Anon2

@Jan McNulty is there any information on the Planned Engineering page for Avanti trains on the Sunday you plan to travel? 

1 hour ago, Quintus said:

Look who I met today.  No sign of Baldric though.

 

That’s fantastic. We’ve seen newts last few days, it seems so cold still but sun must be strong enough to warm them into action. 

We had numerous tits either determined to hang onto feeders or couldn’t actually leave because of wind. Blackbirds and robins missing yesterday but back noisily this morning. 
We watched our local buzzards trying desperately to get across field to their nesting area, they eventually gave up and went back into cover of trees. Haven’t seen them yet today so hoping they survived. 
Our hedgehog feeding stations were visited overnight, hope your visitor was ok @shade

We had a power cut and the overwintering juvenile hog that is still indoors was out very early to fed and rampage. 

Dance physio recommended chocolate milk as a healthy snack and good for muscle recovery. 
Overnight oats or Bircher make a good snack and a fee days batch can be made and decanted into suitable container. 

25 minutes ago, Lildancer96 said:

I totally agree that our dancers should be better protected and be entitled to more. Unfortunately though if our dancers don’t take the positions and accept the conditions, there are plenty of dancers from other countries who will jump at the opportunity, whatever the pay and conditions. It then becomes a balance between how much they want to be a dancer and how far you are willing to go to try and make that happen. 

Personally I think a short trial without pay is acceptable - maybe a month or so to enable the director to see if the dancer fits with the company but the problem is companies that keep unpaid dancers for prolonged periods and then let them go at the end filling their position with another unpaid dancer. 

So who keeps the dancer whilst they do their month unpaid? Most posts outside dance have a trial period but you are paid for your work, if it doesn’t fit on either side you can walk away.
And in our experience the dancer had been part of the graduate program, did class with the company and was involved in majority of performances - they knew them and were happy to use as a member of company just didn’t want/couldn’t pay so could only offer a contract if dancer didn’t need paying. 

2 hours ago, taxi4ballet said:

Schemes like this can sometimes be a way for a company to have extra dancers without having to pay them a proper salary or give them a contract. 

 

Not that I'm a cynic or anything.

 Parents having the privilege of paying for the program and the company a ready made corps. 

1 hour ago, Drdee said:

Sorry that my comments were not clear. I think we should be prepared to wait a few years post graduation and maybe longer after the pandemic. Five years may seem too long in the dance world considering the average stage career. I was talking about the performing arts, MT, ballet, and maybe acting. It’s just my opinion and there are many variables at play. 

Dancers especially ballet dancers need to continue to have top quality dance classes until they have a company position and are doing class. For most once out of training impossible to access, either the expense, location or space at home.

@Squawk020 it’s wonderful you have started ballet and are enjoying it so much. But I second all the comments here you need to have a serious conversation with your dance teacher about your prospects. You may have made amazing progress in your short time dancing but there is more to being a dancer than picking it up quickly. As others have said look at associate schemes, holiday courses - use them to realistically judge your level compared to your peers. 
 

Having had a daughter go through lower and upper school the support from parents isn’t just financial but emotional too. It is tough and no fairy tale being a ballet student, the days are long and practice expected into the evenings. You need a supportive network behind you to survive never mind thrive. 
 

Financially you are not just looking at the school fees but dance and a formal uniform. In sixth form you could be getting through dozens of pairs of pointe shoes a year. Once you get to graduate year you also need money to travel to auditions.

I seem to remember there is a form to complete if your earnings or circumstances change during the year

17 hours ago, NotadanceMa said:

My child has said that on occasion when there has been some concerns expressed about the teacher by students which there has been then the SENCO or one of the Pastoral Care Team has sat in on a class. My child said it’s absolutely pointless though as the teacher is always completely different and the children then have no recourse.

The behaviour of this teacher is already on the radar. You speaking up might just be the extra evidence required by senior team to act. 
As someone who has had a child go through vocational training on funding I can appreciate it is difficult to put your head above the parapet but what is happening now will have long term impacts on your child’s well-being. 
My Dd at times hated that I spoke up during her journey but now that she is in the ‘normal’ world she recently told me she appreciated and fully understood what and why I was doing it and I was trying to protect her and her peers. She has come to realise how the behaviour they endured as students was at times coercive and damaging. 

My Dd had many unhappy times at vocational school and we were always having the conversation about leaving and it being her choice. She’d often seem to be on the brink of making the decision and then say ‘oh it’s not that bad’ and opt to stay for the cycle to repeat itself in an ever exhausting manner. I wish we’d never given her the option but made the decision to remove her.
Very recently she told me the kids on MDS were constantly being told how they couldn’t just leave because the parents would have to pay the whole years full fees - she knew that would be a huge struggle for us. It breaks my heart to think if they hadn’t said that she would have come home sooner. 
@Robinredbreast good luck with making the correct decision for your family 

20 minutes ago, Neverdancedjustamum said:

I know this is an old post but was the one most related to my question when I did a search. DD is a nightmare to buy pointe shoes for and whenever she goes to get fitted, the most suitable pair is always different! She’s tried Bloch, Grishko, Freeds (which looked horrific on her) and Capezio. During our most recent visit to Dancia and after trying on what seem to be dozens of pairs, the one that suited her the most were, surprisingly, Gaynor Mindens which we’ve never ever considered before. Anyway, my question is: has anyone found an easier way of sewing ribbons and elastics on to these? They’re unlike any of the shoes DD has had before, majority of which have some almost loose thin canvas-y fabric inside to sew on to. The Gaynors she has now has no such fabric, only like a thin fuzzy/felt layer and then the actual material which is very stiff. I’m not good at sewing at the best of times but the whole endeavour took me about double the amount of time to sew Blochs for example. A bigger needle was very hard to push through. I just about managed it with a smaller needle but I always felt like it was about to snap. Felt

like giving up many times during the process until I remembered how much the pair cost.  Any tips would be greatly appreciated. 

No tips other than use a metal thimble to push needle through, I found them an absolute nightmare to sew. Luckily they last longer than other brands so don’t have to fight to sew ribbons and elastics as frequently

No tips but always used to tell my dc to go in and show the examiner how much you enjoy dancing. Good luck 

17 minutes ago, bangorballetboy said:

 

If you are not happy with the school’s response, I would suggest speaking to the principal; not a formal letter to them but a physical meeting.  Verbal communication in person is much better for reassuring people and there is less opportunity for misunderstandings. 

Personally I think it is worth doing both - write detailing what your worries are and request a meeting. And then requesting a letter outlining what was discussed and agreed at the meeting. When you are discussing your child it is hard not to become emotional especially if some of your concerns are being dismissed or normalised by some members of the team. If a plan is agreed and it’s in writing there can be no doubt among the staff what their responsibilities are. 

I know it’s really hard that feeling of raising your head above the parapet will have consequences for your child but believe me you need to. Read through any policies and be ready to point them out to the staff. And keep copies of everything. 

Sadly from our experience the schools idea or dealing with it and your expectations are probably a world apart. I would try to nip it in the bud with a letter/email to the principal that is copied to head of pastoral care, house parent, form teacher and if you feel necessary the head of governors. I would detail the incidents and ask for a detailed written response on how the matter was dealt with and how they will reassure you that your child and others will not experience this behaviour again. 
My Dd suffered and although I spoke to pastoral staff no one made her form teacher or dance staff aware until I mentioned it at a parents evening. I did have to escalate events until I had senior management involved. 
I’m sorry your child and you have suffered bullying, it is extra hard when they are away from you. 

Some of the dance shops sell the appropriate crochet thread. She will also find a thimble or Hemline needle grappers useful. Always found curved needles easier. Sewing doesn’t need to be neat. For quickness when Dd was getting through lots of pointe shoes we used to do a blanket stitch on platform and a few random big cross stitch under toe. 

7 minutes ago, cotes du rhone ! said:

When the school was inspected two children from each year group were selected by the leadership team to be interviewed. It certainly wasn’t going to be any of mine. They had a meeting prior to their interview and were coached on what questions they would be asked and their answers. The other children and parents completed an anonymous questionnaire about the school. We and others were honest about our experiences every time but the school always came up smelling of roses 🤔 The AD and principal were always very charming, helpful and approachable. But deep down I sadly don’t think they have the first clue as to what goes on in the ballet studio or what their pupils have to endure. 

When mine was chosen she must have been early yr 9, she wasn’t aware until pulled out of class with a couple of peers, she was told randomly picked from class list. We weren’t aware until after the event. From what she said about answers they gave the inspector didn’t want to hear what they had to say - it was a tick box exercise 

5 minutes ago, Dancers Dad said:

Well, this is very true. You can plan and think and consider all you like but much remains in the lap of the gods. I suppose that's why I tend to like the idea of sending your child off with the tools to manage whatever comes along: a bit more awareness of themselves, who they are, their strengths and weaknesses - and, crucially, that just because one adult in a position of power says something, it's not gospel. 

It’s hard to send an 11 year old off though with the tools to manage things that you cant anticipate or maybe we were naive. We thought she would be cared for, small school wonderful reputation on paper. 
Things like your room mate will wake you in the night to terrorise you with comments about your hair colour, clothes etc. The pastoral staff tell you not to get out of bed after lights out even if you need a wee or start your period - everytime you do will get a point against you and when you reach a certain number will miss a weekend event. That when you are feeling unwell the medical staff are not available and you don’t have access to your mobile to call home. That the dance staff’s attitude towards you can turn on a pin. That the inspectors for Independent schools would scoff when your child and their peers raised issues and instead told them they should stop moaning as very lucky to be there - they were randomly picked for the meeting. 

My Dd was a few years above @cotes du rhone ! and suffered similarly, sadly I think the majority do. I was a parent that was vocal and on more than one occasion had meetings with management to raise my concerns. I was a parent that would have been thrilled if Dd was ‘assessed out’ because once you’re in the system it is very difficult to make the decision to step back, after all from second audition onwards the dancers are told how lucky they are to be there. 
I still have records of the meetings with the Principal and management, house parents about how they would manage the bullying etc. The reality is not a lot changed at house level and dance staff will do what dance staff want to - they are a law unto themselves. House parents even said my Dd was ‘picked on because she came from a stable home’ 
Further to the comment about disordered eating and BMI, in retrospect I would be asking what support is given to a student that is sharing a room with someone with a mental health problem. Beat charity have resources about supporting a friend with an earring disorder- school brushed it under the carpet. 
I know some children do thrive but having gone through the journey but in retrospect I wish we’d never taken her for the first round auditions. 

Second everything @valentina said. Very comprehensive list of questions to have in mind when looking at these schools 

11 hours ago, CMcBallet said:

We have to acknowledge that there are A LOT of ex professional dancers out there who now ‘teach’ who are themselves the product of institutional bullying, neglect etc and are repeating the cycle. 

As @valentina states the school becomes the parent and although our experience is now from a number of years ago we found a number of the pastoral/boarding staff were also performers, ex or looking for roles, with the attitude described by @CMcBallet for dancing staff. Those that came from the ‘real’ world didn’t last long. 

Wait to be contacted

If you are not a frontline health or social care worker, please wait to be contacted by the NHS before booking your booster dose.

You may be contacted and asked to book online or at a local NHS service such as a GP surgery. 
 

From the booking site - don’t know why I can’t post the link 

On 27/09/2021 at 10:59, Peony said:

@LinMM whilst it’s not a guarantee have you thought about getting some respirator masks? The price has come right down and  it is an extra layer of protection. Booster jabs are also available on the national booking site if it’s more than 6 months since your primary course. 
I’d make sure you get a flu vaccine ASAP this year too

I think you need to wait for a notification for your booster. I had mine this morning and a number of people were asking and told needed to wait for NHS to contact them. 

https://universitybusiness.co.uk/sponsored/alarm-fatigue-in-student-accommodation/
 

I’d be asking the provider what consequences the person/flat setting the alarms off are facing. Some will be legitimate but others will be ‘forgotten/drunk’ cooking and others set off on purpose. The fire brigade will be fed up too