New Terms & Conditions for children taking lessons from January 2026 - this will replace previous policies (Posted and correct on 30th November 2025), at the present time adult lessons will remain unchanged
1. The Subscription Plan by Direct Debit
What is the new subscription model?
From January, all children having lessons after 3pm will move to a simple, fixed monthly subscription. You pay the same amount each month, which includes:
45 scheduled weekly lessons per year
The teacher’s four weeks of holiday per year (where possible 2 weeks’ notice will be given)
Three uncharged lessons annually for you to use for holiday, illness or other commitments.
This system is fair, predictable, and much simpler for families.
2. Illness & Missed Lessons (Pupil)
What happens if my child is ill?
If you notify me by midday: the lesson can take place online at the usual time.
If you notify me after midday: I will endeavour to hold the lessons online, where feasible to set up and charge online equipment in time.
If your child is too unwell to participate at all:
No alternative lesson will be offered.
The lesson counts as one of your three annual allowance of missed lessons.
It remains payable as part of the subscription.
Your child’s weekly slot is reserved specifically for them; this is why lessons cannot be rearranged.
Can we move a missed lesson to another day?
No. Because the subscription reserves a weekly session exclusively for your child, missed lessons cannot be rescheduled.
3. Teacher Illness, Teacher Holidays & Pupil Planned Holiday
What happens if the teacher is ill?
If I am unwell, I will offer:
an online lesson, or
an alternative time, where possible.
If too unwell to hold the class I may:
Count the missed session as one of my four annual teacher-holiday weeks (already built into the subscription).
You will never lose a lesson due to teacher illness.
Can the pupil take more than three weeks of planned holiday?
Yes.
However, the subscription continues in order to hold your child’s weekly lesson slot.
The subscription includes three pupil-missed lessons per year; any additional missed lessons beyond these three—whether planned or unplanned—will be chargeable if you wish to keep the lesson space reserved.
4. Ending the Agreement
How do we stop lessons?
If you wish to end lessons:
You must give a month’s written notice (email is fine).
I will acknowledge this in writing.
All lessons and payments during the month's notice period remain payable.
Lessons end only after the notice period has been completed.
This ensures fairness and consistency for all pupils.
5. Other Absences & Scheduling Questions
Can we carry over unused missed lessons?
No. The allowance resets each January.
What about school trips, exams or family occasions?
These are treated as one of your three pupil-missed lessons.
Why can’t lessons be rearranged?
Your subscription secures a personal weekly slot for your child.
Rescheduling would disrupt the timetable for many pupils, so the subscription model includes built-in flexibility through:
three pupil-missed lessons,
four teacher-holiday lessons,
online lesson options when appropriate.
6. Online Lessons
Can we still have lessons if we are away on holiday?
Yes.
If your child has access to:
their instrument, and
the internet or a mobile device with a camera,
they can receive their weekly lesson online from wherever you are.
This means holidays do not automatically need to count as one of the three pupil-missed lessons.
7. Will online lessons replace in-person lessons?
No. Online lessons are simply an alternative when needed for illness, travel, or other temporary circumstances.
8. Do we need special equipment for online lessons?
Any device with a camera (tablet, laptop, or mobile) and a stable internet connection works fine.
This means holidays do not automatically need to count as one of the three pupil-missed lessons.
9. What if we don't miss 3 lessons in the year/will we be charged more?
No. This model encourages regular attendance if you attend 48 week's of lessons you would effectively receive 3 free lessons, as the model offers you 3 uncharged lessons a year.
8. How do we sign up?
After you have received a contract to read, if you are in agreement a copy will be signed. Then signing up for the direct debit is done via a link to an online system. Once set up you can sit back and feel reassured that the same amount will be taken each month and you no longer have to worry about looking out for invoices and doing the bank transfers.
Prices
Prices below are for weekly lessons (Update April 2025 - Existing rates will be honoured for pupils who started after 01.11.24)
Instrument lessons 1:1 in Eastbourne studio:
30 mins £20
1 hour £40
(local daytime home visits may be available for a supplement)
Covid guidelines will be adhered to - those with any symptoms of Covid must not attend lessons in person.
Initial trial lessons
In order to meet your teacher and ensure you are happy to sign up to lessons with Eastbourne Music Tuition we welcome you to try two intial lessons paid separately. Each lesson must be paid a minimum of 48hrs before your lesson. The 48 hour cancellation policy still applies, with lessons forfeited for short notice cancellation or changes.
Weekly lessons (from January 2025 this will only refer to adult lessons). A new Direct Debit model will be in place for children’s lessons.
Regular weekly lessons are billed monthly, accounting for either 4 or 5 weeks, and payment is due at least 48 hours before the start of the new month.
Eastbourne Music Tuition remains operational and conducts lessons even during school holidays. Lessons scheduled on a bank holiday incur no additional fees, and clients will be informed in advance if any lessons are to be cancelled, with adjustments made on the invoice accordingly.
For optimal progress, pupils are encouraged to attend lessons weekly. They are allowed to miss up to three lessons per year with the option to carry forward the payment, provided they give at least 48 hours' notice. The regular weekly rate is intended for those receiving a lesson on the same day and at the same time each week, therefore it is not suitable for most adult shift workers.
Payments can be made via BACs or cash. Lessons cancelled by the client without the requisite 48 hours' notice are still chargeable.
In cases of illness, Zoom or WhatsApp lessons are available as substitutes at the standard rate.
Termination of lessons by either party requires one week's notice, with a refund for any pre-paid lessons to be processed within 14 days.
Term time or Irregular lessons
For those who wish to take lessons only during term time, or who cannot attend regularly weekly lessons at the same time due to work commitments, holidays, etc., we offer a flexible fee of £45.00 per hour or £22.50 per half-hour.
Pre-arranged absences will not incur charges provided that at least 48 hours' notice is given. However, this flexibility may not apply to lessons scheduled during peak times (3:30-7pm). We reserve the right to discontinue term-time-only lessons with 14 days' notice before the start of a new term.
Payments are accepted via BACs or cash. Lessons cancelled by the client with less than 48 hours' notice will be charged. In cases of illness, we offer Zoom or WhatsApp lessons as an alternative at the standard in-person rate. Either party may terminate lessons with one week's notice, and a refund for any pre-paid lessons will be processed within 14 days.
Child Protection
Claire Barrass holds Qualified Teacher Status and is a member of the General Teaching Council in England (GTC) and holds an enhanced DBS on the update service. As a registered teacher I have received Safeguarding and Prevent training and will take the necessary steps to escalate any concerns relating to a child’s wellbeing, this may include releasing data to the appropriate authorities.
I follow professional Codes of conduct and aim to support all children and their families, offering clear commitment to equality, to working as part of the community, with honesty and integrity.
Privacy policy
Introduction
Welcome to Eastbourne Music Tuition’s privacy and cookies notice.
Eastbourne Music Tuition respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy notice will inform you as to how we look after your personal data when you visit our website (regardless of where you visit it from) as well as where we interact in the course of our business and tell you about your privacy rights and how the law protects you.
As a business, we like to display examples of good work and demonstrate progress. This is used to help motivate pupils, recognise their achievements and inspire others. As a sole trader I, Claire Barrass, wish to maintain high expectations of confidentiality as appropriate to you and your family and therefore every new client is invited to complete a GDPR form highlight how they consent or decline for their data or that of their child to be used.
In order to comply with tax regulations and for the protection of pupils, in case of safeguarding concerns, Eastbourne Home Tuition and Eastbourne Music Tuition holds on file an outline of each pupils’ learning needs and current school (where applicable), in order to provide the best tuition. Additionally, parent/guardians’ names with address will be retained. Such data is not shared beyond the business, unless legally required.
How is your personal data collected?
We use different methods to collect data from and about you including through:
Direct interactions. You may give us your Identity, Contact and Financial Data by filling in forms or by corresponding with us by post, phone, email or otherwise. This includes personal data you provide when you:
apply for our services;
subscribe to our service or newsletters;
request marketing to be sent to you;
leave a comment on our website;
enter a competition, promotion or survey; or
give us some feedback.
Automated technologies or interactions. As you interact with our website, we may automatically collect Technical Data about your equipment, browsing actions and patterns. We collect this personal data by using cookies and other similar technologies. We may also receive Technical Data about you if you visit other websites employing our cookies.
Purposes for which we will use your personal data
We have set out below, in a table format, a description of all the ways we plan to use your personal data, and which of the legal bases we rely on to do so. We have also identified what our legitimate interests are where appropriate.
Note that we may process your personal data for more than one lawful ground depending on the specific purpose for which we are using your data. Please contact us if you need details about the specific legal ground we are relying on to process your personal data where more than one ground has been set out in the table below.
Purpose/Activity Type of data Lawful basis for processing including basis of legitimate interest:
To register you as a new customer(a) Identity (b) Contact
Performance of a contract with you
To process our services and lessons to you.
Manage payments, fees and charges
Collect and recover money owed to us
(a) Identity
(b) Contact
(c) Financial
(d) Transaction
(e) Marketing and Communications
Performance of a contract with you
Necessary for our legitimate interests (to recover debts due to us)
To manage our relationship with you which will include:
Notifying you about changes to our terms or privacy policy
Asking you to leave a review or take a survey
Service announcements
(a) Identity
(b) Contact
(c) Profile
(d) Marketing and Communications
Performance of a contract with you
Necessary to comply with a legal obligation
Necessary for our legitimate interests (to keep our records updated and to study how customers use our products/services)
To engage with you on our website, such as in the comments section of one of our blogs(a) Identity
(b) Contact
Necessary for our legitimate interests in communicating with you and enabling us to provide comments and assist with anything raised in your comments
To enable you to partake in a prize draw, competition or complete a survey(a) Identity
(b) Contact
(c) Profile
(d) Usage
(e) Marketing and Communications
Performance of a contract with you
Necessary for our legitimate interests (to study how customers use our products/services, to develop them and grow our business)