ONLINE TEACHING HANDBOOK FOR PARENTS
Administration and Invoicing for Online Lessons
Free Trial – All new starters are entitled to one free lesson with a teacher. SMS sometimes runs other offers which will be agreed with you on email according to the term of the offer.
At the end of the trial lesson you will liaise with the teacher to book a block of lessons if you wish to continue. We recommend a minimum of 30 minutes a week to make good progress.
When dates for the block are agreed the teacher will notify our Administrator who will raise an invoice to be paid one week before your lessons begin (sometimes, where this is not possible, we will ask for payment by return)
The Timetable will be arranged mutually between you and the teacher – for those who take school lessons with us the lesson times may remain the same.
SMS is recommending ‘Zoom’ for online teaching. However, please follow the instructions of your teacher who may use a different platform
Have a ‘test’ meeting with the teacher(s) prior to the lesson to ensure the setup is all working. The teacher will contact you to arrange this
Practice book – please make full use of this as a reminder of what to practice. Write in the book yourself or ask your child to depending on age
The teacher will also be able to give you feedback during and after the lesson
Communication
Please be prompt with lesson times
Our teachers will not engage in any gossip or chat about any outside issues or their own personal lives, please also refrain for doing so.
If you need to discuss any aspect of the teaching, please raise with your teacher direct. If you wish to discuss anything with a member of SMS you can contact us at any time on info@sussexmusicschool.com
Safeguarding
Ensure your online lesson room is calm. You may use a living or dining area of your home only
Please allow no other family members into the lesson room apart from yourself unless necessary – for example if you have a baby and are on your own
You or another adult over 18 must be present throughout when your child has their lesson. This guardian only must operate the computer and camera. Our teachers will not teach without this in place
Privacy – do not discuss your personal life or circumstances with the teacher
It is prohibited to record any part of the lesson
Complaints procedure
Safeguarding issues are taken extremely seriously at SMS and action on any complaint will be the number 1 priority of the company
If you wish to make a complaint, please email alex@sussexmusicschool.com
Refunds or credits
If you are unable to set up the online learning to everyone’s satisfaction, we will issue a credit for that lesson.