Prestonpans Infant School Parent Council Meeting
Minute
28th February 2013
Present - Sheila Laing, Rachel Menzies, Iain Scott, Jacqui Davie, Leanne Ward, Laura Manson, Angela Bonnar, Debbie Finnigan, Les Duff, Lauren Johnson-Smith, Colette Walker, Alison Kettell, Willie Innes.
Apologies – Kate Fenton.
1. Approval of Minutes/Matters Arising
- Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and approved – draft to be added initially on minutes then removed once agreed and put on website when Angela has her password.
- Parent Council Computer Access – Jacqui can get access, however, still need access to the internet and e mails this is a problem. Internet access was apparently only to be given for the period of fund raising. Sheila confirmed I.T. will be introducing a ‘Thin Client’ computer terminal with no council data and only access to the internet in the future. At the moment, Jacqui should be able to print using a pass. Jacqui mentioned she could not e mail accounts or access internet – Sheila to look into this.
- Facebook Disclaimer – Laura Manson to deal with this.
2. Colette Walker, Place2Be
Colette Walker, the new Place 2 Be Manager introduced herself to the group and discussed the funding of the Place2Be. Colette is currently doing class observations with Primary 2 and circle time and is starting a transition group for some P3s. Colette is getting to know the children and the staff. Colette is glad to be on board and is letting children know where Place2Talk is. Sheila confirmed that 4 new children have enrolled this week and Colette has suggested these children and all new pupils are offered 3 Place2Talk sessions to settle them in. Colette was saying that children leaving and starting the school could discuss their feelings with her and she has an open door for parents also to come and talk. Colette is also employed bya post natal depression service.
There is currently £100,000 funding in the budget for Place 2 Be and a further £50,000 and we are seeking matched funding from the health board for another £50,000. There will also be a further £50,000 the following year. Mr Innes confirmed that after 3 years, £400,000 will be available.
3. Head Teachers Report
Staffing
Alison Kettell is now back and Sheila was saying this makes such a difference. Sue Carr is back after having been off for 5 months. Sue is on a phased return and is sharing a class with Mr. Hardie until she is settled back in. Victoria Gordon has had a baby boy called Chester and she will be back in October. Emily McDonald is having a baby in September.
2/CONTD...
Government initiative
Don Ledingham has suggested as part of a government initiative called the Early Years Collaborative that we all consider one thing we each could do to make a difference to a child.
Newsletter
Sheila confirmed this has been sent out.
Class Reorganisation
This will be known after Easter.
Transition
Sheila confirmed there has been a positive and productive meeting to address this issue. There has been a joint management meeting with the Quality Improvement Officer and also with Jackie and Sheila. The meeting was with regard to the issues discussed at our last meeting. The schools have given consideration to ways that staff can spend time in each other’s schools and hope that a Primary School teacher may be able to teach here next session. This would have to be on a voluntary basis, staff can’t be moved between the schools without their permission. Sheila explained that the old transition policy is being reconsidered and this will continue at another joint management team meeting next week. After these meetings there will be an eveningfocus group meetingon 17.4.13 in the Primary School with 3 x P3 and 3 x P4 parents/carers togain a parent perspective, followed by consultation with staff and pupils. The transition programme will be evaluated by current P3 parents/carers in Autumn 2013.
Parent Council Meeting with Pupil Council
This meeting has been summarised in the Newsletter. There were discussions about a white track around the field and looking at loose materials for playing on the field. The pupil council are allowed to paint the bridge in rainbow colours with support from Charlotte. The Parent Council are to purchase some toy cars. Also, a sand pit was discussed up by the school gate. Sheila confirmed the new school gate is now in place and she is really pleased with this.
Sheila spoke to Derek Borthwick with regard to nursery plans and the plans need to be drawn to scale and be costed. It was suggested that Grounds for Learning look at the field and nursery area and they will advise us accordingly. There is tango fencing at Meadowmill we could use. The City of Edinburgh Council has 40 nurseries and each of them have water features in their nurseries. Sheila confirmed we need costings for our nursery garden plans before we can complete more grant applications.
Sheila mentioned there may be more than four Primary 1 classes next year depending on enrolments and that an upstairs room would have to be used as a classroom. There is also amenity space in the Red School once renovated. Sheila confirmed we have spent £2,000 on new reading books. This was one of the children’s wishes to improve learning. Parents said the meeting with the pupil council went really well.
3/CONTD.....
It was mentioned that we need more I.T. in school and Sheila is having a meeting with David Gilmour from Head Office with regard to this. Currently there is one laptop to every ten children but we think the ratio should be lower – teachers feel teaching of I.T. has been unsatisfactory this year, due to lack of laptops for classes to use.
Snacks/sweets
All schools are now promoting healthy eating. In our school we ask not to give children sweets/biscuits/chocolates/nuts in their lunch boxes and snacks but to have something healthy instead.
Events
Purple Pinkie Day – 1/3/13 to support the campaign to make sure polio is wiped out across the world each family to bring in 50p to help a child be vaccinated against polio.
Mothers’ Day hand massage – This is to be done on Friday 8/3/13 and also there will be a hand massage being done for Father’s Day.
Bikeability Training
Sheila and Steve Aitchison are training in Bikeability and will consider how to deliver this to children next term. Lori is asking if the Youth Council want to help also.
New Gate
We are delighted with the new gate and this keeps the children safely in school. Also, everyone has got into the way of making sure the gate is shut after them, this is much safer.
School Groups
There are 3 Groups in school:-
Dads and Toddlers; Wee Pans Stay and Play; Incredible Years (Parenting Programme with the Integration Team for 20 people) and Raising Children with Confidence Group which will run on the first 6 Thursday evenings next term.
Innerwick
Everything is now in place for Innerwick and we have been given 70 Ikea bags.
4. Treasurer’s Report
Jacqui has confirmed that all monies have now been paid to the school and there is nothing outstanding. Jacqui mentioned that we need a form to change the signatures for writing cheques to add Jacqui and Debbie and take Gaill off. At the moment it is currently only Gaill and Ian. This was all unanimously agreed.
5. Fundraising Group
The fundraising group had a meeting last Friday and discussed the Summer Fair which will be on the 11/5/13 - 10-12pm. Instead of a marquee this year it was suggested the fair was in the gym hall and we do outside activities also. This would save money hiring the marquee. This was all agreed and a let will be arranged and Elaine will organise this and Heather will do a risk assessment.
4/CONTD..
Jacqui mentioned a company called Crazy Capers to have at the fair – this is a package of about 5/6 activities including characters, magician, balloons, face painting at a cost of £290.00. Jacqui confirmed they are available on the 11th of May.
There will also be the burger van and ice cream van and pizza from dominos. Laura has also suggested a duck pond as an activity. Les suggested a fair ground ride but it was felt that this was too expensive and the company kept the profits. Sumo suits were also suggested - Sheila to contact Campie Parent Council about this.
Laura also mentioned that the Parent Council need more storage space within the school to put all their equipment in. She also confirmed that the Parent Council will be buying some bulky chalk and toy carts for the children for the playground.
5. Parent Council Newsletter
Laura and Jacqui will be doing the parent council newsletter this week. Swearing is still an issue in the playground. Sheila will arrange to obtain the template from Kate Fenton and e mail this to Laura Manson.
6. Leaflets in School Bags
As previously discussed schools will not be promoting leaflets from commercial companies and will not be sending commercial leaflets in school bags unless a donation is made to the school. The only leaflets will be East Lothian Council related. There needs to be a disclaimer to explain this policy and confirming we are not promoting commercial companies in the next newsletter.
7. Bikes in School
As in the school newsletter it has been reiterated that adults/children should not cycle or scoot in the school playground. Leanne was saying that a mum on a bike nearly knocked over a nursery child the other day. A bike/scooter rack has been suggested at the back of the front gate. Primary 3 children are still on scooters and bikes in the playground.
8. Football Colours
Les wondered what the school policy was on football colours and Sheila and Alison confirmed this has never been an issue in the past. Alison confirmed there was no problem with football colours and that the school are all for supporting diversity.
9. DVDs
There was a discussion on the usage of DVDs within schools as there has been an objection to DVDs with witches, ghosts, fairies and elves. Sheila confirmed there is a licence to show DVDs Certificate ‘U’ not PG and these DVDs are shown at playtime when it is wet. Sheila confirmed there are no DVDs with witches and ghosts and children can be withdrawn from watching DVDs if needbe to be sensitive to what parents want.
DVDs in class – It was suggested that children were watching too many DVDs within school, every afternoon on the run up to Xmas. Sheila will look into this. Usually the school tries to use DVDs linked to specific topics and that DVDs are a very occasional treat at golden time. Alison also confirmed teachers use appropriate clips from ‘You Tube’ as a learning tool for children.
5/CONTD.....
It was mentioned that the letters at the start of each term to communicate forthcoming learning objectives are really appreciated by parents. Sheila explained that we intend to do these each term and apologise that not every year group managed it this term. It should happen every term from now on.
Also, it was mentioned that the website is still showing old out of date information and Sheila confirmed this was due to not enough new information being put on the website. This was also due to the website being down for so long and staff have got out of the way of blogging. Sheila confirmed the school handbook will be available on the website as soon as she can overcome a technical problem with the size of the document, as this is now a legal requirement on the school.
10. Nursery times/Gate/Parent Behaviours
Nursery times at St. Gabriels
This was discussed and Sheila has spoken to Ann Torley about this. If was confirmed that St Gabriel’s are happy for parents to pick up children early as long as the nursery were notified. A few parents confirmed there was an ongoing issue with this and Sheila is going to speak to Ann Torley again.
Parking at the school gate
This seems to be a problem and people have been parking on the pavement. The lollipop man has told people not to park on the yellow lines but as the zig zag lines are fading away they are no longer visible. Mr Innes is going to speak to Transportation about the road lines and confirmed line painting is now done by a group squad. There is also an issue with people parking at bus stops. There was a road safety leaflet available but it seems parents never got this - Sheila to investigate. There is an issue with parking outside the school as this is due to parents parking irresponsibly. Alison Kettell has suggested she will do a car patrol and Sheila can do a dog patrol. This parking issue will be on the parent council newsletter.
New Gate
Some people are not shutting the gate and John is continually asking for this to be shut and this is very important. A door closer was suggested. Sheila confirmed that the gate is working well. Some people are smoking at the gate and this is causing an obstruction, a smoke bin was suggested but this may encourage smoking.
Dogs in Playground
There seem to be some dogs tied up in the playground which are growling at children. One child nearly got bitten recentlyand this is a problem -Sheila has addressed this in the recent Newsletter.
8. AOCB
School Meals
There is a letter going out to all parents confirming free school meals will be ending on the 22nd of March 2013 and only children entitled to free school meals will be provided with a meal. Sheila mentioned there was a lot of waste and a lot of food went in the bin. Sheila is not envisaging any problems with this and if the child forgets their lunch money by mistake they will still get fed.
6/CONTD...
The impact of the free school meals being withdrawn may mean more children bringing in packed lunches.
Mr Innes said this was an unfair system and it was introduced by the SNP. Free school meals were given to Primary 1-3 in Prestonpans as this was classed as a deprived area but Cockenzie and Longniddry never got free school meals. Cashless catering was mentioned as there is no stigma attached to this and meals can be paid through a smart card - Sheila to raise this with Joyce Marlow. Sheila also confirmed that children can go home for lunch if they wish.
Minutes taken by A Bonnar.
Next Meeting – 10/4/13
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