Ts & Cs for Instrumental and Vocal Tuition in Schools

Terms and conditions for instrumental/vocal tuition in schools 

By applying for lessons with Swindon Music Service (SMS) you agree to the following terms and conditions as shown below.

For the purpose of this agreement a ‘term’ refers to a three-term academic year: autumn, spring and summer.

Instrumental/vocal tuition in schools

  • 30 lessons will be delivered per year
  • Individual lessons are offered for 20- or 30-minutes duration
  • SMS reserves the right to change teaching personnel, lesson times and groupings where necessary and will notify parents and schools of any changes to those lesson arrangements. We always work closely with the school to agree suitable lesson times
  • Teaching will normally take place during the school day, but some tuition may take place before or after normal school hours, as well as during break and lunch times.

Cost of lessons

  • Charges for lessons are set for the whole academic year.
  • Costs of lessons are reviewed annually.

Missed lessons/refunds

It is the responsibility of the student to arrive on time for lessons. SMS will not refund missed lessons where:

  • The student has failed to arrive for a lesson.
  • The student is not available for any reason e.g. illness, school trip, appointment elsewhere, school closure for bad weather.
  • SMS will make every effort to reschedule lessons where possible, but cannot guarantee to do so.

SMS will refund/re-schedule missed lessons where:

  • The SMS tutor is unavailable.
  • The school has an OFSTED inspection and does not wish teaching to take place.
  • If a student is away from school for more than three consecutive weeks in a term due to a long-term illness, SMS will make every effort to refund up to one term of tuition fees. A doctor’s certificate will need to be supplied.
  • Refunds will only be made at the end of the academic year, once the opportunity has been given to make up for missed lessons by the tutor.

Communication

  • Our primary method of communication is by email

Cancellation of tuition

  • To stop lessons at the end of the Autumn term, you must give written notice by 20th November.
  • To stop lessons at the end of the Spring term, you must give written notice by 20th March.
  • To stop lessons at the end of the Summer term, you must give written notice by 20th July.
  • We encourage your child to learn a musical instrument for at least a year but, if for any reason you wish to cancel your child’s lessons, notice must be provided direct to SMS via an email. Cancellation notifications should be sent to: lhawkins@smscio.co.uk
  • We will be unable to accept cancellations via your child’s tutor or school
  • All cancellation requests will be acknowledged within five working dates of receipt.

Payment terms

  • Fees must be paid termly in advance
  • Invoices will be issued via email and tuition will not commence until payment has been made.

Additional costs

  • Students will need tutor books for their lessons. Parents/carers are responsible for purchasing books promptly at the request of the tutor. Other costs such as entry for examinations (which are not compulsory), will also be charged to the parent/carer.
  • Instruments
  • It is the responsibility of the parent/carer to provide an instrument for the lesson. Some instruments are available to hire from SMS or from the school

Musical instruments should be insured

  • SMS does not accept liability for damage to an instrument left in a school, or damaged in a lesson.

How to enrol your child for instrumental lessons at school

Register your interest online at:https://ukswindon.speedadmin.dk/registration#/

Address:

Swindon Music Service

Instrumental lessons request

The Platform

Faringdon Road

Swindon

SN1 5BJ

Or email to: lhawkins@smscio.co.uk

Pupils will be allocated to a lesson as soon as possible. The availability of a tutor cannot be guaranteed, especially where a tutor is not currently available on the requested instrument at the school. A waiting list will be created, and every effort will be made to ensure tuition commences as soon as possible. This will normally be at the beginning of a term. If tuition begins in the middle of a ten-week cycle, tuition will be charged pro rata according to the number of lessons remaining in the cycle. The SMS will then contact you to discuss final arrangements and payment

Confirmation of instrumental lessons will be given as soon as SMS has arranged the timetables. A copy will still be sent to you and displayed in the school.