

• • Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our schools and campuses

  

• • Victimisation

  

• • Self-harm

  

• • Unsafe environments and activities

  

• • Crime

  

• • Exploitation

  

4 Universality of Protection

We recognise that:

• • the welfare of the child is paramount

  

• • all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm.

  

• • some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency.

  

• • working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing.

  

5 Safeguarding children at events / activities

1 There are three kinds of events/activities:

1.1 those open to adults and children of all ages,

1.2 those for children accompanied by a 'parent',

1.3 those for unaccompanied children, which are sometimes run alongside other events/activities.

2 At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child but also takes the child home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

3 At events and activities for children accompanied by a 'parent', children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes the child home again afterwards. If a lone adult brings more than one child, then the children will have to stay together, so that the one adult can supervise them. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

4 At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child's name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child's parents, plus the parents' mobile telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

5 Both event and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions where The Chelmsford Drama Centre will be providing a service.

6 Disclosure and barring

1 The Chelmsford Drama Centre offers the following activities for children:

 

LAMDA examination classes
Drama classes
Holiday workshops
Theatrical Performances

2 Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people's children.

3 The Team will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of The Chelmsford Drama Centre. A member of The Chelmsford Drama Centre who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following:

Leanne Johnson

4 The Team will review the allegation and the likely risk to children and, if appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of The Chelmsford Drama Centre.

7 Health and safety aspects of safeguarding children

1 Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the Team will carry out a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety. Parents and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps to be taken to minimise those risks. The Team will keep a record of all risk assessments.

2 Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the children not directly affected by the emergency.

8 Online streaming and lesson delivery via Zoom / Skype or other hosting applications.

It is imperative that all students attending lessons streamed online ensure the following:

1. An adult is present in the house when they are taking part in lessons
2. They are appropriately dressed, as all teachers will be
3. They do not record the lessons and use footage of teachers or any other students
4. Students and teachers take lessons with a neutral background, including no inappropriate images
5. The Chelmsford Drama Centre will not record any of these lessons for safeguarding protection
6. Parents must accept the terms set out
7. All parents will be sent a link to online lessons which will be forwarded onto students by them. By forwarding this link and clicking to join the class, you are agreeing you are happy for your child to take part in online lessons

9 Policy on the prevention of bullying

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a The Chelmsford Drama Centre event, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. The Team will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Team will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of The Chelmsford Drama Centre. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with under paragraph 6.3 above.

10 Photographing children

No photos will be taken or published of any child attending an event or activity unless prior written permission is sought from a person with parental responsibility. If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an event or activity, that person should contact The Chelmsford Drama Centre immediately.

11 Managing behaviour, discipline and acceptable restraint

1 Adults supervising children at The Chelmsford Drama Centre events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only.

2 Unacceptable behaviour at The Chelmsford Drama Centre events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The miscreants will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to the care of their parents.

3 The Chelmsford Drama Centre may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months. Any such sanction would be determined and applied by the following officer:

Leanne Johnson

4 A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to The Chelmsford Drama Centre who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of The Chelmsford Drama Centre is then final. Any such appeals should be made to, and will be determined by the following officer:

Leanne Johnson12 Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up in accordance with the following:

• • Children Act 1989

  

• • United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991

  

• • General Data Protection Regulation

  

• • Human Rights Act 1998

  

• • Sexual Offences Act 2003

  

• • Children Act 2004

  

• • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

  

• • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

  

• • Children and Families Act 2014

  

• • Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice - Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014

  

• • Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services

  

• • Working together to safeguard children (2017)

  

NOTE: This Policy was approved by the following officer on 15TH JULY 2022 and is due for review every 2 years:

Leanne Johnson

 

This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.

A direct link to The Chelmsford Drama Centre's Terms and Conditions can be found here. The CDC Terms and Conditions