About us! (T&C's at the bottom of this page too!)
Hello and welcome to our #jamily!!!
We are Cass & Helen,
the directors of the Jam Place CIC.
(Think Ant and Dec in legwarmers!)
We call ourselves the Jamily!
It's a bit corney but that's what Jam is, a wee family.
We're not a huge franchise but that's the beauty of what we have. This means we get to know each child (and their parents and carers) well and can meet their needs and go with them at their own pace.
We are 17 years old now and are so lucky to be teaching the younger siblings of children who first began with us.
We are both parents to girls (3 between us). We are passionate about the world of dance, music, theatre, arts, mindfulness, mental health awareness and well, letting people know their worth!
We welcome children with all personalities here. Helen has a daughter with Kabuki Syndrome and ASD and between us we have learned lots about how best to respond and encourage children with additional needs.
If you are worried about bringing your child to us because they didn't quite fit in elsewhere, then please be assured we will welcome you with open jazz handed arms!!!
Photos by The Model Camp
Cass
Helen
We are proud to be Registered Charity.
The allows us to receive funding for many of our classes, so that we can provide dance for all.
We have been fortunate to be supported by Active Surrey, Sported, Community Foundation of Surrey,
EMDUK, and The Peter Harrison Foundation
for our Teens classes and Special Education Needs classes.
OUR DREAM CAME TRUE!! We spent many years bidding for our very own building and we have one!
In September 2023 had our grand opening in North Leatherhead where we can provide more classes in the upstairs area
as well as having space downstairs to hire out to individuals or groups who have the same community ethos as us.
Cass is a multi-talented and multi-coloured (!) individual who has excelled in both the fields of dance and modelling www.cassandrajanescott.com
With her qualifications in Ballet, Tap, and Modern dance, she has earned her place as a qualified NATD dance teacher. Attending dance school from the age of 6 she took exams in Ballet, Tap and Jazz and obtained a Distinction in her Associate level Teaching qualification from the NATD (National Association of Teachers of Dance)
Her skills have not gone unnoticed as she has been invited to perform in various shows and festivals, and even choreographed for large companies such as Waitrose and John Lewis.
She has also used her expertise to teach and inspire young people by running Streetdance clubs in schools for teens and pre-teens.
Cassandra’s SEN experience started at an early age when her family provided home respite care to children with profound physical and educational needs.
She regularly volunteered at The Children’s Trust Tadworth, ( Formerly Tadworth Court) sharing the Arts of Ballet, Jazz, Song and Tap for the visually impaired. She taught dance sessions at Wallace Fields Junior School Epsom and worked with children with varying SEN requirements in her 9 years in primary dance education. She obtained certification in Understanding Autism, Makaton, Paediatric First Aid and Child Safeguarding . Since 2018 along with her esteemed colleagues Cassandra has continued to teach dedicated SEN dance classes at The Jam Place.
"Cass's passion for dance and her ability to inspire others has made her a popular teacher among her students who appreciate her patience, enthusiasm, and kindness".
Helen is a versatile actress with a wealth of experience in various forms of entertainment.
From a young age, she honed her skills in ballet, tap, modern dance, and drama, earning numerous prestigious exams and accolades. Her passion for the performing arts led her to London, where she attended Arts Educational Schools and embarked on a career spanning musicals, TV, film, radio, album recordings and voice-overs.
Perhaps most notably, appearing in numerous advertising and TV commercial campaigns for major brands.
Her SEN experience comes from lived experience as well at teaching a local schools with neuro diverse children. Helen's daughter has Kabuki Syndrome and ASD.
"Her infectious smile, positivity and humour have made her welcoming to all who join Jam".
Together Cass & Helen have written shows and pantomimes that have been used around the country. They have also choreographed, directed and staged many shows in and around Epsom for many years, including the Epsom and Ewell Dance Festivals.
They are often invited to local schools for workshops,
discos and end of term parties!
Helen and Cass are both:
DBS checked
First Aid trained
Safeguarding officers
Courses completed in:
Makaton
Covid Awareness
Child Protection
Suicide and Self Harming Awareness
Mental Health Awareness
Eatind Disorder Awareness
Old Age Psychology
Counselling and Physiotherapy
Awareness of Domestic Abuse
Depression and Anxiety
Wellness and Fitness
Aerobic and Cardio fitness training
Children's Mental Health
Meet other members of the Jamily!
'Nanny Barb' - SEN
Barbara has worked in a teaching environment for 30 years within an
Interdisciplinary team of physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists (SLT) Occupational Therapists (OT), music therapists and medical teams teaching Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD), Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD) and Special Educational Needs ( SEN) students at The Children’s Trust Tadworth and Sussex Care Homes.
She has gained vast experience encompassing her roles as Classroom Assistant, SLT Assistant (teaching Makaton and touch signals to aid communication), Physio Assistant, (enhancing students physical activities allowing access to learning), Learning Support Assistant ( LSA) (helping deliver curriculum) Senior LSA and co key worker to Day Students alongside School Nurse (liaising with parents), Tutor, (teaching Further Education Students OCR Accreditation for Life and Living Modules and Curriculum) and Outreach Tutor (teaching young people and adults the OCR accreditation in Sussex Care Homes).
During her role as LSA Barbara furthered her education by completing courses at;
The University of Manchester- Educating the developmentally young
Nescot College -
Caring and Special Needs
Open University-
Special Needs Sports Inclusion
Canterbury Christ Church University-Foundation Degree in Lifelong Learning with Teaching Award.
Barbara has been teaching dedicated SEN dance classes with Cassandra and Helen at The Jam Place since 2018.
Kelly Llambias - our Jam SENsations assistant
Kelly and Helen were at Arts Educational together and have remained friends ever since. Kelly is a wonderful actress and also a highly valued member of The Vale School where she assists with children with SEN.
Terms & Conditions
PLEASE READ BEFORE ATTENDING
In accordance with GDPR rules:
Any details we have for you will not be passed on to anyone or any company.
Emails are only sent out for the purpose of our own school information:
Invoices, dates, show information etc
Once you have left the school, unless you wish us to stay in touch, your details will be deleted/destroyed.
For our website, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube channel we like to post pictures and videos of the children in the class. If you have any objection to this please let us know. We will never post up personal information about your children.
Any conversation between yourselves, Cass and Helen will be confidential.
The Jam Place has full public liabilty insurance.
The Jam Place has a PRS licence
The Jam Place are First Aid Trained.
The Jam Place are DBS checked.
The Jam Place is Covid Safe and a Risk Assessment is in place.
A full half terms’ notice must be given if you wish to stop classes. If you haven’t let us know and we have saved your child’s space, then 50% of the full term’s fees will be payable.
Any pupil not able to attend lessons should notify Helen by email or text on 07870 192266 if possible.
Please check the website and facebook page if you are in any doubt of dates etc. Or if we have had to cancel a class and aren’t able to contact you. www.thejamplace.com
Please advice us if there are any change of contact details.
Please advise us who is collecting your child if it isn’t someone we are already familiar with.
The Jam Place cannot accept responsibility for the loss or damage to any articles left on the premises.
The Jam Place reserves the right to alter the price and times of classes with half a terms notice to parents.
Fees are due in advance of each term. Invoices for fees will be given during the holidays before the new term and should be settled by the first lesson of the following term.
Please pay by bank or cash. All classes are payable per term, not weekly. First class is free.
It is necessary at times for teachers to place their hands on pupils and physically place them into a correct position or movement. All our teachers are fully qualified and hold current DBS certificates (Police Checks). If parents or carers object to this method of teaching they should inform the Principles immediately as it is probable that The
Jam Place will not be able to include those pupils in our classes.
PLEASE NOTE DURING COVID WE WILL NOT BE CORRECTING POSITIONS BY HAND AS WE WILL BE MAINTAINING THE SAFE DISTANCE REQUIRED.
Musical Theatre Class:
Please send your son/daughter in clothes he/she can move and dance easily in.
We don’t have a uniform.
Layers of clothes are good as we get warm with all our dancing about.
Leotards, leggings, t-shirts etc are perfect. We ask that hair be tied back off their faces.
Appropriate footwear they can move in…trainers, jazz shoes. Please no sandals, Crocs, Heelies, Ugg boots etc.
Please send a drink and small snack for our break time. Thanks x (DURING COVID THE CLASSES HAVE BEEN SPLIT INTO ONE HOUR CLASSES SO NO SNACK NEEDED)
If they have any allergies or anxieties then please let us know. We understand that all children aren’t the same and we want them to feel happy and comfortable with their time with us.
For Ballet classes:
We ask that we can see their legs so no long dresses or baggy trousers as we like to make sure their placing in correct.
Ballet shoes are perfect but if you wish to wait until you know your son/daughter wishes to continue the term, then bare feet are fine.
Parents may stay in the class if their child is not settled but we do ask that any other parents, or as soon as your child is settled that you sit in the café.
At the end of each half term we invite parents in so that you can see how brilliantly your children have done!
PLEASE NOTE: The Jam Place is run by performers still actively involved in showbusiness. This way children get first hand experience of training and performing. On the occasion that a teacher is away filming or working in their professional capacity there will be a teacher of an equally high standard to cover the classes. If ever the safety or the standard of the school is compromised due to teachers being away (whether it be working or sick) the classes will be cancelled for that week, with a refund or rolled over to the following term.
IN THE EVENT OF A LOCKDOWN DUE TO COVID 19, CLASSES WILL CONTINUE ON ZOOM.
Helen McNee & Cassandra Hounslow – The Jam Place