slough music services header

Financial assistance for families on low incomes and Children in Care

We are able to offer reduced cost lessons and free music centre membership, as well as instrument hire for families on low incomes. This is done on an individual case basis so please do get in touch should you be experiencing any financial difficulties, as we always strive to remove barriers to entry in your involvement with Slough Music Service.



Level 1 subsidy – Families with an annual household income below £16,190

If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits and your household income is below £16,190 with savings of less than £16,000 you may be entitled to level 1 subsidy: Job Seekers Allowance (income based), Income Support, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit, Income-related Employment Support Allowance, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Support Allowance

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



Level 2 subsidy – Families with an annual household income between £16,190 and £25,000
If you are in receipt of one of the following benefits and your household income is between £16,190 and £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, Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit, Income-related Employment Support Allowance, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Support Allowance

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.



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 regularly, and practice at home in between lessons, may have the subsidy withdrawn.