CONDITIONS OF MEMBERSHIP FOR MONTAGE THEATRE ARTS STUDENTS
This is part of your agreement when joining Montage Theatre Arts (MTA). Membership is open to all subject to the following conditions:
- MTA accepts no responsibility for loss or damage of personal belongings while on the premises.
- MTA accepts no liability for any injuries sustained whilst participating in a class or on the premises.
- MTA Staff must be notified of any changes to the information provided on the Booking Form and health declaration.
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 General Manager. 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.
Illness/Injury:
Parents are not to allow their child to attend MTA if they are feeling unwell or have a known injury which would prevent a student from fully taking part.
This includes presenting any contagious illness including (but not limited to):
Chicken Pox
Head Lice
Common Cold/Flu
and, as of March 2020, symptoms of COVID-19.
COVID-19: Parents are expected to follow government advice in relation to when to self-isolate. You must complete a health declaration form before attending MTA.
Refunds will only be given in the event of illness or injury preventing attendance at classes for a sustained period as the General Manager’s discretion.
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). MTA 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:
MTA 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 and/or other emergencies.
Food/Drink:
Students must always carry with them their own individual water bottle.
Chewing gum/ fizzy drinks are strictly forbidden on the premises.
Saturday School: Please bring a light snack (not lunch) and drink with you.
MTA IS A NUT FREE ZONE!
Uniform:
This is basic but essential and gives the students a sense of belonging and sense of dressing for something important – their class. Appropriate clothing as below is necessary for health and safety and child protection:
- Strictly no jewellery – no earrings.
- Hair must be tied back from the face for all classes.
HOLIDAY COURSES:
Own clothes may be worn as long as footwear and trousers remain appropriate as below.
Most MTA TERM-TIME Classes:
- Top: BLUE MTA T-shirt must be worn by all students except;
Saturday School Level 4 who wear a black MTA T-shirt.
The Youth Theatre Company can wear their own clothes as long as they are sensible for movement. - Bottom: Tracksuit bottoms or leggings must be worn in dark blue, navy or black. No jeans or trousers, skirts or dresses are to be worn to any class.
- Shoes: Black soft plimsolls (like those worn for school gym lessons), dark coloured trainers or black jazz shoes are to be worn. Strictly no sandals are allowed.
- Tap class: Black or nude tap shoes.
- Contemporary: Can wear all black if student’s choose.
Montage T-shirts can be paid for online HERE and collected from site when you arrive for class.
BALLET:
OPTION 1: 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.
OPTION 2: White t-shirt or vest and black or navy shorts, short socks, black ballet slippers.
RAD BALLET:
RAD approved uniform is required for exams.
Primary & Grade 1: Pink
Grade 2: Lilac
Grade 3: Plum
Grade 4: Mulberry
Gender Neutral options are available, please enquire for more information.
Students must not wear their school uniform to any class.
All t-shirts, shoes and bags must be clearly labelled – lost property is donated to charity at the end of every term.
SECOND-HAND SHOES and CLOTHING for sale: there is often a good selection of second-hand clothing and shoes which can be bought from the Site Manager at a greatly reduced rate including tap and ballet shoes.
DONATIONS OF DANCE CLOTHING: We welcome donations of dancewear that are in good condition and can be re-sold at a small price or lent to students.
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. 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 MTA 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 two 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:
Children must leave sessions promptly either with an older sibling, or an adult. Only children over the age of 11 may leave MTA unsupervised and only when permission, in writing, has been given.
If a child is not being collected by their known primary care givers, the office must be informed in advance.
If a child is not collected on time every attempt will be made to contact all telephone numbers available to MTA.
If adults responsible for the child are not reachable and there is no adult available, MTA will take the child to the nearest police station. This is normally 43 Lewisham High St, Lewisham, London SE13 5JZ. Telephone 101.
Booking:
Bookings our subject to our booking policy. MTA does not provide drop-in classes for children and young people. All courses must be booked in advance. New students may join courses during the term subject to availability and authorisation of the MTA management team. If there are no spaces on a requested course when booking, then MTA 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, a message will be left. If there is no response, 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 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 payment must be received in advance to confirm a place.
For all current students, courses 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 MTA office hasn’t been contacted in advance, then the place will be offered to another student using the priority listed above.
It is MTA aim to offer a fixed number of concessionary places per term, subject to availability. All concessionary places must be paid for in advance of the course to confirm your place.
Non-payment
Failure to make payment before term starts may result in no place being available. If this happens MTA 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.
If payment is outstanding, MTA reserves the right to withhold services. Every attempt will be made not to discuss monies owed with children, although in extreme circumstances (especially when children arrive without supervision) children may be turned away.
MTA may share data with debt collection agencies in order to re-coup monies owed, as mentioned in our Privacy Policy.
Cancellation/Refunds
Holiday courses are non-refundable from the point of booking or reserving a space using childcare vouchers. Full Payment will be owed from the point of booking or reserving a space using childcare vouchers.
Courses are non-refundable from the point of booking for continuing students. Courses are non-refundable post a two-week trial period for new students.
MTA reserves the right to cancel a course if there are fewer than seven participants and the above efforts will be made to place a student in an alternative course or offer a pro-rata refund where appropriate.
If a single class does not take place due to circumstances beyond our control, MTA will view this class as postponed and will reschedule.
MTA cannot offer a refund if you do not attend courses or classes.
A full refund will be given if the chosen workshop date/course is fully booked on receipt of payment.
New Students: The first two classes are considered ‘trial’ classes. If for any reason the course is not suitable, we must be notified before the third 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.
If a payment is made by BACs or PayPal, MTA reserve the right to make a £10 charge (taken from the original payment and consequently refund amount) to cover PayPal charges and administration costs.
MTA require 72 hours’ notice before the session in order to rearrange any private session. If notice of non-attendance is given after this 72 hour deadline, the customer is not eligible to receive a rearranged session or credit for future lessons except in extreme circumstances.
MTA will be required to give notice to students 72 hours before rearranging or cancelling a private session. If this notice period has passed, MTA will rearrange this session at a mutually convenient time, or offer credit for future classes.
Please Note: Rearranged Sessions may be delivered by video conferencing software.
Montage Theatre Arts’ Student Code of Conduct can be found here.