27 Feb 2008 - February 2008 Minutes
St.James Cottage
Minutes of the Committee Meeting
Wednesday 27th February 2008
At the Cottage Commenced 8.00pm
Present:
Sharren Jakobsen - Chairperson Steve Wyatt - Treasurer
Emma Craigmile - Secretary 1
Kim Dix - Committee Member
Leanne Bradford - Committee Member
Carol Potter - Team Leader
Chris Moss-Wilcox - Committee Member
Pat Froud - Administrator
Carol Cross - Afternoon Team Leader
Apologies Lisa Andrews - Committee Member
Michelle Jolly - Secretary 2
Nicky Healey - Staff
Jill Maidment - Reception Class Teacher
Sue Lambert - Team Leader
1 Confirm minutes of the meeting held on 16th January 2008.
Minutes of the last meeting were agreed and confirmed.
2 Matters Arising
The £20 retainer fee is now in place. A copy of the form to record injuries & illnesses when children arrive at the Cottage was circulated to the Committee and will be attached to the next Newsletter.
3 Finances
Bank Balance 27th Feb 08 £5608.06 - February wages have not been taken out yet.
Reserve A/C £9516.72
Fundraising £766.98.
Account names have been changed to reflect their future use.
Income -£150 donation from Tyler Burt’s parents; £225.57 from Xmas Fayre; £30.39 Website Commission
Expenditure – Shed £190; Payroll update £95.18; Skip £120.00; Outside light £100
It was felt that there needs to be some clarification as to whether the £50 retainer fee for a place at After School Club should be kept. This was due to the recent introduction of the £20 retainer fee for all Nursery sessions.
4 Ofsted Action Plan
A copy of the first draft of the Ofsted Action Plan was circulated and a general discussion regarding the actions to be taken followed. Feedback on the introduction of the Cottage Cartons seemed to be mixed, although the Communication books were being well received by staff and parents. Many of the issues raised in the Action Plan will be covered when staff attends training in September for the new Early Years Foundation Stage. Carol Potter agreed to take a copy of the Action Plan to the Staff Meeting on February 29th for staff to make any comments before final amendments are made by Sharren. A copy of the Action Plan will then be put on the website.
5 Fundraising Events
Easter Bonnet Parade Thursday 20th March. Invitations to Parents will be sent with the Newsletter which will include a reply slip and a request for raffle prizes. Parents will be charged £5.50 per child if their child does not normally attend on Thursdays. Children will perform some dance routines and sing a few songs before the Easter Bonnet parade. Children to be dropped off at 9.00 and parents invited to return at 10.30. Kim volunteered to sell raffle tickets, Emma, Sharren & Leanne to serve teas and coffees. Leanne will purchase 60 Hot Cross Buns and some biscuits, tea and coffee etc. Michelle Jolly to be reminded about purchasing plant for Hall cleaner.
May Fayre Saturday 17th May. Cottage to run the Refreshment Stall. A request for helpers to be made on Newsletter.
NSPCC Pedal Push. Carol Potter to get more details from the website and committee to decide at next meeting whether to include this in the Sponsored Bike Ride/Teddy Bears Picnic.
100 Club. Committee felt this would be a good fundraising idea and Kim will start setting this up so that Parents could be asked to contribute to the Monthly Draw.
It was felt that some of the money raised could be used to provide an electric entrance gate and provide more activities at Holiday Club sessions.
6 Parents Open Evening Tuesday 4th March
18 Reply slips have been returned and 15 parents are planning to attend the Parent Open Evening. Sharren will give a brief introduction before parents look at the activities on offer to children who attend. Carol Potter to arrange with Staff which activity they prefer to show to parents at the Staff Meeting on 29th February. She will also ask staff about the possibility of providing a form for those parents who wish to make an appointment to talk to their child’s keyworker,. Sharren has organised wine glasses. Leanne will purchase 4 bottles of red and 4 bottles of white wine, 2 cartons of apple juice and 2 cartons of orange juice and nibbles. Sharren to arrange that outside light is switched on.
7 Open Day for Soft Play Area
This will be on Saturday 7th June 11.00 am – 1.00 pm. A lollipop lady and policeman to be invited to open the event. Invites to be sent to parents, helpers and original fundraisers involved in the Skip to the Loo project. Refreshments - BBQ, wine, fruit juice and ice cream
8 Marketing
Ideas put forward – fliers, new pictures on website, new poster for Furzehill shop, an extra advert in Village Voices for afternoon session and Holiday Club, contributing an article to Village Voices on a monthly basis (Emma & Leanne agreed to organise this and liase with Steve on further marketing), print business cards which could be distributed to parents interested in the setting and maybe Health Visitors. Potential parents could also be made aware that they do not need to be in the School catchment area to be able to attend the Cottage.
9 Holiday Club
The Theme Days have been very successful for encouraging children to attend. However Carol Potter pointed out that some children have to attend Holiday Club as their parents are working and do not necessarily want to take part in the Theme Days, this presents some staffing issues. It was agreed that a Questionnaire should be given to all parents of children at St James to seek their views on activities provided and start time for the sessions.
10 Summer Outing 21st July
Sharren asked Committee members to think of places that the children could visit for their Summer Outing this year. Ringwood Sport Centre has a soft play area which the children could visit for 2 hours at a cost of £2.30 per child as an alternative to Moors Valley.
11 Staffing
Mandy Jones has been replaced by Julie Small. An advert has been circulated for an SEN support worker to start on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons, transferring to mornings in September. This advert will also be placed in the Newsletter.
12 Any other Business
A discussion took place to consider whether children joining school in September 2008 should still be offered the first chance of Lunch Club places until December. There have been some difficulties this year with the transfer of children and numbers attending. It was felt that this service should remain in place for September 2008 but that the Chair of Governors and Headteacher of the First School should be approached in writing about the possibility of allowing those children who wish to stay for lunch at school to do so.
Nicky Healey is providing extra cover for some morning sessions until Easter and it was agreed that this should be extended until July 2008 to allow the Committee to assess the benefits of this. This will also allow Nicky to assume Keyworker responsibilities for some children.
Sharren’s husband has volunteered to reorganise the desks so that the office area can be sited away from the door into the corner. It was felt that at the present time the Staff desk should remain where it is.
It has been brought to the Committees attention that it may be necessary to have a separate collection bin for Nappies, further information will be gathered on this.
Chris Moss-Wilcox requested that the Committee consider installing an electric entrance gate – Steve agreed to get some details and quotes.
13 Date of Next Meeting
Thursday 24th April 2008 at 8.00 pm.