registration and Policy Agreement

You can download the registration form in PDF format by clicking the link below.

Registration Form

Policy Agreement

General

• All teachers hold a DBS for working with young people.
• Teachers are fully qualified and pay annual membership subscriptions to the Royal Academy of Dance.
• All teachers partake in CPD ensuring that they are up to date with technical skills and qualifications.
• Data collected on the registration form will be destroyed when a pupil gives notice and leaves Ondine Academy if all invoices have been settled.
• Ondine Academy hold full public liability insurance.
• Please advise Ondine Academy of any change in address, email or telephone numbers.
• Parents should be aware that due to the nature of dance it may be necessary for the teacher to use appropriate physical contact when training young dancers.
• It is your responsibility to look on the website for details of term’s dates and all other information.
• Modern and tap classes may ONLY be taken in addition to a regular ballet class with Ondine Academy.  This does not apply to Street Dance or Contemporary.
• You must not receive dance tuition from other establishments without the prior knowledge of the Principals.
• Ondine Academy is not responsible for lost possessions. Please mark all clothing and shoes, any lost property will be kept for one term and then donated to charity.
• All injuries will be logged and details of any treatment recorded.
• If your child requires urgent medical attention while under the School’s care, we will if practicable attempt to obtain your prior consent. However, should we be unable to contact you we shall be authorised to make the decision on your behalf should consent be required for urgent treatment (including anaesthetic or operation) recommended by an appropriately qualified medical professional.
• Behaviour that is deemed to be disrespectful towards the teachers or to other pupils may result in the perpetrator being asked to leave Ondine Academy.

Notice & Payments

• To give half a term’s written notice of withdrawal or accept to pay half a term’s fees in lieu. You will remain registered with the school until written notice is received.
• To pay the term’s fees prior to half term.  Payment packages available upon request. Fees unpaid at the end of term will accrue 10% interest.
• Returned cheques will incur a £4 admin charge.

Attendance

• Students who have sustained an injury and are unable to take ‘full’ class, should nevertheless attend classes as there is still a lot of participation possible in terms of learning syllabus and participating in some form, dependant on their injury. Prolonged absences from lessons may hinder a student’s opportunity of being entered into examinations.
• No refunds will be made for missed classes through illness or injury, or other circumstances.
• Missed classes may be made up during the term at an alternative class – email the office to find a suitable class.
• Please ensure you equip your child with the necessary articles of clothing and arrive with hair appropriately styled.
• Classes may be cancelled or changed when necessary with as much notice as possible from Ondine Academy. Details of any changes can be found on the website Calendar of Events.
• All parents/guardians are requested to collect pupils promptly at the end of lessons. If parents are late the pupil will wait with the teacher until collection. A charge will be incurred for parents being persistently late or if a teacher is kept waiting for more than 30 minutes at the end of a teaching day.

Examinations and festivals

• Your child will only be entered for examinations at the discretion of the Principals, with your consent prior to entry. Extra coaching and examination fees will be applied.
• Pupils may be offered the opportunity to take part in local festivals at the discretion of the Principals, with your consent prior to entry. Extra lessons and other costs will be applied.

Correspondence

• If you wish to discuss your child’s classes please contact the Principals who can discuss any issues over the phone to ensure lesson times are not disrupted. Appointments can be arranged with the student’s class teacher if requested.

Photography/videos

• Ondine Academy reserve the right to take photographs and video footage during class for coaching and promotional purpose. We undertake that no personal information will be displayed with the image. All information will be kept strictly confidential in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1994 and 1998.  If you DO NOT wish Ondine Academy to use photographs of your child, please write or email the school to opt out.

01/26

Review: 01/27

• Safeguarding Policy 
• Child Protection and Safeguarding PolicyImportant contacts:Designated Safeguarding Lead – Katie Bennett contact number 07811400379 email address office@ondineacademy.co.ukThis policy applies to all staff and volunteers working at Ondine Academy of Dance. It reflects current legislation, accepted best practice and complies with government guidance: Working Together to Safeguard Children (2022) and Keeping Children Safe in Education (2022) Children Act (2004), The London Safeguarding Children Board Procedures and HM Prevent Duty Guidance (2021 & 2015). What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused (2015).
  1. Purpose

  At Ondine Academy of dance we recognise the fundamental importance of safeguarding and its centrality to all our work. We believe that all children have the right to learn in a safe environment. “Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals should make sure their approach is child-centred. This means that they should consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child”. To do this, staff must know how to work to keep children safe, identify risks, signs of harm or potential harm and how to seek advice from the school’s designated safeguarding leader. (Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022)

  Staff at Ondine Academy of Dance  are aware that many children are the victims of different kinds of abuse and that they can be subjected to social factors that have an adverse impact upon their lives – including domestic violence, substance misuse, bullying, mental health and radicalisation. We also acknowledge that safeguarding incidents could happen anywhere and staff should maintain an attitude of ‘it could happen here’ where safeguarding is concerned. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff members should always act in the interests of the child.

  2. Definitions

  The dance school adopts the definition used in the Children Act 2004 and in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’.

  This can be summarised as:

  • Protecting children from maltreatment
  • Preventing impairment of children’s health or development
  • Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

  Safeguarding relates to a wide range of aspects of a child’s life which are interconnected including:

  • health and safety including pupils’ health and safety
  • pupils’ attendance and wellbeing
  • meeting the needs of pupils with medical conditions
  • safe use of images
  • safer recruitment and DBS checks
  • first aid
  • equality and diversity

  Safeguarding can involve a range of specific issues:

  • bullying including cyberbullying and prejudice-based bullying such as racist, disability, homophobic or transphobic abuse (see anti-bullying policy)
  • radicalisation and extremist behaviour
  • child sexual exploitation
  • sexting
  • drug and substance misuse
  • gang and youth violence
  • domestic violence
  • female genital mutilation
  • forced marriage
  • fabricated or induced illness
  • faith abuse
  • gender-based violence/violence against women and girls
  • So-called ‘honour-based’ violence
  • mental health
  • private fostering
  • trafficking
  • hate
  • missing children and adults strategy
  • children missing education
  • child on child abuse and Online abuse
  3. Aims

  The aims of this policy are to:

  • Ensure we practice safe recruitment in checking the suitability of staff and volunteers to work with children
  • Support the children’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence, equipping them with the skills needed to keep them safe
  • Raise the awareness of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
  • Develop and implement procedures for identifying and reporting cases, or suspected cases, of abuse.
  • Support pupils who have been abused in accordance with the agreed child protection plan
  • Establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop.
  • Emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.

   

  4. Procedures

  We follow the procedures set out by Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (BSCP)  and take account of guidance issued by the DfE to:

  • Ensure we have a designated person for child protection
  • Ensure every member of staff (including volunteers) knows the name of the designated senior person responsible for child protection and their role
  • Ensure all staff, students and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated senior person responsible for child protection
  • Keep records of concerns about children, even where there is no need to refer the matter immediately
  • Ensure all records are kept securely.
  • Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteer and report to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), as appropriate
  • Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed, by ensuring staff are DBS checked at the appropriate level.
  5. The role of the Principals
  • To promote child protection and safeguarding as a priority.
  • To support the designated child protection lead in logging and reporting child protection concerns.
  • Ensure all recruitment is carried out appropriately.
  • To deal with allegations of abuse which are made against staff or volunteers
  6. The role of the Designated Child Protection Lead
  • To raise the awareness of all staff, students and volunteers to the need for child protection and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse.
  • To provide a systematic means of monitoring children thought to be at risk.
  • To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all staff.
  • To develop a structured internal procedure to be followed by all members of the dance school community in cases of suspected abuse.
  • To ensure all new staff and volunteers are informed about the dance school’s child protection and safeguarding policy during their induction.
  • Ensure all staff receive safeguarding updates at least annually.
  • To seek advice from and report cases to social care when appropriate.
  • Promote early intervention by supporting staff to identify and report emerging problems and support staff in liaising with other agencies and setting up an inter-agency assessment as appropriate.
  7. Procedures for dealing with disclosures

  It is vital that our actions do not abuse the child further or prejudice further enquiries.

  If a member of staff receives a disclosure from a child they should:

  1. Listen
     – take what the child says seriously
     – accept what the child says
  2. Stay calm
     – and in control.
  3. Reassure
     – and make the child feel safe.
  4. Use open questions
     – such as “is there anything else you want to tell me?” or “yes?” or “and?”
  5. Do not ask leading or probing questions
     – it is not our role to investigate
  6. Make notes
     about what was said – noting the position of any physical injuries/marks if appropriate, on a body map.
  7. Don’t promise confidentiality
     reassure the pupil that they have done the right thing, and explain whom you will have to tell (the Designated Safeguarding Lead) and why.
  8. Inform the designated teacher
     – as soon as possible (see reporting procedures) and give them the notes made.

  USE TED – Tell me what happened, Explain how this happened, and Describe how this happened.

  8. Reporting arrangements for Child Abuse Concerns
  • All concerns should be reported as soon as possible and by the end of the session in which the concern arose to the DSL.
  • Staff members who are unsure or have any doubts should always consult with the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
  • The designated safeguarding lead will plan a course of action as a matter of urgency, and ensure that a written record is made
  • The designated safeguarding lead will decide whether, in the best interests of the child, the matter needs to be referred to Social Care. If there are concerns that the child may be at risk, we are obliged to make a referral. Unless there are concerns that one or both of the parents may be the possible abuser (sexual or physical), the parents will be informed. In the case of a disclosure of sexual or physical abuse where a parent is the alleged abuser a conversation between the school and children’s services will take place as to who is the best agency to inform parents.
  • In exceptional circumstances, such as in an emergency staff should speak directly to Social Care or the Police.

   

  9. Early Help

  Dance school staff should bring all concerns to the attention of the designated lead. The designated lead will make an informed decision about whether the pupil is in immediate danger or risk of harm. If a concern is raised but the child is not in immediate danger or risk of harm, the designated lead will decide if early help is appropriate and if so, what action to take.

  All staff have a responsibility to identify children who may benefit from early help in order to provide support as soon as a problem emerges.

  Concerns that may trigger Early Help include:

  • marks on child’s body
  • poor standard of appearance or change in standard of appearance
  • unusual/different behaviour -including academic functioning and mood changes
  • puzzling statements or stories from the child
  • information from others
  • Being without necessary equipment or clothing such as their usual dance clothes, a coat in cold weather etc.
  10. Confidentiality

  Pupils and their families are entitled to confidentiality but dance school staff have a duty to share confidential information with other professionals if a pupil is at risk, particularly investigating agencies. A child’s welfare will always take precedence in information sharing.

  If a pupil confides in a member of staff and requests that the information is kept secret, it is important that the member of staff tells the child sensitively that he/she have a responsibility to refer for the child’s own sake. Within that context, the child should, however, be reassured that the matter will be disclosed only to the people who need to know about it.

  Personal information about all pupils’ and their families is regarded by those who work in this dance school as confidential. Staff who receive the information about children and families in the course of their work should have the information only within their professional context.

  All records relating to child protection incidents will be maintained by the Designated Safeguarding Lead and deputy, stored securely and only shared as is consistent with the protection of children.

  Under the Data Protection Act parents have a right to see all notes, unless the content could jeopardise a child’s safety.

  11. Working with Parents/Carers

  Ondine Academy will work with parents to support the needs of their child. The welfare of children is paramount however and it is the dance school’s duty to safeguard all children, should a concern arise professional advice may be sought prior to contacting parents. The dance school aims to help parents understand that the dance school has a responsibility for the welfare of all pupils and a duty to refer cases to Social Care in the interests of the child. When working with parents, staff will need to have a non-judgmental attitude; respect confidentiality and recognise feelings of guilt, shame, betrayal and anger that may be evident in some circumstances.

  This policy is available to all parents on the Ondine Academy website. .

  12. Responding to concerns of abuse against staff and volunteers

  All dance school staff should take care not to place themselves in a vulnerable position with a child. Staff should always conduct work with individual children or parents with or in view of other adults. All staff must understand that they are employed in a ‘Position of Trust’.

  Staff must report to the principals  any concerns which they have about the safeguarding practice of colleagues and volunteers. The principals on all such occasions will discuss the content of the allegation with the LA Designated Officer (LADO) for Child Protection.

  A referral to the DBS must be made if someone has harmed, or poses a risk of harm to a child and who has been removed from working (paid or unpaid) in regulated activity, or would have been removed had they not left. Referrals should be made to both DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) and the TRA (Teaching Regulation Agency) in cases where there is alleged serious teacher misconduct as well as harm or risk of harm to a child.

   

  Low- Level Concerns

  The school takes all concerns raised about members of staff seriously. The concerns will be shared with the member of staff sensitively and the DSL, deputy DSL and the principals will collaborate to ensure appropriate action is taken. This may include consulting with the LADO.

  13. About this policy
  • Date of policy: January 2026
  • Review date: January 2027

GDPR

Your Personal Data, received on your Registration Form will be strictly confidential, securely stored and will only be disclosed as necessary with our Teachers, Admin. Staff, The Royal Academy of Dance (for Ballet exams). The Data will be protected from unauthorised access and disclosure and by ensuring that appropriate technical measures are in place to protect this Data.

Your Personal Data will be deleted under the obligations of the General Data Protection Regulations when you leave Ondine Academy and once your account is settled in full.