• Everything you are and have been doing in schools can continue, including singing and playing blown instruments, from Wednesday 2nd December;
• Out-of-school activity of all sorts can restart (as can tuition in private homes, at least where there is no alternative, which should please colleagues with private practices);
• Public performances should not take place in Tier 3 areas. Within guidelines, they can everywhere else.

For further information, please see this message from Ofsted’s National Lead for Music, Mark Phillips.

To learn more about Music Mark, please click here to visit their website.

I want to reassure you about the measures that we continue to take to keep all of our musicians safe now that we enter this second lockdown.

During last half term, we are pleased to let you know that we have been teaching face to face in 80% of our schools.  The updated guidance for schools indicates that music provision can, and should continue, in schools.  This is obviously a huge relief for us and for our students.  We have written to all of our schools to reassure them about this.  The guidance for schools can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/guidance-for-full-opening-schools#music-dance-and-drama-in-school .

Unfortunately, and perhaps not unsurprisingly, our face to face work in CLYM groups and Music Centres will need to cease during the current lockdown.  CLYM leaders and Heads of Music Centres continue to work hard to ensure that alternatives will be available and will communicate these plans to those involved.

We want to take this opportunity to thank you so much for your support which enables us to continue to offer an outstanding service in Leeds despite being in these challenging circumstances.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Kevin Paynes for the tremendous amount of work and dedication that he has put into ArtForms and LMEP during the last 6 months as Interim Head of Artforms Music.  Kevin has been instrumental in navigating us through the storm of the first lockdown and has this week started his very well deserved Early Retirement.  Best wishes and heartfelt thanks to you Kevin from the whole team.

Paula Brookes, Acting Head of ArtForms Music