Northern Ballet takes participant safety seriously, including their safety online.
All phones must be turned off and out-of-sight from the time when participants are collected by our pastoral team to begin their classes/day to the time when they are back in the foyer area at the end of their classes/day. This includes time spent in the studios, changing rooms, toilets. If a participant is with us for a full day, they can use their phones whilst on their lunch-break in the communal eating areas, not in the changing rooms or toilets.
If a participant is seen using their phone at any other time to lunchtime, on the first occasion they will be reminded to put it away. On any subsequent occasions it will be confiscated, placed in the Department’s office, and returned to the participant at the end of their class/day.
We understand that for participant safety phones will be brought into the building and will be used on the journeys to and from the building. If a participant brings their phone to Northern Ballet this should be turned off and placed in their box or bag so that it travels around the building with them, along with any other valuables they bring. We strongly recommend that participants refrain from bringing anything of significant value to their classes as we do not have the locker capacity to ensure all participants are able to safely lock valuables away.
Participants should turn on their phone and check for any messages at the end of their class/day before leaving the foyer area.
If a participant needs to contact a guardian in an emergency, they should ask permission to turn on their phone to make the call or they can call using a Northern Ballet landline phone.
If you need to contact your child in an emergency or to change any travel arrangements, please call the Northern Ballet reception team on 0113 220 8000 and leave a message for your child and the staff team. Please state your child’s name and class. Please be assured that whilst any child is in the building both the reception team, caretaker and a member of our pastoral team will remain on site and in cases of emergency children will not be left unattended.
The Use of Phones and Cameras During Participant Performances
We understand performance days are important to our participants and are a celebration of all their hard work. Therefore, during each performance opportunity, there will be set times for participants to take photos of themselves and friends and these will be overseen by staff. Please note participant photos may be shared on their social platforms. We ask that participants only photograph friends and peers with their permission and that any photos taken and shared on social media, represent all participants in a tasteful manner.
A reminder of this will be sent to guardians during the planning of any performances and if a guardian doesn’t want their child to participant in photos, they must notify Northern Ballet, ahead of the performance.
The Use of Phones and Cameras for Audition Purposes
Participants may need to record class footage for audition purposes using their own technology. This should only be done with prior consent and supervision from a member of staff and the footage should not include any other person.