Every family that waves goodbye at your studio door is trusting you and your team. Looking after that trust is part of every class we teach.
Introduction to Safeguarding in Dance (Level 1) helps everyone at your school do just that. It’s a short online course, written for the way we work in dance, and it’s free.
A BDSA course, powered by Teach.Dance
The course comes from BDSA, the British DanceSport Association, which is the governing body for dance sport across the UK. BDSA is our endorsing and co-branding partner, and Teach.Dance provides the online platform where you take the course. That’s why you’ll see both names on your certificate.
Who it’s for
The course is for anyone who works with children, young people or adults at risk in a dance setting, including:
- dance teachers and instructors
- coaches and assistants
- studio owners and managers
- volunteers and support staff
So it suits your whole team, from the assistant at your Saturday baby ballet class to the parent who chaperones at shows.
What you’ll learn
There are eight short modules. Each one builds on the one before.
- What is safeguarding? The key principles, and how safeguarding differs from child protection.
- Safeguarding in dance. The risks that are particular to our world, like physical contact, changing rooms, body image pressure and photos on social media.
- Types of abuse. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse and neglect, plus grooming, online abuse and radicalisation.
- Recognising concerns. Trusting your instincts, and what to do if a child tells you something.
- Responding and reporting. The 4 Rs (recognise, respond, report and record) and the key contacts to have to hand.
- Safer practice in dance. Everyday good practice, from safer recruitment to asking before any hands-on correction.
- Legislation and policy. The main UK laws behind safeguarding, and why data protection doesn’t stop you sharing information to protect someone.
- Your responsibilities. Knowing your policy and your designated safeguarding lead, keeping clear boundaries and what happens if there’s an allegation against staff.
The course is built around UK safeguarding law and sector guidance. That includes Working Together to Safeguard Children and the Care Act 2014, plus guidance from the NSPCC and its Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU).
It also points you to BDSA BeSafe, BDSA’s dedicated safeguarding and anonymous reporting service for dance, on 0800 917 9081.
How it works
The course takes about 35 to 45 minutes online. You can pause and pick up where you left off, as your progress is saved.
After the eight modules, there’s a short recap and a multiple-choice final assessment. There’s no time limit. You need 80% to pass, and you can retake it as many times as you need.
Your certificate
When you pass, your certificate is issued automatically and added to your Teach.Dance profile. It carries both the BDSA and Teach.Dance names. The course is Level 1, certified by The CPD Standards Office.
Put simply, it’s an introductory training course rather than a regulated qualification. You keep access to the course content afterwards, so you can come back to it whenever you need a refresher.
How to get the course
The course is free for every Teach.Dance member, and creating your Teach.Dance account is free too.
- Log in to your Teach.Dance account, or create one for free.
- Add the course and check out. The total is £0, so there’s nothing to pay.
- The course then appears in your Teach.Dance account. Start with the welcome lesson and work through the modules in order.
Good safeguarding is good teaching. When everyone in your team shares the same knowledge, your studio is a safer, happier place for dancers and families alike.
