East Sussex Music (Instrumental Teaching) Young Person's Consultation

Overview

How to take part in this consultation  

The consultation runs for 8 weeks, from 6 June to 27 July 2018. We would like to hear from you whether or not you use East Sussex Music. Please note that there is a separate survey for adults which can be accessed here: https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/childrens-services/eastsussexmusic/

There are a number of ways you can give your views:

• By completing the questionnaire online
• By printing a copy of the questionnaire and returning it to us
• By contacting us to request a paper copy of the questionnaire using the details below.

Completed surveys can be posted back to us at: Equality and Participation Team, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE.

If you have a question about this consultation, need help to take part or need a copy of the information in a different format or another language, please contact us by e-mail at equalityandparticipation@eastsussex.gov.uk or by phone on 01273 335250.

Why are we making a proposal to close the small group and individual instrument lessons part of East Sussex Music?

The money we receive from schools and from parents who pay fees for lessons does not cover the whole cost of the lessons.  We need to save a large amount of money -  £180k - to make sure East Sussex Music can be run within its budget.

Because of cuts to funding, the local authority has much less money than it previously did. We have to make difficult decisions about which services we provide.  Our aim is to continue to provide services for the most vulnerable children and families.  As we are not required by law to provide small group and individual instrument lessons, we have proposed to stop providing these lessons, because we believe there are other options that could be available for young people, such as private instrument teachers.

The Director of Children's Services has made it clear that he does not think it is right to cut county council services which are required by law, (known as statutory services) in order to find more funding for East Sussex Music.

What will happen if small group and individual instrument lessons from East Sussex Music close?

As part of the East Sussex Music Education Hub, we want to make sure children and young people from a variety of backgrounds can learn an instrument and come together to make music.

At the moment 3,136 children and young people are learning a musical instrument through small group or individual lessons with East Sussex Music. If this part of the service closes, lessons would be available through private teachers and other organisations. Many children in East Sussex already have instrumental lessons in this way.

Please see the related documents at the bottom of this page to see a fuller list of what East Sussex Music would continue to deliver.

NB: 11 June 2018: Q13 has been amended to add a 'Don't know' option to the list of response options.

Why your views matter

This survey asks for your views about the idea to close the small group and individual music lesson part of East Sussex Music after September 2019. Your views will help us to identify what we could do to help with your concerns.

If the proposal is agreed, there may be some negative impact on music opportunities for some young people who learn to play an instrument via East Sussex Music, which is why we are looking at other options as well. We would like to hear any ideas that you have.  

Services that East Sussex Music will continue to provide include:

• whole class instrumental tuition in schools
• orchestras
• bands
• choirs

If the proposal is agreed, we will publicise information about what music lessons are available from other private teachers in East Sussex. We will let people know about the final decision in September 2018.

NB: 11 June 2018: Q13 has been amended to add a 'Don't know' option to the list of response options.