Frequently Asked Questions and Enrolment Terms

This information describes the conditions on which you attend Mini Maestros in-person classes (“Classes”) including what happens when a Class is missed or cancelled, or you wish to cancel your enrolment. If your child is attending for the first time, you may also find this information useful to help you both settle in during the first few weeks.  If you do not agree to any of these conditions, please inform us before your first Class. By attending a Class or opening your Online Course or Music Download once purchased, you will be signifying your consent to these conditions.

Enrolments are accepted on a “first in, first served” basis and must be paid in full at the time of enrolment. The invoice for subsequent terms must be paid by the due date in order to retain your child’s place in class.

Missed Classes

If you are unable to attend a Class for any reason or if we are unable to present a Class due to the teacher being unwell, we will endeavour to arrange a make-up class for you. If a suitable make-up Class is unavailable, then the relevant lesson in your Online Course will take the place of that Class for full enrolment students.  If you are a trial student, we regret there can be no make-up or Online Course lesson in respect of a Class you are unable to attend; if we cancel your Class, we will extend your trial by one week.

Once a term has commenced no refund will be offered if you decide to not attend any Classes, or having attended some you no longer wish to attend, or we are unable to present a Class due to the teacher being unwell as make-up classes will be provided where possible and the Online Course will remain available.

No person may attend a Class, including the normal teacher, if they are unwell. If our teacher considers that anyone present may be unwell, they may ask them to leave.

Online Course Enrolments

Enrolment in a Mini Maestros Online Course does not give the enrolled student the right to attend a Class unless the student has also enrolled in, and paid for, the Class.

Mini Maestros understands that young children need time to settle into a new environment and situation.  Each lesson begins with the same welcome song so that children know what to expect when they arrive each week. Activities are repeated for a number of lessons across each term so that sessions always include some familiar material, thus helping children feel confident in the Classes.

How can I help my child participate in the group and focus on the activities?

Mini Maestros aims to ensure everyone can fully participate in and enjoy their Class in an appropriate learning environment. Any behaviour that is contrary to this aim is discouraged. Please switch off your mobile phone before the Class commences and please refrain from chatting to other adults during the Class. Children find it difficult to know what to listen to and tune into if there are multiple conversations going on at once. It is also difficult for the teacher to talk over adults’ conversations in Class.

What should I do if my child just sits on my lap and won’t participate?

This is a normal reaction for many children. They may become clingy and ask to be picked up or carried for all of the movement activities. This is quite all right for the first few weeks, and then you can gently start to encourage your child to join in on their own. Generally it takes a few weeks for a new child to settle into the program.  Whilst the older children will develop independence in Class, the role of carers in the 6-15 months and 1-2 year old groups remains very hands on as the very young children work with their carers throughout each lesson.

What should I do if my child cries?

If your child cries in Class and is not easily comforted, try sitting and watching the session from the side of the room. Sometimes it will be necessary to take your child outside for a minute or two to recover. If your child is not settling after a few weeks please discuss this with the teacher so that you can work out a strategy together.

What if my child is thirsty or hungry?

As many children have extreme food allergies, food and drinks are strictly not permitted in Class or in the Classroom.

What if we arrive late?

Getting to Classes with young children on time can sometimes be challenging. If you are ever running late for Class it’s best to remain calm and not let your child know that there is an issue. Your child will simply enter the Class and participate as normal if they believe that nothing is out of the ordinary.

What if my child has a tantrum?

Young children don’t yet have the language skills or the emotional maturity to articulate their feelings. Sometimes if things don’t go their way or if they are having a bad day, they will express themselves physically and may take things out on their carer or even other children. Any incident of physical aggression in Mini Maestros Classes is, of course, unacceptable and needs to be addressed immediately by the child’s carer. We request that if your child is physically aggressive towards another child that you take them out of the room for a few minutes to explain that their behaviour is not acceptable. Bring them back into the Classroom when they have calmed down and have agreed to be kind to their Mini Maestros friends.

What about Illness?

If your enrolled child or any other person who comes with your child to Class has, or you have, a temperature, runny nose, productive cough, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, or unexplained rash, please do not bring them to Class.

Does “No Jab no Play apply”?

The Government legislation that requires children to be immunised before they can enrol in early childhood services does not apply to Mini Maestros. Nevertheless, for the safety of our students, carers (some of whom may be pregnant) and young babies present in Class, we recommend that students be immunised in accordance with Health Department guidelines.

What if we miss a Class?

For full enrolments a make-up Class will be provided where possible and the relevant lesson in the Online Course will also be available.  The Online Course provided with each full enrolment is an alternative to coming to each Class in the case of illness and any one or all of the weekly lessons in the Online Course can be enjoyed and participated in instead of or as well as the in-person Classes.  Where a trial student misses a Class we will extend your trial by one week.

What if you cancel a Class?

If we are unable to present a Class due to the teacher being unwell then a make-up Class will be provided where possible and the relevant lesson in the Online Course will also be available for fully enrolled students.   If you are a trial student we will extend your trial by one week. Because of these alternatives, no refunds or credits will be provided if we are unable to present a Class due to a reason beyond our control (eg. the teacher is unwell and a substitute is unavailable on the day).

We are going to be away for part of the term. What should we do?

Enrol for the whole term and you will have access to the Online Course for the Classes you miss when you are away. Your child can participate in the Online Course at any time; while you are away and on your return.

May I have a refund or a credit for the Classes I have missed? Can I cancel my enrolment and get a refund?

When you enrol in the Mini Maestros program, you commit to a full term of Classes and we commit to teach your child for the term. Based on those commitments teachers are employed and venues booked. Your payment of the enrolment fee for the term secures your place in the Class and ensures that your place is not offered to someone on our waiting lists. The Online Course links and Music Album download links (where applicable) are made available shortly after payment for the enrolment has been made. We regret that we cannot offer refunds or credits for Classes missed during the term. If you cancel your enrolment prior to the commencement of the term, you will receive a full refund less a cancellation fee of $47.00 where Album Download links have been provided, or $30.00 where an Album is not part of the enrolment package. Refunds will not be given for cancellations after term has commenced.

Can I take photos in Class?

The occasional photo or video may be taken in Class provided the privacy of all other persons in Class is respected. If your photo or video inadvertently includes the image of another child please do not share the photo or image without the consent of the carer of that other child. Taking more than the occasional photo or video is not permitted as it is an intrusion and contrary to an effective learning environment. Videos or recordings of more than one or two items in Class are not permitted and constitute a breach of copyright.

Thank you for taking the time to read our Frequently Asked Questions and Enrolment Terms.

We look forward to seeing you in Class.