Just checking - isn't it pretty standard for a private teacher to teach for 40 weeks of the academic year? And when we make our re-start dates crystal clear for after a holiday period, shouldn't we feel a little aggrieved when some pupils decide that they'd rather the term started a week later? This is extremely awkward when the bills are about to go out, as I'm now in the position of wondering whether to charge for something that has already passed. It was made very clear in a note at the end of last term, AND I rang round everyone at the beginning of the week, but I know they will still be annoyed to be charged for something that didn't happen. One parent simply said, 'She'll be at her granny's and won't be back on time.' And I was told by the cousin of another that she had simply forgotten. Next year, I'll be posting out a whole years' term dates before the start of September, but what to do this time?! Basically, I'm desperate for the money - so how can I handle this diplomatically and still get paid without getting too far up their noses!!!? I'd be interested to hear from parents as well as teachers to see what they think too.

EDIT - I should mention that one of the reasons I felt it neccessary to start back so soon after the New Year was the closeness of the entry dates for exams - both AB and TG. And we stopped a week early before Christmas to allow for the fact that it's such a busy time of year for everyone. I really do think 3 weeks' off is rather a lot! I'm now having to make decisions for people I won't have seen for a month!

I can see your dilemma. I think there are bound to be problem unless your terms coincide with the standard school holidays. We have vairous arrangements with teachers both privately and in schools. For some private lessons we pay in advance for blocks of 10 and, provided we give sufficient notice, we don't pay for lessons that we can't attend.

Can you squeeze in some extra lessons to make up for lost time?

Actually I live in one borough in North London which has decided to have its' February half-term 2007 one week later than the rest of the counrty to even out the school term.

Therefore my children will be penalised by missing their weekly music (and swimming) lessons during the traditional half-term and will miss one during their half-term which will continue and which I will obviously have to pay for!

I've got the same dilemma! Two no-shows yesterday, both from pupils who are in the state system and therefore back at school, despite being given a slip with the start date on at their last lesson before Christmas. Grr! I deliberately started the Thursday and Friday ones this week as I will be missing the last Thursday and Friday before the Easter holidays because of the Early Music course.

I think the number of weeks in a year you teach is (certainly in a private 1:1 capacity) entirely at your discretion. I do not teach holiday periods at all so offer 30 lessons in the year maximum. (12 in the autumn term, 8 in the spring and 10 in the summer - which seems to mostly work out about right, allowing for half-term breaks.)

As to school holidays - yes it's a problem and around here many of the schools have different holiday periods. Each September I produce my calendar for the year (by each term) and say when I'm expecting pupils. If they don't show up without notification, they get charged (as they would for any absence not notified).

So, yesterday, three pupils came for lessons in their vacation, two were back at school (just), one had been back since 2 January(!) and two never showed up at all (and no notice). It's a problem.

I think all any of us can do is be very clear with our parents/pupils as to what we are proposing and then, if that doesn't fit with them, it's up to them to decide what they'll do.

I can see, however, if you bill in advance and teach in 10 lesson cycles and during holiday periods, it's perhaps not quite so straightforward.

That's one of the reasons I don't observe school holidays, and take mine whenever I want!

It sounds like a nightmare. I pay my teacher each time I go to my fortnightly lesson. At the last lesson she told me when she would be recommencing teaching and told me the date of my next lesson. I wasn't sure of the date by the time I got home so I e-mailed her and she then retold me. If students know at the end of their last lesson, then I think teachers should be harsh and charge them if they decide to take an extended holiday. I think people should realise that this is a business arrangement and that they are breaking the trust their teacher has in them if they behave in this manner. If people own property and they go away on holiday they still have to pay for it regardless of whether they are occupying it or not.

Last year I played it by ear regarding what times to take off and used it as a guideline for this year's arrangements. Christmas 2005 I basically just told parents I would be here on the second week of the holidays and to let me know whether they wanted to take a lesson that week or not. The usual reliable bunch showed up. Some others let me know they wouldn't be there, but quite a few didn't let me know either way and mostly didn't turn up. It was all a bit messy.

This year I took Christmas week of and gave a note stating lessons would start again on the 2nd. Some schools go back this week and others don't, so I can't always match their holiday times.

Despite the note, quite a few failed to show. Fortunately I've recently organised myself with a new policy - so they will be charged for this, because I was left waiting in for them.

Dulciana, I sympathise with your situation! You can't afford not to charge for the time missed, and if anyone disputes your desicion, simple refer them back to the note you sent out. They could have always made an effert to reschedule, but as you didn't know they wouldn't be showing up, you were there ready to take a lesson, and should be paid accordingly.

Most people will be understanding, and although you might feel awkward, the people who don't understand will just have to learn how you expect things to work, otherwise they will take advantage.

You can still be pleasant and polite while making it known you are running a business.

Same experience here, andante . It doesn't seem to matter how many reminders you give them! I don't have the problem about whether to charge or not - mine pay five lessons in advance, on a continuous basis, which means that I don't invoice everyone together, and these two are still in credit (one has paid for ten lessons in advance and currently seems to be missing as many as she attends), so I shall charge them. It was particularly annoying as I had gone to some trouble to have the recording of the student concert ready on my laptop so that they could hear their performances, and had prepared special material connected with taking grade 1 exams. All of today's turned up .

Yes Suepea - I had a mock grade 3 exam all organised today for someone who didn't show. They had the date in their notebook as well as on a separate note.

Perhaps that's why they didn't show

Well, I've decided in the end not to charge them as I had a different start date in my last newsletter. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt this time. I decided I had better start the Thursdays this week after I had to cancel a Thursday last term when I was ill - hence the change.

Dulciana, I sympathise with your situation! You can't afford not to charge for the time missed, and if anyone disputes your desicion, simple refer them back to the note you sent out. They could have always made an effert to reschedule, but as you didn't know they wouldn't be showing up, you were there ready to take a lesson, and should be paid accordingly

I agree. I make it known (once a pupil's initial trial period is over) that term dates are non-negotiable. If I later decide to credit for one that was missed for a good reason, and where I got reasonable notice, that's my decision and it's nice to be flexible on occasion. But just not showing up doesn't count !

I've not had anyone forget to turn up this time, but it's happened in the past and it is very annoying - in one case I had planned holiday dates around a particular student needing a lesson.

30 lessons per years seems very few. However, maybe quality is better than quantity, if one is not depending totally on the dosh. Personally, I tend to work on through half terms and all, adhering roughly to school holidays, especially with those who are in the run up to an ABRSM exam. Here in N. Ireland, we don't get long half terms in the Easter or summer terms - a long w/end at most in each case, so there isn't usually an issue about people not coming, unless it hits a Bank Holiday. That's why we finish on 30 June with school terms, having saved ourselves the holiday for the summer. Going on further into July would be largely "dead time" surely, especially if school exams and ABRSM exams are over and the weather is good and conducive to outdoor activities rather than piano practice indoors.

A three week Christmas break seems over lengthy to me also, though I can see the logic of wanting to prepare for Christmas, both domesically and for concerts, carol services etc. One thing is certain, any possible loophole will be exploited by the punters, e.g. the "visiting granny" syndrome which is I suppose fair enough, especially if she lives in a different part of the country and rarely sees the kids.

The bottom line is we have to keep ourselves right with written dates, notebook reminders, perhaps a courtesy phone-call, etc.

LR

Thanks for all the replies. What I've decided to do is just grit my teeth and let them off with it this time. I know I shouldn't, but I want to maintain good relations. However I've concocted a note which will go out at the end of this term, outlining next term's dates, and stating that, from next term, I will post out term dates for the whole academic year BEFORE the start of the first Autumn term. I've explained that there will be 40 weeks in the year, and that that I will only reschedule in extreme circumstances. This hasn't really been a problem for me before - it's always been enough just to write it in the notebooks! Maybe it's because most school seem to be starting back quite late this time, with New Year's Day being on Monday. Most seem to have the whole of the following week off.

Over Christmas I offer 2 weeks off. Depending on which day Christmas falls this will be Christmas week and either the week before or the week after. Usually I will be available if anyone wants a lesson in either of the weeks before and after except for New years day.