Slough Music Service Charging and remissions Policy 2024-2025

Applying for lessons with Slough Music Service is quick and easy. Lessons can currently take place only at a school and you can apply for music lessons throughout the school year. We are working on developing a music centre that will accommodate after school and weekend lessons. You can apply online for lessons by clicking here.

Lessons for the academic year 2024/2025 will be delivered during the following dates:

• Autumn Term: 10 weeks: 16^th September to week of 9^th December 2024

• Spring Term: 10 weeks 11^th January to 29^th March 2025

• Summer Term: 11 weeks: 22^nd April – 21^st July 2025

You will receive confirmation from Slough Music Service as to when your lessons will commence. Communication with Slough Music Service is via email and telephone.

Lessons are invoiced termly in advance of the autumn, spring and summer terms commencing. Slough Music Service will email your invoice directly to you via Slough Borough Council and payment is due in full within 14 days of the date of your invoice.

If you are continuing lessons:

Any pupil currently having lessons with Slough Music Service will automatically be re-enrolled next term, unless they have already given notice to end lessons. We require half a term (6 weeks) notice to cancel the lessons.

Your lessons may continue if you are finishing year 6 and moving onto secondary school.

Students who have requested lessons and are moving up to secondary school will be contacted via email to confirm continuation of lessons.

Lesson costs:

As of 2024/25	LEVEL 1 SUBSIDY # (free school meals criteria)		LEVEL 2 SUBSIDY # (income less than £25,000)		STANDARD RATE
	Lesson charge	Instrument hire	Lesson charge	Instrument hire	Lesson charge	Instrument hire
Group Lessons	£30 per term	£5 per term	£60 per term	£10 per term	£90 per term	£30.00 per term
10 lessons per term Individual 20 minute Lessons					£120 per term	£30.00 per term
10 lessons per term Individual 30 minute Lessons					£180.00 per term	£30.00 per term

Concessions:

We may offer (subject to availability) discounted group lessons, free instrument hire and free ensemble membership to families who are in receipt of:

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.

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 or your journal screenshot (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.

Children in Care (Looked After Children):

If a child is in local authority care, all provision/hire is free. Funding must be sought through the virtual school and through the looked after child’s advocate. If this applies to your child, please inform the music service directly or social worker/advocate.

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 (e.g., special educational 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.