1. Safety & Following Instructions

Participants must listen to and follow all safety instructions provided by the workshop tutor or studio staff. Equipment, tools and materials must be used only for their intended purpose.

If you are unsure how to use a tool, piece of equipment or material, please ask a member of staff before using it.

We reserve the right to stop a participant from carrying out an activity if we believe they are using equipment unsafely or putting themselves or others at risk.

2. Under the Influence

Participants must not attend a workshop or course under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs or any other substance that may affect their judgement, coordination or ability to participate safely.

We reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone we reasonably believe is under the influence and are at risk with equipment.

3. Accidents & Minor Injuries

Ceramics is a hands-on craft and, despite taking reasonable precautions, accidents can occur.

Possible injuries or incidents may include:

• Cuts or scratches from sharp tools or broken ceramic pieces
• Minor burns
• Friction burns from wheel heads
• Slips or trips caused by water, clay or spillages
• Bruising or knocks
• Pinching or trapping fingers
• Accidental contact with hot equipment 
• Allergic reactions or skin irritation from certain materials

Participants should report any accident, injury or concern to the tutor immediately.

Safety declaration forms will have to be signed on any of our courses to be able to use the tools/materials.

4. Clothing & Personal Belongings

Clay, glaze and other studio materials can stain or damage clothing and personal belongings.

We recommend wearing old, comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. Long hair should always be tied back.

Participants are responsible for their own personal belongings while attending the workshops, events or courses. We cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal possessions.

5. Clay & Ceramic Materials

Clay is a natural material and can behave unpredictably.

 Pieces may:

• Crack while being made or drying, after bisque or glaze firings. 
• Warp or distort their shape at any point of the process.
• Large pieces can collapse
• Stick to surfaces such as kiln shelfs
• Break while being handled which we handle with as much care as possible
• Develop marks, dents or fingerprints
• Become damaged during glazing or handling

We will provide guidance and take reasonable care of participants' work, but we cannot guarantee that every piece will survive the travel, making, drying, glazing and firing processes.

6. Drying & Cracking

Clay needs to dry slowly and evenly which can sometimes take up to 2 weeks depending on the item and the weather. Cracks can sometimes develop during the drying process due to differences in thickness, moisture levels, joins or natural movement within the clay.

Even when correct techniques have been followed, cracking or breakage can still occur.

At Natasha Jackson Ceramics we will take reasonable steps to reduce the risk, however we cannot guarantee that pieces will remain intact during drying.

7. Air Bubbles & Explosions

Ceramic pieces can occasionally contain trapped air or moisture. If this is present when a piece is fired, it can cause the piece to crack, break or, in some circumstances, explode in the kiln.

We will provide guidance on suitable construction techniques and drying procedures to reduce this risk. However, we cannot guarantee that pieces will be free from trapped air or moisture.

An exploding piece may also damage other pieces or shelves inside the kiln. Where appropriate, we may decide that a piece is unsuitable or unsafe to fire. Any exploded pieces the maker will be informed where possible as sometimes its not possible to identify the item/maker.

8. Kiln Firings

Kiln firing is an important part of the ceramic process, but the results are not completely within our control and can be unpredictable.

Kiln firings take time it is needed to be loaded carefully/ the process of kiln firings go up to temperature very slowly and come back down to room temperature very slowly some kiln firings take up to 48hrs this will mean that there may be delay in works at busy periods you will a given an approximate time frame and we will try our best to keep to this but however during busy periods we cannot guarantee the time frame.

We make every reasonable effort to fire work at the appropriate temperature and follow recommended firing procedures. However, kilns can sometimes produce unexpected results.

During firing, pieces may:

• Crack
• Break
• Warp
• Distort
• Change colour, mute colours or colours may “bleed”
• Develop unexpected surface effects
• Stick to kiln shelves
• Develop glaze defects
• Lose or change details
• Damage other work or kiln furniture

We cannot guarantee the outcome of a kiln firing.

9. Glazes & Colour Variation

Glazes can behave differently during firing from how they appear when applied.

The final colour, texture, finish and appearance may vary depending on:

• Application thickness
• Firing temperature
• Clay body
• Glaze combination
• Placement within the kiln
• Interaction with other glazes
• Natural variation within the materials

A glaze may run, blister, bubble, crawl, crack, pinhole, bloat, change colour or produce an unexpected finish.

We advise to always read the label and follow the manufacturers recommendation on application. 

Glaze results shown in samples, photographs or examples are intended as a guide only and are not a guarantee of the result.

The tutor will also explain in workshops about glazes and the possible colour change.

10. Glaze Running & Damage

Some glazes may move or run during firing. This can result in pieces sticking to kiln shelves or other kiln furniture.

Where possible, we will advise participants on suitable glaze application and may remove or adjust glaze that appears likely to cause a problem.

However, glaze movement can sometimes be unpredictable and may result in damage to the participant's work.

11. Breakages

Ceramics are fragile objects, particularly once fired. Pieces may break during handling, glazing, kiln loading, unloading, transportation or collection.

We will handle your work with reasonable care, but cannot guarantee against accidental breakage.

If your work breaks or is damaged during the process, we will do our best to explain what happened and, where possible, advise whether it can be repaired or remade.

12. Kiln & Equipment Failure

Like any mechanical or electrical equipment, kilns and studio equipment can occasionally malfunction.

Unexpected equipment failure, power cuts, technical problems or other circumstances outside our reasonable control may result in delays, cancelled firings, damaged work or the need to refire pieces.

We will make reasonable efforts to resolve problems and complete work where possible, but we cannot guarantee specific firing dates or outcomes.

13. Firing Temperatures

We will make reasonable efforts to fire work according to the appropriate clay and glaze firing temperatures.

Participants should only use materials supplied or approved by the studio unless they have received prior permission.

Using unsuitable clay, glaze or other materials can result in damage to the kiln, shelves or other participants' work. We reserve the right not to fire materials that we consider unsuitable or unsafe.

14. Personal Items & Unauthorised Materials

Please do not bring your own clay, glazes, chemicals or other ceramic materials into the studio without checking with us first.

We don’t offer a rent a shelf service for these reasons. Kiln shelfs can be damaged. Clay and glazes not suitable to our firings.

Different materials may have different firing requirements and some materials may be unsuitable or unsafe for our equipment.

We reserve the right not to fire any item or material that has not been approved by the studio.

15. Finished Work

We will take reasonable care of finished work while it is stored at the studio.

However, ceramic pieces remain fragile and can be damaged during handling or storage.

16. Uncollected Work

Please collect your finished work as soon as possible once you are informed it is ready for collection.

Due to limited studio storage space, we cannot store work indefinitely. Any work that remains uncollected after a 6-month period may be disposed of or otherwise dealt with by the studio (after reasonable attempts have been made to contact the participant).

17. Photography & Social Media

We may take photographs or videos during workshops for promotional or social media purposes. If you do not wish to or do not wish your child to appear in photographs or videos, please let a member of staff know. 

Photographs of finished ceramic work may also be taken for record-keeping or promotional purposes.

18. Children & Young Participants

Where children or young people are permitted to attend, they must be accompanied by a responsible adult or guardian, to support, observe and be responsible for them. 

Children must not use equipment or materials without appropriate instruction and supervision from there accompanying responsible adult.

Adults to stay with their children throughout the workshops no drops off unless stated.

19. Allergies & Medical Conditions

Participants should inform us before the workshop of any relevant allergies, sensitivities or conditions that may affect their ability to safely participate.

We cannot guarantee that the studio environment will be completely free from substances that may cause an allergic reaction.

If you have a specific allergy or sensitivity, please contact us before booking so we can discuss whether suitable arrangements can be made.

20. Dust & Studio Environment

Ceramic materials can create dust when clay or other materials become dry. We take reasonable steps to maintain a clean and safe studio environment and use appropriate cleaning procedures.

Participants must follow studio cleaning instructions and should not sweep or disturb dry clay dust unnecessarily. Wet cleaning is always advised to avoid dust distribution. 

21. Unexpected Results Are Part of Ceramics

Ceramics is an unpredictable process, and some variation is an inherent part of the craft.

Not every piece will turn out exactly as expected. Small imperfections, variations in colour, texture, shape and finish are normal characteristics of handmade ceramics and should not necessarily be considered defects.

At Natasha Jackson Ceramics we always aim to achieve the best possible result but cannot guarantee that a participant's finished work will look exactly as they intended. This is unfortunately out of our control, if the finished pieces are still intact and functional, however not aesthetically as expected, refunds will not be issued.

22. Damage Caused by Participants

Participants may be responsible for damage caused by the misuse of studio equipment, deliberate or reckless behaviour, or failure to follow reasonable safety instructions.

Please speak to a member of staff if you accidentally damage equipment or another person's work. Accidents do happen, and we would always prefer you to report them immediately.

23. Our Commitment

We will take reasonable steps to provide a safe, clean and suitable environment for all workshops and courses. We will provide appropriate guidance and instructions and take reasonable care of participant work while it is in our possession.

However, due to the nature of ceramics, we cannot guarantee that work will survive every stage of the process or that the result will be exactly as expected.

By attending a workshop or course, participants acknowledge that ceramics involves inherent risks and unpredictable outcomes.

24. Deposits and final payments.

Natasha Jackson ceramics requires a deposit to secure your place on a workshop, course or at an event at any outside venue including the studio.

This is a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit.

Deposit price will depend on the workshop, course or event and will be taken off your total bill.

At Natasha Jackson Ceramics our hope is for ceramics to be as accessible as possible and therefore offer an instalment plan to support your finances – If this is something that may be of benefit to you, please discuss with a member of staff. 

25. Wheel throwing, Hand building courses

Ideally course participants ensure they can attend all dates on the timetable before booking; however, we do understand that this is not always possible. If this occurs, as a studio we will accommodate one rearrangement of a date but cannot rearrange anymore that that and therefore this would be a missed week for the participant. 

26. Pottery group

Pottery group is a monthly subscription like other businesses subscriptions are within that month only and cannot be moved to the month ahead if you can’t make within the dates agreed for that month you will lose out on that session. 

We pride ourselves here at Natasha Jackson Ceramics of being flexible and understanding but we are a small business and can no longer make it work with several changes. Please discuss with the tutors in advance.

Pottery group is a self-session with technical advice from staff only no direct tuition. 

Kiln for pottery groups – you will get access to 2 days a month this will be discussed among yourself and staff. Although studio participants are allocated firings per month the studio sessions/ courses work take priority due to shorter deadlines. If your work doesn’t fit onto your 1 shelf included, then other works for another shelf will have to be charged. If you have a particular piece needed for a deadline, please talk to member of staff and we will prioritise where possible however this cannot be guaranteed. 

Any cancellations under 48hrs will be a missed session for that month due to still opening the studio. Please talk to staff where possible as we are understanding but again can not run a studio on last minute cancelations.

27. Parties 

Please beware we have limited space in the studio so comfortably we can fit up to 12. If you want to throw a pot on the wheel, we will have 4 wheels out and swap throughout whilst the others are painting. You can add clay games for an extra cost. We do take a non-refundable deposit to secure your date without this it isn’t secure. If the studio is providing food or drinks, please advise the studio of any allergies or tolerances with at least 1 week notice.

28. Postage and packaging

Postage will be with DX or Royal mail and tracking where necessary. We take care in packaging our products once in the hand of the delivery service we are not responsible for your package or any damages that may occur during delivery.

29. Acceptance of These Terms

By booking and attending a workshop or course, you confirm that you have read and understood these terms and agree to follow the studio'