UpTop Dance School Terms & Policies

These Terms & Policies are in place to ensure that our classes run safely, smoothly and fairly for all children and families. By registering your child with UpTop Dance, you agree to the terms below.

If you have any questions, please contact us at
contact@uptopdance.com.

Membership & Payments

For the best value, we recommend joining at the beginning of the term, when the full-term membership price offers the lowest average cost per class.

UpTop Dance membership operates on a termly rolling basis. All children joining UpTop Dance commit to attending and paying until the end of the current school term. Our term dates are published on our website under the calendar page.

Membership fees are calculated based on the number of scheduled classes remaining in the current term:

£14 × number of remaining scheduled classes

The calculated fee is capped at the full-term membership price, so you will never pay more than the full-term fee.

School holidays and scheduled closures are not included when calculating membership fees and are not charged.

Membership fees can be paid in full or in 3 Direct Debit instalments.

For payment in full, the term fee must be paid before the start of the student’s first membership class.

For Direct Debit payments, a valid Direct Debit mandate must be set up before the start of the student’s first membership class. Direct Debit instalments are collected on the 16th of each month.

Current membership fees, term fee caps and payment options are published on our Fees page.

If a Direct Debit payment fails or an account becomes overdue, the outstanding payment must be resolved before the student can continue attending classes.

Siblings attending UpTop Dance at the same time receive a 15% sibling discount on their membership fees.

Membership fees may be reviewed periodically. Parents/carers will be informed in advance of any changes to fees.

Cancelling your Direct Debit does not cancel your membership or remove any outstanding payment obligations.

Joining after a Trial

New students start with a 2-week trial. If you choose to continue, your child will become an UpTop Dance School member and commit until the end of the current term.

If joining after the term has started, your membership fee is calculated based on the number of classes remaining:

£14 × number of remaining scheduled classes

The fee is capped at the full-term membership price, so you will never pay more than the full-term fee.

For later joiners, where there is enough time remaining in the term, the fee can be split into 2 Direct Debit instalments, collected on the 16th of the month. Otherwise, the remaining term fee must be paid in full via a secure payment link.

Payment in full must be made, or a valid Direct Debit mandate must be set up, before your child’s first membership class.

Trial payment is separate and made via a secure payment link sent by email or WhatsApp. We do not take payments through our website.

Cancelling Your Membership

Membership automatically continues into the following school term unless you tell us that your child will not be returning.

Parents/carers must provide notice at least 4 weeks before the start of the following term.

Notice applies to the following term. Membership fees remain payable until the end of the current term, even if the student stops attending classes earlier.

If notice is not received at least 4 weeks before the start of the following term, the membership will automatically roll over into the new term and the applicable membership fees will become payable.

UpTop Dance School will aim to send parents/carers a reminder before the cancellation deadline. However, it remains the parent/carer’s responsibility to provide notice within the required timeframe. Please notify us in writing by email at contact@uptopdance.com or via phone/WhatsApp on 07448 588860.

Parents/carers should not cancel their Direct Debit as a method of cancelling membership. UpTop Dance School must be notified that the student will not be returning so that the membership can be correctly cancelled and any remaining payments can be processed.

Refunds, Missed Classes & Cancellations

Membership Payments

Membership fees are non-refundable once paid, except where a child is unable to continue attending classes for medical reasons.

In these circumstances, we may issue a refund or cancel the remaining membership payments upon receiving a valid doctor’s note or other appropriate medical evidence.

If your child misses an individual class due to illness, membership fees will not be refunded.

Where possible, your child may make up the missed class by attending another suitable UpTop Dance class on a different day or time. Make-up classes must be arranged with us in advance, are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Prolonged Absence

In cases of prolonged medical absence, or where otherwise agreed with UpTop Dance School, we may offer a discount towards the following term’s membership fee if a student misses more than 50% of the scheduled classes in a term consecutively.

For planned absences, UpTop Dance School must be notified at least 4 weeks in advance. For medical absences where advance notice is not possible, appropriate medical evidence may be required.

Any discount is considered on an individual basis and is not guaranteed. The amount of any discount may vary depending on the circumstances and length of the absence.

UpTop Dance School reserves the right to determine whether a discount applies and the amount of any discount offered.

Cancelling for the Next Term

If you do not wish your child’s membership to continue into the next term, you must notify us and cancel your Direct Debit at least 4 weeks before the beginning of the new term, via phone or email. 

If notice is not provided within this timeframe, the membership will roll over into the new term and the applicable fees will become payable.

Merchandise

Merchandise ordered through UpTop Dance is generally non-refundable once the order has been placed, particularly where an item has been personalised or customised with a child’s name, crew name or other individual details.

This does not affect your statutory rights where an item is faulty, damaged, incorrectly supplied or where you otherwise have a legal right to a refund.

Event Tickets

Tickets for shows, performances and other events may be sold through a third-party ticketing platform.

Where tickets are purchased through a third-party platform, cancellations, exchanges and refunds will be handled in accordance with the terms and refund policy of the relevant ticketing provider, together with any applicable consumer rights.

Any booking or transaction fees charged by the ticketing provider may also be subject to that provider’s terms.

Trials & Joining UpTop Dance

New students can try our classes for free during an advertised Open Week.

Outside Open Week, new students can book a two-week trial for £25.

Completing a trial does not automatically guarantee a permanent place. Places are subject to availability and are confirmed once registration has been completed and the required Direct Debit has been set up.

Our teachers may recommend a different class where they believe it would be more appropriate for a child’s age, ability or development.

Classes & Attendance

Regular attendance is important for children’s progress and for the development of the whole class or crew.

Please let us know when your child is going to miss a class.

Where possible, a missed class may be made up by attending another suitable UpTop Dance class. Make-up classes must be agreed with us in advance, are subject to availability and are not guaranteed.

Students should arrive on time and be ready to start at the scheduled class time.

Children should wear comfortable clothing suitable for dancing and appropriate footwear. Students should also bring a labelled bottle of water.

No food or chewing gum is permitted inside the dance studio. Appropriate water breaks will be provided during classes.

Enrolment is for a particular class and does not guarantee that the same teacher will teach that class throughout the year. Teachers may occasionally change due to availability, illness or other circumstances.

As children develop, teachers may recommend moving a student to another class or level that is more appropriate for their age, ability or progress.

Drop-Off & Collection

Parents/carers are responsible for their child until they have been handed over to the UpTop Dance teacher at the start of the class.

Students must not leave the class until collected by their parent/carer or another authorised adult.

If someone different will be collecting your child, please inform the teacher at drop-off.

Parents/carers must collect children promptly when their class finishes. Continued late collection may result in us reviewing or withdrawing the student’s place.

Parents/carers are not permitted to remain inside the dance room during classes unless specifically invited by the teacher.

Where a venue allows parents to view the class from outside the studio, parents are welcome to use the designated viewing area.

Toileting

Please ensure your child uses the toilet before their class begins.

UpTop Dance classes do not have teaching assistants available to accompany children to the toilet. Our dance teachers cannot leave the rest of the class unsupervised to take an individual child to the bathroom.

Children attending without a parent/carer nearby should therefore be able to use the toilet independently.

If your child needs help using the toilet, a parent/carer must remain nearby and be available to assist them if required.

Additional Needs & Support

UpTop Dance aims to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for children.

However, UpTop Dance is not a specialist SEND provision and our regular classes do not have dedicated teaching assistants or one-to-one support.

Parents/carers must tell us when registering about any additional needs, medical conditions, behavioural needs or other circumstances that may affect their child’s participation, wellbeing or safety during classes.

We are happy to discuss a child’s individual needs and consider reasonable adjustments that can be made within our staffing, facilities and class structure.

Where a child requires one-to-one assistance, personal care, regular support with toileting or a level of individual supervision that the teacher cannot safely provide while also supervising the rest of the class, we will discuss this with the parent/carer.

Depending on the child’s needs, we may ask that a parent/carer or appropriate support person remains available during the class. Where we cannot safely provide the level of support required within our class setting, we will discuss this openly with the family.

Behaviour & Respect

UpTop Dance has zero tolerance for bullying, intimidation, aggressive behaviour or persistent disruptive behaviour.

Students are expected to behave respectfully towards their teachers, other students and anyone working at or visiting UpTop Dance.

Students must also respect the venues, studios, equipment and property used for our classes.

We understand that children sometimes need reminders or support with their behaviour. Where concerns arise, we will normally discuss these with the child’s parent/carer.

Serious or persistent behaviour that affects the safety, wellbeing or learning of other students may result in the child’s membership being suspended or ended.

UpTop Dance reserves the right to suspend or end a student’s attendance for reasons including serious or persistent unacceptable behaviour, non-payment of fees or circumstances where we cannot safely meet the student’s needs within our class environment.

Teaching & Physical Contact

Dance is a physical activity and teachers may occasionally need to demonstrate movements or use appropriate physical contact to help students understand positioning, posture, alignment or technique.

Any physical contact will be appropriate to the activity, professional and used only where necessary for teaching or safety.

Children will always be encouraged to speak to their teacher if they feel uncomfortable with an activity or correction.

Health & Safety

Parents/carers must provide accurate and up-to-date emergency contact details and relevant medical information when registering their child.

Please tell us promptly if your child’s medical information or any circumstances relevant to their safety change.

Children who are unwell or have an illness that could be passed to others should not attend class.

Teachers must be informed of any injury or condition that may affect a student’s ability to participate safely.

Teachers may ask a child to stop or modify an activity where they believe continuing could present a risk to the child or others.

In an emergency, UpTop Dance will use the emergency contact details provided by the parent/carer and will take appropriate action to safeguard the child.

Students are responsible for their personal belongings. We recommend that valuable items are not brought to classes.

UpTop Dance cannot accept responsibility for personal belongings that are lost, damaged or left at a venue unless caused by our negligence.

Performances, Shows & Additional Opportunities

Students may be offered opportunities throughout the year to participate in shows, performances, video shoots, workshops, competitions and other dance-related activities.

Some activities are included within the normal UpTop Dance programme, while others are optional and may involve additional fees.

Parents/carers may be required to purchase costumes, clothing, tickets, travel or other items for certain performances, competitions or activities. We will provide information about additional costs before asking families to commit.

Participation in competitions, advanced groups and certain performance opportunities may be based on age, ability, attendance, commitment and teacher selection.

Students may also be invited to join UpTop Arts Youth Company or other selected groups. These are closed groups and participation is by invitation.

Photography & Video

Photography and video are an important part of UpTop Dance and may be used to record performances, celebrate students’ achievements and promote the school.

Photos and videos may be taken during classes, performances, competitions, events and organised video shoots and may be used on our website, social media and other UpTop Dance promotional materials where the appropriate photography and video consent has been provided.

Parents/carers are responsible for keeping their child’s photography and video consent preferences up to date with us.

Parents/carers must not photograph or film during regular classes unless permission has been given by the teacher.

Class or choreography videos may occasionally be shared with parents/carers to allow children to practise at home.

When photographing or filming performances and events, parents/carers should be considerate of other children who may appear in their photographs or videos and should not share images of other children inappropriately.

Communication & WhatsApp

Important information regarding classes, payments, performances, events and timetable changes may be communicated by email, telephone or WhatsApp.

Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that we have their current contact details and for checking communications from UpTop Dance regularly.

Where WhatsApp groups are used, they should be used appropriately and respectfully. Contact details, photographs, videos or information relating to other children and families should not be copied, distributed or used for purposes unrelated to UpTop Dance.

Class Changes & Cancellations

Occasionally, we may need to change a teacher, class time, studio or venue due to availability or circumstances outside our control. We will give families as much notice as reasonably possible.

Classes may occasionally need to be cancelled because of teacher illness, venue closure, severe weather, safety concerns or other circumstances outside our reasonable control.

Where UpTop Dance cancels a class, we will communicate the arrangements to affected families and, where reasonably possible, arrange an alternative class or suitable replacement session.

Membership is for the UpTop Dance programme and does not guarantee a particular teacher throughout the membership period.

Personal Information

Parents/carers are responsible for ensuring that the information provided to UpTop Dance is accurate and kept up to date, including parent/carer contact details, emergency contact details, relevant medical information, additional needs that may affect participation, collection arrangements where relevant and photography/video consent preferences.

Personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy & GDPR Policy.

Agreement to the Terms & Policies

By registering a child with UpTop Dance and maintaining their membership, the parent/carer confirms that they have read, understood and agree to these UpTop Dance School Terms & Policies.

These Terms & Policies may occasionally be updated to reflect changes to our classes, procedures or legal requirements. Where there is a significant change affecting existing members, we will communicate this to parents/carers.

Last updated: August 2026