COVID-19

Please find here information relating to your classes and account during the COVID-19 pandemic.

What to expect when arriving for your Sparks class during Covid-19

As classes resume, there are some new practices in place which we all need to follow. This is to help keep Sparks members and families, team members and partners safe.

We regularly review these policies and procedures, in line with government guidance, input from our venue partners and customer feedback.

We'll always keep you up to date with our latest developments and we're grateful for your support in helping us to keep our classes safe and enjoyable.

Arrival at the Venue

• Please arrive at the designated time. Please be aware that we cannot welcome students to classes early, as we need to manage both travel around the building and maintain close bubble systems.

• Please be aware that parking restrictions may apply. We'll advise you of these beforehand if applicable.

• Please follow venue specific signage in order to register and follow any one-way systems in operation.

• In many venues, parents are unable to enter the premises for drop offs, collections, or any engagement in classes. Please understand this is in order to limit contact with others indoors.

• Please maintain Social Distancing with others at the venue, seeking to keep at least 2m distance with others who are not part of your household

• Please avoid touching surfaces

Our Safety Measures

We have a range of measures in place to promote safety and reduce the risk of transmission. These include:

• Participants advised not to attend if experiencing any symptoms associated with Covid-19
  

• Our maximum group size is 12 children, with up to 2 instructors. These groups will operate in 'bubbles' at all times throughout the class/camp
  

• Instructors in each room will encourage the 'Catch It, Kill It, Bin It' procedures
  

• There will be tissues, hand sanitiser and alcohol cleaning wipes available in each studio and filmmakers will be encouraged to sanitise their hands regularly
  

• We'll be aiming to work outdoors as much as possible, so participants are advised to please bring suitable clothing, including a sun hat
  

• Inside the building, we'll be using a one-way travel system. Only one group will be able to travel at a time
  

• Each room will be equipped with cleaning materials for regular use during the day.
  

• Equipment will be cleaned with high alcohol cleaning materials after each use (multiple times within each session) and rooms will be thoroughly cleaned at the end of each day.
  

• Access to parents and visitors inside the premises will be suspended throughout. We apologise for any disappointment, but this is an important part of our venue's risk assessment.
  

• Whilst in any communal areas, team members should wear face coverings unless exempt. These can include masks, or transparent visors. Face coverings do not need to be worn outdoors. Participants can opt to wear masks if they choose.
  

• Team members to wear full PPE for close contact interactions, such as First Aid.
  

• Students must bring their own refreshments, there won't be any provision of food or drink from staff during the day. Water bottles can be refilled by students.
  

• Registration and pickup to be managed from separate 'bubble' registration points outdoors
  

• Unfortunately, there won't be the usual sharing presentations for parents on the last day. We will still share the films with you after the programme and you will also be invited to an online Awards Ceremony in September.
  

• Test and Trace: please be aware that we keep a register, with contact details, that may be shared with the Test and Trace service if required. You don't need to sign in on arrival, we take care of this automatically via our registration process.

Additional Procedures & Advice

• If you are experiencing symptoms, please request a test here >>>.
  
  Please do not attend until testing negative for Covid-19. If testing positive, please alert the NHS Test and Trace service.
  
  Please also contact us to advise. Where possible, we’ll arrange to transfer your booking to another course.

• In case of needing self-isolate:

We ask that the parent/guardian contact us immediately. Wherever possible, we will transfer your booking over to a different week/convenient location.

If transfer is not possible we will offer a credit towards a future course without expiry.

• Children in School Year 7 and above should participate in twice weekly home testing, in line with the system that your school has introduced. Please continue to follow your school issued guidance if you have a positive test.
  For details on where to find your local test options:
  Local test sites: https://maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites Collection sites for home tests: https://find-covid-19-rapid-test-sites.maps.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

Bubble System

Your child will be part of a 'bubble', totalling 12 children. Each studio group will operate as its own bubble. Each bubble will also have its own dedicated instructors.

Account Charges

Where Sparks classes cannot operate as planned, for instance in the event of a lockdown, we will pause all subscriptions and payments. We will not charge you for classes that cannot take place.

Your local film school may offer alternative provision, such as online classes. In this instance, class fees may be adjusted (usually decreased) and adjustments will be applied to your account. Your local Sparks office will be in touch with you to discuss local arrangements and confirm any reductions in fees.

If you have paid for classes in advance (i.e. you have paid for a full term and are not enrolled on the monthly plan), we will credit your account to reflect any sessions that we are forced to cancel.

Covid-19 Terms & Conditions

Please find here our Terms and Conditions relating to Covid-19. These can all be found with our full Terms and Conditions here.

Sparks will act in accordance with all national and local legislation, as applicable, at all times.

Sparks will follow the most up-to-date government guidelines to ensure safety standards are met, e.g. use of designated participant bubbles, use of PPE by staff and enhanced cleaning routines.

Participants and/or parents/guardians must not attend activities if experiencing any symptoms, if waiting for test results or if under quarantine orders in relation to recent travel.

If alerted to an outbreak:
Sparks will notify all participants and parents/guardians within that bubble and communicate the necessary information relating to isolation and testing. Sparks will notify the Track and Trace service, who will contact parents directly. Parents should cooperate with their requests and provide the relevant data.

Sparks will also close in-person activities for that bubble, until such a safe time to resume. In the event of Covid-19 related cancellations, activities will be rescheduled or will be subject to a change of particulars, such as a move to online format if necessary. If the result of Covid-19 outbreaks or regulations, this clause will supersede all others relating to cancellation.

Updates and Review

Please note that the information here may be subject to change at short notice. We'll follow the latest guidance closely and update as quickly as possible in in the event of any changes.