Essex Music Service offers financial assistance for Instrument Hire and Instrumental Tuition for pupils learning with the Music Service who are from low income families, in receipt of Free School Meals or for Looked After Children. There is also financial assistance available to support the joining of various ensembles led by the Music Service.

Funding to provide discount is allocated from the Essex Music Hub grant. Once an application to our scheme has been accepted, it is able to be used for the whole academic year. Applications should only be made therefore once a year. Please note that if demand exceeds budget, applicants will be awarded support on a first-come-first-served basis.

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Eligibility

All applicants who believe that they qualify for Financial Assistance need to tick the box while completing their application for any of our provision. We will then liaise with internal teams to confirm your eligibility. We will then follow one of two approaches:

Automatic provision

Financial support will be awarded automatically for young people in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Children and Young people eligible for Free School Meals (Year 3 or above)
• Young people who receive Pupil Premium funding support (evidence provided by school)
• Young people who have received Pupil Premium funding support in the last 3 years. (evidence provided by school)

Where we have the internal evidence to award financial support, we will confirm this in email and all future invoices will be reduced by the correct amount as set out below.

Where we do not have the internal evidence to automatically award Financial Assistance, applicants will receive an email requesting further information to complete our means testing process.

Means tested provision

Financial support is awarded for parents/guardians in receipt of any of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit or any other benefit detailed below where Universal Credit is not in place
  • Child Tax Credit– providing that you receive more than the basic £545.34 per annum (excluding any childcare element)
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Support (not including second adult rebate)
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Income support

• Incapacity Benefit
• Pension Credit

Where the joint household income is less than £24,000, financial support will be offered.

To receive funding through the means testing process, we need to receive copies (images) of documentation from an official source outlining the benefits received by the applicant, for example a Universal Credit Monthly Award notice. This must be dated within the last 12 months.

Successful applicants will receive financial support in the following ways:

• 50% discount (up to a maximum of £48.75 per term) on instrumental or vocal tuition either in or out of school
• Free instrument hire for one instrument whilst lessons are taking place with an Essex Music Service tutor
• Free attendance at one 30-minute ensemble run by Essex Music Service and 50% discount on any further ensembles

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Look After/Post-Looked After Children

Thanks to generous financial support provided from Essex Virtual School, we are also able to offer all Looked After and Post Looked After Children in Essex support to access our instrumental and vocal provision and to hire an instrument. Once Financial Assistance is awarded for LAC, this continues until the child is 18. 

To apply, please tick the box that indicates you are eligible for financial assistance when applying for our provision, and we will confirm via Essex County Council records. The following students are eligible:

•  Looked After Children (LAC).
•  Children subject to a Special Guardianship Order (SGO).
•  Children subject to a Child Arrangement Order (CAO).
•  Children adopted from care.

Carers, social workers or teachers may apply on a young person’s behalf.

Successful applicants can then access the following provision:

• free individual or small group (10 weeks x 15mins per week per child per term) tuition in Essex schools or Essex-run Music Schools with a Music Service tutor; or
• free Essex Music Service Community Music Centre lesson package including one ensemble, run out of school hours during evenings or Saturday mornings,
• free instrument hire (delivery charge applies),
• supported membership of County Music Groups and associated activities including workshops, courses and tours

Please note: For additional provision beyond that outlined, e.g. longer lessons or second instruments, a full charge will be made. If this presents a financial barrier, additional support can be applied for which will be subject to available funding.

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Conditions

• Applications for financial assistance must be made and processed in advance of any delivery of music lessons or attending any other provision. Financial assistance cannot be backdated.
• Students who are in receipt of discounted or fully subsidised lessons will be expected to engage with lessons and demonstrate at least 80% attendance, unless there is a genuine reason for absence, to continue receiving the funding.
• Where a student is in receipt of Free School Meals or Pupil Premium funding, they will not need to evidence this as the Council can provide confirmation. Where this is not available, the responsibility of giving evidence for low-income households lies with the parent/carer and an application cannot proceed without this evidence.

Additional Financial Assistance

Where a student progresses to the point that they need longer lessons, or it is recommended they take up a second instrument, the maximum discount remains at £48.75. If this presents a barrier to the child’s learning, a further discretionary discount may be applied.

• For 30-minute lessons that are funded 50% by the school and 50% by the parent, both school and parent may receive a discounted price
• Requests for additional financial assistance beyond £48.75 per term should be raised via a Microsoft form – please view the form here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=TzK0qFwVFUKg8X7YzJqZL8WmdsRq6MVAmDaMhol6BTdUMEVTV0JNODNDMFREUFRQOUlCVkVYTTRVQS4u .
• Additional assistance is discretionary and subject to availability of funding. Email confirmation will need to be received before commencing any additional provision. This discount cannot be backdated.  

Financial Assistance under historic schemes

Students that are currently in receipt of financial assistance under historic financial assistance policies will continue to receive financial assistance according to that policy until they reach the end of their current key stage.

Notice will be given by email when financial assistance levels will start to change, giving appropriate time for students to make adjustments to their provision if needed.