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Dance Teachers and Criminal Records
The vulnerability of children is a sad fact in today’s society yet something positive is now being done about it. Last year, new provisions were introduced requiring school teachers to undergo criminal record checks. For dance teachers it is not yet compulsory but a possibility. Paul Bottomer in Dance Today with the low-down.

In the case of Dance Schools, criminal record checks can be carried out on Teachers, Teaching Assistants (including helpers) and Student Teachers who: “care for, train, supervise or are in sole charge of children”. In respect of the term ‘children’ this refers to persons up to the age of 18 years. Such criminal record checks are not compulsory, in that the law does not make it mandatory for the checks to be carried out. However there are three specific scenarios that, either separately or together, are likely to make Dance Schools give criminal record checks positive consideration.

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At last a publication that has addressed this and has given some good advice and information.

This area is a minefield. It is extremely difficult for small independent, privately run dance schools to get the checks down - we are well down the pecking order for checks. Also note that to get insurance for their schools dance teachers in the UK are being increasngly asked to rpovide risk assessments and child protection policies.