NEXT MEETING

THURSDAY 5th September 2019 at 2.30pm

On Thursday 6th June the parent council met with Mr Penn in the infant building and discussed the following:

Present: Naomi Cavanagh, Bobbi Fleming, Lisa Loughlin, Karen Welsh, Matthew Penn.

1. Updates on the most recent discussions with WCC Road Safety team took place. Suggestions such as bollards to prevent cars parking on the pavement and extending yellow zig-zags and/or double yellow lines were suggested by WCC's team who have gone away to consider the options. There is also concern over the tree that is growing across most of the outside path, blocking the route for pushchairs/prams etc.

2. Some parents have asked to see more traditional events at Sports Day next year - perhaps a balance of athletic events and traditional? 

3. Parents were happy with the online forms available in recent weeks and would welcome more of these. These remove the need for paper, printing, passing via children/teachers and are very time efficient. Children’s UPN was suggested as a form of password in place of a signature on paper forms. It was suggested that we continue to roll these out.

4. Photos of Parent Council members to be posted on the website so that other parents are aware of representatives to contact.

5. Parent Council notes will go live on the website after each meeting and parents will be notified via email. Parents will be reminded to communicate ideas to the parent council before the next meeting date. This will be advertised on the Parent Council section of the website.

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 or Mrs Wright).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 minuted and made available to all parents, the Senior Leadership Team & the Governing Body. 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.

• One elected volunteer parent from each class
• Head Teacher or Deputy Head Teacher
• Governor
• Other members of staff will be invited to meetings as appropriate.
• Any parent is welcome to attend meetings in addition to the named year representatives/core group. (Please advise in advance via the School Office).

There should be a minimum of 1 volunteer parent representative from each class. In the event of a number of volunteers stepping forward for the role of Parent Council class representative, parents may need to organise a vote or ask school to organise one on their behalf.

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

From January 2019 The Parent Council will meet each half term on the first Thursday of the first full week from 2.30pm to 3.15pm.

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.

All meetings will be minuted and a copy of the minutes provided to the Head Teacher and all members before publication. These will then be made available to the whole school community and teachers via the school website, the school newsletter & emailed to parents via the Class/Parent Council representatives of each class.

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.

Any parent is welcome to join a working party sub-group without the need to be a member of the Parent Council if required. Please speak to your Parent Council class rep if you are interested.

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