school mins sept 09

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NORTH KESSOCK PRIMARY SCHOOL PARENT COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON TUESDAY 15th SEPTEMBER 2009

PRESENT

Helen Barton Lesley MacLachlan
Jo Hazell Ian Mackenzie
Susannah Leslie (Chair) Lorna Reid
Graeme Lyon Vicky Bicknell
Hazel Henderson Sally Martin
Nicola Mackenzie

APOLOGIES

Evelyn MacDonald

WELCOME

Susannah thanked Sally Martin (new parent member) and Nicola Mackenzie (Active Schools co-ordinator for Fortrose Academy and Primary Schools within the Black Isle) for attending the meeting.

MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 12th MAY 2009

These were confirmed as an accurate record of the meeting.

HEAD TEACHERS REPORT

Miss Henderson issued a report to the Parent Council, a copy of which is attached.

The report refers to a number of issues; a major change, which she highlighted, is the change in cleaning services provided to all schools in the Highland Region. The cleaning and teaching staff in the majority of schools are unhappy with the restricted times, reduction of cleaning hours and the fact that no schools are to be cleaned over the summer. Susannah and Jo stated they would draft a letter to Ron Mackenzie, the Head of Support Services, raising the Parent Council’s concerns with regard to reduced standards and resultant health concerns.

PLAYGROUND DEVELOPMENT

As addressed in the annual report, a few developments have been put in place and more are to come. Helen stated that the delays has been caused primarily by the Education Department’s decision to introduce a cluster arrangement with Tore Primary School and a staffing review which had resulted due to a fall in the school roll. These areas were seen as a priority for the Parent Council during 2009/09 and a large amount of time was spent resolving these issues to a satisfactory conclusion.

Susannah and Jo thanked the Hit Squad for all their work, which resulted in new playground activities being effected and trees being planted in the garden.

Helen and Ian met with the Pupil Council earlier in the year to identify the childrens’ thoughts on how best to develop the playground area. Pupils were keen for climbing equipment, which was costed by the Parent Council but not constructed due to the prohibitive costs involved.

Nicola Mackenzie provided feedback on a number of climbing wall/frame initiatives which have been completed in primary schools in the Black Isle. Avoch have installed a climbing wall and climbing frames. Culbokie were successful in securing a 10,000 grant from Awards for All, which has resulted in a freestanding traverse wall being constructed with boulder features and rubber flooring. Nicola reminded the Parent Council that health and safety regulations and guidelines apply to all climbing wall/frame equipment. It was agreed that it would be up to the nursery and school children at Kessock Primary School to decide on their preference as to a climbing wall or frame. Nicola has agreed to attend the next Pupil Council meeting to discuss the options and will bring along Awards for All literature in respect of the grant application process. A couple of Parent Council members will also attend to hear pupils’ views.

Nicola advised that the following equipment tended to prove popular with children of all ages; space hoppers, bats, skipping ropes, cones for rounders, etc. Lorna concurred with this from her involvement with the pupils at break times and it was felt that pupil ownership in looking after this equipment would be a positive thing. These playground activities would be mooted at the next Pupil Council meeting to gauge interest as these types of developments could be set up in a very short timescale should they prove popular with the pupils. The next Pupil Council meeting will take place on Friday 18th September at 1.00pm to allow Nicola to attend.

Susannah advised that the willows in the wild garden had died. Lorna advised that the Eco-committee are in touch with a local gardening business, which planted a number of willow trees at Tore Primary school, with a view to this project being carried out at North Kessock Primary School. The children would be involved in the planting and growing processes.

Miss Henderson advised the school are working on a Safer Route to Schools Plan and grant application to purchase a bike shed. It was suggested that the Parent Council could look at purchasing bike racks, should the grant application for the shed be successful.

Jo enquired about cycling proficiency training for all school pupils. Miss Henderson advised she was keen to progress this idea with pupils working towards becoming safety road officers. Miss Henderson will contact the road safety officer about arranging 2 sessions for P1-3 and P4-7, with a training day being arranged with the help of parent volunteers and local bicycle shops. Jo advised that she would enquire who painted the road markings in the school grounds of Drakies Primary School with a view to a similar initiative being developed at North Kessock Primary School.

PARENT COUNCIL MEMBERS UP-DATE

An opportunity was taken to up-date all members’ contact details. This will be up-dated by Lesley and issued with the minutes. It was noted that no forms had been returned from the recent newsletter enquiring if parents could provide help with Parent Council activities and initiatives.

FUNDRAISING/TREASURER’S UP-DATE

Graeme Lyon summarised income and expenditure during the 2008/09 school year.

Activity Funds raised Cost Net Profit
Spring Fayre 1788 124 1664
Bulbman 380 270 110
Tea towels 1301 453 848
Easter Tea 275 30 245
Sports Day
Teas & Raffles 221 -- 221

Expenditure
Dictionaries for P7 pupils 114
Playground improvements(benches) 120
Transport Costs (school trips) 1899

Total Funds Raised 3965
Total Expenditure 3000

Fund Raising Account Balance 965
Parent Council Account Balance 246
now 412.85 due to Education Department allocation for 2009/10

A couple of costs still require to be paid for i.e. materials for building the sandpit and the clerk’s wages.

A discussion then took place as to how best to spend the monies raised to benefit the school. Playground equipment is to be purchased following the next Pupil Council meeting when can be ascertained what equipment the pupils would like to see purchased. It was agreed that an allocation of 1800-2000 should be pigeonholed each school year to cover school trip transport costs.

Mrs Mabon is the school’s literacy co-ordinator and she has suggested the library on the first floor would benefit from being developed. Improvements would encompass shelving, a computer, desk and new books. Graeme will contact David Howell to enquire if he could cost the joinery works. Mrs Mabon and the teaching staff will compile a list of costs for other materials.

Future Fundraising Plans
As the spring fayre earlier this year was such a success, it was agreed that another fayre would be held in May 2010. A date for this event and responsibilities for various elements of the fayre will be agreed at the next meeting.

Susannah, Sally and Lesley will look at producing a Christmas recipe book and will meet next week to progress this idea. Ian advised he may have contacts for printing and binding the recipe books. The pupils can also be involved with the help of the School’s art teacher.

Graeme advised that he had received a brochure from stuartmorris.co.uk, who supplied the tea towels last November. He will have a look at alternative options available e.g. mugs, calendars, etc and up-date members at the next meeting.

Other fund raising ideas mooted were Christmas cards, a sponsored bike ride on the back of the cycling proficiency exercise and a car boot sale.

HIT SQUAD

Jo thanked all volunteers who assisted with the clean-up of the school gardens and grounds last term. A similar exercise will be arranged for the 2010 Easter holidays.
Vicky enquired about the state of the gutters as they appear to be overgrown with plants. Miss Henderson advised that there are funds in the school budget to maintain the gutters and that they would be cleaned later in the year once all the autumn leaves have fallen.

Lorna advised that the Eco-committee were meeting tomorrow. Vicky advised she would attend as she would like to become involved in this initiative and Sally volunteered her husband to attend. It is likely the Committee will hold a coffee morning in December to raise funds.
CORRESPONDENCE

Susannah outlined the items of correspondence that had recently been received:-

· Parent Council Funding 2009/10 memorandum for Education department. Lesley will up-date enclosed Parent Council form and return to the Education Department.
· Scottish Government up-date outlining progress made with setting up of a new National Parents Forum.
· A newsletter on the annual Parent Council Conference held in Glasgow in August 2009, which includes a nomination form should any Parent Council members be interested in being part of national forum meetings.
· A newsletter from Lorraine Sandra, the National Parental Involvement Co-ordinator.
· A written response from Hugh Fraser, Director of Education, Culture and Sport in respect of the concerns raised by the Parent Council with regard to the allocation of nursery and teaching staff, based on school roll numbers and the appropriateness of staffing reviews in September each year. In summary the letter concluded that the situation is unlikely to change due to the strict adherence to policy framework within the Education Authority.
· Membership information from the Scottish Teacher Parent Council. It was agreed that at an annual cost of 37.00, it would be beneficial for the Parent Council to have a membership and Graeme will arrange to pay for this from the Parent Council fund account.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Susannah took the opportunity to thank Helen Barton on behalf of the Parent Council for her valuable input as chair over the last 2 years and her efficient hand-over of her responsibilities to Susannah as incoming chair.

Helen raised the possibility of a Halloween disco being held for all pupils. Helen and Vicky will look into the possibility of arranging this event over the coming weeks.

Graeme raised the condition of the school sign, which is looking tardy. Miss Henderson advised that replacement of this is not covered under the school’s maintenance budget. It was suggested that Parent Council fundraising monies could be used to fund this and the pupils could become involved in the design of a new sign. This will be discussed at the next meeting.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

This being all the business to be discussed the meeting closed at 9.30pm. The date of the next meeting is to be held on Tuesday 10th November 2009 at 7.30pm. 

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HeadTeacher’s Report to School Council
September 2009

School Roll

§ The roll is 93 pupils in mainstream and the Nursery is 37 ( following all enrolments :due to dates of births being achieved).
§ There are 10 placements throughout the mainstream classes at present.
§ Classes at present:
§ P1/2 25
§ P3 20
§ P4/5 23
§ P6/7 25

Staffing
§ Mr Danson is seconded as Acting Head at Ullapool Primary. The position has been advertised and he will be free to return to post here (the timescale for this would be mostly likely after Xmas holidays- but could be sooner if the post is filled). Mr Danson has the option to return here as this is his base school or he could ask the Authority for a post in another school – that is his option.
§ Mrs Fowler has been given a fulltime Teaching contract (after being “temporary fulltime” for 2 years-2.5 days in Nursery and 2.5 days Management job share with HT) she was legally entitled to have her contract upgraded and this she has done.
§ Mrs Fowler asked the Authority for a fulltime teaching contract and this was agreed. She resigned from her post as Nursery Co-ordinator teacher and since there was a vacancy due to Mr Danson being seconded she has filled the vacant post here. However if Mr Danson wishes to return here she will be placed into another school as she will be surplus to requirements.
§ With Mrs Fowler being fulltime the HeadTeacher’s management time is now being covered by Ms McCutcheon as she job shares with HT in the P3 class.
§ The Nursery Co-ordinator’s post is to be advertised but with a change to the days spent in North Kessock. The new post title is now North Kessock and Culbokie Primary Schools Nursery Co-ordinator and this means that 1.5 days will be in North Kessock and 1 day in Culbokie per week once the job is filled.
§ I did ask if the post could be covered temporarily to assist both Nursery staffs but was told this could not take place.

Topics for Discussion

Cleaning changes

As noted in the attached Education Memorandum there has been a reduction to the cleaning services given to all schools.
This has meant that during the Summer holidays there was no “deep clean” done as the week given to this has been terminated.
All staff on returning to school noted the difference in the standards of cleanliness and raised concerns with me. I asked Kaye Lowe from cleaning services to see me and to discuss the situation.
I have to say that both of our cleaners find the situation very unsatisfactory and they both brought up the difficulty of maintaining standards when each cleaner has only 2 hour and 45 minutes paid working time.
The best way forward is that with the cleaners and staff’s co-operation the following routine is now in place;
All toilets and cloakrooms cleaned daily.
All children’s and teacher’s desks washed daily.
Each classroom hoovered every 2nd day.
Each office hovered on a needs basis.
Entrance to school hoovered daily.
The Hall floor washed once a week and swept and spot cleaned daily.

Our concerns are that with both Swine Flu and Ecoli the main threat to children’s health at present that this area will need to be closely monitored.

Health Week

There will be a Health Week on the last week of this term, to link the major themes from the Curriculum for Excellence in the sections Health and Well Being.