COVID-19 Safety Policy
Waltons New School of Music
COVID-19 is still very much with us, and the health and safety of all New School staff, students and visitors remains of paramount importance to us. We are therefore keeping our rigorous COVID-19 Safety Policy in place this year to make the school a safe and secure place to learn music. Please read this Policy carefully, as acknowledgement of it and adherence to its guidelines is required of all in-school students and parents, as well as those using our practice facilities.
The sections below list:
- The adaptations we have made to our equipment and procedures.
- The safety requirements that all in-school students, parents of in-school students, those using our practice facilities and visitors to the New School must observe, as well what will happen should the New School be required to physically close.
- A statement that all those who enrol for in-school tuition, use our practice facilities or visit the New School must acknowledge and agree to.
School Adaptations
The adaptations we have made to our equipment and procedures include:
- Perspex screens in every classroom.
- Installation of HEPA air filtration/purification units where necessary – especially in classrooms where voice (singing) and wind instruments are taught.
- Antiseptic dispensers available throughout the school.
- Cleaning and disinfection of both classroom instruments and furniture between lessons and classes.
- Regular cleaning of public spaces.
COVID-19 Safety Requirements
All in-school students, parents of in-school students, those using our practice facilities and visitors to the New School are required:
- To follow all New School COVID-19 safety guidelines when attending lessons/classes or practicing in the school.
- To arrive as close as possible to the student’s lesson/class time or the visitor’s practice time, and to leave as soon as possible afterwards.
- To sterilise hands using one of the school’s antiseptic dispensers both before and after all lessons, classes or practice sessions.
- Except in the case of piano, drum kit, Irish harp, cello and double bass tuition, to bring their own instruments to the school for lessons, classes and practice. (All shared New School instruments are cleaned with disinfectant wipes between lessons, classes or practice sessions.)
- To understand that every in-school student is required to continue with online tuition if his/her teacher develops COVID-19 or was in contact with someone who has it – as well as in the unlikely event that Irish Government directives require the New School to physically close temporarily due to COVID-19 – unless it is impossible for the student to do so and this exemption has been agreed before the start of tuition. No refunds or deferrals will be made if the student or parent declines online tuition but the student is otherwise able to take it. If you wish to be exempt for reasons of age, access or lack of technical requirements, please contact us as soon as possible.
- Not to attend in-school lessons or classes:
- If the student taking tuition or anyone he/she is living with is unwell, and there is any possibility that this is due to a COVID-19 infection.
- If the student has been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 and has been advised to self-isolate, or has been advised to self-isolate for another reason.
Although we cannot guarantee this, the New School will attempt to make up through online or make-up lessons any lessons missed due to a student’s COVID-19 infection or self-isolation requirement. A doctor’s certificate is required for this. Unfortunately, we cannot make up a group class or classes missed for this reason, although our teachers will provide students with practice follow-up materials to ensure that they don’t fall behind. In any case, we cannot refund or provide credit for lessons missed due to a COVID-19 infection or self-isolation requirement.
If a teacher has a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection or has been in close contact with someone who has, he/she will teach all lessons/courses online for the duration of his/her self-isolation requirement or make up all lessons/classes when well enough to do so.
The New School reserves the right to refuse admission and/or tuition for any student or parent who does not follow our COVID-19 Safety Requirements. In such a case, the student’s missed tuition will not be made up or refunded.
Acknowledgement
By enrolling for in-school tuition or booking a practice room, students, parents and practisers acknowledge:
- That the New School has put in place a range of protective and preventative measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to government directives as well as current best practice.
- That the New School cannot guarantee protection from COVID-19 infection, but if all students, visitors and staff observe our COVID-19 safety requirements and procedures, the risk of contracting COVID-19 will be minimal. (To date, there hasn’t been a single confirmed confirmed case of COVID-19 transmission within the school.)
- That enrolling for tuition or practice on the New School premises may be increasing risk to exposure to COVID-19.
- That the COVID-19 virus has a long incubation period, during which carriers of the virus may not display symptoms and still be contagious.
- That all in-school students, parents of in-school students, those using our practice facilities and visitors to the New School must comply with all New School COVID-19 safety requirements and procedures to reduce the spread COVID-19 while in the school.
- That all in-school students are required to continue with online tuition 1) if their teachers have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infections or have been in close contact with someone who has, or 2) in the unlikely event that Irish Government directives require the New School to physically close temporarily due to COVID-19, unless it is impossible for students to do so and this exemption has been agreed before the start of tuition in a term or year.
Thank you for observing our COVID-19 Safety Policy.
a comprehensive music centre in the heart of Dublin.