Michelle Sidwell Academy of Dance | Dance Classes Chislehurst

Michelle Sidwell Academy of Dance (MSAOD) will be following the government guidance for all after-school clubs, holiday clubs, tuition, community activities and other out-of-school settings for children and young people during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

MSAOD provides enriching activities that give children the opportunity to socialise with others outside their household and promote their wellbeing.
Scientific advice suggests that there is a moderate to high degree of confidence that the susceptibility to clinical disease of younger children (up to age 11 to 13) is lower than for adults. However, it remains important that protective measures are put in place to help reduce the risk of transmission.

MSAOD care for the wellbeing of all our dance families and local community. Therefore, we will follow the guidance which assists schools and other educational settings in providing advice for pupils, students, staff, and parents/carers.

To ensure we are continuing to do our best to maintain the wellbeing of our staff and dance families we have updated our policies to ensure the safeguarding of our community.

Protective measures set in place:

● minimising contact with individuals who are unwell by ensuring those who have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms do not attend their class/activity. This also applies if a member of their family has symptoms or if they have been advised by NHS Test & Trace as 'a close contact' to isolate at home.

● encouraging staff and children attending to clean their hands more often than usual, including before and after activities and before and after using toilet/washroom facilities

● staff will check that touched objects and surfaces within the dance studios are cleaned and disinfected frequently
● ensuring good respiratory hygiene by promoting the 'catch it, bin it, kill it' approach
● cleaning frequently touched surfaces more often than usual using standard products, such as detergent or bleach
● increased frequency of cleaning of toilets and washrooms
● ensuring that rooms are well-ventilated, either by a ventilation unit or naturally (for example, open windows and external doors)
● soap and hand sanitiser will be available for staff, children and parents or carers to clean their hands
● key areas will also have posters promoting frequent handwashing
● cleaning checklists will be implemented in toilets and will be visible and completed regularly
● where possible, children attending the classes/activites will be in small, consistent groups of no more than 15 children and one or two staff members
● limit any activities where pupil to pupil and staff to pupil may have to hold hands
● appoint a staff member for each class/activity who will be responsible for first aid
● ensure that all staff have had the relevant training to deal with first aid and child protection and safeguarding issues
● complaints process is in place

Parents/Carers Instructions:

● there is a limit of one parent attending the class/activity to drop off a child
● all children are to be dropped off and picked up at the designated entrance and exit doors
● all children to be dressed and ready for class and has a full water bottle with them that is clearly labelled
● all parents/carers will be required to complete a parental consent form, which asks for medical information and emergency contact details, this is required before the child attends for the first time

● to minimising adult to adult contact please take note of the physical distancing markers

What to do if your child is displaying coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms?

If your child becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste of smell (anosmia), they must stay at home and you should follow the COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection guidance.
If your child becomes unwell whilst at a class/activity, the teacher will call the parent/carer immediately on the emergency contact number provided on the self-screening checklist to come and collect them.

While your child is awaiting collection, they will be kept separately from others by a distance of at least 2 metres, ideally in a well-ventilated room with appropriate adult supervision. When you collect your child, you should take them straight home; do not visit the GP, pharmacy, urgent care centre or a hospital. In an emergency, call 999 if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk.

Your child should then self-isolate for 10 days and you should arrange a test for them as soon as possible to see if they have coronavirus (COVID-19). You can do this by visiting NHS.UK or contact NHS 119 via telephone if you do not have internet access. You and other fellow household members should self-isolate for 14 days.

If your child tests negative, they can return to class/activities and the fellow household members can end their self-isolation subject to confirmation from local health protection professionals.

If your child tests negative but is unwell, they should not return to any class/activity until they are recovered.
If your child tests positive, NHS Test and Trace will speak directly to those that have been in contact with your child to offer advice. This advice may be that the rest of their class or group within the setting should be sent home and advised to self-isolate for 14 days. Household members should always self-isolate at home.