Codes of Conduct & Policies

Kanvas Academy is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the well-being of every dancer, parent and member of staff connected with the studio. So that classes run well and everyone feels safe and respected, the codes of conduct below must be read, respected and followed at all times: in the studio, at shows and competitions, in the chat, and on Student Home.

By booking a trial, joining a membership or messaging us, you agree to these codes on behalf of yourself and your dancer.

• Follow the studio rules and respect all coaches and staff and their decisions.
• Respect your fellow dancers.
• Arrive on time, or let your coach know (or ask a parent to message us) if you'll be late or can't make it.
• Never distract, bully or harass another dancer, at any time. This includes social media and Student Home.
• Not use bad language.
• Be polite and show good manners at all times.
• Treat all equipment with respect.
• Dress appropriately for physical activity. Kanvas Academy uniform is available in the store but is not required for weekly classes.
• Remove all body jewellery before class.
• Respect your coach. They will always do their best to support and protect you.
• Not bring food or chewing gum into the studio. Water in a bottle with a sports cap is fine.
• Put all litter in the bins provided.
• Leave valuables at home. Kanvas Academy is not responsible for lost items.
• Keep mobile phones and other devices switched off and away in the studio.
• Tell your coach before the warm-up if you have an injury or illness, and tell them straight away if you feel unwell or get hurt during class.
• If you're under 18, stay with your coach at the end of class until your parent or guardian has collected you.
• Come into the studio with a smile and have fun!

• First, they'll be reminded of the rules.
• Repeated breaches may mean sitting out for part of the class, away from the other dancers.
• Continued breaches: the coach will speak to the parent or guardian at the end of class. If there's no improvement, we'll invite the parent or guardian to a meeting to agree together how to move forward.
• In extreme cases, such as violence or damage to property, these steps may be skipped and the dancer may lose their place at the studio.

• Encourage your child to learn the rules and perform within them.
• Arrive at least 5 minutes before class so your dancer can check in with their QR pass, start on time and warm up properly. Please message us through the chat if you're running late.
• Make sure your dancer is dressed appropriately and has brought water.
• Wait in the waiting area during class unless a coach invites you in. Please don't sit where your dancer can see you, as it distracts them and they get less from the session.
• Discourage challenging or inappropriate behaviour towards coaches and other dancers. This includes social media and Student Home.
• Be realistic about your dancer's ability and don't set expectations too high. It can be damaging for children to feel they're falling short of a parent's expectations.
• Never force your child to take part. Dancers should be here for their own enjoyment, not their parents'.
• Set a good example by recognising good sportsmanship and applauding every dancer's efforts, not just your own child's.
• Never punish or belittle a child for a poor performance or for making mistakes. Mistakes are how dancers learn, and encouragement works best.
• Use appropriate language at all times, especially around young children or when representing Kanvas Academy.
• Let us know through the chat or email if your dancer is ill or unable to attend.
• Never challenge or threaten a coach or any member of the Kanvas Academy team. Raise any concern formally through the chat in your account, by email, or by asking for a meeting. We'll handle it and get back to you as soon as possible.
• Never raise a disagreement publicly, in person or online.
• Collect your dancer promptly at the end of class. Once the session has ended, although we'll do our best, we can't be responsible for looking after your child. Siblings left in the waiting area are not in our care.
• Keep your membership in good standing. Fees are collected monthly by card through your account. If a payment fails we'll email you and retry automatically; if it's still unpaid after a week your dancer's place is paused until it's caught up, and coaches won't be able to admit them to class.
• Support your child's involvement and help them enjoy their passion.
• If you and your dancer have committed to a team, support that commitment. It teaches them teamwork and reliability, and their teammates are counting on them.

Please understand that a breach of this code may have consequences, and in extreme cases may result in your child or children losing their place at the studio.

• Always put the well-being and safety of dancers before the development of performance.
• Build an appropriate working relationship with dancers, based on mutual trust and respect. Never abuse your authority or position as a teacher.
• Always work within the boundaries of your experience and qualifications.
• Hold valid insurance cover and a valid enhanced DBS check.
• Make sure every activity is appropriate to the age, ability and experience of the dancers taking part.
• Never raise your voice aggressively to a dancer, parent or colleague. If there's an issue, defuse it calmly and let the academy manager know so it can be sorted properly.
• Treat every dancer as an individual and set realistic, achievable goals. Unrealistic goals can have damaging effects on children.
• Never punish or demean a child for losing or making mistakes. It's through mistakes that performers learn and develop.
• Display consistently high standards of behaviour, language and appearance.
• Never be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while children are in your care.
• Not put undue pressure on dancers to obtain any personal benefit or reward.
• Encourage dancers to value their performances and their progress.
• Encourage dancers to take responsibility for their own performance and behaviour.
• Use your phone in the studio only for the Kanvas coach app (registers and check-in), for music, or for an urgent call. Not for anything else while children are in your care.
• Only check a dancer in once they're physically in the studio. Never check anyone in ahead of time.
• Complete the register after every session you teach. It's part of the job, not optional: it's how we know who was in the room, and it's what your sessions are paid from.
• Report any incident, referral or disclosure immediately, following the Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy below.
• Never share confidential information about a dancer or family without the express approval of the person concerned, except where safeguarding requires it.
• Stay positive while teaching. Pass on the good energy!

• First, they'll be reminded of the rules.
• Repeated breaches will lead to a formal meeting to discuss changes to attitude and workplace ethics, so that dancers at Kanvas Academy always receive the best possible experience.
• Serious or continued breaches may result in the instructor's role at the academy ending.

Kanvas Academy and everyone working with us are committed to a safe environment for children and young people. We believe it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people and will always do our best to prevent abuse.

This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and anyone working on behalf of Kanvas Academy.

• The welfare of every child and young person is paramount.
• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse.
• Working in partnership with children, their parents and guardians, and other agencies such as the Police and Social Services is essential in promoting children's welfare.

• To protect the children who attend our classes, workshops, camps, shows and competitions.
• To give staff, volunteers and anyone in charge of children at the studio clear guidance on what to do if they ever suspect a child may be at risk of harm or abuse.

• Valuing them, listening to them and respecting them.
• Recruiting coaches safely and making sure all the correct checks are made.
• All coaches are DBS-checked and fully insured.
• A person with first-aid training is present at every class.
• Every dancer's medical details and emergency contacts are recorded at registration and shown to their coach on the register, with any medical flags highlighted. Parents can update them at any time from their account.
• Sharing this policy and all safeguarding information with every coach, volunteer or staff member in charge of a child's care.
• Sharing information or concerns with the staff and agencies that need to know, such as the Police or Social Services, as well as with parents and the children themselves, who must know what is happening with their information.
• Moderating Student Home, our members' feed, under our Community Guidelines: every report is reviewed by a coach within 24 hours.
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision and guidance whenever it's needed.

• Try to talk to the child or young person and discuss the situation as much as possible. If a child confides in you and asks for it to be kept secret, you MUST let them know that you will have to tell the right people, but that their peers will not find out.
• Do not keep the information to yourself. Doing so can allow abuse to continue, and can have consequences for you as an instructor.
• Contact the appropriate authorities as you think necessary. If you are unsure, contact one of the Kanvas Academy administrators below straight away and give them all the information you have.
• Record what you were told, when, and what you did about it, as soon as possible afterwards, in the child's own words where you can.
• In an emergency, where a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

Kane Foster
Director & Manager, Kanvas Academy

Talia Main
Head of Cheerleading & Dance Instructor, Kanvas Academy

To raise a safeguarding or welfare concern, email support@kanvasacademy.com. For anything else, email hello@kanvasacademy.com, call 0191 468 2759, or use the live chat in your account or the Kanvas Academy app. Either address and the chat reach both administrators, and a concern can be raised privately at any time.

These codes sit alongside our Terms & Conditions, Community Guidelines and Privacy Policy.