Assisted Instrument Purchase Scheme

The Suffolk County Music Service is able to offer instruments for sale to pupils, which may VAT free. These savings can be passed on to the pupils if certain conditions are met (see below*).

Request a quote.

More information

To find out more information about this government scheme please visit GOV.UK.

If you have any questions about the scheme please contact the Music Service:

email county.musicservice@suffolk.gov.uk
phone 01473 263400

The Music Service office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Why have a scheme?

To encourage lifelong learning by enabling pupils to have access to their own instruments
Ownership of own instruments encourages the child, and feelings of pride, interest and involvement
To provide professional advice and information about purchase of instruments from suppliers, including warranty and after sales service
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 HM Revenue & Customs and governs the sale of goods closely related to the provision of education.

Education provided by the local authority (Suffolk County Council) is treated as a non-business activity. The Local Authority is therefore able to obtain refunds of VAT in certain cases.

Who is eligible?

Conditions of the scheme:

The instrument must be for the direct use of the pupil and is necessary for delivering their education
The instrument is portable.
The pupil must be in full-time education at a Local Authority Maintained school / academy.
The instrument must be appropriate to the needs of the pupil.

If the pupil is not receiving lessons in school from the SCMS, but is a member of a Suffolk Youth Music (SYM) or County Music Group (CMG) instrumental activity, then it is still possible to buy an instrument through the SCMS.

Additional conditions for SYM members

the pupil must live in and/or attend school in Suffolk
the pupil must show regular and on-going attendance of a SYM or CMG activity in which they use the instrument

How do I order and buy an instrument?

1. Talk to your music tutor.

If you haven't 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 quote for 2 - 4 instruments all known to be good alternatives.

2. Contact the SCMS office.

We will ask you a few questions to ensure your eligibility to access the scheme. Once we are sure you are eligible, we will send you a quotation.

Please note: a parent / carer must sign the quotation form and return it to SCMS with payment.

3. The SCMS will order your instrument.

The SCMS will place your order for the instrument.

Your instrument will be delivered to the customers home address and Suffolk County Music Service takes no responsibility for the instrument once delivery has been accepted by the customer.

How much will it cost me?

Please contact the Suffolk County Music Service for a quote to find out how much an instrument costs.

There is an administrative charge of £18 which will be applied to each instrument order in addition to the cost of the instrument.

SCMS will ask you a few questions to find out if you are eligible, then send you a Quotation Request Form.

Where do the instruments come from?

The SCMS is part of Suffolk County 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.

When will my instrument arrive?

Instruments take about 4 weeks to arrive.

In some cases it can take several months if the instrument needs to be imported or if there is a waiting list.

Please leave enough time for delivery, particularly if the instrument is needed to replace a loan instrument which is due for return.

My child wants to try the instrument first to decide if it is right for them before we buy it. Is this possible?

In most circumstances the tutor will have a good idea of which instrument is suitable and you may not need to try it first. However, if you wish to contact the office it may possible to arrange for you to visit our suppliers to try the instrument out.

Please contact the Suffolk County Music Service at the details above.

My child is leaving school at the end of the term and will no longer be having lessons with a SCMS tutor. Can we still buy an instrument through the scheme?

Unless your child is also a member of SYM (please see above) and will be continuing with this membership after leaving school, then it will not be possible to use the scheme.