For a guitar, we typically order half-size classical guitars for our lessons, as they are the best fit for most primary school aged children (something like this: https://www.gear4music.com/Gui...). The nylon strings on a classical guitar are a little gentler than the steel string alternative of an acoustic/electric. If your child is in Y5/6, they may be better suited to a 3/4 size guitar, but we’d recommend finding a local second-hand guitar shop to try one out.

For a piano, we would recommend 61 touch sensitive keys to take you from beginner to intermediate playing (something like this: https://www.gear4music.com/Key...). Finding a local second-hand music shop may get you a better deal on a higher quality instrument, as keyboards can get quite expensive.

Lessons are paid for prior to the end of each term in preparation for the following term. This is so we can confirm timetables with schools and working hours for our teachers. We issue invoices via email when there’s space available on the timetable and paying will book weekly lessons until the end of the term. We also offer a split payment option via direct debit, which you can request by emailing us at admin@linklearning.education. This allows you to spread the cost into two payments across the term.

Our bookings are a minimum commitment to a term. Everyone will receive the opportunity to renew their place prior to the end of each term.

You will receive an email reminder before any payment is requested from your bank. Bookings with a split payment will automatically be re-enrolled each term for convenience, but you can let us know if you’d prefer to cancel at the end of the term and no further charges will be made. If you don’t have the funds for a split payment, please let us know and we will be happy to amend the due date within reason. Cancelling a direct debit will cancel your booking with immediate effect.

Registering for our tuition via linklearning.education/register stores your details onto our waiting list and we will make sure to contact you as soon as a place is available. If you’ve signed up for paired lessons but no suitable partner is available and there is a vacant space on the timetable, then we will offer you the opportunity to book one-to-one lessons.

We require 72 hours notice in order to let the tutor know about changes to their working hours and guarantee either a rescheduled lesson, or credit, depending on availability. If you’re not able to provide 72 hours notice before an absence the tutor will aim to catch them up in gaps made by illnesses or school trips.

Lessons missed due to unforeseen school closures (e.g. snow, flooding etc.), or where notice is not provided, cannot be credited.

Please let us know with at least 72 hours notice and we would be happy to reschedule or credit the lesson for you. If this is a recurring problem for you with the day that our lessons take place (e.g. swimming lessons taking place for 6 weeks), please let us know so that we can see if there’s anything that we can do to help.

End of term reports are issued for all pupils to give you an update on what’s been covered in the lessons, what your child has been doing well with, what they could practice over the upcoming holiday, and what they would be doing in next term’s lessons. If you would like more regular feedback than this, we would suggest packing a little notebook that the tutor can use as a practice diary and for any additional notes.

Our recommendation for practice at home is ‘little and often’. Regularly sitting down with your instrument for 5 minutes throughout the week to remember what was taught in the previous lesson will be better than worrying about doing 30 minutes of practice all in one evening.

Yes, all of our teachers have relevant experience, an enhanced DBS check, and appropriate safeguarding training.

Our lessons take place during normal school hours and not after school. We have a timetable and can suggest what time your child’s lesson would normally take place at, but please note that schools are busy places with lots of activities taking place, so late adjustments may need to be made to the timetable by the tutor in order for everyone to have their lesson.

We don’t directly organise graded exams with any external exam boards. Graded exams can be motivating for some pupils, but we don’t believe that they are the best approach for the majority of young children. We focus on engagement and enjoyment. If your child has worked on graded exams in the past, or you are particularly keen on this approach, we are happy to suggest it to the tutor and guidance is available online via the exam boards for how to book their exam.

If your child has paired 15 minute lessons and their partner cancels, they will continue to receive tuition in a one-to-one lesson until a suitable partner is found.

If your child has paired 30 minute lessons and their partner cancels, then they will be moved onto 15 minute one-to-one lessons in the meantime. These lessons cost less, so you will receive the difference in credit and all the details will be emailed to you.

Unfortunately, as an external organisation, this is something that you would need to organise with the school office directly. Our tutors will be happy for parents to see what their child has been learning, but would always prefer some advance notice for their lesson planning, so please do let us know if you’re organising a visit with the school.