Advice & Information - Health and Safety
Safe Practice in PE and School Sport
NDTA recommends the afPE publication Safe Practice in Physical Education and School Sport as a very helpful and comprehensive guide. It includes a specific section on teaching dance and other useful information including personal protection, religious and cultural issues, transporting pupils and procedural and protocol issues related to the photography, filming and videoing of pupils. The publication is endorsed by many organisations including NDTA and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).
Parkour
We are aware that there is an increasing interest in using Parkour as a stimulus for dance lessons/activities. However, whilst this can be perfectly safe, there are a number of considerations which should be taken into account. The Association for Physical Education (afPE) has prepared downloadable guidance for teachers regarding Parkour Related Activities which NDTA endorses.
Cheerleading
An increasing number of schools are offering pupils the opportunity to participate in cheerleading. The growth, all under the umbrella of ‘Cheerleading’, has been driven by the basic dance elements required in the disciplines of Pom Dance, Street Cheer and Cheer Dance with Freestyle Gymnastics adding an extra dynamic to routines and performances. The UK Cheerleading Association (UKCA), in partnership with British Gymnastics, is widely acknowledged as the primary provider of cheerleading education & development across the Home Nations. UKCA offers coaching courses and is working with British Gymnastics to gain UK Coaching Certificate (UKCC) endorsement. British Gymnastics is approved by QCA as an awarding body for official gymnastic coaching qualifications in the UK.
For more information about health and safety issues related to cheerleading contact British Gymnastics