SUSSEX MUSIC SCHOOL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Payments

 

• Payment is taken by Direct Debit through our payment provider GoCardless. 

• To total cost of lessons is spread out evenly throughout the year - taken monthly during term time and school holidays to cover a fixed number of lessons. This helps to spread the cost into more manageable amounts across the year.  

• We only charge for lessons offered – there is no additional admin fee. 

• When you start midway through a year your payment will be our usual monthly payment but with an adjustment payment taken to ensure you are paying for the correct number of lessons that remain in the year. This initial payment also serves to confirm your child’s place on the timetable. See your confirmation email for full details of how payments are calculated. ​

• Parent/carers agree to read the payment agreement and calculations on their confirmation email carefully.  

• Parent/carers agree to set up a direct debit before starting lessons and to pay monthly for lessons on time. Any failure to make the monthly payment may result in lessons being paused or cancelled.  

• Parent/carers agree to review their invoices to make sure the correct lesson arrangements are in place and correct payments are taken each month. 

• All payment queries to be emailed as soon as noted to melita@sussexmusicschool.com for review 

• Parent/carers will contact SMS by email if there is any issue with payment to ensure lessons can continue.  

 

Absences  

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• Parent/carers to be aware that if a lesson is missed due to a child’s absence, including illness, it cannot be made up. 

• Parent/carers to notify the teacher as far in advance as possible in writing (The teacher will provide their contact details in the practice book and via initial email) if a lesson is to be missed due to a school trip or medical appointment in order that the teacher can try to make up the lesson time on another occasion. Please note this is not guaranteed. 

• In the case of teacher absence, the teacher will notify the parent/carer and the lesson will be made up or credited at year end in the rare event we cannot meet the quota of lessons 

• In the case of sudden unplanned school closure teachers will offer online lessons the same day. 

 

Getting the most out of your Lessons 

 

• Parent/carer to supply a suitable instrument for their child to use during the lesson and practice with at home (keyboards do not need to be brought to school). Please ask your teacher for advice on which instrument and size (if applicable) to buy. 

•  A £2.00 fee will be added to the next invoice if a practice book needs to be replaced. 

• Parent/carers agree to encourage the pupil to attend their lesson each week along with their instrument, music books and practice book (with the exception of keyboards, which will be provided in school).  

• Please note that, if in a secondary school, it is the pupils’ responsibility to get to their lesson on time. In Primary schools, children may be reminded and collected for lessons as appropriate. 

• Parent/carers to encourage regular practice and to engage with the practice book (there is a parents’ comments box to communicate with the teacher) 

• Parent/carer to purchase tutor and repertoire books as requested by the teacher. There should not be more than 2-3 books per year to buy. 

 

Giving Notice on Lessons 

•  Parents agree to give and pay for 4 lessons notice in writing to  info@sussexmusicschool.com with a copy to their teacher indicating whether their child wishes to attend the final 4 lessons.   

• Parents agree to not cancel direct debits until final payments have been made. 

  

Complaints 

• Parents agree to notify the teacher as soon as possible of any issues with their lessons and to copy in alex@sussexmusicschool.com. 

 

Sussex Music School agree to: 

 

• Ensure excellent quality teaching, providing ongoing support to its teachers 

• Work with the school to provide performance opportunities for all students  

• Monitor our teachers, ensuring best practice, and provide on-going and up-to-date training 

• Ensure all teachers have a current police check (DBS), background checks and are insured 

• Provide a practice book for all students.  

• Provide contact details of the teacher so that parents and teachers can communicate. Teachers will write these in the yellow books. 

• Provide an opportunity to meet face to face with the teacher at least once per year 

• Provide a yearly written progress report for your child 

• Deal with concerns or complaints swiftly and professionally