I’m continuing to offer online lessons using Zoom, but as of July 14th 2020 I have resumed face-to-face lessons. Of course I’ve had to bring in some changes to normal procedures. These are in line with government guidelines and take account of the needs and safety of students and their households, as well as the needs and safety of mine.
Under the government’s track-and-trace system, if I were to develop symptoms of the virus, I’d be obliged to provide details of face-to-face students as contacts. Similarly, if a face-to-face student develops symptoms they’re obliged to provide my details as a contact. Consent to this is taken as implied for anyone taking face-to-face lessons.
Specific measures to reduce risk :
- Only one student at a time will be admitted. This means that students whose parents or carers normally come with them will need to adapt to coming in by themselves. Parents/carers are welcome to stay in their cars, which may be parked on the drive so they stay close at hand
- Students will need to use the provided hand sanitiser when they enter the building. I will clean any surfaces touched (e.g. doorknobs, doorbell, music stand) at the start and end of every session
- Lessons will take place in a different room to normal so that we can all stay an appropriate distance from each other at all times
- Students are asked to keep shoes on, and to place any coats, bags etc on a specific chair in the teaching room. This will also be wiped down after the lesson.
- Sanitiser and wipes will be on hand in the room for use as needed
- I have updated the booking system to allow a minimum of 15 minutes between lessons so that there is time to do everything that is needed
- If a lesson is booked and the student develops symptoms please cancel the booking and let me know. I will not expect payment for sessions cancelled even at very short notice in such circumstances. In particular please do not attend or send your child if they have a cough, a cold, are sneezing or have a runny nose.
This sounds like a lot of measures when they’re all set out together, but in practise it won’t be difficult or add any major inconvenience to the lessons. Although the online lessons have been a lifeline it would be absolutely wonderful to start seeing students again in person.
When booking lessons please double-check that you’ve booked the correct type – online or one-to-one so that I can set it up properly.
I hope you are safe and well and stay that way.
