Do dance teachers need public liability insurance?

Public liability insurance isn’t usually a legal requirement for dance teachers, but we’d treat it as essential. Venues and schools often ask for proof before you teach, and it can cover claims if a member of the public is injured or their property is damaged. Employers’ liability insurance is different. It’s a legal must if you employ people.

Picture this. You’ve found the perfect village hall for your new Tuesday class, and the booking form asks for a copy of your public liability certificate. You’ve never needed one before. Do you have to buy one, and what should it cover?

Here’s how it works for dance teachers, in plain English. This is general guidance, not insurance, legal or financial advice. We last checked every fact below against gov.uk on 28 October 2026.

Do dance teachers need public liability insurance?

Not by law, in most cases. The UK government’s guide to insuring your business lists the two types of insurance you’re legally required to have: employers’ liability insurance if people work for you, and motor insurance if you use a vehicle in your business. Public liability sits in the section on other cover your business may need.

That page says you need public liability cover if you work with the public, visit clients or clients visit you, or if the venues or clients you work with require it in a contract. For a dance teacher, that’s nearly everyone. Families walk into your class, you teach in someone else’s building, and a venue owner will want to know you’re covered.

So the honest answer to “do dance teachers need public liability insurance?” is that the law doesn’t usually say you must, but your venue, your school contract or your own common sense almost certainly will.

What does public liability insurance cover?

The government describes it as protection against claims that a member of the public was injured, or their property was damaged, because of your business activities. In a dance class, that could be a parent who trips over your kit bag in the corridor, or a damaged piece of venue equipment.

It’s worth being clear about what it isn’t. It’s not cover for your own injuries, and it’s not the same as employers’ liability, which looks after staff. Policies also differ on what they exclude, which is why reading the details matters more than the headline price.

The government’s advice is to compare the cover provided, not just the price. It suggests checking:

• what the policy covers
• what it specifically excludes, because anything not mentioned won’t be covered
• the cover limits, which are the maximum amounts the insurer will pay out
• any conditions you need to meet, because breaking them can cancel your policy

When venues and schools ask for proof

Many hirers ask to see a certificate before they confirm a booking. Our dance class venue checklist suggests asking the venue what insurance it expects hirers to have, well before term starts. It also lists the venue’s own public liability statement among the things to ask for.

If a school or another dance business books you in, expect the same question. Get your certificate ready as a document you can send straight away, and put the renewal date in your diary. An expired certificate is easy to miss, and it can leave you teaching uninsured.

If you’re a member of a trade body, the government suggests checking whether your membership gives you a discount on insurance. Read what your membership actually includes rather than assuming.

Employers’ liability insurance: when it is the law

This is where the legal duty sits. The gov.uk page on employers’ liability insurance says you must get it as soon as you become an employer, with cover of at least £5 million, from an authorised insurer. It helps pay compensation if an employee is injured or becomes ill because of the work they do for you.

Gov.uk also says:

• you can be fined £2,500 every day you’re not properly insured
• you must display your certificate where employees can see it, such as at your workplace or on your website
• you could be fined £1,000 if you don’t display it or show it to inspectors who ask
• you don’t need it if you only employ a family member, or someone based outside England, Scotland and Wales

Do you employ anyone in your dance school? Perhaps a receptionist, or a teacher on your payroll. Then this applies to you. A self-employed teacher you book for a few classes is a different arrangement from an employee. But the label on the contract isn’t what decides it, so check the facts. Our guide to hiring your first dance teacher walks through employment status, and it’s worth reading before you assume.

Other cover to think about

Depending on how you work, these might also matter:

• Motor insurance. The government says you’re legally required to have it if you use a vehicle in your business, including your own car. If you drive your speakers and props to venues, tell your insurer.
• Home insurance. If you run online classes or admin from home, update your policy to say so.
• Equipment insurance. Protects your sound system, mats and kit against loss or damage.
• Professional indemnity insurance. The government says this protects against claims that your advice or services caused a client financial loss.
• Cyber insurance. The government suggests it if you trade online or handle customer data. Our guide to dance school data protection covers what that data means for you.

You won’t necessarily need all of them. A broker can explain how policies bundle together, so ask about it before you pay for separate cover that overlaps.

Questions to ask before you buy

Every policy is different, and your class is yours, so ask the insurer directly. Good questions include:

1. Does the policy cover teaching children, and is there an age range?
2. Does it cover my styles, such as acro or anything with lifts or equipment?
3. Does it cover teaching at several venues, or only one?
4. Does it cover online classes, shows and workshops?
5. Are my assistants and helpers covered, or only me?
6. What conditions, such as safeguarding training or first aid, do I have to meet?
7. What is the cover limit, and what is excluded?

Put the answers in writing and keep them with your policy. If something changes, such as adding a holiday camp or a performance, tell your insurer first. Our guides to summer intensives and dance teacher first aid are good places to check what else you need in place.

Your insurance quick checklist

1. Check whether you employ anyone. If so, get employers’ liability cover.
2. Ask each venue what insurance it expects from hirers.
3. Buy public liability cover that matches how you really teach.
4. Compare cover, exclusions, limits and conditions, not just price.
5. Tell your insurer about new styles, venues, events and assistants.
6. Keep your certificate handy and diarise the renewal date.

Frequently asked questions

Is public liability insurance a legal requirement for dance teachers?

Not usually. The government lists employers’ liability and motor insurance as the legally required types. Public liability is listed as cover you may need, for example if you work with the public or a venue requires it in a contract.

Do I need employers’ liability insurance for a freelance assistant?

Employers’ liability applies if you employ people. Whether someone is an employee or self-employed depends on how you actually work together, not just the label. If you’re not sure, check employment status guidance on gov.uk before you decide.

How much cover do I need?

It depends on your venue, contracts and risks. Your hirer may set a minimum, so ask them. For employers’ liability, gov.uk says the cover must be at least £5 million. We don’t give figures for public liability, because the right level depends on your situation.

Does my venue’s insurance cover my class?

Don’t assume it does. A policy is written for a named policyholder, so ask the venue for its public liability statement and ask whether it expects you to hold your own policy as well.

Can I teach without insurance for a trial class?

We wouldn’t. A trial class still brings a member of the public into your space, and your venue may still require cover. An accident doesn’t wait for a policy.

Do I need to tell my insurer if I start teaching children or a new style?

Yes, it’s worth checking. Policies can have conditions or exclusions, and government guidance advises checking what’s excluded and what conditions apply. Ask before you start so you know where you stand.

Next step

Insurance protects you when something goes wrong, and safeguarding helps stop it going wrong in the first place. Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance (Level 1) is a free BDSA course powered by Teach.Dance, and it’s a good step to take alongside sorting your cover.