What is Dance Notes?
Dance Notes offers a library of instantly-available, themed schemes for KS 1 & 2 Dance. Each plan provides a carefully-structured progression over a six-week program & includes all the music you need. In addition to the obvious health benefits, pupils gain a deeper understanding of classroom activities by physically engaging with the topics. Choose between individual downloads or a licence for unlimited use throughout your school.
Educational Impact
 Company | Business Name: Dance Notes HQ Location: United Kingdom Founded: 1992 |
| Age Range | 5-7, 8-10 |
 Features | Pre-planned6-week Schemes Of WorkCurriculum ThemedInstant DownloadCds AvailableAll Music IncludedStream Or DownloadLicence Options For Unlimited AccessPupil Assessment SheetsTime-savingAffordable And Instant |
 Languages | English |
 Accessibility | Few to no features |
 Policies |  Terms of ServicePrivacy PolicyGDPR |
 Requirements | Available OfflineInternet - Low BandwidthInternet - High BandwidthDesktop - MacDesktop - WindowsDesktop - ChromebookDesktop - LinuxMobile - iPhoneMobile - iPadMobile - WindowsMobile - Android Most teachers download the resources, so need to have basic computer/internet literacy. They will need to be able to place the order, open the download, unzip the lesson files and store the music files for use within their lessons. Music may be streamed using links within the plan but many teachers ill transfer files to their own devices. Others will order CDs. To use a licence, they will need to provide a log-in and password, which is then usable throughout their staff. The lessons themselves are designed to be delivered by any teacher, with no need for specialist dance or PE training. We do, however, also offer CPD where required. |
 Set Up | For online download orders, the download link is sent immediately on purchase. The lesson download will take seconds and the music may take a few minutes, depending on the number of tracks in the lesson. Invoice orders are processed manually, so take a little longer. Printed materials are normally posted the next working day but may take up to a week, depending on demand. |
 Training | In PersonDocumentationVideos The Dance Notes schemes are designed to be pupil-led. This means that any teacher should be able to lead a class, with no specialist knowledge or instruction (beyond standard teacher training). A series of 6 videos is, however, available at the web site. These talk teachers through the progression of a typical Dance Notes plan and show pupils at work. Each is between 1:30 - 3:00 minutes in duration. In addition, each lesson plan includes a folder with supplementary teaching notes, to aid delivery of the lesson. These are also available individually, online, to licence holders. For teachers and schools that require more detailed help with their dance delivery and/or planning, we also offer CPD. This may take the form of an INSET day; twilight-sessions; or a whole term's delivery by a Dance Notes-approved teacher, working alongside school staff. |
 Support | EmailFAQs/ForumPhone Support Supporting documents are included with each lesson plan. These give teachers a deeper understanding of what to expect from their pupil and how this should be assessed, in relation to the curriculum. Specific guidance is always available via email on info@madmusik.co.uk or phone, on 01225 313082. It may be necessary to leav a message but we pride ourselves on getting back to yo as quickly as possible. |
| Home Learning | Parent Access Anyone can create the account. The plans are aimed at teachers but may also be used by parents (for example, in a lockdown situation). All the work is pupil-led and designed to be used by non-specialists. |
AIAI usage The Dance Notes team has not stated whether it uses AI. | |
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Dance Notes PricingPricing Plans Free VersionPaid SubscriptionOne-Off Fee Dance Notes pricing starts from £29.99 / one-off Individual lesson plans are priced at: £32.99 (download with mp3s) £43.99 (download + CD) £65.99 (printed pack + CD). Online payments are discounted by 10%. A full school licence costs £216 annually, discounted to £190 with online payment (not BACS). Group discounts are available for academy trust and other partnership annual licences: 5 schools: £550 6–9 schools: £875 10–15 school: £1500  Optimised for a quick response | |
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Dance Notes Reviews
from 23 Verified Reviews
User rating
Country
Feb 2024
Fits well with my Ancient Greece topic.
Anna found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“Easy to follow insructions with the music.”
- Increases student collaboration“Good pair and group work”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Builds student knowledge
Feb 2023
It was just what I was looking for.
Lisa Flude found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“The planning for our circus dance unit was done for me.”
- Increases student collaboration“They encouraged the children to work together.”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“The children behaved well in the dance lessons as they enjoyed them.”
- Builds student knowledge
Cathy Clack
KS1 Teacher Inclusion Manager
Used Dance Notes weekly for 3-4 years
Feb 2022
They are lovely ideas set to fantastic music.
Cathy Clack found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“Saves times finding appropriate music”
- Increases student collaboration“The activities lend themselves to children creating movement together”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Children are always engaged”
- Builds student knowledge“Different ways of moving”
Kate Caulfield
PE Co-ordinator
Used Dance Notes occasionally for 3-4 years
Feb 2022
The lessons are clear and easy to follow for any member of staff and the bonus is having the music provided with the lessons so teachers don't need to spend hours searching for music
Kate Caulfield found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“The lessons are detailed and planned out so no need to do much before the lessons”
- Increases student collaboration“The lessons encourage collaboration whether it be paired work, small group work and whole class performance”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“The themes are able to be linked to topics in school which gives more of a purpose to the lessons. Well being is promoted by keeping children active”
- Builds student knowledge“Gives pupils ideas on composing dances, movement sequences and choreography ideas”
Feb 2022
Well resourced. Lessons easy to follow and adapt if teachers wish
Sallyann Maddison found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload
- Increases student collaboration“Boys and girls work well together as there are ‘boy’ themes they engage with”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Improves attainment“Boys more willing to join in n”
- Builds student knowledge“Soecific vocab and terminology”
Jan 2022
Provides good lesson ideas, including warm ups and cool downs, building to a final piece at the end of the unit.
Tim Robinson found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“No”
- Increases student collaboration“Bo”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“No”
- Improves attainment“No”
- Builds student knowledge“Different history topics blended in well.”
Karen Sullivan
Class Teacher and PE Subject Lead
Used Dance Notes weekly for 0–3 months
Nov 2021
Because I have subscribed using my money and not the schools I would recommend it but as a whole school PE approach
Karen Sullivan found Dance Notes:
- Reduces teacher workload“The plans are all ready to use. I just have to transfer them onto our own planning documents”
- Increases student collaboration“The children that have Dance experience support the others that may not have”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Some children that are not academically minded come into their own during Dance sessions”
- Improves attainment“None”
- Builds student knowledge“None”
May 2021
Great music. Activities are a good starting point. To be a 10, maybe some examples of shapes or videos of dances to inspire pupils or teachers who don't know what they don't know.
Ella Webb found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“increased engagement leads to pupils applying them selves more resulting in improved motifs, shapes and sequences”
- Builds student knowledge“language shared and used by pupils”
- Increases student collaboration“improved engagement and planned opportunities”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“improved engagement”
- Reduces teacher workload“no need to search for suitable music. Inspires possible activities.”
Apr 2021
Dance Notes has given me the confidence to deliver Dance, something I have always struggled with or avoided. There are plenty of topics and themes to choose from and it is easy to use
Trish Partridge found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Because there are no 'rights and wrong's about what children's responses are, children were confident to join in and do what they felt and wanted rather than think 'I can't do this' or 'I can't dance'”
- Builds student knowledge“Enhanced learning about Roman army and Viking longships. Greater movement ideas in year 6”
- Increases student collaboration“Working in groups to tell a story, working together to become an Army, or a flower, or move a Viking longship”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Some boys who can sometimes be disruptive were totally engaged in Rough and Tumble. Also, because children can choose their own movements, there were less 'rules'. Children were back from school after lockdown and thoroughly enjoyed moving and expressing themselves to music”
- Reduces teacher workload“Because the music is there ready and the plans are written for you, there is no scrabbling around finding suitable music. I would previously avoid teaching dance as I didn't have plans or music”
Mar 2021
I have already recommended to Year 5 in my school and in September will encourage other year groups to use the scheme
Sophie Richardson found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Some of the boys in the class are more intrigued as the music and improvisation is more interesting”
- Builds student knowledge“Children are more aware of terminology whilst dancing”
- Increases student collaboration“Children want to push themselves to create a piece of dance”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing
- Reduces teacher workload“Following the lesson materials means we don’t have to create and source music or plans”
Mar 2021
Dance Notes has had a positive impact on the children who initially did not think that they would enjoy dance. Engagement in the lessons is high and behaviour is good. As the sports coach, I also feel a lot more confident in teaching dance now, as I did before I started using Dance Notes.
Jonathan Marshall found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Engagement with the source topics was interesting to the children as they wanted to find out how the topic linked to dance.”
- Builds student knowledge“Key phrases that can be inputted into a lesson that they can remember and show physically.”
- Increases student collaboration“An unfamiliar topic means they must work together to explore and discover new ways of thinking and learning.”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“The year 5 children at our school can be very challenging but with the rough and tumble frame of work, the challenging boys were engaged and having a positive impact on the lesson as opposed to a negative one.”
- Reduces teacher workload“As a sports coach I must plan every lesson to suit each year group for each topic, so having lesson plans that are already planned and ready to go, means that I do not need to spend time researching for and creating a frame of work for dance for each year group”
Mar 2021
It was easy to order, lessons were enjoyed and I felt like the children had accomplished new skills at the end.
Catherine found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment
- Builds student knowledge“Children learned about the way people lived and moved during Stone Age Britain”
- Increases student collaboration“They created some great group dances”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Boys are often reluctant to take part but enjoyed this dance unit and we’re actively engaged.”
- Reduces teacher workload“The unit of work was easy to pick up and deliver . Saved lots of time.”
Jan 2021
This is the best dance scheme of work that I have used in my 40 years of teaching and even better than a dance teacher that comes into school
Pauline found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“The children are very engaged in dance and enjoy it much more than they used to do”
- Builds student knowledge“By doing the dance moves they are able to understand how people used to live”
- Increases student collaboration“I have had many students who find it difficult to work with others but dance notes helped them find the confidence to change”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“I have had students who were not willing to join in with dance but with dance notes they find it enjoyable”
- Reduces teacher workload“The notes are so clear and well structured and the tracks are available too so there is no need for new planning”
Oct 2020
Clear, simple to follow planning with all resources together. Lots of topics covered.
Katie found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment
- Builds student knowledge
- Increases student collaboration
- Reduces attainment gap
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing
Oct 2020
Music not always liked by the children
Joanne Meyer found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Allows all children to take part”
- Builds student knowledge“dance word knowledge”
- Increases student collaboration“children have to work together”
- Reduces attainment gap“all get involved”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“children have a purpose in the lesson”
Oct 2020
It offers teachers of all knowledge level and confidence the chance to offer dance lessons for all students. Participation in dance has improved dramatically.
Sarah Small found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“All children totally engaged with lessons - lots of topic areas offered for boys, who can sometimes lack interest.”
- Builds student knowledge
- Increases student collaboration“A great amount of collaboration in lessons.”
- Reduces attainment gap
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Wellbeing has been helped by children having the opportunity in engaging dance lessons.”
Oct 2020
Lesson plans have broad and varied subject content for Dance with cross curriculur themes. Dance Notes provides music tracks of varied styles that stand alone or accompany the lesson plans.
Lucilla Royden found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Children are motivated by the lesson plans”
- Builds student knowledge“Lesson plans teach children about key dance principles”
- Increases student collaboration“Children create dances in duets, trios and small groups”
- Reduces attainment gap“Differentiation is offered within lesson plans”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“The lesson plans are age appropriate in content and children enjoy them”
Oct 2020
Very cost effective set of planning complete with suitable music and excellent, expert content.
Elton George Lewis found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Children can more readily describe their understanding using technical vocabulary.”
- Builds student knowledge“Technical vocabulary recall, confidence in choreography, and successful performance self evaluation.”
- Increases student collaboration“Plenty of group choreography opportunities and peer assessment moments.”
- Reduces attainment gap“Where children previously couldn’t use dance related vocabulary to describe their performance and learning, they can now readily do that!”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Better in lesson behaviour for learning.”
Oct 2020
Easy to follow lesson plans. Great ideas. Super music choices
Melissa found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Covers all aspects of dance”
- Builds student knowledge“Lots of examples”
- Increases student collaboration“Every lesson”
- Reduces attainment gap“Pupils always engaged”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“All children engaged”
Oct 2020
The lessons are easy to follow, the music is good and appropriate
Liz found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“The children are able to create movements very creatively using the ideas in the lessons”
- Builds student knowledge“They can hear the speed of the music and adjust the speed and style of their movement”
- Increases student collaboration“Many ideas provided require group work and collaboration in actions”
- Reduces attainment gap
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“The children are engaged and enjoy the activities so are less likely to misbehave”
Oct 2020
I have only used 1 unit so don’t have loads of experience using dance notes but I’ve really enjoyed what I have used.
Jane Loughran found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Clear guidance for teachers leads to better focus on learning in lessons”
- Builds student knowledge“Extends technical vocabulary”
- Increases student collaboration“Partner and group work in the pirate unit children were motivated by the music to be creative and work together”
- Reduces attainment gap“Most children motivated and positive towards dancing. Helped some children gain confidence.”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Well-being music has a very positive impact and helps to motivate. Repetition of music linked to each lesson also builds confidence”
Oct 2020
All KS1 teachers found good to use
Rose found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“All pe helps develop fine and gross motor which helps overall attainment . Dance notes motivated the children”
- Builds student knowledge“Good vocabulary included”
- Increases student collaboration“Good partner and group work”
- Reduces attainment gap“Not specifically only used for one topic”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Motivation leads to better behaviour. Dance helps creativity and hence well being”
Oct 2020
The resources- notes and music- were excellent. Clear to follow. Such a time-saver for the non-specialist. Children responded well and enjoyed the dance lessons.
H Bridson found Dance Notes:
- Improves attainment“Enhanced pupil engagement , cooperation with peers, structure of lessons built on skills.”
- Builds student knowledge“Broadening of curriculum subject knowledge through the discussion notes.”
- Increases student collaboration“Children required to work in groups, listening to each other and performing as a group.”
- Reduces attainment gap“Programmes are accessible to pupils of all abilities. All can succeed.”
- Improves behaviour or wellbeing“Good listening as engaged in the activities. Children gaining enjoyment and sense of pride in creating dances, getting praise from their peers.”