Jigsaw Arts Balham

Each performing arts session contains an equal amount of dance, drama and singing. For our 3- 6 years, it’s 30 minutes of each, keeping the sessions upbeat and fun. For our 7-14 year olds, it’s an hour of each dance, drama and singing with three specialist teachers. For our Youth Theatre, they do 3 hours each week with the Youth Theatre Director and work on different projects throughout the year, including all elements of the performing arts industry.

At Jigsaw Balham, we offer well-rounded performing arts classes that include dance, drama, and singing, and all children take part in all three disciplines equally. While it’s completely natural for a child to feel more drawn to one subject at first, our fun and supportive environment helps them build confidence across the board. We never force children to do anything they’re uncomfortable with, but we do encourage them to give everything a go, you might be surprised what they end up enjoying! Our two-week trial is a great way for students to explore all three areas before committing. The classes are designed to complement each other, and more often than not, children leave with a new favourite (or three!).

We usually offer our two-week trials at the start of each term, as this is the best time for new students to jump in without feeling like they’re playing catch-up. Throughout the term, we’re often working on projects or rehearsing for performances, and we want every child to get the full experience from the beginning. That said, we know every situation is different, so feel free to drop us a message and we’ll be happy to let you know what might be possible!

We offer a two-week trial which costs £30 for 3-6 years attending our 1.5 hour session/ £60 for 7 – 18 years attending our 3 hour sessions, so your child can try out the sessions before you commit to the whole term. When you sign up for the full term after the two-week trial classes that £30/£60 paid goes towards the whole term’s fees and you only pay the balance remaining for the term. We don’t offer free trials as we find this quite disruptive for our current students.

We cannot guarantee that a space will still be available if you turn up at the school. The Jigsaw Balham classes are very popular and fill very quickly. It is best to reach out to us or add yourself to the waiting list.

All our classes are drop off classes. We invite you to arrive early on your first session to meet the class teacher and Emily the manager, before our class starts. Parents are invited to speak to us at the end of classes and families are invited into the school at the end of term to enjoy student’s presentations/ shows, two terms out of three per year.

To ensure high quality lessons for all Jigsaw students, we have a limit on the number of children enrolled each term. There is a maximum of 16 students in our 3-6 years classes, and our busier classes will have an assistant teacher present to join in with the fun! For students aged 7 – 18 years, there is a maximum of 20 students.

We understand that starting something new can feel a bit daunting, especially for shy children. Our team is experienced in helping all students feel comfortable from day one. Each Jigsaw school has a dedicated manager, a lead teacher, and often assistants too, so there are plenty of friendly faces to offer support and encouragement. Building confidence and social skills through the performing arts is at the heart of what we do. Some children come out of their shell within weeks, while others take a little longer, and that’s completely fine. We’re here to support them at their own pace. You’re always welcome to chat with the school manager about your hopes for your child, and we’re happy to keep you updated on how they’re settling in.

Yes, all teachers have an enhanced DBS check. Our teachers also attend Jigsaw Arts teacher training sessions and regular CPD.

We welcome children of all abilities, and we do our best to create an inclusive, supportive environment. However, please note that we aren’t able to provide one-to-one care, as we don’t have the provisions in place for that level of support. Every child is unique, so we encourage you to get in touch with the school manager to discuss your child’s individual needs before booking. In most cases, we recommend trying our two-week trial, which gives both you and us the chance to see if the classes are the right fit and how best we can support your child.

We generally don’t stop for school half term holidays and our classes run for 11 weeks without any breaks. But please do check term dates each term in case of any school closures.

Jigsaw Arts run termly courses, so we are unable to offer any discount for missed sessions. We like to recommend that students attend all the sessions to get the most out of the course.

Yes. We offer discounts to fees for second siblings.

We ask that the children attend Jigsaw classes in either their Jigsaw Arts uniform which can be purchased at your school, or in loose fitting black or grey clothing that is easy to move/dance in. We recommend trainers and plimsoles, or anything that the children can safely run and dance in.

We recommend that all student’s bring a bottle of water and a small nut-free snack. All children in all classes have a short comfort break.

Yes! Once a year Jigsaw Balham puts on a fully staged end of term show with costumes (and lights), for friends and family to enjoy. The second performance term of the year is a presentation term, where families are invited in at the end of term to see an open class demonstration of how Jigsaw Arts classes are structured, and how the teachers interact with the students on a week to week basis. The final term of the year is our technique term, where students focus on lots of new techniques in drama, singing and dance. There is no formal performance at the end of a technique term, but you will receive a report on your child’s progress from their Jigsaw teachers.

Yes! The more the merrier!

No, children don’t need to audition. All children are welcome at Jigsaw. We recognise that the children come to our classes with different skill sets and different goals. Our teachers are able to differentiate to make sure all children are challenged to their full potential. We are proud that Jigsaw is ‘A Place to Belong’ for all students.

Yes. Jigsaw Arts Management is a small agency that represents children from across the Jigsaw school network with the aim to secure them professional work in TV, theatre, film and adverts. To find out more, follow @jigsawartsmanagement or email agency@jigsaw-arts.co.uk.