At MusicTeacher.com, safeguarding is a core part of maintaining a trusted and professional teacher registry. This page explains how safeguarding works on the platform, what the safeguarding labels mean, and what teachers are required to provide.
Safeguarding labels on teacher profiles
You may see one of the following safeguarding labels on a teacher’s profile:
This label means that:
- The teacher has submitted a valid safeguarding certificate
- The document has been reviewed by MusicTeacher.com
- The check was issued within the last three years at the time of submission, or the teacher is registered with an official update service (such as the DBS Update Service).
This status helps parents and students quickly identify teachers who have met our safeguarding requirements.
This label means that:
- The teacher has not submitted safeguarding documentation
- MusicTeacher.com has not reviewed a safeguarding certificate for this teacher
This does not mean that a teacher is unsuitable – only that safeguarding documentation has not been provided or verified on the platform.
We display this status clearly to support informed decision-making for parents and students.
A note for parents and students
Safeguarding labels are designed to:
- Provide clear, visible information
- Support informed choices when selecting a teacher
- Reflect whether safeguarding documentation has been reviewed on the platform
We encourage parents and students to:
- Request to see a copy of a teacher’s safeguarding check directly, particularly when arranging lessons for children or young people
- Read teacher profiles carefully
- Ask teachers questions if needed
- Consider safeguarding status alongside qualifications, experience, and teaching approach
Safeguarding requirements for teachers
Safeguarding refers to the measures taken to protect children and vulnerable people from harm, abuse, or neglect.
For private music teachers, this typically includes:
- An appropriate criminal record check
- A professional commitment to safe teaching practices
- Regular review and renewal of safeguarding documentation
MusicTeacher.com reviews safeguarding documentation as part of its professional standards.
While teachers can appear in the registry without submitting safeguarding documentation, we strongly encourage all professional music teachers to hold a valid safeguarding check and to submit it for review.
To receive the Safeguarding Checked label, teachers must upload a valid safeguarding certificate or provide information confirming that:
- The check was issued within the last three years at the time of submission, or the teacher is actively registered with a recognised update service (such as the DBS Update Service); and
- The documentation has been reviewed and approved by MusicTeacher.com.
Safeguarding documentation is reviewed annually as part of ongoing profile review.
Which safeguarding check do I need?
The required safeguarding check depends on where you are based in the UK:
| Jurisdiction | Safeguarding/Background Check Requirement |
| England & Wales | Enhanced DBS Check – Issued within the last 3 years |
| Northern Ireland | Access NI – Issued within the last 3 years |
| Scotland | PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme membership |
| Rest of the World | Not applicable – safeguarding documentation is not currently reviewed for teachers based outside the UK |
Teachers should ensure they submit the correct check for their region, and that it is suitable for working with children or young people.
Why do safeguarding checks need renewing?
Safeguarding checks are retrospective — they show information up to the date they were issued.
For this reason:
- MusicTeacher.com only accepts checks issued within the last 3 years
- Documentation is reviewed annually
- Teachers are encouraged to keep their safeguarding records up to date
This approach reflects common practice across schools, exam boards, and education providers.
If you have a question or concern please don’t hesitate to email us at [email protected]