Croydon Music and Arts Terms and Conditions for Lessons and Ensembles

When You Apply
Applications are added to our database in the order in which they are received.  On submission, an email will be sent to say that we have received your form along with any other information you have requested.  If you have asked for help with fees we shall ask for evidence of need.

The waiting list is monitored regularly and we aim to keep waiting times as short as possible. However this can be longer at schools where there is a lot of demand for an instrument

We aim to get as many pupils as possible started by the beginning of the term after we receive the application.  Sometimes a teacher has limited space in a school and it can take several terms before lessons are able to be started.


When Lessons Start
When our teacher can offer your child a space, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to pay the invoice for the upcoming lessons. You should also hear from the teacher to advise when the lesson day and time will be. Most lessons take place in school during the school day, children may need to leave their lesson to attend their instrumental lesson.

CMA aims to offer 30 lessons over the academic year, with 10 usually offered each term. If any teacher falls short of this CMA will make a pro-rata refund or credit in respect of the shortfall, normally at the end of the term.


Instruments
Pupils need an instrument to practise on at home.  We have a limited number of hire instruments available for pupils to use while learning with our teachers. More information can be found here.

Pupil Missing Lessons
No credit or refund will be due for pupil absence. Teachers will try to rearrange lessons where possible if given plenty of notice, ideally at least one week, for a pupil's planned absence (for example a school trip).

Pupil Temporary Absence
Continuing lessons cannot be guaranteed if pupils are withdrawn from lessons for a temporary period, e.g. a pupil withdrawn for non payment of fees. Lessons are available during GCSE periods and pupils are expected to attend during study leave.

Pupil Progress
Successful lessons require commitment and regular practice at home.  You will receive a written report in July each year whilst your child is having tuition. Any practice notes will be uploaded to our online learning platform. If you need help accessing this please contact your child’s teacher via email.

Group lessons are recommended for primary beginners for the added enjoyment of learning and making music together.  As pupils progress, longer individual and Merit Award lessons are available.


Teacher Absence
If a teacher needs to cancel an upcoming lessons, they should inform the parent/carer (and school) by email. They may offer a rescheduled lesson or an online lesson alternative. For rescheduled lessons, CMA  will let parents/carers and students know in advance when this will be taking place. If a student is not able to attend a rescheduled lesson, this will be treated as a student absence and will not be refundable.


Force Majeure
Force Majeure (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). CMA will not be liable if a lesson has to be cancelled due to Force Majeure. In this event CMA will endeavour to resume lessons as soon as practicable either face to face, or online. Information on the resuming of lessons will be made available as soon as possible.


Fees and Notice
Fees are payable in advance, on receipt of an invoice.  Lessons are invoiced termly in advance of the autumn, spring and summer terms commencing.

The fees list for lessons can be found on our website. The fees list normally remains valid for the academic year and is reviewed annually with the revisions taking effect from September.

Any lesson detail adjustments, for example an increase Group to Paired, are usually actioned at the end of each half term. Whilst CMA will try to accommodate your change request, approval is dependent on teacher availability amongst other factors so it cannot guarantee lesson details will be adjusted. If CMA needs to make changes to lesson details, for example a change of teacher, it aims to inform the parent/carer as soon as possible.

Notice to withdraw from lessons must be given in writing (email or letter) to the Croydon Music and Arts office by:

  • 15 February - to stop at end of Spring Term

  • 15 June - to stop at end of Summer Term

  • 1 November - to stop at end of Autumn Term

Notice given verbally or in writing to the teacher will not be registered as notice and you may continue to be charged for lessons.

 

Late Payment
If payment is overdue, CMA will issue a reminder notice by email. Lessons may be suspended until the teacher has been notified by CMA that payment is received. It may take up to three working days for payment to be confirmed as received. CMA cannot accept responsibility for disruption to tuition due to late payment. Any missed lessons will not be rearranged or refunded. In the event of non-payment, the lesson timeslot is not considered reserved and another student may be allocated the space.

 


The information that you have provided is personal data which will be held on computer and is therefore subject to the Data Protection Act 1998. As part of Croydon Council we are registered as a data controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office. For more details about Croydon’s privacy notice, please click here. 

From time to time we may take photographs of activities to use in Croydon Music and Arts publications.  If you do not want your child photographed please let us know via email.