Broughton Primary and Nursery Parent Council Meeting
MINUTE
Date: Wednesday 8 October 2025
Time: 6.30pm - 8.00pm
ON-LINE via MS Teams
APOLOGIES
Mrs Samantha Rushforth
Mr David Borthwick
Anna Hatton
ATTENDEES
School Leadership Team
Mrs Maria Gowans Head Teacher
Mrs Lauren Venn Principal Teacher of Enhanced Support Base
Parents & Carers
Steve Hubbard Meeting Chair
Simon Ramsay
Veronika Jureckova
Elena Samoletova
Barbara Johnson
Shona Campbell
Janette Laurente
Duc Le
Pauline Oh
Lizzie Matheson
Robert Pollock Secretary
1 – Welcome, apologies and introductions
2 - AOB call and agenda review
3 - Minutes of the last meetings - as attached and actions
• 3.1 - 30 April 2025
• 3.2 - 27 August 2025 – AGM
Steve circulated a minute of the AGM of 28 August and the previous regular meeting
of 30 April. As requested on 30 April, Mrs Gowans had explored options for a
Nursery buggy and scooter parking shelter. The Council did not deem thr new
shelter to be a financial priority and parents had stopped pushing for it. There were
no further comments, and these were agreed.
4 - School update – Mrs Gowans
Learners and teachers
School roll was 385 across 15 classes. There were five temporary teachers. Two
permanent teaching positions were advertised.
Attainment
Mrs Gowans shared statistics recorded and published by Scottish Government on
attainment. Following an effort reading had improved. Factors affecting attainment
were:
8% of Learners access the Enhanced Support Base. .
38 % of Learners have English as an Additional Language, which is above
Council school average.
19 % of Learners come from Scottish Indices of Multiple Deprivation house
households.
Learner churn (transfers in and out).
Mrs Gowans outlined steps taken to address the above points:
Developed reading using pedagogy (the science of teaching methods),
observation, teaching assistant reading interventions.
Improved attendance where this falls below 85% has improved by 1.9%.
However, lateness is a growing issue which disrupts other Learners.
Growing meta-cognative skills for independent learning thru outdoor learning
Increased responsibility thru Pupil Groups Pupil Council, Sustainability
Groups etc.
Emphasis on Inclusion and Equity by having an inclusion officer Karolina and
another Pupil Support Assistant. The Equity Fund also pays for camp costs
for eligible Learners.
Questions for the Senior Leadership Team
Q: When will the Active Schools Programme of Activities be published?
A: Elliot Smith the new Active Schools coordinator emailed the Parent Forum on 7
October, asking for volunteers to assist him deliver the programme.
Q: If my child transfers to another secondary school will my child be
guaranteed to continue thier subject choices from the previous secondary
school?
A There are no guarantees and will depend of choice availability and transport
availability.
Q: Parking was an issue for residents and pupil access at drop off / pickup?
A: In common with other school parents are double parking, idling and parking near
the school and preventing Enhanced Support Base pupils arriving by taxi’s entering
the staff carpark.
ACTION: Mrs Gowans will write to the Parent Forum reminding them of
their responsibilities. And ask the Police or Traffic Warden Service to
do spot checks if necessary.
5 Treasurer’s Update – Elena
5.1 Report attached
5.2 Note Sum-up charges
Elean circulated the regular Treasurer’s Report.
The Parent Council charitable trust had £20,574 funds in hand.
The lottery licence will be renewed.
The annual accounts were under independent scrutiny.
The tax return was to be made to HMRC within their deadline.
Annual Lagganlia coach cost grant was up to date. .
Action Shona to transfer legacy account containing £2,000 with Virgin
Money to Trust’s Bank of Scotland account.
Action Mrs Gowans to contact Mrs Williamson and request proof of
purchase for Forest School clothing for reimbursement.
6 - Any requests for funding from the Parent Council:
6.1 - Funding for School projects
• Lagganlia trip (Coach funding?)
• Partial funding of other trips (P5 / P6)
• Culture Fund use
Action. Lagganlia Coach cost. It was agreed to fund the coach again in
2025/2026. The council was working with its Arm’s Length Company
Lothian Buses to provide the coach free in future.
Action. Cultural Fund school trips. It was agreed to fund again in
2025/2026. Culture Fund trips by £150 per class and £100 for the ESB.
Cultural Fund £25 for P5 trip and £20 for P6 trip. With agreement to
consider additional costs thru the Parent Council grant funding request
process.
Action Mrs Gowans to provide proof of purchase of Culture Fund school
trips for reimbursements.
6.2 Funding submissions for Parent Council projects (None)
No new funding requests were made.
7 - Update on activities, Funding applications, Projects, Ideas
7.1 - Funding: (To discuss funding streams)
• Happy by Nature fund
• City of Ed Council - Community Grants
• City of Ed Council – Parent Council funding
• Leith Chooses
James York had submitted a funding application for 3 Rain Ready lower playground
projects:
Installation of Sustainable Urban Drainage planters
Creation of an allotment area for food growing
Removal of some tarmac and the planting of water hungry plants to aid
playground drainage.
Total cost would be £6,500. James had applied to Leith Choses for £5,000 grant
funding and Council Officers were happy to meet parents and discuss possible
funding by Edinburgh Airport.
Action James to address the issue of long-term ongoing maintenance of
the project.
Action. Parent Council agreed to fund the 3 Rain Ready lower
playground projects by £1,500 in total.
Action Parent Council previously agreed to fund £500 to Men’s Shed for
the creation of planters in the top playground along the front. This can
now proceed.
7.2 - Projects/ ideas:
• ‘Future of Playground’ Project – to update on any progress
• Google Workplace proposal - to update on any progress
7.3 - Events: to discuss, (through to Jan 2026 included) and identify Lead volunteers/
approach
Broughton Primary School Parent Council – Activity / Events list 2025/2026
August Wednesday 27 Parent Council Meeting (In person)
September Friday 26 FAB Café and preloved uniforms TBC
October Wednesday 8 Parent Council Meeting (Online)
TBC New P1 Open Day event (Any PC presence?)
Thursday 30 FAB Halloween Disco TBC
Winter Raffle
Winter Trail
November Sunday 2 FAB: Playground Tidy Up TBC
Thursday 20 Parent Drop in – end of day – times to be issued
Friday 28 FAB Winter café
December Wednesday 3 Parent Council Meeting (In person)
January2026 Friday 30 FAB Family Night TBC
Halloween Disco Thursday 30 October
It was agreed that enough volunteers could be found to form a working party that the
Halloween disco could go ahead.
Action Robert Pollock to confirm to Mrs Gowans that a Let for Halloween disco
had been arranged/to coordinate volunteers/shop for drinks and snacks/ and
be responsible person on the night.
Playground Tidy Sunday 2 November
Barbara has prepared a poster; Robert had applied for a let.
Action: Robert to secure a let for the Playground Tidy on 2 November.
Winter Trail/ Winter Raffle December 2025
Action: Anna Hatton agreed to lead on Winter Raffle and Trail.
8 - Parent Council Constitution
To agree the final document, as amended by previous meeting discussion. (Copy
Attached)
Steve Hubbard circulated the constitution containing suggested amendments which
was accepted and agreed to.
9 - Child protection and PVG
To receive an update on PVG progress and to approve:
(a) Child Protection Policy for volunteers
(b) Disclosure information secure handling policy
(c) Referrals policy
(all attached)
Steve Hubbard has registered as the Parent Council ‘s lead contact with Disclosure
Scotland. Steve circulated the PVG application form which should be completed by
parents wishing to form a bank of PVG compliant volunteers which Steve will act as
the verifier.
10 - Parent Council administration items: Confirming who has PC keys
PC Cupboard: Robert, Barbara, Veronika
PC Noticeboard: Kirsten, Veronika
Gardening Cupboard: Robert, Barbara
Steve confirmed who had keys to the PC cupboards and noticeboards.
Confirming who has access to the PC Gmail account
Robert, Steve,
Parent Council vacancies –
Friends at Broughton (FaB) Coordinator, ASN Rep, Nursery Rep
Project / Activity Leads
It was suggested that committee members be alert to other parents’ interest in
volunteering for roles. And spread the news of volunteer opportunities by word of
mouth.
11 - AOB
Date of Next meeting: Wed 3 December - 6.30pm -8pm
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