General
_ Home  
> Search this site  
> About Us / Policies  
> Latest News  
> Jobs  
> Online forms  
For Pupils
> Lessons in School  
> Music Centres - Bands, Choirs and Orchestras  
> Holiday Courses  
> Instruments - hiring
and buying 		 
> Financial assistance for
low income families		  
For Schools
> Services to Schools  
> CPD and Resources  
Events & Projects
> Events  
> Projects  
> Young Leaders  
Contact Us
> Contact Info  
> Where we are  
SMS Staff Section
> Login here  
 
 
Financial assistance for families on low incomes
and Children in Care

We are able to offer reduced cost lessons and free music centre membership and instrument hire for families on low incomes.

Level 1 subsidy - Children registered to receive Free School Meals

If the student is receiving free school meals you will be entitled to level 1 subsidy. This offers:

Instrumental Lessons
A reduction of 80% for a group lesson		 Music Centres
Free		 Instrument Hire*
Free

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY: Your child MUST be registered for free school meals at their school. You do not need to send proof as we will check the central database for pupil registration.

If you are eligible for free school meals but not registered, please contact your school to register.
 
Level 2 subsidy - Households with an annual income of less than £25,000

If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits and your household income is below £25,000 with savings of less than £16,000 you may be entitled to level 2 subsidy:
Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Pension Credit, Employment Support Allowance

This offers:

Instrumental Lessons
A reduction of 50% for a group lesson		 Music Centres
Free		 Instrument Hire*
Free

PROOF OF ELIGIBILITY. You will need to send a copy of your benefits award letter (all pages of the award letter must be sent) with the lesson or centre application form. If this is not received with the application, or within 7 days of an online application, you may be charged the standard rate

*Please note that subsidised instrument hire is only available when the pupil is having regular (weekly) lessons through Slough Music Service (tuition or music centres).
Children in Care (Looked After Children)
If the child is in local authority care, all provision/hire is free. If this applies to your child, please inform the music service directly. Please note that lessons for children in care are normally offered as group lessons
 

Limitations and Conditions of the Remission Policy
A pupil is only entitled to one subsidised lesson registration at any given time, though a child may have tuition and attend more than one activity (music centre and choir for example).

Reduced lesson rates are normally only available for group lessons. Where the pupil has a particular need (eg special learning needs, talented pupils) we may be able to assist further with the cost of individual lessons. This is at the discretion of the music service. Please contact us for more information.

Our bursary fund is limited. Subsidies will be allocated in order of receipt whilst funds last.

Pupils receiving reduced rates will be monitored for effort and attendance. Pupils who do not attend instrumental lessons and/or music centres regularly, and practice at home in between lessons, may have the subsidy withdrawn.