Before I offer my services to the would-be singers of the south east could somebody please advise? Should I have any sort of insurance in case a pupil falls down the stairs, trips over a carpet or some such thing? Also do I need any sort of planning permission to be teaching at home? Or just tolerant neighbours!

i teach at home, and i have normal insurance but u odnt have to have planning permission

I don't think your ordinary home insurance would cover public liability, which is what you need. If you belong to a professional body you may well find that your subscription covers this insurance.

I would agree with Suepea. I've never heard of anyone needing planning permission-however it's certainly worth considering joining a professional organisation if you haven't already as many include public liability insurance-it can also cover you if you run, say, a student concert or other event to do with your teaching. As far as neighbours go, I think courtesy and common sense go a long way-being considerate in the hours you teach/duration.

It can also depend on where you live. In some areas you aren't allowed to work from home and if private teaching is classed as working from home then youll have a problem.

I was told that our council would not uphold any complaints against anyone with up to 8 hours teaching.

I would recommend you sort out public liability insurance. Also, talk to your neighbours first. I have a super lady living next door and I teach all day at home on Saturday and limit my practice so I never play after 9pm. I still travel to the majority of my students but that suits me. I always inform the people next door if I have any extra periods of playing at home coming up - ie approaching exams/accompanying other teachers' students etc. Good luck.

I was once told that if I went into teaching I should join the Musicians Union which has liability insurance for teaching, and advises you on whatever else.

That is the way I covered the insurance issue.
House insurers wouldn't touch it, but I bet they'd have shown some interest if I'd wanted to make a claim...

Or the ISM. membership covers public liability insurance.

Is ISM similar to the MU?

I also am a member of the Musician's Union - as well as providing insurance cover if you are teaching from home they also send out a magazine on a regular basis and guides relating to tax issues etc... you can contact them on 020 7840 5537 or on www.musiciciansunion.org.uk. Membership costs vary, according to income - on average about £9.00 per month and membership is open to all in the music industry - performers, teachers etc..
The ISM also provides insurance but membership depends on having 2 recommendations from current members - I didn't join because I only know 1 person who is a member!

And I once had a teacher who was an ISM member.. that would put me off joining...
I know we have discussed on here about payment for missed lessons but the attitude he had was more like.. I will charge everyone for ALL missed lessons because if I don't they will ALL be trying to cheat me.

He was also one of those teachers who said from the outset that if you didn't make satisfactory progress then you didn't stay on his books.

We parted company over lessons I had no choice over missing even though I was quite happy to pay for them or re arrange if possible.

Your normal household insurance will not cover 'public liability insurance'. Mine is covered by my membership of the ISM (up to 10 million pounds). I imagine that membership of the Musicians Union confers similar benefits.

I have taught at home for more than 30 years and never had a problem with LA planning.

Steve

Yikes, I hadn't thought of this (I'm not long starting out). I've downloaded the MU application form but what's the biz regarding recommendation? Don't suppose anyone here could help?

I don't remember needing a recommendation when I joined the MU.... When my previous teacher joined I think I sort of recommended him.. think there was some sort of bonus thing in it for me if he did it that way...

so do you think I could get away with just sending it off without one? they'll still get their money!

Not seen the form so I don't know.
Does it say you must have a recommendation from a member?

here's the application form....

http://www.musiciansunion.org.uk/media/Application_form.pdf[/URL]

I don't see where it mentions recommendation...
Just send it in.

it's on page 2 but it could be just be an office thing. it's not clear.

Gonna send it in. I like the idea of being a bona fide musician! Finally a justification of all the training!

When I joined the MU I didn't have to enter any details of recommendations from other people/members - this was only required by the ISM so go ahead!

Thanks pms and sbhoa for your help, I'll let you know if there are any problems!

Just out of interest, what is public liability insurance *for*? What does it cover?

I'm no expert but it should indemnify you if any accidents occur whilst someone is in your repsonsibility. I teach from home so if a child had an accident (tripped over a carpet or something) I wouldn't be bankrupt if the parent sued me. With the MU you are insured up to 10 000 000 pounds. There is a lot more to it than that but it's primarily why I need it.

Thanks for that information.

It's one thing I've been meaning to do for ages,like registering with the CRB,and never getting round to it. Paying by monthly DD appears the best way for me and it's tax deductible?

Just off to the IR now after nearly completing all my self assessment form Still stuck on one box though,although it's a lot easier and hasn't reduced me to tears like the old format did.

Take care All.

PS If anyone is having trouble with tax credit over/underpayments please let me know. I've just completed another complaint letter after having received 3 nice giros from them recently.So I want some more....heehee

I'm with the MU as it covers the liabilty. Be careful with your contents insurance though. You have to declare if you are teaching from home.
I had mega trouble trying to get anyone to insure me as there are kids in and out of the house. Eventually I used the one recommended by MU, they did insure me but they have put in clauses such as any theft of cash is not covered, things need to be locked in safe (valuable jewellery), theft is only covered by signs of forced entry. So, if a pupil nicked anything (which of course I don't think they would in a million years) I wouldn't be covered.
It's worth looking into.
I just try very hard not to tempt pupils by leaving my purse, etc around.

Couldn't you just sign a contract with the students who come to your home (or their parents) which says something like they promise not to sue if they have an accident at your house? Would that have legal standing?...

I don't have any home-visiting students at the moment, but I was thinking about it for the future, so it would be nice to know!