Code of Conduct for Teachers and Music Schools

As Updated on 24 August 2024

Purpose

This Code of Conduct outlines the standards of behaviour expected from Music Teachers and Music Schools within the Music Lessons Limited platform. Adherence to these standards is essential for maintaining a professional, respectful, and effective learning environment.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES
1. Professionalism: Conduct all teaching and interactions with the highest standards of professionalism. This includes being prepared, punctual, and respectful at all times.
2. Integrity: Represent your qualifications, skills, and availability honestly and accurately. Commit to ethical behaviour in all aspects of your teaching and business practices.
3. Respect: Treat all students, parents, and colleagues with respect and courtesy, fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
1. Qualifications and Expertise
  1. Teaching Competence: Only offer instruction in areas where you possess the necessary qualifications, skills, and experience. Engage in continuous professional development to enhance your teaching abilities.
  2. Accurate Representation: Ensure that all information provided in your Music Teacher Profile or Music School Profile is accurate, truthful, and up-to-date, including qualifications, teaching experience, and lesson offerings.
LESSON CONDUCT
1. Preparation: Be thoroughly prepared for each lesson. Tailor your teaching approach to the individual needs and abilities of each student.
2. Punctuality: Begin and end lessons on time. If you must reschedule or are running late, inform your student as early as possible.
3. Lesson Environment: Provide a safe, clean, and conducive environment for learning. Whether in-person or online, ensure that the setting is free from distractions and equipped with necessary teaching tools.
COMMUNICATION
1. Clear Communication: Maintain clear, professional, and timely communication with students and their guardians. Respond to inquiries promptly, ideally within one working day.
2. Appropriate Language and Tone: Ensure that all communications with students are conducted using professional language and tone. Avoid any language or behaviour that could be interpreted as inappropriate, overly familiar, or unprofessional.
3. Communication Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries in your communications. All interactions should be directly related to the student’s learning and should not cross into personal or social topics that are unrelated to the lessons.
4. Confidentiality: Protect the privacy of student information. Do not share personal details without explicit consent.
ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
1. Regarding Teachers and Music Schools
  1. Fair Treatment: Treat all students equally, without discrimination based on race, gender, religion, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
  2. No Exploitation: Avoid any form of exploitation, such as pressuring students into purchasing unnecessary lessons, materials, or services.
  3. Prohibition of Inappropriate Relationships: Maintain strictly professional relationships with all students. Any romantic, intimate, or sexual relationships with students are strictly prohibited, regardless of the student’s age. This applies to both in-person and online interactions, as well as any communication outside of scheduled lessons.
  4. Reporting and Disclosure: If a teacher or member of a music school becomes aware of any situation that could be construed as an inappropriate relationship with a student, they must immediately disclose this to Music Lessons Limited. This includes situations where the teacher may have inadvertently found themselves in a position that could be misinterpreted, as well as any instances where a student has initiated inappropriate behaviour or communication.
2. Regarding Students
  1. Mandatory Reporting: Teachers are required to report any inappropriate advances or behaviour from students to Music Lessons Limited immediately. This includes any behaviour that could be perceived as crossing professional boundaries, such as suggestive remarks, inappropriate messages, or attempts by the student to initiate a personal relationship.
  2. Professional Handling: Teachers must handle such situations with the utmost professionalism. This involves clearly setting boundaries, redirecting the conversation or behaviour to focus solely on the student’s education, and documenting the incident to ensure transparency and accountability.
    1. Immediate Termination of Lessons: If a teacher believes they are in immediate danger or that the situation could escalate, they should terminate the Lesson immediately and ensure their safety before taking further steps.
  3. Notification Requirement: If a teacher finds themselves in a situation where a student has made inappropriate advances or engaged in behaviour that could be deemed inappropriate, the teacher must notify Music Lessons Limited immediately. This ensures that the situation is handled promptly and appropriately, protecting both the teacher and the integrity of the learning environment.
  4. Protection for Teachers: Music Lessons Limited recognises that teachers may encounter students who behave inappropriately. Teachers are encouraged to maintain detailed records of all communications and interactions with students to protect themselves. In cases where a student’s behaviour is deemed inappropriate, Music Lessons Limited will take action, which may include taking steps to remove or suspend the student from the platform if necessary.
  5. Zero Tolerance Policy: Music Lessons Limited has a zero-tolerance policy for any behaviour that violates the professional boundaries established by this Code of Conduct. Any teacher found to be engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student, or failing to report such behaviour, will face immediate disciplinary action, which may include suspension or termination of their membership.
STUDENT INTERACTION
1. Positive Learning Environment
  1. Encouragement: Foster a positive and encouraging atmosphere. Provide constructive feedback that motivates and supports student progress.
SAFEGUARDING
1. Safeguarding: Comply with all applicable child protection and safeguarding laws, especially when teaching minors or vulnerable adults. Obtain necessary background checks as required by your jurisdiction.
2. Mandatory Reporting: Report any suspected abuse, neglect, or safeguarding concerns to the appropriate authorities immediately and inform Music Lessons Limited if the concern involves a Referred Student.
3. Monitoring Interactions: Where possible, ensure that lessons with minors are conducted in environments where parents or guardians can observe. For online lessons, encourage parents or guardians to be present or nearby during the session.
FINANCIAL CONDUCT
1. Transparency in Fees
  1. Clear Communication of Fees: Clearly communicate all lesson fees, payment schedules, and cancellation policies before lessons begin. Ensure that students and parents fully understand these terms.
  2. No Hidden Fees: Do not charge hidden fees. Any additional costs should be disclosed and agreed upon in advance.
PAYMENT HANDLING
1. Timely Invoicing: Issue invoices and payment requests promptly. Ensure that your payment terms are clear and fair.
2. Respect for Payment Terms: Adhere to agreed-upon payment terms and policies. Address any payment issues with professionalism and courtesy.
3. Clear Cancellation Policy: Maintain a clear, written policy regarding lesson cancellations, which should be communicated to students before lessons commence. This policy should outline:
  1. Cancellation Notice: The required notice period for cancelling a lesson without incurring a charge.
  2. Late Cancellations: The fees or penalties for late cancellations or missed lessons without prior notice.
  3. Make-Up Lessons: Whether make-up lessons are offered, and under what circumstances.
4. Non-Payment: Establish and communicate a clear procedure for handling situations where students do not pay for scheduled lessons. This procedure should include:
  1. Reminder Process: Sending payment reminders after the due date has passed.
  2. Late Fees: The possibility of applying late fees if payment is not received within a specified period.
  3. Suspension of Lessons: The right to suspend future lessons until outstanding payments are made.
5. Refund Policy: Clearly define and communicate your refund policy, especially for pre-paid lessons, packages, or vouchers. This policy should include:
  1. Refund Eligibility: Conditions under which a student is eligible for a refund (e.g., unused lessons, cancellation within a specific timeframe).
  2. Voucher Refunds: The process for refunding vouchers if lessons are not taken or if a student withdraws from the program.
  3. Processing Time: The expected time frame for processing refunds once approved.
6. Documentation: Keep accurate records of all financial transactions, including payments received, invoices issued, refunds processed, and any correspondence related to payment issues. This documentation helps ensure transparency and accountability.
DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
1. Consequences of Breach
  1. Enforcement: Failure to adhere to this Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to warnings, suspension, or termination of your membership with Music Lessons Limited.
  2. Process: Music Lessons Limited will investigate any reported breaches and take appropriate action based on the severity of the breach.
REPORTING AND FEEDBACK
1. Reporting Concerns
  1. Reporting Misconduct: Any concerns regarding breaches of this Code of Conduct should be reported to Music Lessons Limited via the platform’s support system or by email at [email protected]. All reports will be handled confidentially.
2. Feedback Mechanism
  1. Continuous Improvement: Music Lessons Limited encourages feedback from Teachers and Music Schools to improve the platform. Feedback can be provided via the Help Centre or by contacting Music Lessons Limited directly.

Acknowledgment

By using the Music Lessons Limited platform as a Teacher or Music School, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct. Compliance with these standards is essential to maintaining a professional and respectful environment for all members and students.

These terms and conditions should be read in conjunction with the Website’s Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy and Standard Membership Terms for Teachers and Music Schools. In the event of a conflict between this Code of Conduct and the Standard Membership Terms for Teachers and Music Schools, the provisions of the Standard Membership Terms for Teachers and Music Schools shall prevail.