COVID 19 Prevention measures

We continue to review and follow the Government’s “Out of School Settings” COVID19 guidance. In line with the commencement of step 4 of the government’s response, from 19th July, many of the restrictions on children’s classes have been removed. However, to create a safe and relaxing environment and to reduce the number of ‘close contacts’ pupils, parents and tutors come in to contact with, we will be keeping a number of additional COVID 19 prevention procedures in place. We have also reintroduced some measures as a result of the change of guidance due to the Omicron variant.

The main procedures can be found below. We will also be following all procedures set out by Bath Artists’ Studios where classes will be held.

COVID-19 Prevention Procedures Summer 2021:

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures:
-Please complete and return registration forms via email before the day of the class. This will speed up the registration process and contact will be avoided on the day.
-Pupils can be dropped off any time between 9.25 – 9.35 and picked up any time between 3.25 – 3.35 to create a staggered arrival to the building.
-Please stay two metres away from the tutor and other parents when dropping off or picking up children and have only one parent attend.
-We are asking parents not to come in to the building. On the first session of your booking, the tutor will be outside the Bath Artists’ Studio’s building for registration. The children will then be asked to use the hand sanitiser provided* and to find their seat in the classroom or directed on where to wait to be taken to the studio classroom.
-For school room classes, in the morning of the remaining days of art club, the door of the classroom will be open (between 9.25-9.35), pupils will be able to come straight in to the classroom to their seats. Parents should please remain outside.
- For studio classes, the tutor will wait outside the studio building each day to direct pupils to the studio.
-For pick up it would great if parents could please wait outside the studio building, remaining socially distanced from one another. The tutor will then come to the door (from 3.25-3.35) and call the children up one by one to leave.
-Unfortunately, class members are unable to use the Bath Artists’ Studios Car Park. Alternative parking info can be found on ‘contact’ page.

-If you are running late for drop off or need to pick up pupils early at collection time, please phone Amy on 07737615152 once you arrive and she will come to the door. We may not hear any knocks directly on the door, therefore arrival/collection on time would be much appreciated.

Classroom Procedures:
-Pupils will be placed together in groups. Those attending with friends or family members will be grouped together if this has been stated in their registration forms. The groups will remain consistent throughout the workshops.
-Separate material and equipment packs for each pupil will be provided on the desks. Some materials and equipment will be shared with other members of their group, but each pack will be left at least 72 hours or cleaned thoroughly before being used by other groups.
-All areas will be cleaned regularly- desks, door handles, toilets etc.
-The space will be well ventilated by keeping windows/ doors open whilst maintaining a comfortable learning environment
-Pupils will be asked to use hand sanitiser or wash hands throughout the day, particularly when arriving at the venue, before and after food, after using toilets and at the end of the day *.
-The tutor will promote the importance of ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ for respiratory hygene.
-Where possible, the tutor will remain at least two metres away from pupils. A mask will be worn by the tutor if they do need to be closer at any point.
-Following the Bath Artsists’ Studios guidelines, we will be asking our 11+ group to bring a face mask along with them to the class so they can be worn in the communal areas in the studio such as the corridors, toilets and sinks. Children in the ages 7-11 classes do not need to wear masks.

*We realise some children may want to use their own sanitiser if they have sensitive skin or eczema etc, feel free to bring this along to use instead.

If a member of art club or tutor becomes ill with COVID 19 symptoms:
-Please do not send your child to art club if they are displaying any symptoms of the coronavirus. Guidance on this can be found on the government webpage: When to self isolate.
-If the tutor starts to display sypmtoms of covid 19 or test positive, they will be in contact if they need to cancel the class.
- All those showing symptoms of COVID19 should get tested
-If those showing symptoms test negative, they can return to art club when they recover.
-If they test positive, NHS test and trace will speak directly to those who they have been in contact with to offer advise.
- If an art club member becomes ill while at art club they should be sent home and advised to follow the COVID-19: guidance. While the child is awaiting collection the government guidelines will be followed to move the child away from the other members of the class and increase cleaning to prevent the potential spread of the virus.

If somebody in your child’s group tests positive:
-From 16^th August 2021, all children under 18 will no longer need to isolate if they have been in close contact with a positive case, but may be contacted by test and trace to be asked to take a PCR test.

Asymptomatic Testing
-Government guidelines state that teaching staff and secondary age children should continue to test regularly if they are attending settings that remain open.
-Staff and secondary age children can collect home test kits either from their local pharmacy or by ordering coronavirus (COVID-19) rapid lateral flow tests online. You should communicate this to staff, secondary age children and parents.
-There is no need for primary age children (those in year 6 and below) to test over the summer period.
-Staff and children with a positive LFD test result should self-isolate in line with the stay at home guidance. They will also need to get a free PCR test to check if they have COVID-19.
-Whilst awaiting the PCR result, the individual should continue to self-isolate.
-If the PCR test is taken within 2 days of the positive lateral flow test, and is negative, it overrides the self-test LFD test and the child or staff member can return to your setting, as long as the individual doesn’t have COVID-19 symptoms.

Cancellation policy for 2021 Holiday Clubs:
Our policies in various circumstances are as follows:

- In the event of a whole camp cancellation due to COVID-19 related reasons, you will be issued a refund for the full value for all sessions booked.

-In the event of a parent cancellation due to their child contracting Covid-19, or being told to isolate, the customer must notify us by 24 hours prior to the start of the affected day, and a credit note will be offered to the value of the missed sessions.

-If your child is unable to attend camp because they (or the parent) have to quarantine after returning from overseas travel, unfortunately we are not able to refund or credit your booking in this situation.

-Credit notes are valid for 12 months from the date of issue for all future Funky Art House holiday classes.