Coronavirus (COVID-19) Policy

This policy is in line with UK Government Guidelines to ensure everyone can return safely to the studios, to ensure Leanne Hughes Theatre School can re-open and operate in a safely during the Coronavirus Pandemic and to reduce the risk of spreading the virus the following preventative steps have been put into place.

·        COVID-19 Risk Assessment.

·        Reduced studio capacity to increase the space between pupils dancing during lessons.

·        In all areas of the studios we will be following the Government Guideline and adhering to the 2-metre distancing           rule.

·        The studios will be regularly cleaned and increased sanitising of surfaces in communal areas such as floors, door           handles, toilets and sink areas.

·        Sanitising of all studio floors regularly before and after classes.

·        Ventilation will be increase by the use of fans, opening of windows and doors where possible.

·        Signs and instructions will be displayed around the studios regarding good hygiene practice, social distancing,               and COVID-19 Symptoms.

·        One Way Entry and Exit system, which will be clearly marked and must be adhered to.

·        If anyone arrives at the studios feeling unwell, they will be asked not to enter the building and return home                     immediately.

·        Temperature checks will be taken on arrival if anyone has a high temperature, they will be asked to return home           immediately.

·        Registers will be taken in every lesson and we will be following the Governments ‘Track and Trace’ policy (which             becomes law on the 18^th September 2020).

·        Encourage all Staff, Parents and Pupils age 13 years and over to download the new NHS Track and Trace App                that comes into effect on 24^th September 2020.

·        Contactless Payments preferred – payments can be made online.

Building Rules

·        On arrival to the studios and regularly throughout your time in the studios please use the sanitiser provided or              ideally bring your own.

·        When walking around the studios 2-metre social distant must be adhered to and when in communal areas                      masks/visor NEED to be worn by anyone over the age of 11 years old. Masks DO NOT have to worn during

         lessons.

·        Toilets – There will be one set of toilets for students and one set of toilets for staff only. Toilets will be used on a            one person at a time basis, there is to be no congregating in this area at all. Good hygiene practice is expected,

        please ensure you wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for 20 seconds. Use of hand dryers only,

         there will be NO towels.

·         Only water is allowed in the studios and if you are using your own water bottle it has to be named and all

         bottles need to go home after your lesson

·        There will be NO Kitchen facility available.

·        Changing Rooms will NOT be accessible and unavailable to all.

·        Pupil Boxes CANNOT be used and will be unavailable at this current time.

·        Lost Property – There is to be NO lost property any items left in the studios after lessons may be disposed of.

·        Arrive at your class allocated time and not before, you will NOT be able to enter the studios if you arrive early.

·        Exits will be at the rear of the building and collection of pupils NEEDS to be on time, as we are unable to hold                children whilst other classes are taking place.

·        NO parents/carers to enter the buildings unless requested by the teachers. Exception to this rule will be                          parents/carers of pupils attending Pre-primary and Primary classes, where a room will be made available

        for you to wait and social distancing rules will apply.

·        Parents please do NOT congregate in the car park we are operating a drop off and go policy. Unfortunately,

        you will NOT be able to wait in the car park for your child/children whilst they are in the building. We are

         asking you to leave and collect at their allotted finishing time. We have to ensure the safety of all pupils

        and will be using the car park as part of our entrance to the premises. Therefore, it needs to be clear at

         ALL times.

·        Throughout the building there will bins located with lids, please dispose of all rubbish correctly and ensure

         the lid is closed at all times. 

Studio Rules

·        We have implemented enough time in between classes to allow teaching staff to clean the studios after each use.

·        Temperature checks will be taken on arrival at the studios, if anyone presents with a high temperature,

         they will be asked to return home and NOT permitted to enter the studios.

·        Teachers will meet pupils at the entrance to allow them into the studios, please be on time.

·        Parents need to collect their child/children 10 minutes before the class end time on the timetable to

         enable a safe exit and full clean of the studio. For example, if the class time is 5.15-6.00pm, parents need to

         collect at 5.50pm. If your child then has another class, they need to exit the building through the exit doors

         and return to the main entrance, line up and wait for their teacher to collect them.

·        Staff will ensure that the studios are well ventilated, by the use of fans, windows open and doors open to allow             full air flow circulation.

·        Anti-bacterial wipes and spray will be available in each studio to clean down the use of music sound equipment,           ballet barres, mats, door handles and floor.

·        Music sound equipment we would encourage the use of Bluetooth to play music.

·        Do NOT touch the studio mirrors.

·        Studios have been social distanced marked with Yellow and Blue Tape. 

         Yellow tape defines the outer edge of the studio 2-metre distanced marking for waiting spots and exits route.

         Blue tape marks 2-metre distance marking for pupil dance space.

·        Appropriate dance footwear to be worn at all times in the studios – Ballet Shoes or Jazz Shoes MUST be worn               for Modern/Jazz/Contemporary/MTC/Acro Classes

·        All pupils are to arrive at the studios in their dancewear, as there are NO changing facilities available.

·        Cover your mouth with a tissue to cough or sneeze and dispose of tissues in the bins provided, following the 

        NHS ‘Catch It’ ‘Bin It’ ‘Kill It’ Guidance. Use hand sanitiser immediately afterwards.

·        Whilst in the studios and anywhere in the building please do share any items of dancewear, resources,     

         equipment.

·        There will be NO partner work or contact work, pupils will be encouraged to work either back to back or side to 

         side, NOT face to face.

·        All forms of communication with teachers is to be made via email to or ‘LHTS Peeps’ Facebook page.

         Please DO NOT ask to speak to the teachers before and after lessons, as they are scheduled to a very

         rigid timetable to accommodate all pupils.

·        Please ensure that we have your up to date emergency contact details.

Policy Dated: 12^th September 2020

                                                                           COVID 19 GUIDELINES

Staff, Visitors and Pupils who are unwell with following symptoms of Coronavirus (Covid-19) should not attend the studios.

If you have any of the following symptoms DO NOT enter the building.

·        a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure

         your temperature)

·        a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing

         episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

·        a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste

         anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Please note that we have the right to refuse entry to anyone entering the studios if you have Covid19 symptoms. 

To protect other member of the public DO NOT go to your GP Surgery, Pharmacy or Hospital if you have any of these symptoms. Contact NHS 111 for further information and advice.

If you have symptoms and have had a positive Coronavirus test outcome, please inform the school principal Miss Leanne Hughes immediately to enable the school to inform pupils from the same class. This in accordance with the NHS Track and Trace guidance.

If you have recently travelled or come back abroad from a Country that is on the Government Quarantine list, please self-isolate for 14 days from the day of arrival back in the United Kingdom before attending classes.

For any questions or concerns please email lhtheatreschool@gmail.com

This is unprecedented time for us all at present in which we are all learning the effects of COVID-19. We will be reviewing our procedures regularly and in making the required changes in accordance with Government Guidelines.

Government Guideline changes are out of our control and have to be taken with immediate effect and implemented to ensure the safety of all. If in the event that the Government issues a local or national lockdown, we will continue to deliver all classes online during the lockdown period whilst our studios are physical closed.