Terms and Conditions:

All students at the Masters of Ballet Academy (MOBA) should be able to enjoy the art of dance in a positive, healthy, nurturing and distraction-free environment. Our staff will do their best to promote respectful behaviour from all students, parents and volunteers in the studio and at all MOBA Performances and events. Students, parents, family members, and volunteers are expected to observe the following school policies to ensure that each student gets the most out of their time at MOBA. All MOBA staff and volunteers are DBS checked and Safeguarding trained in courses related to teaching in a physical activity setting.

Attendance and commitment

Attendance

• All students are expected to attend all classes they are registered for, as ballet/dance is a disciplined art form that requires students to punctual and committed where achievable.
• Students from Junior group upwards are expected to enrol for and attend a minimum amount of classes per week for their group, excluding students who live more than 90 minutes from the studios.
• Consistency, courtesy and focus during classroom training are the most important components in the progress and success of our students.
• If a student is disruptive or their behaviour in class is deemed unacceptable by MOBA Staff, they may be asked to leave the studio.

Non-attendance

• Students are excused from attendance due to illness, injury, observance of a religious holiday, academic examinations or a family emergency.
• Classes in lieu are at the discretion of the Artistic Directors, only in exceptional cases of academic exams, or long term injury and must be requested by email to Fiona.
• Students are expected to notify the school by email if they are absent from class.
• Students who do not attend class on a regular basis will quickly fall behind, and not build the necessary skills and strength needed to succeed and to progress to the next level.
• MOBA expect all forms of dance offered to be taken very seriously. Excessive absences and lateness will be noted and will affect a student’s eligibility to be promoted to the next level and impact on a student’s ability to perform in productions.
• Payment is by full term, in advance. Once a student is registered for the term, no refunds can be given, unless supported by a letter from your GP or Specialist.

Attendance at other Dance Schools or Performances

• If a student is attending Masters of Ballet Academy we do not advocate their attending other dance schools in direct competition with ourselves, in the Greater London area.
• Students who live outside of Greater London and attend a local dance school as travelling mid week to London is not possible, may attend their local dance school during the week and Masters of Ballet Academy at the weekends.
• Students may attend private lessons with teachers outside of Masters of Ballet Academy, following permission from one of our Artistic Directors only.
• Students from other dance schools may attend Masters of Ballet Academy online classes, Masterclasses and Intensives.
• Students of Masters of Ballet Academy should inform Olga and Fiona of their intention for their child to audition for, or perform in any amateur or professional performance, outside of MOBA, including Competitions. Students of MOBA must always be entered under the Masters of Ballet Academy name.
• Classes missed due to rehearsals or performances cannot be credited.

Easter & Summer Intensives

• Once a place on one of our Intensive Courses has been taken and paid for, places may be revoked for refund only with a letter from your GP or Specialist up to 14 days before commencement of the course. Places cancelled within 14 days of the Intensive start date cannot be refunded under any circumstances.

Illness and injuries

• Students should NOT attend class or rehearsal when sick to reduce the possibility of making others ill and causing injury to themselves.
• Injured students are encouraged to observe their classes or rehearsals.
• Injuries should be brought to the attention of MOBA Staff immediately in order for prompt advice to be given. Injuries should always be seen by a dance specialist physiotherapist.

MBA behaviour code

• Absolutely no disruptive behaviour will be tolerated from dancers while in class, waiting for class, or leaving the studio
• MOBA Staff, Faculty and Volunteers will be respected at all times.
• Respect and kindness is to be shown to all students by their fellow students, staff and volunteers.
• Dancers will treat MBA Staff, Faculty, Volunteers and each other with kindness and respect. The golden rule: treat everyone as you would want to be treated.

Use and misuse of facilities

• Students must use the waste bins provided. Respect the MBA Studios as you would your own home.
• No outdoor shoes may be worn in our studios at any time.
• Food must not be taken into the studios at any time.

Behaviour in class

• There will be no unreasonable talking permitted between students in at any time in class unless the teacher asks the student a question.
• Students may not be dismissed from class at any time without the permission of the teacher.
• Students are not allowed to hang on the barres for any reason.
• Mirrors may not be touched for any reason.
• Students must show respect for the facilities and for the property of others.

Lost and found articles

• MBA is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.
• Lost and found items will be held for 30 days; items left longer may be donated to charitable organisations.

Parent Rules

• It is a Parent/Guardian's responsibility to Register their child correctly (via the electronic registration link) for their termly classes. New forms should be filled in at the beginning of each academic year, or termly if there are any changes from the previous term, or if their previous term's invoices were not correct. It is each Parent/Guardian's responsibility to ensure that the correct fees are paid each term for the classes that their child is taking. A lack of invoice or reminder is not an excuse for not paying fees by the payment date stated.
• NO PARENTS MAY RESIDE IN THE RECEPTION AREA AT ANY TIME UNLESS TALKING TO A MEMBER OF MOBA STAFF BEFORE OR AFTER CLASS. Parents of students from Junior Group upwards are requested to drop their child at the entrance doors on arrival and to pick them up outside the doors at the end of class. Parents of students in Foundation & New Junior Groups may bring their child into the Reception area and hand them over to the teacher, or take them to the bathroom, and then to leave the building promptly until pick up outside the entrance doors.
• Parents of students attending a private lesson with a member of the MOBA Staff, may reside inside the studio where their child is being taught only, not in the Reception area.
• Students are not permitted to wait for lifts from their parents outside of the MOBA facilities, but must remain in Reception so that a member of staff is aware that they have not been collected.
• MOBA staff are not always able to supervise students after the end of the class; parents must pick up their children on time or contact Fiona on 07957 867636 to arrange for a teacher to stay with their child.

Parent observation

• Students achieve the most success when parents do not observe class on a regular basis.
• It is important for the student to develop a sense of independence and build a relationship with the teacher.
• Parents may only observe a class or rehearsals on observance days scheduled by the MOBA staff. If you would like to observe your child on a different day you must contact the studio and be given approval by one of the MOBA staff.
• Under no circumstances may a parent communicate with his/her child, enter the studio or disrupt in any way a class in session.
• Parents are expected to follow the same behaviour code as their child. Parents not following studio etiquette and behaviour rules will be asked to leave the studio.

Dress code

• Students are required to wear MOBA Uniform on weekdays and suitable ballet clothing and ballet shoes t the weekends.
• Girl’s hair must always be worn in a very neat bun for all classes. Hair that is too short for a bun must be worn off the face with a fabric hairband matching their hair colour and pulled back into a ponytail if possible. Boys hair should be tidy and off the face at all times.

Gross Misconduct

• Any student or parent who verbally or physically abuses anyone, ridicules another student, verbally defies any faculty or staff member, commits any unlawful action, or commits any other action deemed by MOBA to be grossly inappropriate will be dismissed from the school immediately.
• Any parent of a students who is disrespectful or abusive via written communication to any staff member or parent, may be asked to leave the school immediately.
• A person dismissed from school due to misconduct will not be entitled to any refund.

Complaints Procedure

• Should any parent, student, teacher or volunteer feel that the training or conduct of a member of staff either working for or volunteering on behalf of 'Masters of Ballet Academy' falls short of our ethos and safeguarding policy, please in the first instance contact Fiona Mowlem in order to request an immediate meeting with Artistic Director, Elena Glurjidze and Fiona Mowlem. This meeting will be organised as soon as is practicable and can be via Zoom or in person, at the discretion of the parent , student, volunteer or staff member.

Class Level placement

• MOBA Artistic Directors, and staff are committed to the technical and artistic growth of their students.
• MOBA strives to bring each dancer to their individual potential in a supportive and nurturing environment. Level placement policies and casting in productions at MOBA are geared to the individual student and at the sole discretion of MOBA staff.
• Placement for new students in upper levels will be based on both age evaluation and previous experience.
• The students’ progress is then continuously evaluated, and promotion to the next level is made on an individual basis.

At MOBA we are very concerned with the proper and safe advancement of all of our students. We must make sure that a student is both physically and mentally ready to advance before they are moved up to the next level. It is essential that the body is in proper alignment and the muscles strong enough before more advanced exercises are undertaken. Advancing before a student is ready leads to injury which we strive to protect our dancers from.

Poor weather conditions

• No refunds are made for classes not held due to severe weather conditions.

Illness or absence

• No refunds are made for classes not attended due to illnesses, family events, parties or competitions etc., only long term injury, and are evaluated on a case by case basis.
• Should a member of staff become ill, every effort will be made to provide a replacement teacher.

Safeguarding Policy

DANCE SENSE LTD. Trading as MASTERS OF BALLET ACADEMY
SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT/POLICY
Aims
Our Aim is to teach each and every child to the best of our and the child's ability. To nurture the child's talent and to provide an environment that is safe and secure for them to flourish and Develop in. To enable each child to progress as people, not just dancers and to feel secure in the knowledge that they are cared for and protected within our organisation. All Masters Staff and volunteers allowed in our studios are DBS Checked and all dance staff are Safeguarding trained.

The purpose of this policy statement is:
• to protect children and young people who receive classes and tuition at 'Masters of Ballet Academy' from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection. This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of 'Masters of Ballet Academy' including senior roles and, staff and Artistic Directors, Volunteers and students.
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.
A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/child protection.

• dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
• managing allegations against staff and volunteers
• recording concerns and information sharing
• child protection records retention and storage
• code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• behaviour codes for children and young people
• photography and sharing images guidance
• safer recruitment
• online safety
• anti-bullying
• managing complaints
• whistleblowing
• health and safety
• adult to child supervision ratios.

We believe that:
• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them
We recognise that:
• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues, extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
• safeguarding children who come from Black, Asian and minoritized ethnic communities
• safeguarding d/Deaf and disabled children and young people
• safeguarding LGBTQ+ children and young people
• safeguarding children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).



We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people
• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance
• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via our website and when requested, by email
• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns




Contact details, Nominated child protection lead:
Name: Fiona Mowlem
Senior Lead for Safeguarding and Child Protection
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: January 2024