Terms and conditions upon which instrumental tuition is made available
1. A guaranteed minimum of 28 lessons per year will be provided – though every effort will be made to provide 30. The aim is to provide 10 lessons per term but this may vary due to external circumstances beyond our control. For example, unforeseen absence or unavailability of a teacher or disproportionate term lengths due to the date on which Easter falls.
2. Lessons will last for a minimum of twenty minutes and a maximum of thirty minutes. The legal maximum group size of four has been removed from the Education Act 1996 and, subject to confirmation of the new regulations, tuition will be delivered in small - standard - groups of an appropriate size, determined in accordance with good educational practice. Standard group lessons will be provided unless parent or guardian elected otherwise.
3. Lessons will generally take place during the normal school day. It may, exceptionally and subject to availability, be possible to schedule lessons for lunch times or after school.
4. Payment terms: fees will be payable termly, in advance, with an option to spread the annual cost over a nine month period by Direct Debit. It will, additionally, be possible to make payments by other means and over different periods subject to agreement - details are obtainable on request. Suspension of lessons and / or music centre membership due to non-payment of fees will incur a £10 admin fee per suspension. Parents / guardians are responsible for ensuring the music service has an up-to-date contact address.
5. Pupils will be expected to attend all instrumental lessons.
6. Where, through illness, a pupil is absent for three or more consecutive lessons, a credit will be allowed in respect of fees for lessons missed. There will be no other refunds made except in circumstances where, due to the absence or unavailability of a teacher, the requisite number of lessons cannot be achieved.
7. In the event that a parent wishes to give notice that lessons are not to continue, this must be received in writing at North Yorkshire Music Service, CYPS Business Support, County Hall, Northallerton, DL7 8AE. Payment of fees will be required up to the end of the half term in which the written notice is received.
7a. In respect of music centre activities - out of school ensembles or theory classes - termination of membership is likewise subject to written notice of a minimum of half a term.
8. Having initially satisfied the school and the relevant instrumental teacher of their musical aptitude and, subject to our availability to provide suitable tuition, pupils may continue their lessons until further notice unless their rate of progress, poor attendance, conduct or unviable group size render this inappropriate.
9. Remission schemes
Eligibility for any of the following entitles claimants, subject to documentary proof of their entitlement, to learn one instrument in a standard group at no cost:
- Universal Credit with annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 - over three most recent assessment periods
- Child Tax Credit with annual income below £16,190 - value applicable from 6 April 2022 - as stated on award letter and not receiving Working Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Job Seekers Allowance - income based
- Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance
- otherwise eligible for free school meals
Please note: Job Seekers Allowance - contribution based - or Child Tax Credit with annual income over £16,190 - value applicable from 6 April 2022 - does not confer eligibility for reduced fees.
Tuition on any further instruments will be chargeable at the full rate applicable for such lessons at the time.
Individual 20 minute lessons can be made available to pupils in this category at nil cost who, in the opinion of their peripatetic instrumental teacher, have reached a playing standard equivalent to Associated Board Grade 6.
Working Tax Credit eligibility entitles claimants, subject to documentary proof of their entitlement, to learn one instrument in a standard group at a discount of 30%. Tuition on any further instruments will be similarly chargeable at the full rate applicable for such lessons at the time.
Individual 20 minute lessons can be made available to pupils in this category at 30% discount who, in the opinion of their peripatetic instrumental teacher, have reached a playing standard equivalent to Associated Board Grade 6.
10. In order to supplement our tuition, we may ask students if they would be interested in joining the county ensembles, music centres and other appropriate workshops. This will be done via email, using the contact details you have provided as part of the registration process.
11. Privacy Notice: The Music Service collects your personal data in order to process your application / registration and to provide the requested music tuition. For more detailed information on why we store and process your data, please refer to our privacy notice.