Terms and Conditions
When signing up with Inspiring Music you agree to the following terms and conditions.
All information should be sent to the Inspiring Music Office at inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk not to the school or the individual tutor.
General
1.1. Enrolment must be completed by an adult (18 years or over)
1.2. For lessons delivered during the school day or online, we will offer lessons each week during term time throughout the academic year
1.3. For instrumental/vocal lessons delivered on Saturday morning, a maximum of 30 weeks per academic year (term time only) will be offered
1.4. For Ampthill Music Centre sessions, a maximum of 30 weeks per academic year (term time only) will be offered. There is a maximum of 4 sessions per morning and the sessions chosen must be consecutive
1.5. For after school groups, a maximum of 30 weeks per academic year (term time only) will be offered
1.6. Enrolment is for a minimum of 8 teaching weeks from the date of the first lesson (cooling off period applies – refer to section 4) and is continuous for the remainder of the academic year unless 4 teaching weeks’ notice to discontinue is received in writing (refer to section 3 Notice to Discontinue)
1.7. Four (4) Teaching weeks’ notice applies to discontinuation, change of tutor request or lesson duration/type
1.8. Where financial assistance is provided by a third-party organisation or school, it is your responsibility to obtain written confirmation prior to enrolling and forward the confirmation to inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk. Funding will be reviewed on an annual basis. Information will be shared with the relevant agency to facilitate funding. Liability for payment of lessons remains the responsibility of the parent / carer unless funding is agreed
1.9. If you are enrolling a looked after child placed by Central Bedfordshire Council and are seeking funding, please contact us at inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk prior to enrolment
1.10. All tuition offered in schools, either during the school day or after school and at Ampthill Music Centre, are subject to the availability of specialist tutors. When this is not possible, online tuition may be offered at the tutor’s discretion and availability
1.11. Group lessons can only be offered when there is another student of similar ability
1.12. In the Summer term, you will receive a re-registration email where you will have the opportunity to review your details and confirm if you would like to continue or discontinue the following academic year
Charges and missed lessons
2.1. Charges are set by Central Bedfordshire Council and are reviewed annually
2.2. The amount invoiced will vary based on the number of lessons offered per term and will be pro-rated for students starting later in the year. For up-to-date lesson costs and maximum number of weeks per term, please refer to our website
2.3. Lessons will be charged per session and invoiced at the beginning of each term for the entire term. Where applicable, credit notes will be issued the following term
2.4. Payment is required within 14 days from date of invoice. For those paying by direct debit, the full amount of the invoice will be collected on or after 10 working days from the statement date
2.5. Only lessons missed through tutor absence or a technical fault trackable by Inspiring Music (online lessons) will be rescheduled or credited. Technical issues encountered at the customer’s end will not be rescheduled or credited
2.6. Credits or refunds cannot be given for lessons missed by the pupil for any reason, with the exception of long-term illness or hospitalisation. In such instances, written notice will be required and should be provided as soon as possible
2.7. For individual lessons in schools on weekdays, it is each parent’s responsibility to give 7 days’ written notice in case of a pre-planned event, e.g. school visits, exams, religious holidays etc. This does not apply to any leave taken that is not in line with school policies, e.g. holidays during term time. If a lesson cannot be rescheduled, a credit note will be issued the following term. In such instances, please note that it is the parent / carer’s responsibility (not the pupil’s or school’s) to ensure written notice is given to inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, copying in the tutor. A pupil verbally informing the tutor of an absence does not constitute notice
2.8. For group lessons in schools on weekdays, if a single pupil is absent for whatever reason, we regret a refund cannot be offered. If a whole group is unable to attend a lesson, the tutor requires 7 days’ written notice as detailed above
2.9. For Music Centre sessions, after school groups and instrumental/vocal lessons on Saturday mornings, we are unable to reschedule or offer a refund or credit note for missed lessons due to the costs of paying the tutors and venue hire
2.10. If your child is withdrawn, excluded or suspended from school and lessons cannot be provided in school, inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk and the tutor must be informed immediately to discuss provision of future lessons. Otherwise, any missed lessons will be forfeited
2.11. Inspiring Music reserves the right to withdraw from providing lessons and take legal steps to recover any monies owed due to unpaid fees, should payment not be made on time
2.12. A £25 administration fee will be charged to your account for late payment
Notice to Discontinue
3.1. Enrolment is for a minimum of 8 full teaching weeks from the week of the first lesson, during which the cooling off period applies (refer to section 4), and is continuous for the remainder of the academic year
3.2. To discontinue, 4 teaching weeks’ notice must be given by sending an email stating your child’s name, instrument, school and reason for discontinuing to inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
4. Cooling-off period
4.1. The cooling-off period applies to new students only and starts on the date of the first lesson
4.2. You have 14 calendar days to cancel the contract (the cooling-off period) or change instrument or lesson duration
4.3. To exercise the right to cancel or make changes, please send an e-mail to inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk before the cooling-off period has expired
4.4. If you cancel during the cooling-off period and have been billed, we will reimburse any payment received less fees owed for lessons that have taken place
4.5. If you cancel this contract during the cooling-off period and lessons have been offered but you have not been billed, an invoice will be sent to you for the lessons offered
5. Instrumental Loan and Insurance
5.1. Inspiring Music has a limited supply of instruments which can be loaned to students for a maximum of one year on a first-come, first-served basis
5.2. When an instrument is on loan from Inspiring Music you are responsible for:
Any loss or damage sustained other than fair wear and tear. We strongly suggest that you have the instrument covered on an ‘all risks’ basis on your household insurance policy – your tutor will be able to advise of its replacement value. If you damage the instrument, please talk to your child’s tutor before taking it for repair as they can guide you on the best course of action
Maintenance of the instrument (consumables including but not limited to reeds, grease, strings, valve oil, rosin and appropriate cleaning implements etc.)
Returning the instrument to Inspiring Music when your child ceases tuition with us and not left in school. Please contact inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk to arrange the return
6. Online Lessons
6.1. Enrolling your child for online music lessons means you agree to:
Using one of your household electronic devices to allow for teaching to take place
Talk to your child about staying safe online, including but not limited to not sharing passwords for online accounts or personal information
Be responsible for their behaviour and language used online
Not sending offensive or illegal materials
Wear appropriate clothing (i.e. not pyjamas)
Be in the room for part or whole of the lesson. The expectation is that there is an adult at home present at the beginning of the lesson
The space used for the lesson must have no personal or sensitive data visible in the background and where possible, be against a plain wall
To follow best safeguarding practice, Inspiring Music recommend that the space used for lessons is in a quiet but communal area like a dining room, front room, or office. It is essential that bedrooms are not used for lessons
7. Force Majeure
Force Majeure e.g. war, civil war, armed conflict, terrorist attack, government action, fire, flood, severe weather conditions, pandemic or epidemic or any other matter that is beyond our control. We cannot be liable if a lesson is cancelled due to Force Majeure. In this event we will endeavour to resume lessons as soon as possible. Information to resume lessons will be made available as soon as possible
All information should be sent to the Inspiring Music Office at inspiring.music@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk not to the school or the individual tutor.