WCET First Access – Wiltshire subsidies

This programme is offered predominantly to KS 2 schools when attracting Hub Funding.  The reason in any change is due to the New national Plan for Music Education (see extract)

“It is our ambition, captured in the national curriculum, that every child should have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument.  Under this refreshed plan, Music Hubs will still be expected to provide an offer of whole-class and/or group instrumental lessons to their local schools, so that every child can learn an instrument in class time. Such provision should be aimed at primary schools predominantly (and we would expect it will be delivered mainly at key stage 2)…we expect schools to pay for WCET/large/small group and instrument hire, aspart of their delivering the music curriculum…the programme must be designed as a high-quality educational offer, with consideration given to the curriculum underpinning of the programme, and ideally should be for a minimum of one year.  It should involve all children in the class…be designed by Hubs in partnership with their local schools, to fit coherently within their curriculum offer…” 

The Hub will continue to subsidise WCET (First Access) at Key Stage 2 and MUST be delivered by one of our specialist Associate tutors, which is inline with the new NPME. We will continue to support other Key stages with instrument hire, and resources.   If schools wish to deliver the program themselves at any key stage with their own teaching staff, we can support you with resources and CPD.

Criteria for First Access Subsidies:

• Your WCET First Access programme must be delivered by one of our Associate tutors.
• If you are using an Associate then he/she must be paid a minimum  of £43.30 per hour.  (Subsidy will not be agreed for lower rates of pay.)
• Your WCET First Access provision must take place on the equivalent of a weekly basis over a minimum of one term (minimum of 10 sessions). We will not fund First Access that takes place in an intense block.
• First Access must be delivered during the school timetable and not at lunchtime or afterschool enrichment time.
• Subsidy is available for up to 33 sessions / weeks of sessions.
• Pupils must be able to access the WCET First Access provision for free and without needing to buy an instrument.
• You must provide time to introduce options for continuation to pupils / parents.
• Schools must provide some feedback to Swindon Music Service in relation to pupils’ continuation – we will provide an accessible template.

How much subsidy is available?

We can subsidise First Access (WCET) tuition delivered by one of our Associate tutors.  We encourage schools to think about how incoming expertise can be linked to wider agenda such as literacy & numeracy.

For academic year 2025-26 the amount of subsidy we can offer is calculated on the size of your Year 3 intake (or Year 7 for secondary schools):

Up to 30 pupils – £5.55 per session (Plus £2.50 per week for Early Bird offer)

31-60 pupils – £8.33 per session (Plus £2.50 per week for Early Bird offer)

61+ pupils – £11.11 per session (Plus £2.50 per week for Early Bird offer)

You can request subsidy for a maximum of 33 weeks.

We have a limited budget for WCET First Access subsidy and will close the scheme once we have allocated all the money in the budget. We therefore encourage schools to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. Please note that retrospective requests will  NOT be approved.

To apply for a First Access Grant, visit the Portal for schools HERE

Information required to complete a request

A Quick Guide to completing the form can be downloaded HERE

Key dates

View the key dates you need to be aware of HERE