Parent Forum – 17 April 2015

Meeting called to order at 2.30 pm by meeting chair Tom Baskerville.

Members present:

Chair Tom Baskerville
Reception Mrs Fewell Russell
Class 1 Mrs Jackson
Class 2 Mrs Caren Mallett
Class 3 Mrs Rebecca Cox
Class 4 Mrs E Walsh
Class 5 Mrs Catherine Lloyd Evans
Class 6 Miss Sara Quigley

Members not present:

NA

Opening Business

A quick mention about Tom Baskerville’s meeting with the PTA (Friends) re the Summer Fair; they would like to send out a rota for parents to sign up to a stall.

Continuing discussion on how Parent Forum is operating. Many of us had hadlittle contact from other parents. Suggestion to send individual letter in bookbags with email addresses for parents. Also a permanent footer at the bottom of the regular newsletter either with our names & contacts, or a link to the page on the website. Is it possible to add a permanent sidebar to the website with parent forum contacts on so that it is visible from every page of the site, and parents don’t need to ‘hunt’ for it.

Year Business

Year 2:

  1. Request to change guest assemblies to 9am to allow more parents to easily attend, especially working parents who need to get back to work. This would also mean parents could combine with school drop-off.
  2. Tom Baskerville added that he would like more ‘guest parent; opportunities like the Dads In School days.

Year 6:

  1. Request for SAT practice instead of LLBs for homework. Tom Baskerville stated that this is being implemented and as a general comment that LLB practice is being fully reviewed for September. SATs occur shortly.
  2. A discussion regarding equal opportunities – are we doing enough to ensure that children of all levels, not just either gifted or special needs children are being included – i.e. in school sport competition selection, assembly or performance parts, being chosen as bloggers, etc. A feeling from some parents that ‘it is always the same ones who are chosen’. A discussion about how teachers ensure fairness; different approaches which allow all children to ‘shine’. Tom Baskerville agrees that this is something he can raise with staff to ensure protocols or ideas are in place to help.
  3. End of year parties – is there a date set? Walks, swimming parties etc. Generally some more information for Year 6 parents please on what is planned. The date for the Year 6 end of year party will be Tuesday 21st July at 7.00pm. The evening will involve water polo,a BBQ and a game of rounders.
  4. Bullying: an interesting discussion regarding what exactly constitutes bullying, and children’s perception of what bullying is and isn’t: how to spot when something isn’t bullying. So when a child doesn’t ‘want to play’, that isn’t bullying, and calling it bullying isn’t helpful! This is playground talk, not a suggestion that this has been taught in school. In future bullying topics perhaps discuss clarifying the difference between repeated and systemic bullying spectrum behaviours, and a child’s right to their own space without being made to feel they are ‘being a bully’ for not joining in.

Year 5

  1. A kitlist for Boreatton Park please, and a bit more information regarding the trip. Which teachers are going? Mrs Ind, Mr Leach going for some of it, Mrs Hirst staying. Parent information meeting set for Tuesday 5th May.

Year 4

  1. The suggestion that ‘newbie’ Shortenills parents feel a little under-prepared – communication has not been very good, with parents feeling that they don’t know what they are meant to do at drop-off on Monday morning (this being the Friday before Shortenills). A feeling echoed amongst those present that there could be better ‘letters home’ communication in general regarding class matters. Tom Baskerville would like better viewing of the website for information on school matters. A general agreement that we are so unused to using the website as a go-to source of information that most parents, even net-savvy ones, forget it’s there as a resource. The suggestion that better flagging up on every newsletter of the website and what’s on there, including parent-teacher forum contacts.

Year R

  1. What is the situation with Reception Teacher, both in September and now. Tom Baskerville says all staffing will be confirmed with 2 weeks.

Year 2

  1. Raised in previous discussion regarding Year R staffing: regarding rumours about Mr Leach leaving, Tom Baskerville assures us that as far as he is aware there is no truth in it – obviously with the caveat that teachers still have time to hand in resignations for start of education year 2015-2016.
  2. Could we have club updates on summer sports – and might it be possible for some of the younger children, in Infants to be included in some clubs, which largely cater for the older school years.

Meeting adjourned at 3:15 pm.

Next Meeting: 15th May 2015 at 2.15pm

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