As someone who’s been teaching dance for a good while, I’ve had my fair share of private lessons. These sessions are super intimate and that means we’ve got to be extra careful to keep everyone safe—both the kids and ourselves as teachers. Let me walk you through some tips and tricks to make sure private dance lessons are secure for everyone.
Why Safeguarding’s a Big Deal in Private Lessons
Private lessons are just you and the student, which is different from the buzz of a regular class. That’s why having solid rules to protect both you and your student is crucial. It’s all about making sure everyone feels safe and sound.
Setting Clear Ground Rules
First off, it’s key to have clear rules that everyone gets—staff, students, and their families. This means making sure all teachers are properly checked out with up-to-date background checks. But that’s just the start.
Keeping Things Open and Secure
Communication is king in private lessons. Always chat with your students to make sure they’re comfy and tackle any worries straight away. Parents need to be in the loop too—what’s being taught, where it’s happening, who’s around, and how to get in touch during lessons.
Whenever you can, have lessons in places where parents can have a peek through a window or a vision panel. It keeps things open and makes sure everything’s above board.
Building a Safe Space
At our dance school, we always try to have more than one adult around during private lessons. It’s reassuring, and not just for the teachers. Students often find it easier to relax with another friendly face in the room. Plus, it keeps the vibe lively and engaging.
Tech Can Help Too
Using tech like CCTV can be another layer of safety. It’s the sort of thing you hope you never need, but if something does come up, it’s handy to be able to show what happened. We’ve had times when being able to look back at CCTV has really helped sort things out.
And, of course, respecting privacy is massive, especially if kids need to change outfits. Make sure there’s a private spot for that, well away from teaching areas.
Really Talk to Your Students
It might seem small, but just asking your students how they’re feeling about the lessons can make a huge difference. Check if they’re happy with how things are going, or if they want to go over something again. It shows you care about them, not just about teaching the steps.
Keep Chatting to Parents Too
Keep talking to the parents just as much. If you notice something’s up with a kid, maybe they’re not themselves, give their parents a shout. What happens outside class can affect them inside too, and getting ahead of that can stop problems before they start.
Wrapping Up
Keeping private dance lessons safe needs us to be on the ball, clear, and always chatting. By sticking to these safeguarding steps, we’re not just protecting everyone, we’re also creating a place where dance can really thrive.
Let’s keep backing each other up and make sure our private lessons are as safe as they are fun and rewarding.
