North Yorkshire music service - tuition terms and conditions

Pupil instrumental and vocal tuition - parent/guardian terms and conditions

Terms and conditions upon which instrumental tuition is made available.

1. Lessons will be offered over 32 weeks in line with the music teachers’ teaching weeks calendar. These weeks are all within the North Yorkshire Council school terms.

2. Lessons will last for a minimum of twenty minutes and a maximum of thirty minutes.

3. Standard group tuition will be delivered in small groups of no more than 4 pupils.

4. Music lessons will generally take place during the normal school day.

5. Pupils will be expected to attend all instrumental lessons, which means leaving their school timetabled lessons.

6. Parents and guardians are responsible for ensuring the music service has full and up-to-date contact details via the Music Portal.

7. Communication between the music service and parents, students and/or teachers will be by email, or messaging using the communications portal.

8. Payment

All payments for music service offerings are to be made through the Music Portal, or secure link provided e.g. lessons, instrument hire etc.

• start-up payment - payment required in full in advance of lessons starting (no lessons will take place until payment is received)
• ongoing lessons – the following full term’s fees must be paid before the end of term – for example, pay by last school week in December to continue lessons next term, i.e. in January
• if no payment is received lessons will be stopped
• if no payment is received and lessons have been stopped, the full term’s payment will be charged to recommence lessons, if there is availability and the place has not been reallocated to another student

9. Remission scheme discounts

Parents or guardians who wish to apply for discounted music lessons for students under one of the schemes (detailed below) must upload supporting documentation at the time the application is submitted to allow it to be processed.

If the circumstances of the student change regarding their eligibility to remission scheme discounts then the charges will change and apply accordingly.

Please see Remissions information below for more details.

10. Credits for lessons will apply in the following circumstances only:

• teacher absence
• school closure - online lessons may be offered as an alternative, if appropriate
• long-term pupil illness - such as if pupil is absent from school for two or more consecutive lessons and the absence is confirmed by school
• unable to attend scheduled lesson because of external exams - for example Year 6 SATS, Year 11 GCSEs and Year 13 A-levels

11. Stopping tuition

In the event that a parent/guardian wishes to give notice that lessons are not to continue this must be received in writing or by email/portal. Payment of fees will be required up to the end of the term in which the notice is received.

The music service request that a lesson termination form is completed if tuition is stopped to understand the reason for stopping lessons.

12. Attendance

The music service will keep a record of pupil attendance at lessons via the Music portal. If 3 consecutive lessons are missed by a pupil, we will inform you.

13. Unviable groups

In the event your child is the only remaining child in a standard group lesson we will endeavour to recruit new pupils to fill the group. If it is not possible to recruit others to the group, the individual lessons charge will apply after half a term. This ‘top-up fee’ is to be paid at time of agreement to continue as individual lessons.

The music service would consider offering online lessons as an alternative if an online group can be created. Pupils will also be given the option to stop having lessons under these circumstances with no notice payment due and any remaining lessons will be refunded/credited.

14. Having initially checked that an instrumental teacher is available and that the instrument is suitable for the pupils’ needs, pupils may continue their lessons until further notice. This is subject to the availability of the authority and the music service to provide suitable tuition.

15. The music service has the right to withdraw lessons for reasons including, but not restricted to, a student’s poor rate of progress, poor attendance, conduct etc.

16. Privacy notice: The music service collects personal data in order to process music lesson application or registration and also to provide music tuition. For more detailed information on why the council stores and processes your data please refer to our privacy notices.

Tuition remission schemes

1. Free school meals

Eligibility to free school meals is determined by:

• Universal Credit with annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 - over 3 most recent assessment periods
• Child Tax Credit with annual income below £16,190 (annual income value applicable from 6 April 2024) as stated on Award letter and not receiving Working Tax Credit
• income support
• Job Seekers Allowance (income based Job Seekers Allowance or Child Tax Credit with annual income over £16.190, does not confer eligibility for reduced fees)
• income-related employment and support allowance
• guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• otherwise eligible for Free School Meals

Eligibility to free school meals entitles claimants, subject to documentary proof of their entitlement, to:

Standard group lessons

• learn one instrument in a standard group at no cost
• 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
• one instrument per child

2. Working Tax Credit

Eligibility to Working Tax Credit entitles claimants, subject to documentary proof of their entitlement, to:

Standard group lessons

• 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

• 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
• one instrument per child