Parent Council minutes 24th June 2019

Attendees

Maria Gowans (HT), Jenny Longstaff (Chair), Sandra Bagnall, Rob Noronha, Samantha Rushforth (DHT), David Borthwick (PT), Sandra Rathjen, Anne Hay, Alan McIntosh (Spurtle), Richard Price (NTBCC), Naomi Sandilands, Rachel Blythe, Chris Knowles, Elaine Watson (CEC), Robbie Crockatt (CEC), Ruth Duck (Class Teacher), Matt Boyles, Pauline Oh.

Apologies: Bence Solymar (Treasurer) 

Powderhall update

From the City of Edinburgh Council: Elaine Watson and Robbie Crockatt (not representing wider Powderhall development. Just the Nursery)

Next public consultation: end of Aug or early Sept

Planning process has changed:

A proposal of application notice will be issued in July.  It must be issued 12 weeks before planning application.

A statutory notification (1 public meeting) must be held as part of the proposal process.  This will be held in Aug\Sept.

Looking to start work around April 2020 with a view to finishing the nursery 1 year later.

Therefore, the new nursery will not be ready for the 2020 intake.

There will Master plan for the whole site and 1 planning application for the nursery.

Mrs Rushford informed that from August next year there will be an all-year round nursery provision (including the holidays) and they will be recruiting staff.

Open space is a given. May have intergenerational living.

The issue of net loss of amenable (usable) open space was not debated by the planning committee.  They have stated that it will be governed by the general planning policy.

The nursery will be smaller than initial consultation:

128 children as opposed to 192 children with 2 playrooms as opposed to 3.

For reference, there are currently 50 children in the nursery.

The downscaling is driven by market conditions driving costs up and putting pressure on the allocated budget.

The Local authority funding comes from the Children & Families budget and is a Scottish Government Grant.

Robbie and Elaine will be invited to the community councils to provide an update

Head Teacher’s report

There’s a great deal covered in the newsletter that is handed out to the children so this report will cover the main priorities but please also refer to the newsletter.

The school are interviewing for part-time teacher.  This will be a job-share with David B (1 day) for P6. 2 teachers on probation will be arriving.

There are no other vacancies to fill however can’t rule out unforeseen attrition

Calendar of events for next session will be shared next session.

School priorities for next year:

Improvement plan for this year nearly complete

Next year there is a drive to raise attainment in writing across the region.  Will be looking at other schools and our current practices

Health and wellbeing initiative continuing.  The pupil equity funding is in place and being used for a variety of initiatives e.g. Den in bursary and maths development – small numeracy support for specific pupils

Den open Tue – Fri which is an expansion

Nurture room will be open every day.  This is an expansion also

Staff training being undertaken:

Confident children training

ASD training – an autism initiative

Updating emotions talk programme – training all staff

1 in 5 poverty training.  Rolled out across city.  1 member of staff trained.  A Parent/Staff group to look at poverty proofing the school.

Reviewing how the school reports on pupil process.  Have received feedback generally and via snapshot feedback.  Taking this into account, there will be 3 parents’ evenings instead of 2 as well as meet the teacher.  The additional time staff time for the parents’ evening will be offset by the time reporting progress time.  The progress report will be slightly different and different timing.

The school cluster has prioritised 2 areas for development:

Numeracy and maths – develop positive attitude as this is seen as an issue with this across the city,

1+2 language training Scottish Government initiative – Spanish staff training across cluster.  Spanish will be taught across P6&7.  French is already in place from P1.

Chair Report

Key points from the locality meeting:

New council PVG (protecting vulnerable groups) process is in place so should make recruitment smoother.

There is a new council working group into devolved school management which should give the schools more autonomy.

It was noted that when Abbeyhill had their playground upgraded, the PSA bore the cost of the upgrade and ongoing maintenance

Treasures Report

See previous blog entry for Treasurer’s Report.  Any questions can be answered at broughtonparents@gmail.com

SLT agreed that they could use the 2019-2020 Cultural Fund money before August.

Agreed Bence can meet with Shona Campbell. She will audit the books.

Parent Staff Association

EMF update – great run.  30 children already signed up for 2020.  Catriona’s last year doing helping to train the children, Sandra will still doing it.  Have other volunteers to help.  Wasn’t a fundraiser this year but fundraising page received donations.  Thank you!  There are two 2k raise and two 1.5 races next year.

Action – need someone to coach the P6 & P7 school football teams. Deadline for competitions has gone so will be a year of training.

Summer fair review – thanks for all who helped on the day.  Volunteers were on the short side but had local girl guides and staff from Smart Cookies who came and helped.  Really good event.  £745.80 made after expenses of bouncy castle and popcorn and candyfloss machines.

Stronger PSA committee is required for next year.  Need a new chair for the PSA.  Jenny and Anne will help you get up to speed.  Could break the job down into smaller parts with multiple volunteers if easier e.g. have coordinators for specific events (Halloween disco, school fair etc).

It was noted that it would be good to get more parents involved and a parents’ social event would be great so that parents got to know each other.

Gardening Project update - There was a gardening area at summer fair.  Group of P6 girls will go to see Saheliya where they will have a corner promoting the project.  Friday transplanting of peas – involving P5s.  Would like volunteers.  Going over to Leith Walk primary Mon 24^th at 3:30 to see what they’ve been doing and interchange ideas and planting potatoes.  Be good to get some more people.

OPAL (Outdoor play and learning refresh): Mrs Rushforth is meeting Michael after the summer to look into starting something once the building work is complete.

Jennifer gifted Rob a thank you present on behalf of the Broughton families for his work as Secretary over the years.  Included was a gift for Catriona Scott for her contribution to the Parent Staff Association and Team BPS.