Picture by Neil Hornby
Who is teaching my Child?
It may alarm you but there is no legal requirement for a
person who teaches your child, dance, drama, singing or even music to be
qualified, recent evidence has shown that more and more people are taking up
this occupation to try and earn a fast buck.
With the recent popularity of dancing and singing television
programmes and recent booms within the fitness world there is now more than
ever, people who are teaching children within our communities, some of which do
not even hold a CRB (criminal records bureau certificate) or new DBS
(disclosure and barring service check)
Let’s start with the facts, there are only two forms of
qualification that are generally recognised in the UK for dance teaching.
1)
A degree (or higher) award made by a registered
university along with a Certificate of Education or Post Graduate Certificate
of Education to permit the holder to teach within an education establishment.
2)
A professional qualification and annual registration to one of the
teaching organisations, allowing the holder to organise and hold weekly classes
outside of a normal education establishment, the annual registration is to
maintain professional development and confirm that they are an ongoing member
of an Awarding Organisation.
So what should I do?
As a parent or person responsible for young children or
vulnerable adults you should always check out the teacher and establishment
that you are taking your child to, ask yourself four simple questions.
1)
Can I stay with my child? No qualified teacher should
stop any parent or guardian from staying with their child, part of the Child
Protection and Vulnerable Persons Act legislation states that any activity
should be done in an open environment and not behind closed doors.
2)
Is the venue a permanent establishment or is the
teacher just hiring facilities? (this is a little more complicated) Lots of
well-established professional teachers hire facilities and it is the
responsibility of the venue to check that anyone hiring their premises has
adequate insurance and is qualified to do so, however lots of venues are
maintained by volunteers and are not made aware of their ‘Duty of Care’
3)
Have I chosen these classes because they are the
cheapest around? If the teacher is not qualified and therefore not paying an
annual membership to a professional organisation or paying for adequate
insurance their overheads will be cheaper and therefore can offer classes at a
discount price.
4)
Does the school offer examinations? This is not
a fool proof test as several organisations are now offering their examination
services to non-qualified teachers. However, if the school or teacher organises
regular sessions where an external examiner comes to the centre and the
children receive a certificate and/or award with an official Awarding
Organisation then this is a very good indication that the teacher is probably an
annually registered professional.
These rules are by no means fool proof and if you are ever
unsure ask to see the teachers’ certificate and or annual membership card or
contact their professional organisation who will always say if a person is a
registered professional.
There are lots of non-registered and unqualified people
teaching our children and some of them are fantastic at their job, they have
just never bothered to become qualified, we can never legislate for harm coming
to children but as grownups we can help to prevent children being harmed, over
my years as a registered professional I have been fortunate enough to work with
organisation like the NSPCC to create working guidelines for teachers of
children and vulnerable adults, and more recently worked with the Department of
Education Safeguarding team to help create the new Children in Performance
Legislation, but having been through the care system as a child, I know and
have experienced the dangers children can face, which just makes me more and
more mad when parents or guardians do not do something as simple as checking
‘WHO IS TEACHING MY CHILD’ and these people are the ones who would never take
their beloved pet to a non-qualified vet or even their car to a non-qualified
mechanic.
If you are a parent who is concerned and do not feel like
you can ask then start by researching the person yourself, talk to other
parents or friends or contact the professional dance awarding organisation. If
you are a practicing non-qualified teacher and would like more information on
becoming qualified or if you would like to know more about the dance awarding
organisation you should contact the Council for Dance Education and Training www.cdet.org.uk or give them a call on 0207
240 5703.
© Graham Vernon 2013
