Remissions Policy

Solihull Music believes that all pupils should have an equal opportunity to benefit from music education (curricular and co-curricular) independently of their parents' or carers' financial means. This remissions policy describes how we will allocate resources to enable as many pupils as possible to benefit from our programme of music provision in Solihull.

Pupil Premium (PP) funded lessons

Solihull Music works in partnership with schools to deliver free in-school (daytime) instrumental lessons for pupils who are eligible for pupil premium or pupil premium plus funding. Schools apply to Solihull Music for these lessons.

Children in Care musical opportunities

Solihull Music is working in partnership with the West Midlands Virtual Schools to create a high quality music offer which all children in care across the West Midlands can access. Through this programme, schools may apply for instrumental lessons for any child or young person in the care of Solihull MBC and other local authorities. Pupils receive a free 20-minute lesson funded by the Solihull MBC virtual school, membership to one weekday Solihull Music ensemble and free instrument hire funded by Solihull Music.

Remission policy

Solihull Music Hub is funded by a DfE grant via Arts Council England.

Under the terms of the grant, children and young people aged 5-18 living or attending school in Solihull may be eligible for financial support for Solihull Music out of school music provision.

Where applicable, discounts may be applied for the following:

• Solihull Music instrumental or vocal lessons
• Instrumental hire
• Membership of Solihull Music ensembles and vocal groups

1. 1. Eligibility

Remission of fees will be applied for activities listed below to applications for families residing in Solihull borough that meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Asylum seeking children
• Children under the care of the local authority (LAC)

Instrumental or vocal lesson	1 x 20-minute lesson per eligible child	100% remission
Instrumental hire	1 x instrumental hire per eligible child	100% remission
Membership of Solihull Music ensembles	1 x Solihull Music ensemble	100% remission

Further remission of fees will be applied for activities as below to applications that meet the following criteria:

Families who are on Income Support

Families who are in receipt of:

• Free school meals
• Job seekers allowance
• State pension credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
• Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Instrumental or vocal lesson	1 x 20-minute lesson per eligible child	50% remission
Instrumental hire	1 x instrumental hire per eligible child	100% remission
Membership of Solihull Music ensembles	1 x Solihull Music ensemble	100% remission

Please note that for the remission policy to be applied evidence of all original documentation will need to be provided in person and a copy will be taken and stored on Solihull MBC's secure server. This is for audit purpose as it is a use of public funds. Failure to produce evidence will mean the remission policy cannot be applied and full charges will apply (available at www.solihullmusic.org). Please be aware that this will be checked termly.

Remission of fees will not be applied:

• If the student has an instrumental and / or vocal lesson with an independent (private) provider.
• If the student attends a school outside of Solihull borough and families that do not reside in Solihull borough.
• If the student is younger than 5 years or over 18 years of age.
• · On a second instrument /vocal lesson/instrumental hire/membership of Solihull Music ensemble.
• For lessons that take place during the school day as pupil premium funding should be used for these lessons.

1. 2. How to apply

Please phone Solihull Music on 0121 704 6500 or email solihullmusic@solihull.gov.uk and to request remissions to be applied. Once you have submitted a request to be considered for remissions of fees, Solihull Music will contact you within five working days to confirm what evidence we will need to see to support your request. They will also advise how best to send the evidence to Solihull Music. In all cases, proof of entitlement will be required before provision starts.

1. 3. Period of support

The remission of fees for each application is reviewed termly on an academic year basis.

If remissions are applied and agreed for September, they will be applicable until the following term.

Solihull Music reserves the right to withdraw funding should pupils fail to meet the expected level of commitment and progress. Attendance and progress will be reviewed termly, and continued funding is subject to pupils demonstrating the required level of commitment and progress.