Parent Forum Minutes - Meeting 12 September 2014

St Michael’s CE Junior School Parent Forum

St Michael’s CE Junior School Minutes of Parent Forum held at 2.00 pm on Friday 12 September 2014 Present: Charmaine Lynch - Chair Helen Woodfine Jackie Greer Grace Mitchell Sam Hewett Katrina Carey Beth White Danielle Valentine Dana Kavanagh Nat Cooper Sarah Sharp Melanie Nicholls

In attendance: Kim Tomlin

Absent: Lynne Hignett - Headteacher Kate Goolding Sarah Hall Annette Floyd Ian Haydon Clare Armsworth

PA to Headteacher

1

Welcome – the Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introductions were made

2

Apologises for Absence were noted as above

3

Minutes of previous meeting held on 06 June 2014 had been circulated. There were no amendments and the Parent Forum agreed them as an accurate record.

4

Matters arising from the last meeting All action points from the previous meeting were either reported as having been completed or have been updated as per the Action list at the end of the minutes.

5

Meeting Process The process for the meetings was discussed and agreed;  Meeting dates are; 14/11/2014, 16/01/2015, 06/03/2015, 01/05/2015, 12/06/2015, 10/07/2014. Meetings held at 14.00 in Meeting Room  Minutes will be sent out by email to all participants, should any parent not wish to be part of the forum group could they please make KT aware immediately.  Agenda Items to be forwarded to KT by the last day of each half term.  Agenda will be issued a week prior to the meeting.

KT – Parent Forum 12/09/2014 (Meeting;1-2014/2105)

ALL

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Meeting Standing Items The forum debated the key points to be put on the agendas and these were agreed as follows  SEN  Communication  Classroom organisation and structure  Curriculum  Any other Business

7

Website and Twitter The group were advised that a new look website would be available within a fortnight.

The website would be updated during this term and then forum members would be asked to review the structure and format. CL confirmed that the school try to tweet at least 3 items a day and encouraged parents to follow.

8

PTA KT asked the parent forum if they could advertise on behalf of the PTA for members and supporters as they were limited in number and it was possible that it may have to be disbanded. A forum member raised the fact that information had not been provided on last year’s expenditure and KT advised that she believed it would be issued soon.

9

AOB Homework The learning logs were discussed as a point within the matters arising, but the parent forum raised the issue of the homework being placed within the middle of the books.

CL stated that they could be moved to one side if children and parents preferred. The idea of the logs were to allow a free style approach to homework, that they should be a learning journey for the children and explained that the idea had been used from another school. A parent stated that she had seen the way another school had carried out this process and would try to bring a copy to the school. A parent also highlighted that there had been spelling errors in the homework and CL stated this was unacceptable and would be looked into it.

Sports Day A parent highlighted the fact that they had been unaware of the colour coding of the houses for sports day and asked if parents could be given advance notice. KT to organise.

NC

CL

KT

Events and Activities A forum member asked if it was possible to have a list of the events and activities that are planned for the coming year. KT advise that the website had a calendar that contained the information that had been planned already by the classes and asked parents to use this as their reference point. The forum discussed that there is a need to educate parents to use the website as their first point of call for information relating to the school and CL stated that it was a priority.

Locks on Doors Girl’s toilets near 4S still do not have locks on doors and CL will ask the caretaker to look into this.

KT – Parent Forum 12/09/2014 (Meeting;1-2014/2105)

CL

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Names on website The forum felt that it would be beneficial to have names on the website for the parent forum members. Anyone who does not wish their name to be posted on the website should let KT know.

Snacks A parent commented that they were unaware snacks could be brought at break time form the canteen. KT stated that the information was in the booklet issued to all parents and that she would be placing a price list on the website in the future.

ALL

KT

Sing to Sign A parent raised the use of sing to sign and would the school be interested in participating in such an activity. Information to be passed to CL.

Date of next meeting: 14 November 2014 at 14.00pm There being no further business the meeting closed at 3.10 pm

Signed……………...…………….....………. Date…………………………

Lynne Hignett – Chair

KT – Parent Forum 12/09/2014 (Meeting;1-2014/2105)

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Actions from Matters Arising

Actions Minute

Action To be taken

By Whom

1.2.04

Event for parents of SEN children to be arranged.

Date to be confirmed.

Due to the new Framework the school is reorganising SEN in line with the information being fed through. Once completed a meeting will be organised and CL will be providing SEN student parents with information on the interventions that they are received.

Parent Feedback Document.

HW to review document and feedback to LCH possible inclusion for Website HW & LCH have reviewed the information and the document will be emailed to KT to be sent to all parents.

Parent Forum members to provide a sheet with their photo and name on it which can be placed on the classroom door.

Parent Forum members who have photographs they are keen to use should forward them to KT. Others will have photos taken at next Meeting.

Still to be provided/undertaken, KT to inform all parents when School photographer in so parents can use the school photographer.

Uniform Listing to be sent out perhaps with the next newsletter The Forum discussed the issue that formalising uniform had created.

LCH advised that the school is staying with Brenda’s and will issue information regarding uniform sale events at parents evening by the suppliers.

Send out the proposed date for the final meeting of the year.

Meeting Schedule attached within the minutes.

Provide a list of classes, teachers and the end of day routine and the names of pupils in the class.

Completed and attached with the last newsletter of the year.

Teachers to wear high viz jackets on the first day of term and have a card with the name of the class on it.

The parent forum stated that the new format was excellent, but they were not aware of the situation changing after 3 days and there was some confusion. KT advised would ensure that next year information would be added to the last newsletter of the year and the new Yr 3 parents would be provided with a copy Staff bulletin to stipulate videos should only be on the last day.

Completed Review the inconsistencies amongst homework for the year groups.

CL provided an overview of the new homework diaries that had been issued to parents, what they were about and how they should be used. She stated that the new system lends itself to children learning in the best way for them. The forum discussed how the books should be set out and the reasoning behind the new process.

Review the possibility of giving children a house for life and not for it to be determined by class name.

CL & KT CL CL

Date completed 01/05/2014 12/09/2014 13/11/2014

KT HW

28/03/2014 11/07/2014

HW

completed

ALL

01/05/2014

ALL

11/07/2014

1.2.07

1.2.08

1.3.04

1.3.05 1.4.01

1.4.02

1.4.03 1.4.04

1.4.05

KT – Parent Forum 12/09/2014 (Meeting;1-2014/2105)

KT LCH LCH

11/07/2014 12/09/2014

KT LCH

LCH KT

LCH LCH

LCH

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1.4.06

1.4.07

1.4.08

1.4.09

2.1.01 2.1.02 2.1.03 2.1.04 2.1.05 2.1.06 2.1.07 2.1.08

CL stated that whilst ever effort is made to achieve this, the school must take the needs of the children first and this may mean that classes have to be mixed when moving from year to year. She stated the school would promote the idea that being a member of all of the houses during the school should be deemed as a privilege.

Undertake further investigation into the possibility of direct debit payments for trips and events and feedback to the forum.

KT to speak with the Business Manager to ascertain whether a system can be created Issue notification to parents by newsletter that dogs are not allowed on playground.

This has been done but a reminder is being included in the next newsletter Issue a reminder to parents about foods in school and nut allergies via newsletter.

Parents were reminded in the newsletter. The forum discussed the importance of keeping nuts at a minimum and thus reducing the possibility of an anaphylactic shock reaction in student who suffer with this allergy.

Issue a text message re Mr Phillips retirement and coordinate a memory book.

Completed Parents of the forum who did not wish to be a part of the email communication group should advise KT. Example of another schools homework log to be brought to the next meeting.

Review homework sheets for spelling errors.

Parents to be informed of house colours.

Girls toilets locks to be fitted Any Forum member who objects to their name being placed on the website should advise KT immediately.

KT to check that snacks are mentioned in the admissions booklet and to add price list to the new website Sing to sign information to be provided to CL.

KT – Parent Forum 12/09/2014 (Meeting;1-2014/2105)

LCH KT

14/11/2014

LCH

LCH

LCH

ALL NC CL KT CL KT KT A Parent

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