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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask about music lessons and costs

14 replies

Saltypeanuts · 16/10/2018 12:19

My son has guitar lessons in school but for one reason or another has only actually had 1 lesson so far this term.

Reasons include guitar teacher ‘couldn’t find him’ (he’s in high school), there was ‘a different activity’ going on when it was supposed to be his lesson, school inspection etc.

I know there’s still plenty of weeks left in term and I don’t want to make a fuss but I just feel a bit miffed.

AIBU to think this is a bit unfair? Would it look petty if I asked school for a partial refund or ‘roll over’ some of the fees I have paid? I pay £70 per term for group tuition.

OP posts:
icelolly99 · 16/10/2018 12:23

If your son forgot to go/turned up at the wrong time you have no redress but if the school has caused missed lessons you should challenge it.

bigKiteFlying · 16/10/2018 12:23

I've had this happen over the years - usally contact service providing the lessons and/or person responsible in school.

If it their mistake they often put on extra lessons - in fact I think they always have but if it's the child's fault they've usually tried to ensure it doesn't keep happening - though it's been rare that it's been my children often they've not been on a list or told times.

JurassicAdventure · 16/10/2018 12:25

Can you meet with the head of music to discuss the system?
Should the teacher have to go looking for DS for his lesson, why didn't DS go to the teacher?
What activity took precedence over the music lesson, who decided it was more important? If it was the school, and you weren't given the opportunity to rearrange the lesson then yes the school should reimburse/roll over a lesson. If the guitar teacher was ready and waiting to teach your DS and he just didn't turn up then it's not fair to not pay!

Does DS want to learn? Does he practice? If not, there's not much point continuing with the lessons really.

RedSkyLastNight · 16/10/2018 12:26

My DC also have music lessons at school. The normal practice if the teacher was ill/unavailable is that we would be refunded for the lesson or offered an alternative time (which might mean next time).
So I think perfectly fine to ask for one of these.

That said, although we pay for 10 lessons a term, they are generally overbooked - for example this term I think they have 13 lessons, so in that case if one was missed, I wouldn't expect any recompense. So worth checking how many lessons are covered by your term's payment.

Original poster
Saltypeanuts · 16/10/2018 12:31

No he doesn’t practise but he enjoys playing so therefore I don’t mind paying the money for lessons.

I believe the guitar teacher should be finding him for his lessons as school have made him aware he’s not in a ‘regular’ form as he has SEN.

He takes his guitar in each week so not his fault he’s missed lessons- when I ask his teacher why he’s missed lessons she doesn’t know, but I suppose it’s a bit tricky in high school as there are lots of different teachers.

OP posts:
RedSkyLastNight · 16/10/2018 12:38

I would be checking

  • does your son know where his music lesson is held? (Even with SEN it seems extremely odd that the guitar teacher has to come and find him, unless your school is particularly small - at DC's school finding a pupil could easily take half the lesson)
  • does he know what time the lesson is?
  • is he clear about the procedure for going to a lesson? (At DC's school you would be expected to tell the teacher whose lesson you were missing in advance, then at the allocated time walk over to the music store room, extract your instrument and then wait outside the practice room where the lesson was held)
  • is there anyone he can go and talk to if he can't find the teacher/lesson?
  • what is the process for notifying of lessons that aren't taking place for whatever reason?
Original poster
Saltypeanuts · 16/10/2018 12:44

He wouldn’t have a clue when or where his lessons are. School receptionist said when guitar teacher arrives someone will bring him up to the guitar teacher who will then take him for his lesson.

There doesn’t seem to be any process for why instrumental lessons are not taking place but this doesn’t surprise me because the lessons are not run by the school, they are run by the local music service- I don’t really want to be that parent though who looks like they’re checking up iyswim?

I think maybe we’ll see if things improve then I may mention it to school receptionist- just annoying that’s all 😡

OP posts:
serbska · 16/10/2018 12:44

Doesn't sound great.

Does the music teacher know they are meant to go and collect your son? Is that def the arrangement? Can his TA not take him instead (assume he has a TA if his SEN are sever enough that he has to be collected not take himself)

If he isn't practicing he won't be moving along at the same rate as the other students in the group lesson I wouldn't have thought, so might be nice to get him to do 10 mins practice a day. If he likes playing this isn't too much to ask.

Original poster
Saltypeanuts · 16/10/2018 12:51

I think there is a general consensus from the school that students should not be coming out of core subject lessons such as literacy and numeracy- maybe his guitar lesson clashes with one of these subjects- presumably that’s for school and guitar teacher to work out.

I’ve been told his TA will take him to his lesson but there seems to be some miscommunication somewhere as when I collect him and ask if he had his lesson she says no sorry I haven’t seen the guitar teacher today -

OP posts:
bigKiteFlying · 16/10/2018 12:54

chool receptionist said when guitar teacher arrives someone will bring him up to the guitar teacher who will then take him for his lesson

DD1 had that this year in secondary - didn't happen so I e-mailed the music county council music service and teh school. Head of music found DD1 and told her the time and the actual teacher got in touch with us to sort it out as well.

No one minded us getting in touch. Otherwise e-mail the head of year and explain situation and see what they can suggest.

TheSteakBakeOfAwesome · 16/10/2018 12:54

Doesn't sound right. Hell, we pay a small fee a term for the "joy" of DD1 attending a recorder group (external company run it) and they had to cancel one session because of staff illness and had it rearranged to make sure we weren't short-changed within a month. The biggest inconvenience was a week longer with them only knowing one note and us having to endure it... BBBBBBBBBBBBB for a bloody fortnight!

RedSkyLastNight · 16/10/2018 12:54

I'd expect the TA to have a copy of his guitar timetable tbh. She shouldn't be reliant on seeing the guitar teacher. Do you have a timetable you can give to her? Can the music department?

bigKiteFlying · 16/10/2018 12:59

Dd1 doesn't have SEN so it was on her to get out of the lesson she was in and find the teacher in reception then later go to the room. Perhaps it's this bit that he's struggling with.

I'd e-mail head of year and SEN department and music service - explain your unhappy he isn't getting his lessons and see if they can work out between them what is going on.

SputnikBear · 16/10/2018 13:02

They need to replace the missed lessons or refund the money for those lessons. They can’t charge you for a service you haven’t received!

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