Assessment

How schools are assessed

We publish how assessment works because a register is only trusted if its process is open. A school is measured against a fixed standard, not a score.

How a decision is reached

A trained BDSA assessor reviews the school's evidence against each requirement of the Safe Dance Standard. Each requirement is met or not met. The reasons are recorded.

A school is Accredited when it meets every core Safe Dance Standard requirement, including enhanced DBS and Children's Barred List checks for teaching staff. Enhanced adds, on top of all of that, a teacher qualification pathway, public liability insurance at £5m, employer's liability insurance, and professional indemnity insurance where applicable.

Why an enhanced DBS matters

From 1 September 2026 the Crime and Policing Act 2026 removes the supervision exemption from regulated activity. Staff and volunteers who work with children in that activity need an enhanced DBS check, with a Children's Barred List check. That is why enhanced DBS and barred-list evidence are part of Accredited on this Register, not a tick-box on a form.

Suspension, downgrade and removal

If a school no longer meets the standard, its accreditation can be downgraded, suspended for a period, or removed. Before any such decision, the school is told the substance of the decision and given the chance to respond. Every decision is recorded with its reasons and issued to the school in writing.

If a school disagrees with a decision