West Lothian Council strikes the right note with free online music lessons
The Education Executive voted to suspend charging for instrumental music tuition for winter term on the 2020/21 school year, which runs from 5 January to 1 April 2021.Consideration will be given to charging for summer term, based on the evolving national situation, at the next Education Executive meeting in March.Charging for instrumental music tuition was previously been suspended for summer term during the 2019/20 school year, April to June 2020, during the previous lockdown.Executive councillor for education David Dodds said: “I’m delighted to confirm that there will be no cost for music tuition between January and March 2021.“I’m sure the news will be welcomed by parents/carers, with pupils registered for lessons continuing to receive them online during this time.“We feel this is the right decision at this time, as the majority of pupils are not in school and able to receive in-person lessons.“It also ensures we are consistent, with charges suspended during last year’s lockdown, with pupils only paying for lessons during November and December 2020 in the last year.”Livingston mum, Hazel Ross, who was being billed for lessons for her two children said: “This is great news. My kids are also now each getting a 20min online Teams instrument lesson each week!“I’d be interested to hear their reason for suspending the charges. How can they justify charging for a theory lesson but not an instrument lesson?”The estimated loss of income resulting from suspending charging for instrumental music tuition for winter term is approximately £70,000.
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