Minutes of Parent Council meeting 26th January 2011

March 18, 2011 · by · in

Roslin Primary School Parent Council

Minutes of Meeting held on 26 January 2011

Present: Sarah Keer-Keer (SKK) (Chair), Jennifer Allison (JA), Lesley Liddle (LL), Suzanne Rowe (SR), John Phillips (JP), Julie Owenson (JO), Claire Witney (CW), Lesley Bee (LB), Anna Hulton (AH) (Minutes), Councillor Owen Thompson (OT), Suzanne Thayne (ST) (Midlothian Council, present for discussion on disclosure).

Apologies: Mark Turner, Nikki Wells, Pat Brack, Councillor Les Thacker

1. Minutes of the previous meeting

Minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2010 were accepted as correct.

2. Disclosure

A paper prepared by SKK on behalf of the parent members outlining the collective views around the issue of disclosure was discussed (see attached).  The following points were raised:

  • ST was asked to define what is meant by “regular” volunteers.  ST explained that “regular” meant anyone helping in school more than once a year and that this definition is based on Midlothian Council guidance.
  • ST stated that there is no evidence that parents have been put off volunteering elsewhere in Midlothian schools by the disclosure process, although it has not been formally monitored. SKK asked that formal monitoring of the impact of disclosure be ongoing at Roslin School.
  • ST confirmed that anyone in the school building outwith school hours, eg Parent Council members, would not be subject to disclosure if they are not in direct contact with children.
  • ST explained that disclosure certificates are not seen by the individual school, they go to the central Midlothian HR function and are treated as confidential information.  The only information the school receives is on whether or not the person has been approved but no more detail is provided.
  • The way in which parent helpers are used at Roslin was discussed in some detail.  Concerns were raised that sometimes parents are left alone with children.  JA agreed to review the parent helper policy within the school.  It was suggested that parent helpers should always work in pairs so that they are never alone with children.  It was also suggested that parent helpers should be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement.

3. Head Teacher’s Report

  • Christmas events in the school went very well
  • Christmas Fair was very successful
  • Consideration is currently being given to bringing the Parent Council and the PTA together as a single body.
  • An internet safety talk has been scheduled for parents of children in the middle and top areas.
  • There has recently been a Fire Safety assessments and an Equality assessment.  A Health and Safety assessment is coming soon.

4. Music Tuition

OW confirmed that it is currently the intention of Midlothian Council to phase out individual music tuition in schools.

Members expressed a desire to ensure that children continued to be given the opportunity to learn about musical notation and to learn an instrument, possibly through some form of group music tuition rather than individual lessons.

5. Curriculum Evening, 2 March 2011

Format will be a 1 hour formal presentation followed by opportunity for informal discussions and refreshments.  The formal session will be structured around the children demonstrating what the curriculum for excellence means in reality for them and their learning.

Creche to be provided.

6. Dog Fouling

Competition to be held in school for children to design signs asking owners not to allow their dogs to foul the playground.

A request was made to fit self closers on all gates and to fit a gate between the school and the park where currently there is just a gap.

The option of fencing off a path through the school grounds is too expensive.

7. Playground Supervision

There is currently one paid playground supervisor and one vacancy.  The Learning Assistants also provide supervision.

SKK requested that the existing vacancy for playground helper be readvertised to aid recruitment.

JA stated that the level of supervision was better than in many other schools.

A review of the Behaviour Policy is to be undertaken.  Parent Council members asked to be involved in this review.

8. AOB

The next meeting is to be held Wednesday 23 March, at 7.30pm in the school.