Information pack for students and their families
Booking into a class
All classes can be prebooked on Dance Studio Pro. Students attending classes last term will be reinstated into their current class please let us know if you wish to attend any other classes when the timetable is announced.
Classes must be paid in advance to attend.
Our reception will be closed during this time (August) but can be contacted via our email balletmalvern@icloud.com
From September you will be able to contact reception via email and telephone 07793722319.
There will be no “drop-in” classes.
Entrance and Exit
Entrance will be via the front door for classes in Studio 1 (please check this against the timetable) and via the back door for the Back studio. This can be found via the driveway next to the no waste shop and is a signed red door. Exit will be via the same door.
The doors will remain closed and will only be manned when classes are scheduled. Please do not enter the building when the door is closed or whilst a class is ongoing.
Entry will be from 10- minutes (this may change depending on classes but will be specified with the timetable) prior to the start of the class. There will be no access to the building prior to this.
Only those who have registered in the class will be admitted into the building. Staff will have a record of those registered for classes.
There will be no access to reception for general enquiries or bookings.
Only parents/ carers of people with special needs will be able to enter the building.
Parents dropping off young children will be required to drop them at the door where staff will look after them and collect at the same door.
Hand sanitiser and cleaning wipes will be available around the building for everyone’s use along with signage to help.
We will be operating a one-way system in through the downstairs studio and back down the corridor for Studio 1 use. On the stairs either all going up or down with no crossing over.
Staff will be on hand to help, and look after everyone.
Studio and class safety
Class start times will be staggered where-ever possible to reduce contact on stairs, corridors and reception.
Windows in the studios will be open (weather permitting) to aid ventilation and droplet disbursement.
Internal doors will be closed during classes to prevent droplet disbursement into the corridors.
Extra time will be left between classes to allow us to ventilate and clean the studios and other public areas.
There will be a maximum of twelve people in a class including teacher.
Once in the building you will need to go directly to your specified studio. We will only be using upstairs and our new back studio.
There will no longer be a front waiting area however students who have many classes will be given a marked spot in the downstairs studio to rest in if necessary.
You will need to bring your own water/ drink with you as the kitchen will not be available. All water bottles left will be disposed of.
We require students to come dressed ready for class as the changing rooms will only be open to people with special needs/ requirements who have expressed a need at the time of booking their classes. The toilet will also not be open for changing clothes.
Students will needs to bring outdoor clothing, outdoor shoes into the studio with them and we ask you to bring a bag to store them in.
Each studio floor will be marked with individual dance spaces for students with a separate teacher area and room for outdoor storage around the perimeter.
Each studio will also have a computer set up for zoom students.
Classes will not be recorded.
Classes will be adapted by the teacher to ensure safety measures and social distancing are maintained.
Ballet Barres will be cleaned between lessons.
If attending a floorbarre, Pilates, progressive ballet technique class or pointe class the students must bring their own equipment (mats, balls, therabands etc) which must be freshly clean (they may also be asked to clean these down again in the studio.
STUDIO FLOORS WILL HAVE CLEARLY MARKED DANCE SPACES FOR PARTICIPANTS
For safety reasons there will be no bare feet in any classes. Students must wear socks or ballet shoes for contemporary, musical theatre, acting and stage performance. They will also need to wear the appropriate shoes for their classes, ballet shoes, tap shoes, jazz shoes etc. Let us know if you need any of these well before arriving at the class. Students can not wear outdoor shoes in classes.
All students will have their temperature taken upon entry to the building and must clean their hands with sanitiser.
Lastly following a great deal of research, we will be asking all students to wear masks. They will be given drink breaks and an area to go to if they need to take it off for any reason. All teachers will be wearing masks and visors as requested.
Toilet facilities
Please ensure students go to the toilet before coming to the studios. Our facilities will be open but if we can minimise the amount, of students using them the better. Toilet, basin and door handles must be cleaned down after each use.
Teachers
Teachers should read the whole of this document to ensure they are aware of the social distancing and safety measures being implemented.
All teachers have completed an infection prevention course.
Teachers requiring entry earlier than 10 minutes before the start of class to set up or prepare should let Rebecca know prior to their class. They must use hand sanitiser upon entry.
They will then go to reception where they will be signed in.
Each studio has an allocated area for the teacher, please stay within this area.
Where possible teachers should use the Bluetooth facility in the studios.
As there is a correlation between COVID-19 and aerial droplets we need to reduce droplet spread by keeping intensive exercise (the equivalent of cycling/ running) and rises in humidity in the class to a minimum. (this does not relate to room temperature)
There will be no use of props, toys or equipment apart from barres in classes. Barres must be wiped down after every class.
Pilates, Floorbarre, Pointe, PBT students will be asked to bring their own equipment.
The teacher must ensure everyone wears appropriate footwear or socks for classes. There should not be anyone with bare feet.
We require all teachers ensure the students are following social distancing measures.
Areas for students will be marked out on the studio floors. Teachers will be required to adapt their classes to enable students to remain in the marked areas and to be mindful of those joining the class on zoom.
Hand sanitiser and cleaning wipes will be provided throughout the studio. Studios and public areas will be cleaned after use.
If you feel ill
If you feel unwell during class, please notify a member of staff straight away. They will then advise you what to do.
If you or a member of your household has been unwell or has symptoms of COVID-19 before attending a class, do not attend. We recommend you follow the latest government advice and use the NHS Track and Trace facility.
If you feel unwell after you have attended a class at Ballet Malvern please contact reception via telephone 07793722319 or email balletmalvern@icloud.com giving your full name ( or child’s name if parent/ carer making the call), the class or activity and the date attended, then follow government guidelines and the NHS Track and Trace. We require this information to assist us to track and trace others who may have had contact with you within your class group, staff and ensure extra cleaning and our safety measures are reviewed.
Accidents and First Aid
If you have an accident or require first aid at Ballet Malvern, first aid requirements will take precedence over social distancing. We will follow our company’s accident and first aid procedures and ensure other people are distanced from those involved.
Lost property
Lost property will be stored individually in plastic bags at reception for one week. If you leave something behind, please ring reception 07793722319 or email balletmalvern@icloud.com to arrange collection.
If you realise you have left something as you are exiting the building, please let a member of staff know and they will collect it for you.
Water bottles will be disposed of.
Notice
All these measures are being put in place to ensure the safety of our staff, students and families. Anyone that the team feels is not following the required social distancing and safety measures and therefore putting others at risk will be asked to leave and will not be permitted to return whilst these measures are in place.
Thank you so much for your continued support as we work towards opening fully with all our students and classes at the studio. We hope that will be in the not too distant future!
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy
As Coronavirus spreads worldwide we will work to ensure we keep up to date with the latest information from our Government, Public Health and the World Health Organisation (WHO) and pass this onto our staff and customers. We will follow Government advise, guidelines and any measures laid out.
We will endeavour to provide our full range of services for our customers; however, our number one concern is the health and well-being of our staff and customers, and we will implement measures to protect both as much as we can from Coronavirus.
We will:
- listen to all our staff’s concerns and take appropriate measures to protect them, other staff members, customers and suppliers,
- work with our senior staff and Board of Trustees to keep up to date with latest advice on how to protect oneself and others and disseminate this to our staff and customers,
- implement any measures and/or actions laid down by the government in relation to Coronavirus, and
- work to continue to provide our services where possible.
Information dissemination
There is much information on national TV news programmes, internet and public health organisations. Individuals who have personal concerns regarding their health and that of their family can also contact their doctor or call 111 for advice.
We will ensure our staff are aware of any advice and measure to follow to help protect themselves and our customers and suppliers.
We have set up a directory regarding Coronavirus for our staff and Board for general information.
- For our users we have information posters around the building, in reception and all our changing rooms and toilet facilities
- For all of the above and the wider public we have a page on our website with information on the Coronavirus from the WHO
Protecting yourself and others
Our main concern is the protection of our staff, users and suppliers. According to WHO most people who become infected experience mild illness and recover, but it can be more sever for others. It is important that all our staff take care of their health and take measures to protect others by doing the following:
• Washing their hands regularly – soap or hand gel can reduce the spread of the virus,
- Cover their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, ideally with a tissue, and wash hands afterwards – this will also help to prevent the spread of the virus,
- Avoid touching their eyes, nose and mouth especially if they have touched a surface contaminated by the virus, this could transfer it into their body, and
- Don't get too close to people coughing, sneezing or with a fever, they can propel small droplets containing the virus into the air, ideally keep 1 metre (3 feet) away.
Symptoms of Coronavirus
Symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough, loss of taste and smell. After a week, it leads to shortness of breath and may require hospital treatment. The virus rarely seems to cause a runny nose or sneezing.
We require any staff member with a fever, coughing and difficulty breathing or if feeling unwell to follow normal absence reporting procedure, other measures include:
- Staying at home,
- Seeking medical attention and *calling in advance, and
- Following the directions of their local health authority, they will have the most up to date information on the situation in their area.
*Calling in advance will allow the health provider to quickly direct people to the right health facility. This will protect individuals and help prevent the spread of the virus and other infections.
Travel
Although we will not request staff cancel travel plans, we do ask that all our staff consider if any travel planned to affected areas is essential.
We will work with each member of staff returning from an area where the Coronavirus is spreading to discuss a plan of action even if they have no symptoms. This may result in that person working from home for the recommended fourteen days.
If a member of staff has recently visited (in the past fourteen days) areas where the Coronavirus is spreading they should follow the same guidelines above.
They should stay at home if feeling unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until fully recovered. Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect them and others from possible Coronavirus and also from other viruses.
Absence from work
If in self-isolation (current advice is for fourteen days) or unable to return to the UK they are required to notify Rebecca Sloan-Kirton who will work with them on a plan of action. The reasons for self-isolation will need to be a genuine one and is at the discretion of the organisation and only with agreement by Rebecca Sloan-Kirton. This will include, for the period of absence:
- working from home,
If asked not to come to work
If a staff member is not sick but we take the decision that they are not to come to work, we may ask that they work from home.
Time off to look after someone
Although we want to support all our staff, absences have a huge impact on our organisation. We will work to support our staff when they need to take time off work to help someone who depends on them in an unexpected event or emergency, including situations relating to Coronavirus. For example, if their child’s school is closed or to help their child or another dependant if they are sick or need to go into isolation or hospital.
The amount of time off a member of staff takes to look after someone must be reasonable for the situation. For example, they might take two days off to start with, and if more time is needed, they be required to work from home.
If someone becomes unwell at work
If someone becomes unwell in the workplace and has recently come back from an area affected by Coronavirus, they should:
- move away from other people,
- go to a room or area behind a closed door,
- avoid touching anything,
- cough or sneeze into a tissue and put it in a bin, or if they do not have tissues, cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow,
- use a separate bathroom from others, if possible,
- use their own mobile phone to call their Line Manger and either:
o NHSadvice:111
o an ambulance if they’re seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk: 999 They should tell the operator:
- their symptoms
- which country they've returned from in the last 14 days
If someone with Coronavirus comes to work
If someone with Coronavirus comes to work, the workplace does not necessarily have to close.
The local Public Health England (PHE) health protection team will get in contact with the employer to:
- discuss the case,
- identify people who have been in contact with the affected person,
- carry out a risk assessment, and
- advise on any actions or precautions to take