A key objective of the Music Education Hub grant provided by the DfE is to help remove barriers to learning and progress for young musicians.
This policy has been created to help parents and carers support their children's engagement and progress in music across a whole range of activities provided by North Tyneside Music Education Hub.
NTMEH never wants cost to be a barrier to a child’s musical progress. The hub heavily subsidises the costs of all our activities to offer value for money to families and to enable equal access.
Ensembles and out of school activities
All NTMEH weekly out of school hours activities are completely free of charge. To support the continuation of these free activities, there will be a small charge for concerts and performances. Families eligible for free school meals or pupil premium can request free admission.
Full class instrumental lessons
Schools are funded through a service level agreement with NTMEH to ensure that every child has access to a full class instrument lesson for at least one term during key stage 2.
Small group instrumental tuition
NTMEH does not employ small group instrumental tutors but works with schools to advise and support in engaging self-employed teachers. Each school has their own arrangements for small group and individual tuition with the music hub supporting to provide training and CPD for these self-employed teachers.
For children receiving instrumental tuition in school, it is responsibility of individual schools to ensure a remissions policy is in place to provide access to in-school instrumental tuition. This can include the use of Pupil Premium funding to support to it.
The hub can signpost schools and parents to other sources of funding for example the charity ‘Awards for Young Musicians’ who support young people facing barriers to music progression.
Educational and residential visits
Where groups are taken on educational and residential visits, costs will be passed on to parents/carers.
NTMEH will assist families with more than one child wishing to take part in any given activity and those in receipt of Free School Meals and pupil premium. NTMEH can offer extended payment plans where these have been agreed in advance.
Instrument hire
Schools in North Tyneside can access free instrumental hire subject to availability.
Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme
The Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme (AIPS) enables students of local authority and academy schools to purchase musical instruments through their school free of VAT providing the sale to the student meets the criteria below:
- The instrument or item must be purchased by the local authority or school
- The student must be receiving state education.
- The instrument must be used as part of their musical tuition.
- The instrument must be appropriate to the student’s needs; and
- The price charged to the student for the purchase of the instrument must be at or below cost. For more information, please contact your child’s school directly.
Music Exams
It is expected that all fees associated with music exams will be met by parents/carers and schools. In exceptional circumstances, NTMEH will support families unable to fund music exams which are integral to a young person making musical progress.
Get in touch!
For further information or to find out more about working with us.