NEXT MEETING:

Thursday 9th June

2.30pm (Face to Face)

Please sign in at main reception

Notes from recent meetings:

12th May 2022

The Parent Council met at 2.30pm in the Junior Hall and discussed the possibility of increasing the number of transition sessions to assist all children with feeling comfortable when they return in September. Over the last two years it has been increasingly noticeable that settling is hardest  for some after holidays and weekends.  There was also a discussion about the impact of COVID on children's well-being and the social and emotional needs throughout the school. We discussed the school's vision and approach to managing this. Finally we explored pros and cons of reorganising classes to benefit the needs of the children moving forward after an unsettled two years.  We spoke particularly about how this would impact parents.

9th June 2022

After our discussion at the last meeting around how school manages the social and emotional needs of children we looked in detail at how this impacts on behaviour and explained the school's restorative approach. Further to this we focused on the school's priorities affecting the level of communication this year and agreed this needed bringing back to at least the 2018-19 level.  Other business related to having a review of and clarifying the policies for sun-cream and medicines. Parent Councillors were advised to direct parents towards face to face meetings to resolve issues wherever possible as this has dramatically reduced since 2020 - understandably. 

Started in November 2018, the TJ Parent Council is a group of our parents chosen by the parents of children in each class to represent their views. It provides a place to put forward views to the school leaders and the governing body and is a more accessible way to allow parents to help influence decisions made about the school, enabling people who care to make a real contribution to the education of their children.   

OBJECTIVES

The TJ Parent Council works in partnership with the school to:

• Create a welcoming place which is inclusive for all parents promoting partnership between the school, its pupils and all its parents
• Develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils
• Identify and represent the views of parents on matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils
• Support the work of the Friends of Thomas Jolyffe

SCOPE

The following is a non-exhaustive list of matters on which the Parent Council will provide a forum for consultation and advice:

• Policies, procedures and protocols which affect the day-to-day operation of the school e.g. parents evenings, school events, uniform, extra-curricular activities.
• Systems of communication between the school and parents on matters concerning the operation of the school.
• Matters designed to foster greater parental participation and engagement in the education of pupils by all parents, i.e. family learning sessions

Areas influenced by Parent Councils in other schools:

• Provision of Family Learning sessions
• Improved information regarding child’s progress & Parent Consultations
• Parent questionnaires (e.g. satisfaction, travel, school meals)
• How homework is set
• School Website content
• Security issues
• Bike storage racks
• Extra-curricular activities
• Healthier school meals
• Parking arrangements at pick-up

Some topics cannot be addressed by the Parent Council & should be referred directly by individual parents to the class teacher in the first instance or a member of the school leadership team (Mrs Dunnico, Mr Penn, Mrs Preedy, Mrs O'Sullivan or Mrs Geere). This includes matters associated with:

• School policies and procedures, curriculum issues
• Issues relating to individual children or staff
• Individual complaints or grievances  

How is this achieved? 

The Parent Council will meet half termly.  Meetings will be conducted in a positive spirit, be constructive and solution focused.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Parent Council is open to all parents and carers who have a child currently at Thomas Jolyffe Primary School.

If a Parent Council member acts in a way that is considered by other members to undermine the objectives of the Parent Council, their membership of the Parent Council shall be terminated if the majority of parent members agree.  Termination of membership would be confirmed in writing

MEETINGS

The Parent Council meet each half term - usually on the first Thursday of the first full week from 2.30pm to pick-up time. 

Should a vote be necessary to make a decision, each parent member at the meeting will have one vote, with a majority decision required to proceed. For example, members of the Parent Council can request that an additional meeting be held as long as the majority agree.

Notes from the meeting will be available on the Parent Council page of the school website. 

In order to reach a wide cross-section of parents from the school, surveys which may lead to a change of provision, i.e. school uniform, school dinners etc, will be conducted electronically so that all parents have fair opportunity to comment.  All suggestions for change will be put to the Governing Body who will make the final decision as to whether a change in provision is required.

Key Rules for all members to observe during meetings: 

• Respect confidentiality and never name individual teachers, pupils, members of staff or other parents.
• Support and be guided by the leader of the meeting
• Keep to time and attempt to make individual contributions brief
• Respect others opinions and ideas by letting them finish without interruption

Role of Reps

Each rep is expected to cascade information to their classes, inviting feedback/ideas and suggestions in advance of or response to any meetings. Reps are expected to attend each meeting or ask another parent from that class to represent them at the meeting where possible.  Reps are encouraged to fully participate in discussions and positively represent the views of their classes.

The definition of a ‘parent’ is an adult including mother, father, carers with parental responsibility or care for a child attending the school.