Terms and Conditions

Enrolment
Your place in a course is secured upon receipt of details (name, contact, course) and full payment of fees. Due to the small size of our classrooms, places in a course are held strictly in order of receipt of above.

Attendance
It is your right and responsibility to attend the number of hours of the course you have enrolled in. It is your responsibility to ensure you are able to adhere to government restrictions regarding face-to-face class attendance

Online Delivery & Classes at El Patio’s Centres
If you enrol in a course scheduled to be held in our Online Centre, your classes will be held on Zoom for the duration of the course. If you enrol in either our Northcote or Melbourne CBD centre, we will plan to hold these classes in the allocated centres. However, El Patio reserves the right to change venue or convert to Online delivery at it's discretion. 

Missed Classes 
You may make up missed classes by attending another class in that week, or a repeat class during the same Term, at the same centre, for no extra charge (maximum 3 per Term). There are no guarantees that the exact class will be available. Please contact reception by email (info@elpatiospanish.com.au). In any case, we normally email you what was covered as well as any homework set.

Class catchups are limited to three per Term. Arranging a catchup class counts as one, whether attended or not. If your work prevents you from attending the same session every week, you will need to discuss this in advance. Contact our student support team at reception, or email us. 

Change of Mind or Circumstance
If you have enrolled in a course and have a change of mind or circumstance, we are very flexible within the time span of a Term, and will endeavour to find a way for you to continue.

For all requests to withdrawal or transfer for the Term entirely, please refer to the Refunds and Transfers sections below. (Note: Intensives are categorised as separate Terms)

Refunds
Refunds are possible under the following circumstances only:

  • In the case that numbers are insufficient for a course to proceed, and a suitable alternative course is not an option
  • If requested before 12pm, one week prior to your course start (on the same weekday). For example: the cut-off for Monday class refunds and transfers will be 12pm the previous Monday (subject to 40% Service Fee of Full Course Fee)

Refunds are not possible:

  • Less than one week ahead of course start due to change of mind or circumstances 
  • For missed classes, starting a course late or leaving a course before the end of the Term (for any reason)
  • For texts after they have been collected
  • In the event of  a course being converted to online delivery via Zoom
  • In the event of a shortened course due to small class size (refer to Small Classes below)
  • For unused courses purchased in a Multiple Course package (see Multiple Course Purchases below)

Transfers
Transfers are possible under the following circumstances only:

  • In the case that numbers are insufficient for a course to proceed, and a suitable alternative course is not an option
  • If requested before 12pm, one week prior to your course start (on the same weekday). For example: the cut-off for Monday class transfers will be 12pm the previous Monday (subject to 10% Service Fee of Full Course Fee)

It is not possible to transfer or postpone any classes:

  • Less than one week ahead of course start due to change of mind or circumstances 
  • For missed classes, starting a course late or leaving a course before the end of the Term (for any reason)
  • In the event of a course being converted to online delivery via Zoom
  • From group classes into private classes

Payment in Instalments (Buy Now, Pay Later)
Choosing to pay in instalments essentially means taking out a small, interest-free loan from the company that handles our online payments, April, and agreeing to pay the loan back in fortnightly sums. This is an agreement made with April, not with El Patio. April's Terms and Conditions can be viewed here. El Patio is unable to make any changes to instalment payments, irrespective of student attendance in class.

Cancellation of Classes
If a class does not reach the minimum number of students, El Patio reserves the right to cancel a class at any time, or to offer the class for a shorter number of hours. See Small Classes below for minimum numbers. All efforts will be made to contact students affected in good time to make arrangements. This includes the offer of a free transfer to another course in the same or following Term, or a full refund.

Small Classes
El Patio's classes are small with a maximum of 14 at Melbourne and 12 at Northcote. El Patio's minimum class size is 5 students. A class of 4 students will result in the length of the course cut by 20%, and a class of 3 by up to 30%. A class of less than 3 will be cancelled, with students given the option to join a different class, transfer the enrolment to a future Term or accept a full refund.

Students will be notified by the third class if their course is to be shortened. In the event that the class is shortened, students are welcome to make up extra class time in other classes during that Term. It should be noted however, that due to the small size of the class, the course content can be covered in the shortened course.

As this is an industry standard condition of enrolment, no requests for refunds will be considered due to shortened courses. Students can, however, agree to all pay a higher fee in order for their class to run to 100% length - this is only an option if the entire class is in agreement. Classes of 4: $60 total per student for the extra 2 classes; Classes of 3: $80 total per student for the extra 3 classes.

Teachers
All teachers at El Patio are qualified language instructors. El Patio is unable to guarantee at any time that a certain teacher will take a course, nor complete a course that has already commenced. Should the latter occur, a suitable replacement will be found.

Public Holidays
No classes will be held on Victorian Public Holidays. Classes that fall on public holidays may be rescheduled, and if not, an alternative class suggested.

Multiple Course Purchases​
Multiple courses are valid for use during the cycle of one academic year - Summer Intensives, Term 1, Easter Intensives, Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4. The multiple courses expire after one full rotation of the academic year. For example, if you purchased your multiple courses for Term 4, 2022 the last chance to use the courses would be Term 3, 2023.

The multiple course fee is for single student use only and may not be shared with other students. 

Once an enrolment has been ‘confirmed’ (either as the initial course or a course later nominated by the student), the same terms and conditions relating to a transfer to a future Term applies as above. Note that all courses must still be used within the yearly academic cycle and no refunds or transfers will be permitted should they not be used within this cycle for any reason.  ​If multiple courses are purchased, it is not possible to upgrade to a higher multiple (by paying the difference) after your first course has commenced.

Vouchers
Vouchers are valid for a period of 3 years from date of purchase. They must be redeemed within this time frame, although a course chosen may commence after the 3 year period. Once a course is nominated, the Voucher is considered redeemed, and the usual terms and conditions of enrolment apply. To redeem a Voucher, contact El Patio to nominate your preferred course, quoting the Voucher number. Timetables for upcoming courses are on the Enrol page, or you may sign up (at the footer of any page on our site) to receive our monthly eNewsletter advising start dates.

Vouchers are not refundable, and are not redeemable for cash.

Private classes
Private classes can be postponed or rescheduled with at least 24 hours' notice from the student. Sessions cancelled or postponed with less than 24 hours' notice will be forfeited.

Private classes are valid for use for 12 months from the date of purchase. Private classes unused after 12 months have elapsed will be forfeited. 

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