Terms and Conditions

This is part of your agreement when joining Unite Stage Academy.

Please take the time to read the terms and conditions in its entirety.

Unite Stage Academy accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of personal belongings while on the premises.
Unite Stage Academy accepts no liability for any injuries sustained whilst participating in a class or on the premises.
Unite Stage Academy Staff must be notified of any changes to the information on class manager.
All emails and updates can be found on class manager parent portal including calendars newsletters and more

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.
If parents allow their children to leave on their own this is the responsibility of the parent and not Unite Stage Academy staff but the parent needs to inform Teachers prior via email. 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 [Staff Member] who will contact the parent/guardian. If the [Staff Member] is not available, contact the office and or [Staff Member].

If the child cannot call the parent/guardian, contact the parent/guardian directly to arrange a 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 Unite Stage Academy 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. This will [ADDRESS], Telephone 101. Inform the police of all contact details for the parent/guardian and notify the entire Unite Stage Academy Management Team as above. Leave a message for the parent/guardian to say where the child will be.

Emergency contact number:

Unite Stage Academy emergency mobile phones are kept with the teachers at the studio. The number will be given out upon registration and must only be used if there are problems regarding the collection of children. We cannot always answer due to teaching, but if an emergency please text and leave a message.

Behaviour: - Please also see separate documentation called (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.

Classes:

Parents/carers will be invited to one class/performance per term. Parents/carers are not permitted to watch classes 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 teacher's discretion).

Absence:

Any child missing for more than two -three classes per month without reason or communication may not be able to join future classes. Class numbers are limited, and commitment to the class is essential.

Attendance:

Children must arrive and be collected promptly. It is very important that children arrive on time for their classes, preferably 5 - 10 minutes before the start of their class. 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 Unite Stage Academy will aim to let people know of any changes in venue or class time at least one week ahead of schedule.

Saturday Stars PAYG Attendance:

If your child misses more than 3 lessons per month without any notice or communication your childs place will be cancelled. Charges could be applied be see (cancellation)

Cancellation

If you wish to cancel a class, a minimum of one month’s notice should be given whether this is for one or more classes. If you cancel on or after the 14th of the month the next month fees are due in full on the 1st of the month. if you cancel prior to the 14th of the month no further payments are due.
Unite Stage Academy reserves the right to cancel a class or course if there are fewer than five participants. Every effort will be made to place a student in an alternative class or course or offer a pro-rata refund where appropriate.
Unite Stage Academy may also cancel classes due to unforeseen circumstances and can add on time extensions to make up for time loss, or provide another date. If you are unable to attend this no monies or refunds will be provided as the service is still being provided.

Saturday Stars PAYG cancellation

If you wish to cancel your classes a minimum of 2 weeks will be needed.
If we do not receive notice and we do not see or hear from you for three or more weeks we reserve the right to charge £10.00 cancellation fee.

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 day school uniform to any class – Unite Stage Academy is a school and wearing the correct Unite Stage Academy 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.

Most Unite Stage Academy Classes:

• Top: Unite Stage Academy T-shirt must be worn by all students except [Just dancers].

• Bottom: Tracksuit bottoms or leggings must be worn and black. No jeans or trousers, skirts or dresses are to be worn to any class and students will be asked to change.

• Shoes: Black Jazz shoes are to be worn. Strictly no trainers, crocs or sandals are allowed.

• Tap class: Black tap shoes.

Dance:

Girls: leotard, short socks/tights, pink/nude/skin tone ballet slippers. Practice skirts may also be worn. Cardigans/

Jumpers in a matching or complementary colour to the leotard may be worn in colder months. Please no tutus for

class – these can be worn in shows and demonstrations!

Boys: white t-shirt or vest and black or navy shorts, short white socks, black/white ballet slippers.

Please note that all uniforms can be purchased from our website at a discounted rate.

If students fail to wear the correct uniform, Unite Stage Academy holds the right to send disciplinaries which can result in class dismissal..

Priority Booking:

A priority booking period for current students will take place for two weeks before general booking opens. Those wishing to add or change classes 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. If you are cancelling classes please refer to (cancellation)

Placement Priority on Courses:

• Current Students continuing in same course - Current students changing courses and additional courses

• Siblings of current students

• Waiting lists of new students

Payments

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

For all current students, classes must be registered in advance (please refer to priority booking). Payment can be made up until the last day of the previous month to guarantee the place. If payment for registered places is not received by this time and the office hasn’t been contacted in advance, then the place will be offered to another student using the priority listed above and you shall be charged under our cancellation policy accordingly.

Monthly invoices are sent around the 26th-28th of each month and payment will be taken from your account via go cardless on the 1st of each month via class managers go cardless.

We will send you a direct debit form to fill via class manager which is safe and secure where we have no access to your full card details.

Non-payment monthly

£10.00 late fee is added to your account after 10 days of late payment. This is whether your card bounces, has insufficient funds or you have cancelled your card. One attempt will be made to correct the matter.
£10.00 will be added after every 10 days thereafter for non payment.
If your balance is not settled this will result in further action against you which can affect your credit rating.
Your balance will be sent to small claims court, where you will have to pay the extra charges.

If payment is outstanding,Unite Stage Academy reserves the right to withhold services. Every attempt will be made not to discuss money owed with children, although in extreme circumstances (especially when children arrive without supervision) children may be turned away from classes.

Unite Stage Academy may share data with debt collection agencies in order to recoup monies owed.

We highly advise that if you are struggling to make payments to communicate with us.

It is up to the discretion of the Finance directors if they are able to offer payment plans or place a pause on your account.

PAYG Payments for Saturday classes only

No online payments are accepted for PAYG
Payments have to be made prior to classes on the reception desk before entry is admitted to classes via debit/credit card
If we do not receive cancellation notice and we do not see or hear from you for three or more weeks we reserve the right to charge £10.00 cancellation fee.

100% money back guarantee

Students must participate in all enrolled classes in their entirety for the 30 day period. If you demonstrate that you attended each and every class in its entirety and followed teacher instructions yet did not receive any positive outcome, we will happily refund you the cost of the monthly class fee minus the £25,00 registration fee.Otherwise, the guarantee becomes null and void. We believe that you can't get results from something you don’t participate in.

Refunds

Unite Stage Academy cannot offer a refund if you do not attend classes/workshops or courses. A full refund will be given if the chosen workshop date/ course is fully booked on receipt of payment, or if Unite Stage Academy cancels classes without providing alternative days(see cancellations).

Exams and Shows

Examinations are not compulsory but if your child does enter, fees need to be given by the set date. If they are not received by the required date we will cancel your child's place. No late entries will be accepted.
If part payment has been taken for examinations and the final full payment has not been made by the allocated time, we will not refund your first payment and will cancel your child's space.
The correct attire for Examinations need to be adhered to.
No refunds will be provided if you cannot attend or change your mind about the examination.
Shows are not compulsory but we do love all students to participate.
We do not charge for your child to participate in shows but charge for: Show T-shirts, Use of costumes at a reasonable low rate.
Ticket sales and prices are sold separately via a separate ticket source and Unite Stage Academy holds no liability for booking fee charges.
No refunds will be provided for show tickets.
If your child changes their mind, show t-shirts and costumes are non refundable.

LOCALISED LOCKDOWNS and PANDEMICS - ADVERSE WEATHER:

If Unite Stage Academy cannot deliver classes due to force majeure or government directive or situations beyond our control, we shall implement online classes via Zoom conferencing software as a replacement with immediate effect. No refunds will be offered for those classes. If you cancel your classes you will have to re-pay a joining fee, as well as incurring any outstanding fees. Our cancellation procedure will still be in place. If a child or household member is told to self-isolate by NHS Track and Trace (or equivalent service) classes will be provided to the student via video conferencing software. If the student is unwell and cannot take part, we will send over the class information. There are no refunds for classes missed due to isolation, or missed classes.

-------------

HEALTH AND SAFETY

These terms and conditions come into force immediately once a child has enrolled into UNITE, and attended their first class after their free trial. Signatures do not need to be present for acknowledgment of this agreement.

All students at UNITE, whilst participating in dance and movement should feel comfortable, safe, and be able to participate without risk or injury:

Take care of yourself and remember that pain is not progress but can often be a warning sign that the body has gone too far. If you are struggling, ask for help, take time out or stop and observe you can still learn whilst watching.

Stop at once if you feel dizzy or have any pain.

If you have any health issues please inform your teacher, as this will not stop you from participating. But there are precautions that you should be aware of.

Technical knowledge and correct application of a movement is essential to avoid injury. You will be observed and corrected and if necessary. Further breakdown and advice may be given. If you are unsure please ask! This means it is important to listen to your teacher.

Please wear appropriate soft-soled footwear, socks or bare feet.

UNITE, teachers will warm all students prior to the lesson. Cool down. Also include a cool down when the lesson ends.

The cool down is as important as the warm to prevent you suffering from muscle pain, strain or injury.

It is up to the student and parent to let the teachers know of any injury prior to the class.

Dance is a sport and injury can occur at any point. UNITE, staff are fully insured and first aided and will take the correct procedure to help the student if injury occurs during class. If the students listen and take direction from the teacher, injury is less likely to occur. UNITE, students that incur an injury outside of the dance studio, will be liable for their actions. However, UNITE, will not let any dancers participate if injured prior to a class, and will not take responsibility of injury that occurs on top of a previous injury if not taken the correct recovery period.UNITE, hold the right to see any medical documentation to insure full recovery of an injury has been made, before joining back into class. Teachers will correct a child by using their hands,with the utmost care and attention.