The Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme Information Sheet The St

the assisted instrument purchase scheme information sheet. the st helens council music service (shms) is able to offer instruments for sal

The Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme Information Sheet.
The St Helens Council Music Service (SHMS) is able to offer
instruments for sale to pupils, which may either be VAT free and/or
benefit from educational discount. These savings can be passed on to
the pupils if the following conditions are met. The scheme only
applies to new instruments, it is not possible to purchase second-hand
instruments through the scheme, regardless of their condition/age.
Why have a scheme?
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To encourage lifelong learning by enabling pupils to have access
to their own instruments.
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Ownership of own instruments encourages the child, ands feeling of
pride, interest and involvement.
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To provide professional advice and information about the purchase
of instruments, from St Helens Council approved suppliers,
including warranty and after sales service.
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To maintain maximum availability, to new pupils needing to borrow
from our own limited supply of instruments.
VAT Free
This scheme operates with regard to the guidance given by Customs and
Excise and governs the sale of goods closely related to the provision
of education. Education provided by the local authority (St Helens
Council) is treated as a non-business activity. The Local Education
Authority is therefore able to obtain refunds of VAT in certain cases.
Schools may operate their own schemes within the same regulations.
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The instrument must be for the direct use of the pupil and is
necessary for delivering their education.
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The tuition must form part of the normal school curriculum.
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The Instrument is required for regular classroom use (regular is
defined as - must be brought to school on at least a weekly
basis).
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The instrument is portable
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The pupil must be receiving tuition in school.
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The instrument must be appropriate to the needs of the pupil.
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The instrument must be handed to the pupil in the teaching room.
Administration Charge
An administration charge is added to the cost of the instrument to
cover our costs in obtaining the instrument. The charges vary
depending on the purchase price of the instrument and for the 2020-21
financial year they are:
Instrument value Charge (inc. VAT)
Up to £100 £8.25
£101 to £350 £14.00
£351 to £999 £17.00
Over £1000 £22.00
What You Need To Do
If you have not already done so, you may wish to ask your Music Tutor
for advice on the most appropriate make and model of instrument for
you. You may be investing a considerable sum of money and need to be
sure that the instrument is appropriate for your needs. In most cases
there are a number of good alternative makes and models which can vary
in price. Unless you ask us to quote for a specific model, we will
usually send you a quotation for 2 - 4 instruments all known to be
good alternatives.
Next, contact the St Helens Council Music Service office either using
the enquiry form or on the telephone numbers listed. We will need to
check your eligibility to access the scheme; that your child lives or
ideally educated in a St Helens school or college. Once we are sure
you are eligible, we will send you a quotation. The quotation will
give you a number of options of instruments. Once you have made your
choice and returned the quotation form to us will issue an invoice.
This will need to be paid in full before we can order the instrument.
We will then place an order for the instrument, and delivery will be
made to the St Helens Council Music Service office.
The instrument will be checked by the tutor and then given to you in
your lesson at school or during a music centre rehearsal. Delivery of
the instruments can vary according to the supplier's stock, the time
of year when demands may increase, and the make and model of the
instrument. As a rule, instruments take approximately 4 weeks to
arrive, though in some cases can take several months if they need to
be imported or if there is a waiting-list. Please ensure you leave
plenty of time for delivery, particularly if the instrument is needed
to replace a loan instrument that is due for return.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. My child wants to try the instrument first to decide if it is right
for them, before we buy it. Is this possible?
A. In most circumstances the tutor will have a good idea of what
instrument is suitable, and you may not need to try it first. However,
if you wish to contact the office, we can give you details of our
suppliers so that you can arrange to visit them to try them out.
Q. My child is leaving school at the end of the term and will no
longer be having lessons with a St Helens Council Music Service tutor
in school. Can we still buy an instrument through the scheme?
A. Unless your child is also a member of the Music Centre and will be
continuing with this membership after leaving school, then it will not
be possible to use the scheme.
Q. Can we collect the instrument from the office/shop so we can get it
quicker?
A. The rules governing the scheme do not allow us to do this. The
instrument must be delivered to your child in school or, if
applicable, at the Music Centre activity.
Q Where do the instruments come from?
A SHMS is part of St Helens Council. It therefore purchases
instruments from the Council's list of approved suppliers. We ensure
the companies used give us good quality, value for money and offer
good after sales care. We do not keep a stock of instruments for sale
but buy them individually when requested.
Q Who can purchase an instrument through this scheme?
A SHMS is allowed to provide this scheme to the parents/carers of any
school aged young person living or educated in St Helens. Instruments
have to be for their sole use as part of their instrumental music
education.
Q Are there any restrictions as to the types of items that can be
purchased?
A HMRC guidance states that instruments have to be in support of a
child’s music education in school and that the instrument has to be
portable. Pianos, large percussion items and those instruments found
within school music departments are therefore generally outside of the
scope of the scheme. Similarly, computers and software and other
related devices cannot be purchased through this scheme. However,
portable keyboards can. In all cases it is assumed that the child
would take the instrument on a weekly basis to and from school for
their lessons.
Q Can the pupil try the instrument first?
A Generally no because we do not keep these instruments in stock. It
may be possible for them to visit the music shop to try out several
models. This may be particularly helpful for the more expensive/high
spec. instruments. In a few rare instances suppliers have sent an
instrument prior to order for a pupil to try before purchase. However,
instruments cannot be returned after purchase unless faulty.
Q Can the parents/child collect the instrument from the SHMS office or
the supplier?
A The rules governing the scheme do not allow for this. The instrument
must be delivered to the pupil in school or if applicable, at the
Music Centre activity. Please don't tell them to come to the Service
offices to pick it up.
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