Hub Information

Welcome

The Community Music Service provides high quality and inclusive music education services and activities for all children and young people across the county.

In schools, we provide quality-assured music teachers for instrumental lessons, whole-class first access programmes, lunchtime and after school music activities, workshops, singing projects, and continuing professional development for teaching staff. We help schools to achieve the best possible outcomes for pupils, their families, and the community.

Outside school, children and young people enjoy making music with us in bands, choirs, and orchestras at every stage of their musical development. 

We are also the lead organisation in the Barking & Dagenham Music Education Hub/Partnership, which means that we work with a group of partner organisations, schools, young people, and stakeholders from different sectors to develop high quality and inclusive music education within and outside schools, across the Borough.

Our Key Goals

To ensure that all children, in particular those that are disadvantaged, those with disabilities and those with special educational needs, have:

  • a chance to learn to play a musical instrument during whole class tuition in their primary schools;
  • a genuine opportunity to continue to learn and take part in performances and ensembles;
  • a genuine opportunity to learn to sing to the highest standards, and take part in concerts and shows;
  • full access to musical progression routes right up to KS5;
Our Commitment
  • To develop and extend a range of community and family musical activities through a networked group of professional and voluntary Delivery Partners;
  • To increase the range of genres of music for young people to be involved in to include Asian, African, digital approaches, rock and pop and world music (and more according to need);
  • To develop, in partnership with schools, academies and free schools, a fair and equitable charging process to mitigate against the possible loss of funding from the DSG awarded by the schools’ forum and to ensure that implementation of charging and fee remission policies ensure that instrumental and vocal tuition is available and affordable to all who wish to access it.
EDI Mission Statement

Diversity is an essential part of our culture.

We recognise that differences in age, race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, physical ability and background bring richness to our work environments.

Our recruitment retention policy reflects the diversity of our clients and community.

Our goal is to build a diverse and inclusive workforce where all individuals are respected as equals.

The Community Music Service’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

Local Plan for Music Education (LPME)

Local Plan for Music Education (LPME)

The LPME consists of eight documents which outline our business ethos.

The LPME includes our:

  • Quality Framework
  • Schools Partnerships Policy
  • Stock Management Policy,
  • Sustainability Policy
  • Communication and Engagement Plan
  • Needs Analysis
  • Inclusion Strategy
  • Workforce Development
Inclusion Strategy

Our Inclusive Music Education Strategy will ensure that the hub recognises the unique qualities, ideas, voices and perspectives of our diverse local population. Additionally, the strategy ensures that we will provide a range of diverse and suitable musical opportunities and progression pathways for all those in contact with our service.

Inclusion Strategy Document

Charging and Remission Policy

After School Provision Remission Policy

Pupils who attend a Barking & Dagenham school and are in receipt of free school meals or their families receive Universal Credit will be entitled to free CMS instrument hire and ensemble membership, the remission applies to all family siblings. Looked After Children will be entitled to 50% lesson fee discount, free instrumental hire and free ensemble membership.

Pupils in receipt of free school meals or their families receive Universal Credit, living in the borough but educated out of borough will be entitled to free CMS ensemble membership. Proof of remission eligibility will be required.

School instrumental Provision Remission Policy

Pupils who attend a Barking & Dagenham school and are in receipt of free school meals or their families receive Universal Credit will be entitled to free CMS instrument hire and ensemble membership, the remission applies to all family siblings. Looked After Children will be free entitled to free instrumental hire and free ensemble membership. Proof of remission eligibility will be required.

Charges for instrumental tuition if made will be levied by an individual school subject to its own charging policy and in line with the DfE guidance on charging and fee, the link to which can be found here.

CMS Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
LBBD Recruitment Policy
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Partnerships

Partnership Document

The CMS seeks to establish strong partnerships across the music sector in its aim to provide musical opportunities to Children and Young People of Barking & Dagenham that are diverse, inclusive and motivational.

We welcome interest from external bodies that will attract inward investment towards the borough and seek to support and progress the pupils of the CMS in their musical aspirations.