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 Lessons & Charges (full policy below)

Marie Fearnley, Finance Officer

Where do lessons take place?

Lessons normally take place in school during normal teaching hours.  In the case of secondary schools every effort is made to rotate weeks to avoid missing the same lesson every week.  In some cases lessons can take place at Music Centre or at an alternative venue.

How much do lessons cost?

For Primary and Secondary pupils the cost is £ 6.60 per lesson including the hire of a top quality instrument (£4.80 if you have your own) per 30 minute lesson.  Over each term we aim to deliver ten lessons.  Please note that this does not add up to a lesson every single week.  This is to allow for training days etc.

Remission Scheme: Pupils who qualify for free school meals pay just £2.24 per lesson inclusive of instrument hire

These prices include FREE membership of as many Music Centre bands, orchestras or choirs as you wish and there is no extra cost to take part in concerts, tours, recording sessions etc.

You can pay monthly with three months off per year and you can also set up a direct debit and pay online.  Full details in the charging policy below.

What happens if we miss lessons?

Pupils who miss lessons without informing their TVMS teacher or the TVMS office in advance will be charged at the normal lesson rate.

In the case of a failure on our part to make the 30 lesson target a refund will be made for the lesson or lessons not delivered at the end of the year.

Charging, Refund and Cancellation Policy

TVMS Charges for pupils in 6^th Form Education

 A sibling discount of 25% for a second child and 50% for subsequent children will be applied to the above fees.   

The three terms are September – December, January – April and May – July.  

Payment  

We will invoice you one term’s fees when we receive your registration form. Your child will then be offered Music Basic Lessons for a maximum of four weeks.  If at the end of the four week period the invoice has not been paid, your child’s lessons will be suspended and the registration form destroyed for data protection.  An instrument will be issued when the fees are paid (if applicable).  

After the initial registration term, we will invoice termly in August, December and April each year. A reminder invoice will be sent after two weeks if payment has not been made. If the fees are not paid by the beginning of the term, your child’s lessons will be suspended until payment is made. A £10 administration charge will be added to the fees to reinstate tuition.  

If you wish to pay annually or monthly please contact the Finance section on Tel:  01642 603600.  

TVMS Refund Policy   

Your child will not be offered a lesson every week.  

If they are registered between September – November we aim to provide 30 lessons over the whole of the academic year.  

If they register December – March we aim to provide 20 lessons to the end of the academic year.  

If they register April – June we aim to provide 10 lessons to the end of the academic year.    

If we do not deliver the minimum number of lessons as indicated above we will refund you at £4.80 per missed lesson (tuition only), or £6.60 per missed lesson (tuition & instrument hire) at the end of the academic year.  

For those eligible for remission, refunds will be £1.63 per missed lesson (tuition only) and £2.24 per missed lesson (tuition & instrument hire)  

6^th Form tuition will be refunded @ £12.60 per missed lesson (tuition only) and £14.40 per missed lesson (tuition & instrument hire)  

Please note that if your child is unable to attend a lesson due to suspension or any reason outside the control of TVMS (e.g. school trip, illness, forgotten instrument) this will count towards the guaranteed lessons.  

Lessons missed due to teacher absence will not count towards the 30 lessons.  

In the event of long term absence of a TVMS teacher we will endeavour to cover the absence with a suitably qualified teacher.  Failing that we will monitor lesson numbers closely and amend fees accordingly.  

There will be no refund for Ensemble fees.  

TVMS Cancellation Policy  

If you wish to stop your child’s lessons please write to Tees Valley Music Service Office, Bishopton Road West , Stockton on Tees TS19 0QH or Email TVMS@stockton.gov.uk.  

Please note you will be charged to the end of the month in which written notice is received, even if your child does not attend lessons.  We recommend that you advise us in your letter if you intend to return the instrument to the TVMS teacher or to TVMS office.  Please do not give letters to your child’s school.    

YR – Y11 pupils will be invoiced / refunded at £4.80 per lesson (tuition only) or £6.60 per lesson (tuition & instrument hire), according to the number of lessons offered in the current academic year.    

Those eligible for remission will be invoiced / refunded @ £1.63 per lesson (tuition only) and £2.24 per lesson (tuition & instrument hire)  

6^th Form tuition will be invoiced/ refunded @ £12.60 per lesson (tuition only) and £14.40 per lesson (tuition & instrument hire)  

There will be no refund for Ensemble Fees.  

Refunds will not be issued until the teachers’ registers have been checked and the hired instrument has been returned to the TVMS office. 

If the instrument is not returned to the Music Service when tuition ceases, the Parent/Carer will be invoiced for the full replacement value.