Music Lessons - Terms and Conditions

1. These terms

• Sheffield Music Hub is part of Sheffield City Council and provides music education services to school-age children across Sheffield. Lessons are delivered in schools and other approved centres.
• These Terms & Conditions form a contract between Sheffield City Council (“we”, “us”) and the person paying for the lessons (“you”).

2. The Lessons 

Lesson formats available are:

• 20-minute fortnightly lessons (a 20-minute lesson every 2 weeks)
• 20-minute weekly lessons
• 30-minute weekly lessons
• 40-minute weekly lessons
• 50-minute weekly lessons
• 60-minute weekly lessons 

Bespoke shared lessons are available for either 20 or 30 minutes but this is dependant on sign up and teacher agreement.

3. Number of lessons

The number of lessons provided depends on the start date and lesson frequency. Details can be seen below.

Fortnightly lessons starting:                                

• September: You will receive 17 fortnightly lessons (6 in Autumn, 5 in Spring and 6 in Summer).
• October half term: You will receive 14 fortnightly lessons (3 in Autumn, 5 in Spring and 6 in Summer).
• January: You will receive 11 fortnightly lessons (5 in Spring and 6 in Summer).
• Feb half term: You will receive 9 fortnightly lessons (3 in Spring and 6 in Summer).
• April: You will receive 6 fortnightly lessons (6 in Summer).
• May half term: You will receive 3 fortnightly lessons (3 in Summer).

Weekly lessons starting:

• September: You will receive 34 weekly lessons (12 in Autumn, 11 in Spring and 11 in Summer).
• October half term: You will receive 28 weekly lessons (6 in Autumn, 11 in Spring and 11 in Summer).
• January: You will receive 22 weekly lessons (11 in Spring and 11 in Summer).
• Feb half term: You will receive 16 weekly lessons (5 in Spring and 11 in Summer).
• April: You will receive 11 weekly lessons (11 in Summer).
• May half term: You will receive 6 weekly lessons (6 in Summer).         

Out of School lessons starting:

• September: You will receive 33 lessons (12 in Autumn, 10 in Spring and 11 in Summer)
• October half term: You will receive 27 lessons (6 in Autumn, 10 in Spring and 11 in Summer)
• January: You will receive 21 lessons (10 in Spring and 11 in Summer)
• Feb half term: You will receive 16 lessons (5 in Spring and 11 in Summer)
• April: You will receive 11 lessons (11 in Summer)
• May half term: You will receive 5 lessons (5 in Summer)

All communication regarding lesson details (times and days) will be provided directly from your child’s Sheffield Music Hub Teacher at the start of term.

4. Minimum Commitment

Minimum commitment is dependent on when lessons commence:

• Lessons starting in September will be invoiced for the Autumn Term (September – December)
• Lessons starting after October half term will be invoiced for half a term to Christmas.
• Lessons starting in January will be invoiced for the Spring Term (January – Easter)
• Lessons starting after February half term will be invoiced for half a term to Easter.
• Lessons starting in April will be invoiced for the Summer Term (April – July)
• Lessons starting after May half term will be invoiced for half a term.

When you enrol your child, you are committing to pay for the full term, or the relevant part term where lessons start mid-term. No free trials are offered.

5. Payment

• Lessons are invoiced in advance for a block of lessons, which may be a full term or part-term depending on when lessons commence.
• Payment must be made before lessons can begin.
• All requests will be sent out via our parent platform “Eepos” to your designated email address submitted in your child’s application form.
• If payment is not received by the scheduled deadline, we reserve the right to withdraw tuition.
• Billing dates are published for the current academic year in the Parent Handbook.

6. Missed Lessons (Pupil Absence)

6.1. Each pupil is allocated a specific lesson time, and the fee reflects the teacher’s time being reserved for them. The time is allocated in advance and cannot be rescheduled or re-allocated at short notice.

6.2. If your child is unable to attend a scheduled lesson, the following applies:

As a general principle, we will not provide a refund or rearranged lesson where absence is due to circumstances outside of our control, including:

• Formal exams or mock exams
• School trips or outings
• Additional school activities (sports events, rehearsals, performances, enrichment sessions, etc.)
• Short-term illness
• Emergency school closure
• Pandemic related disruption
• Severe weather (e.g., snow, flooding)
• Any other school related timetable changes outside the teacher’s control

7. Exceptions and Rearranged Lessons 

We will make reasonable endeavours to offer to rearrange lessons where practicable, particularly where:

• Absence is unavoidable, and
• sufficient notice is provided

However, where a lesson is missed because a pupil is unavailable at the scheduled time and the teacher is present and available to teach, the lesson will not normally be rearranged or refunded, even if the absence is due to school activities or timetable changes.

Any such arrangements will depend on teacher availability and timetable constraints.

 8. Long-Term Absence

If your child is unable to attend lessons for an extended period (for example develops a long-term illness or condition that creates a substantial gap in their tuition), please contact us at MusicHubOperations@sheffield.gov.uk.

We will consider appropriate options which may include a refund or alternative arrangement. This is subject to appropriate supporting evidence and approval by management.

9. Religious Observance 

Where absence is due to recognised religious celebrations that occur during the school year, we will make reasonable endeavours to rearrange lessons where practicable.

10. Teacher Absence

If a teacher is absent and unable to attend a scheduled lesson, this will be classed as a no charge lesson and will be made up within the academic year. In cases of long-term teacher absences, we will look to provide a refund where a replacement lesson cannot be arranged.

11. Responsibility for pupils

Sheffield Music Hub staff are responsible for pupils during their scheduled lesson time only.

We are not responsible for escorting children to and from lessons. Your child's school is responsible for pupils outside the actual lesson time.

12. Liability

Sheffield Music Hub does not accept liability for loss or damage to pupils’ instruments or personal possessions. 

Nothing in these Terms limits or excludes liability where it would be unlawful to do so.

13. Data Protection and Privacy

We process personal data in accordance with data protection law. Please refer to the Privacy Notice and social media/photography consent information. These are available on our website.

14. Cancellation

If you book lessons online or by other remote methods, you may have a legal right to cancel within 14 days of entering into a contract with us.

In most cases, this will be from the point at which payment is made and your booking is confirmed.

However, if the lessons begin during the 14-day period:

• You may lose your right to cancel, and
• You may be required to pay any lessons already provided up to the point of cancellation.

15. Bursaries

Bursaries are available to help towards the cost of Music Lessons for families who qualify for one of the following: 

• Free school meal eligibility (Year 3 onwards)
• If not in receipt of Universal Credit (eligibility and information here) one of the following:
• Income Support       
• Income based Job Seekers Allowance
• Working Tax Credit, (where annual income is below £16,190)

Our bursaries cover 50% of the cost of a fortnightly lesson. Weekly lessons will be reduced by 25%, and where applicable 50% of the instrument hire fee.  Places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis to families who qualify for one of the above: Supporting evidence is to be supplied with the application; a place will only be allocated on receipt of this supporting evidence.

We also offer a SEN bursary for children and young people with special needs who may benefit from a longer lesson. In order to qualify for this bursary please enclose a letter from your child’s Headteacher confirming that your child has special needs and would benefit from longer lessons. You do not need to qualify for the points above.

Children or young people registered as 'Looked After' qualify for full bursaries.  Please provide written documentation that the child in your care is registered as looked after alongside your application.

You should also read our privacy statement and understand your information rights.