3a. Induction Notes

SATURDAY PROGRAMME TUTOR INDUCTION NOTES 2023

              Please read these carefully even if you have been with us for some time!

 

  1. COVID-19

 

Please do not attend the Saturday Programme if you or any member of your family or friends with whom you live or have been in close contact, have any symptoms of Covid-19 or have been told to self-isolate. 

 

Symptoms include:

  • A raised/high temperature
  • A cough
  • Loss or change to taste or smell
  • General feeling of being unwell
  • Diarrhoea and vomiting (children)

 

Reporting a case
If you or any member of your family displays symptoms, you must NOT attend. If you become ill on site, please inform me immediately. You will be isolated in the First Aid Area until you can go home/be collected. Please be aware government guidelines do not allow use of public transport with Covid symptoms. If you are aware of a child who has been in class who is feeling unwell, has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been told to self-isolate, please let me know immediately so we can take the necessary actions.

  • If you have symptoms, please ensure you are tested and if you are Positive, let the Office know the result. You must then isolate for 14 days. Please try and line up a dep for the term, in the hopefully unlikely event you are ill or have to isolate. They must be DBS checked and approved by us so it would be good to think about this asap.
  • If anyone in a group is diagnosed, we may need to move the class online for two weeks so everyone can isolate. We would do this live from Haggerston in the scheduled spot, on our office iPad, unless the tutors also need to isolate, which we will address as needed.

 

IF A CHILD OR TUTOR GETS ILL, IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY TO CLOSE THEIR CLASS FOR TWO WEEKS TO ALLOW EVERYONE TO ISOLATE. THIS MIGHT ALSO IMPACT ON OTHER CLASSES THE CHILD/TUTOR ATTENDS, OR EVEN THE ENTIRE SATURDAY PROGRAMME. IN SUCH A SITUATION, CLASSES WOULD BE MOVED TO ONLINE FOR 1-2 WEEKS AS NEEDED.

 

Signing In/ Out: Please use the sign in sheets at the entrance upon your arrival and departure.

 

These instructions are also available in the Parent Handbook, and in “Useful Links” in the Saturday Programme App.

 

 

  • Students in Year 2 and below and Parents
  • ONLY Parents of Year 2 children and under are allowed in the building. They are NOT allowed in classes or to walk around the building unless escorting their under child to class from where they must immediately return to the Canteen. For the first week of Fledglings parents are allowed to stay to stay in the playground NOT the classroom, to ensure their children settle.
  • Students in Year 2 or below (Fledglings, I Can Sing! Minis) are not allowed to walk through the building unescorted.
  • Please make sure you wait for these students to be collected before releasing them from your classroom.
  • Mini students will need to be collected from the Hall for their 9am instrumental lesson.

 

  • Punctuality: please arrive 15 minutes before the start of the day so you can collect everything you need, catch up with us at the desk and deal with any issues before the mad rush of parents begins! We know that transport can be less than reliable, so please check travel updates the day before to see what lines are being closed etc. If you are delayed, please let us know on the Saturday Programme phone. Please ensure you wear masks if using public transport.

The number to contact me on the day is: 07860161194.

 

  • Registers: Your complete schedule is at the top of the register, with your lists of students. REGISTERS ARE NOW ON-LINE (although you can request a paper copy). It is really important to complete these properly every week for every student. For large groups, allocate a tutor responsible for this. AO- authorised absence, L – late, O – absent. These are put onto our system every week so we can contact parents if students miss a particular session or are absent regularly. If you are aware of a particular student’s non-attendance, please bring it to our attention as soon as you can so we can look into it.

 

  • Folders and Music: You are now required to keep your own folder, paperwork and lanyard, to assist with distancing but all music/hand-outs can be collected from the desk and returned to Sabina (unless you want to practice at home!), when you leave. Please keep everything with you as you travel around the building.

 

  • Bridge Academy:
    1. Equipment – please do not use Bridge Academy school equipment unless arranged. They are very vigilant about what is used / moved etc. We have to deal with disgruntled teachers regularly. Our relationship with Bridge Academy is vital to the health of the school – please help us keep it positive.
    2. Please help us monitor the corridors and the outside equipment. In the past we have had a window broken (cost us £500), incidents with table tennis tables and children injuring themselves as they were climbing on walls etc. Guilty culprits are also subject to our 3 strikes policy, so please do make sure that you make notes on your registers. Students should not be congregated in the corridors, and should be in the Atrium or outside if not in a lesson.
    3. Whiteboards – please be extra careful NOT to use the interactive whiteboards to write on, even if the school teachers themselves have.
    4. Fire escapes – The Assembly Point in case of a Fire or other Emergency is on the bridge on Haggerston Road. Escort your class down to the Assembly Point, and make sure they walk, not run! Leave all personal belongings behind, including instruments, only bring your registers. Please familiarise yourself with your nearest exit points from every room in which you are teaching.
    5. Your room – Please put your teaching room back to how it was upon your arrival in the morning. We spend a lengthy amount of time cleaning up and don’t have the capacity to move all the furniture back that you might have moved!

 

  • First Aid If a child (or yourself) is hurt or ill, they should be sent to the desk/to one of our qualified First Aiders: Gavin Stewart and Alex French. We will be training a third person soon. If a child is displaying symptoms of Covid, immediately isolate them from yourself and the group and call Sabina. The child will be placed in an isolated First Aid space while awaiting collection.

 

  • Deps: please see your contract for information on this. ALL tutor absences must be approved 2 weeks in advance (except for illness) and you are responsible for finding and contracting a dep. We permit ONE absence per term but can be approached in exceptional circumstances! All deps must be approved by us which means seeing their CV in advance, and being given details of their current DBS. If you are finding it difficult to find someone, please ask us for suggestions. You are responsible for letting them know in appropriate detail, what the teaching entails! If you are ill during the week or the day before, please do alert us and see if a dep is available so we can try and anticipate problems as it is extremely difficult for us to offer the full programme if there are last minute cancellations, although we do appreciate occasionally it is unavoidable.

 

  • Schedule: Please find the schedule enclosed, those who have been here a while know it changes from term to term, though we do our best to minimise this! Please familiarise yourselves with the rooms and timings which will also be on your register. Session times are tight and we must be punctual, so please ensure you finish a couple of minutes early so you can start the next lesson on time if appropriate and that you have also accounted for writing in every child’s practice book and moving rooms as required!

 

  • Code of Conduct for students: ensure you are familiar with this and our 3 Strikes Policy. Please report any incidents to an HMDT Music member of staff so that we can discuss it directly with the student. Strike Two includes writing a behaviour report which again should be discussed with staff first.

 

  • Staff Code of conduct and Child Safeguarding:
    1. It is important not to have unnecessary physical contact with children. Contact should be avoided except when engaged in teaching of vocal/instrumental technique or other activities which require contact for artistic purposes. In such circumstances the following must apply:
      1. Permission has been requested and given by the student.
      2. That the demonstration of technique is necessary in order for the student to achieve the required result.
    2. Lessons missed during HMDT activities may not be rearranged at any other time without the written permission of the parent/carer, and without the knowledge of HMDT. The same policy must be enacted for tutors who (often voluntarily and in an unpaid capacity) wish to offer pupils extra lessons. This applies in particular to rearranged lessons in pupils’ or tutor’s homes, but is also relevant if lessons are arranged outside the normal supervised structure.
    3. Do not give students lifts in your car, even if it is raining, or if you’re going the same way.
    4. It is important not to deter children from making a disclosure of abuse for fear of not being believed, and to listen to what they have to say. Staff should not attempt to investigate a disclosure that gives rise to a child protection issue, but should report the matter to the HMDT office. Staff should never promise a child complete confidentiality in a child protection issue, but should advise pupils that the matter will be referred on to the designated officers for child protection.
    5. Remember that those who abuse children can be of any age, gender, ethnic background or class, and it is important not to allow personal preconceptions about people to prevent appropriate action taking place.

Advice to staff on the appropriate response to a child making an allegation of abuse.

  1. Stay calm.
  2. Listen to what is said. Do not put words in the child’s mouth or cross question the child. Make no judgements.
  • Find an appropriate opportunity, as soon as possible, to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others – do not promise to keep secrets.
  1. Tell the child that the matter will only be disclosed to those who need to know about it.
  2. Allow the child to continue at his/her own pace. Ensure the child is safe and comfortable.
  3. Ask questions for clarification only, and at all times avoid asking leading questions (that suggest a particular answer).
  • Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in telling you.
  • Tell the child what you will do next, and with whom the information will be shared.
  1. Record in writing what was said, using the child’s own words as soon as possible – note the date, time, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given and ensure the record is signed and dated.
  2. Then follow the General Procedure for Reporting Concerns.

It is important to remember that the person who first encounters a case of alleged abuse is not responsible for deciding whether abuse has occurred. That is a task for professional child protection agencies, following a referral from the designated officers of HMDT.

  • References: The office is more than happy to provide references for other roles, however please do seek permission first.

 

  • Music and Handouts: we must have copies of ALL music and handouts you use for our records in advance of your sessions. Requests for photocopying must be made by Midday on the Thursday. Please leave ALL your music in your folder at the end of the day so as to eliminate the chance of things going missing and to ensure there is a marked up copy of everything should you be taken ill and we need a Dep. However, this shouldn’t stop you from practising at home, so for programmes like ICS!, we do keep a spare score!

 

  • Tutor Meetings: The schedules are structured to ensure that every tutor attends a team meeting. these and where possible there is a short break beforehand to ensure you can arrive punctually. This is the place to share concerns, queries and ideas and discuss students’ progress, behavioural issues etc and collaboration for sessions, concerts and showings as well as a chance to socialise. Unfortunately for now, we will not be re-instigating the baking/snack until distancing is not an issue but do of course feel free to bring your own!

CYMH 12:30 – 12:50 in Staff Room (please note change of room to a larger space).

ICS! 1:45 – 2:15 in Performance Theatre/Black Box

 

  • The Office Team: do contact us with issues or queries rather than letting things build up – we are here to support you and will always try and help if we can. Office hours 10-6pm Tues – Fri.

 

  • The Tutor Handbook is available online HERE. Please familiarise yourself with it before starting as it does get updated!

 

I CAN SING!

 

  • Repertoire is discussed and chosen at meetings before term starts, or at the end of the previous term. Do come armed with ideas. We usually combine music from music theatre rep from the 1920s onwards, with our own commissions and work thematically or from specific chosen works, but are always up for new ideas

 

  • Showings: We will do end of term showings on the last day of term in the Autumn and Spring terms. We will do a large-scale performance involving all 4 groups working together in costume on the penultimate week of the Autumn term.

 

  • Student Dress Code: All students doing dance are required to wear suitable clothing (loose, comfortable clothes they can move in). Junior 2s and Seniors are required to wear dance shoes unless they are not appropriate for the style of dance.

 

CYMH

 

  • Instrument tasters: Mini 2s will rotate tasters weekly for 10 weeks. Students then request the instrument they want to learn. Please keep notes on each student so we know who has an aptitude or not if we cannot accommodate everyone’s first choice – these notes should be submitted at the end of the day with your registers. ALL the students have been asked to wait in the Atrium meeting area where you should collect them before the class. From the Spring term you will have a set class of students learning your instrument.

 

  • Instrument Loans:
    1. At the start of term, tutors MUST look over instruments loaned by their students and complete and sign/date the section about condition/damage. Do NOT give out instruments unless the instrument has been authorised to be loaned and you have signed the form. Ensure you have kept a list of which instrument you have given to which student and when, together with the Serial Number. Each year you will receive a form showing which instruments your students have been loaned. This is for you to update any changes to the condition of the instrument, and/or any changes to which instrument they are actually using. You must also put write the changes on a renewal slip which should be given to the student for their parent to sign.
    2. If you do give out an instrument without it having been authorised and it is lost as a result, the liability will lie with you for this instrument.
    3. RETURNING AN INSTRUMENT – this MUST be returned to the desk and be signed in by Sabina. DO NOT accept it at the lesson. This is so that we can check the instrument back into the system, which also protects you. Please complete the instrument condition section of the Instrument Loan Return Form (in folders), and hand to the student to bring to Sabina. We will do regular checks of what instruments we have out on loan.

 

  • Other Teachers: We have a stringent policy that students must NOT be learning their instrument with a teacher elsewhere. Please keep an eye on this and let us know if this is infringed as it is in your interest not to have another teacher muscling in on what you teach! Similarly, if you know a student learns a different instrument elsewhere, make a note on the register in case we’re not aware as they may prefer to play this one in orchestra. The exceptions to this are students learning through a short, group programme at school such as Wider Opportunities where they are unlikely to be of an eligible standard for our Ensembles.

 

  • Music Books for Instrumental teaching: We recommend starting beginners with handouts (see above) and then asking students to buy books. Please limit the amount of books you request!

 

  • Parents: We try and ensure that your communication with parents is minimal so you are not burdened and can keep to your schedule!
    1. On the first week in January, parents should accompany Mini 2s to their first instrumental lesson to sign any loan forms and learn how to help look after their child’s instrument;
    2. Students should arrive promptly for their lesson with their instrument already set up. This can be done outside the classroom whilst you finish with the previous class.
    3. Practice Books. These MUST be filled in regularly so that parents know what their child should be practising, can update on things from their end or make queries if there are concerns. Any problems too large to fit in the practice book slot should be brought to the desk! Please keep an eye on whether parents are signing and let the office know if not.
    4. Please do not have email contact with parents without our knowledge or rearrange sessions directly with them.

 

  • Schemes of Work and Lesson Plans: Following the feedback from last year, we have reduced the form down, to 3 goals for the term, and a text box for comments about to achieve these goals. These need to be useful documents to us and yourselves so putting ‘do scales, practice’ is not really adequate whereas noting problems with hyper mobile joints and a need to develop bow hold etc, is! We do understand that as a term progresses their goals can change, this then needs to be reflected in their next ILP.

 

  • Repertoire: our aim is to compile a comprehensive file of what repertoire has been covered for each group and when, which you can access when planning so you know what can be returned to and what not to repeat. Some terms we devise a theme and will of course keep you updated with plenty of notice.

 

  • Saturday Programme Overview: General Musicianship is incorporated into Ensembles and longer lessons, so please ensure you continue to incorporate theory, musical context/listening/history, improvisation and games into your sessions as appropriate.

 

  • Concerts: We will have concerts in the Performance Hall on the last day of the Autumn and Summer term. In the Spring term we will have informal performances throughout the day in the Atrium, the dress code for all tutors in these concerts is ALL BLACK. We will also be holding informal concerts specifically for ABRSM candidates which will take place in the 12:30-12:50 slot during the second half of the Autumn and Spring terms.. We schedule these during the term they are taking the exam, and we will issue you a schedule for your students. We will discuss inviting parents to these. There is also a piano available for pianists. These performances have been very successful and parents love hearing the students perform! If you have a performance ready for an ensemble or student that isnt doing an exam, please talk to Gavin as we can always look for opportunities for student performances!

 

  • Exams: We need to know who you are proposing to enter after the first day of term by 23 Sept as parents need to be contacted and sign up before we can enter anyone. As an exam centre, we can host exams, but only if there are enough students. We also provide Aural classes so all students will be scheduled a time, however you should also encourage students to use the aural app & try & do some work on their own as this is often a weaker aspect of their exams. Similarly, do ensure students’ scales and sight reading are at the same level of playing comfort as their pieces, as they can be overlooked! We will only be doing exams in the Autumn and Spring terms going forward so please have this in the back of your heads when preparing for exams.

 

  • Payment and Invoicing when required. Due to fluctuating student numbers, your hours can vary a small amount from term to term. At the start of each term you will be issued with a Purchase Order for the term, and that payment will be split monthly across the term.

 

 

 

TERM DATES AND DEADLINES – ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24

 

AUTUMN 2023                         

1 September                  Autumn 23 Ensemble Repertoire Deadline

                                               

16 September                Pre-Term Meeting/CPD Sessions

                                               

22 September                Schemes of Work Deadlines

23 September                   23 SEP – AUTUMN TERM BEGINS

30 September                MUSIC TREEHOUSE PROGRAMME BEGINS

2 October                      Individual Learning Plans Deadline

7, 14.                             (Half Term 21 and 28 October)

4, 12, 18, 25 November

2 December                   Spring 2024 Ensemble Repertoire Deadline

9 December                     End of Term Performances, Christmas Party, ABRSM Deadline

                                               

 

 

SPRING 2024                            

9 January                       Schemes of Work Deadline (Ensembles/Group non-instrumental)

13 January                       13 JAN – SPRING TERM BEGINS

20 January                     MUSIC TREEHOUSE PROGRAMME BEGINS

22 January                     Individual Learning Plans Deadline

27  January

3, 10 February                  (Half Term 17 February)

24 February

2, 9 March

16 March                       Summer 2023 Ensemble Repertoire Deadline

23 March                         End of Term Performances

 

 

 

SUMMER 2024                          

16 April                         Schemes of Work Deadline (Ensembles/Group non-instrumental)

20 April                          22 APRIL – SUMMER TERM BEGINS

27 April                         MUSIC TREEHOUSE PROGRAMME BEGINS

29 April                         Individual Learning Plans Deadline

4, 11, 18 May                    (Half Term 25 May and 1 June)

8 June

12 June                          Reports Deadline

15, 22, June

29 June                           ICS! Summer show

6 July                             End of Term Performances, ABRSM Deadline