jade

Thank you for your help pictures ! I think it depends on the advisor you speak to ! Re read old posts some seam to get it others don't ! Your right I'll just focus on the a level part ! I mean if my dd doesn't go to the hammond she will stay on at sixth form studying a levels and child benefit would be paid anyway ! I m aware she would only get it for the first two years but better to find the extra money for one year than three years ! Even with dada our finances will be pushed and we will struggle ,so to find out yesterday that we would need to make up the amounts lost in child benefit and child tax was heart breaking . I can handle my child not getting a dada but to get one and still have to turn it down is just gutting x

Oh good I'm really praying we will get it because if we can't claim chid benefit we can't keep our child tax - which would make the cost of dance training too hard . Is it a certain number of a levels they have to study ? The advisor said it also had to be supervised study . I know I'm jumping the gun a bit my dd hasn't even done funding audition yet ! But I'd like to think I can except place if she is offered dada - dread to think I would have to turn it down in light of this child benefit / tax news.

Thank you ! Sorry about my spellings I should read through my post properly before posting ! Trying to type whilst entertaining toddler here !!

Hi I spoke to the child benefit people yesterday to ask if my dd took up a place at a school doing level 6 dance diploma but 2 A Levels along side would I still get child benefit for her? Her response was no as the dance course is higher education and that I would also lose my child tax as well. This has left me unable to sleep all night - Trying to calculate costs ! I had thought that if you did a levels then you would still be able to claim cb ? I told the advisor I spoke to that this was not what I had heared and she said well it was all about hours of supervised study and to ring back when I knew for sure we're my dd would be starting in September - but it did not soung good ???? so if anyone's child is attending the hammond school and knows about the rules on a levels and number of hours of study would it be too noisy of me to ask are you still able to claim child benefit / child tax ? Pm myself if that's better ? Thank you I don't know who else to ask x

Hi sp my dd had a solo a few seconds over a minute - due to cut in music and song ending. My dd was fine she said nobody will mind and it's not like they timed it or anything. I think as long as it's only a few seconds over nobody would even notice. Good luck for audition xx

My dd is 16 but one of the oldest in her year group so will be nearly 17 years old when starting. As you say I just have to wait for funding results as no decision may end up having to be made ! I will let you all know how we get on , I truly believe everything happens for a reason. If my dd can't get dada she will stay on at school and do a levels and rethink her options at 18 x

Thanks everyone. Tulip - my daughter will be living at home and having to travel each day. Both schools are more or less the same distance from were we live and both schools have students from our area who also travel daily. It will be hard having to commute each day but we can't afford for her to live away from home. The dada will go towards fees but with the top up and all the extras it makes moving away from home too expensive ( other children and no grant towards living costs based on wage ) staying at home will have benefits though and if it's what my dd wants to do then it's her only choice !!! She is determined that the distance won't stop her !!! I also think we are lucky in the north west to have two great schools in commutable distance more or less !

Thanks everyone. I think it's good you are put on the course you suit and will gain most employment from - even if it's not the course you first imagined yourself on. I think you have to trust the teachers as they probably know we're your main skills lie. Although I can understand dc would be upset not to follow their first choice. My daughter would love a classical contract but has told me she knows they are few and far between so if dancing on a cruise ship was offered to her she would take it . She just wants to dance at the end of the day and travelling the world whilst saving money seems good to me ! Her first love will always be ballet but dancing as a whole is her life . Thanks for all your posts x

Nbs Manchester x

Good point I will do this thank you x

Hi my daughter has been offered a place at both these schools - subject to dada funding. Any thoughts or views on either Hammond or NBS would be helpful. My daughter wants to know which school is the most classical ? We loved both schools so it's really hard and would be happy with either so any info would be lovely! We are fully aware that she may not get the funding for either school so no decision may be needed ,but can't help wondering !!!!!

Good luck to dc attending rambert today x

Sorry meant has !

Hi my dd had audition at rambert on Thursday 5 th March am time ! So not mon / tues for us !!!

Good luck for the rest of your auditions swanprincess x

Well done to your daughter , it's lovely to read such good news x

Hi dancegirlsdad, when my daughter got her first pair of point shoes age 11,I also was a little concerned ! The thought of her putting all her weight on her toes !!! However I took her to a good ballet shoe shop for a fitting - on recommendation of the teacher and other girls from our dance school. The fitting was done properly and they made my daughter do exercises with her feet and told me she had strong feet , so they too must know if your ready. As for the make of shoes there are lots to pick from but again a good shoe fitter will look at your daughters feet , shape , instep and pick a few that they think - but your daughter may have to try on a few different ones until she finds the right pair ! My daughter has grishko 2007 pointe shoes we have always liked these however lots of good brands out there ! As for health care keep toe nails short and keep up with pointe shoe fittings ! Last thing I can think of is make sure your daughter lets her pointe shoes hang up exposed to air to dry out and maybe darn front of shoes to make them last longer !!! Good luck it is a lovely experience getting your first pair or pointe shoes x

Thanks 2dancersmum. At least I know it's ballet and musical theatre ! Sent of acceptance letter so hopefully will get recall details soon x

Hi just wondering if anybody could pass on any information about the hammond sixth form dance funding audition . My dd is attending 18 March and would like to know what to expect ! Thanks x

Thank you , will let you know how we get on x

Thank you orchidblue . My daughter will try her best - without a dada she can't go ! Just wish 18 March would hurry up it feels forever to wait ! You must be so proud of your dd gaining a place at the hammond it seams a fantastic school with lots of promising students , fab facilities and lovely staff . Can only hope my daughter ends up here x

Thank you x

Lovely post xx

Hi just had an offer letter through for my dd for hammond sixth form dance???? She loved this school. Funding audition in March - fingers crossed x

Hi swanprincess , I would just give the school a quick phone call they are really nice and there is nothing worse than wondering !! Pluse it would be good to know before they break up for half term. The next audition is 9 March so it's still a few weeks away but either way if it was me I'd phone or email x