News

Spring Term 2010, what we're up to ........
24th February 2010

The 2nd half of Spring Term our themes are:-

22 - 26 Feb                       Planting and Growing (Library bus Thu 25th)
1   -   5  Mar                       Life cycles - Frogs
8   -  12 Mar                      Mothers Day (Library bus Thu 11th)
15 - 19  Mar                      Life cycles - chicks
22 - 25  Mar                      Easter (Library bus Thu 24th)
29 - 30  Mar                      Easter

We will have an Easter Egg Hunt at the end of Term,  date and time to be confirmed.

Minutes for Committee Meeting held on 27/01/10
2nd February 2010

Committee and Trustee Meeting January 27^th 2010

Brook Cottage, Kerswell.

Present: Bee, Suzanne, Catherine, Angela, Helen, Catherine, Sue, Georgina, Katherine, Melanie, Beth, Annette, Simon and Kat.

Apologies: Kerry, Stephanie, Vicki, Donna, Gayle.

1) Minutes of last meeting approved

• CRB checks are all in hand, with Suzanne’s and Catherine are complete and Bee, Annette and Georgina’s in process. Beth
• Newsletter looks excellent and is successfully being emailed to parents and feedback, especially re photos has been great. The Website is proving to be a good source of information, especially during snowy conditions and keeping everyone informed.  Good response on email too. Suzanne/Bee
• Fundraising The fashion show still needs a date so the Youth orchestra to be approached about using the hall after their practice.  Annette & Kat to liaise.  It is thought there will be another car boot sale in April, to include help from committee with publicity. Vicki.  Auction date to be confirmed. Angela
• Meeting with Judith Jones (Trio). Items discussed:

                        15 hours entitlement from September 2010

      Non exclusion of newly 3 year olds

      Preliminaries on flexible funding and impact on the Pre-School

(Helen & Angela to arrange a visit to a setting that implements flexible funding.

            Breakfast and after school clubs held at Pre-School in the future

                  District newsletter from Trio available on line

                  Accepting child care vouchers Angela to speak to ABC Nursery

We now have the green light code from Trio, having been both red and amber in former years.

Admissions Policy – please ask a member of staff to see most recent update of the admissions policy.  The changes now include recommendations from Ofsted. Simon

·         Committee Members Profile of Responsibilities will be built into a file once complete.

·         Term dates and bookings Friday sessions booking of the big hall for the first half of the summer term. Kat to check with Alan and the school.  A draft rental agreement is being drawn up to be held between the Hall and Pre-School, to include breakdown of hourly usage. Simon

Melanie   to check with village hall committee how many hours a week we are charged for using the hall.

·         Ecers Report Our current score is 4.5 (average at Devon facilities being 3.8) out of a near impossible highest score of 7.  One of our strong areas is the positive relationships observed between children and between staff and children. Our weaker areas being multicultural and mathematical resources, which have now been ordered.  Helen, Suzanne

·         Pre-School logo bags to be given out on Monday afternoon, once information has been given to parents/carers about their correct usage.  The fees box will be made available for donations to be made. Helen

2)  Treasurer’s Report

• Current financial position looking good, despite the traditional lull in numbers of the second term.  Angela to transfer monies to new build and premier accounts.  Copies of Accounts available from a member of staff on request.
• Children numbers and staffing levels constantly being reviewed for sustainability.

3)  Staffing Report

• All staff to do 2 day first aid course in Cullompton (recommendation from Children’s Centre) on Feb 26^th and 5^th Mar at a cost of £550.  If 3 more people are found it will reduce costs by a further £150.  It was suggested that we offer it to parents/carers etc nearer the time.
• Persona Doll training information emailed from the Children’s Centre regarding Equality in Practice using culturally authentic dolls to confront such issues as racism and other social inequalities.  Training course Feb 4th.  Vicki, Helen

4) Action Plan Update

• Communications group It was proposed that we look into doing a prospectus for the Pre-School to include all relevant information to new parents/carers.  (The school’s is sponsored by Stags).  Also a leaver’s questionnaire to be distributed and results to be included in the action plan.  There’s to be a meeting re Induction/Taster day for new parents/carers to be held at the beginning of each term, possibly on a Weds afternoon.  The group is planning to meet for an hour during the staff meetings in March. Annette  to arrange date with Helen
• Action plan presentation We were all brought up to speed on the priorities of the new action plan and a copy is available for viewing at the Pre-School. Thank you Simon

5) Welfare of Children

• Village Hall meeting where committee members were shown the plans for the new build, a few small changes have been made and all seemed happy with proposals so far. The funding issues to be addressed and quotes to be obtained from builders.  Melanie to keep us informed.

• Safe Guarding Children policy updating to be carried out with regard to the carriage of children on trips out of the Pre-School.  All drivers must have mobile phones on them and be aware of Pre-School contact numbers and travel with a buddy car.  ‘In case of break down’ procedures to be made available and recommendations on seating of children with regard to seat belts and car seats.

6) Learning and Development

• Learning themes Chinese New Year and Pancake Day coming up, info on newsletter.
• Laptop has now been purchased and it is to stay with Helen until a secure place can be found at Pre-School.  Programmes to be agreed as needed and hoping for broadband and email facility in new build.
• Culm Valley Children’s Centre The Pre-School has received £400 from the rural Preschool Commissioning; the money is to be used to develop learning and developmental goals.  The equipment chosen was recognised as needed by our Ecers and Ofsted reports.  i.e. Multicultural toys and Maths/number toys.
• Christmas party was a great success and extremely well attended by parents and extended family with nearly a 100% attendance.  Special mention was given to Vicki for her extra effort. The new committee members felt they had some good support. The photos were excellent and one made it into the local paper. 
• Outdoor play It is considered dangerous to be on the patio outside in wet weather because it is very slippery and puddles of water don’t drain away.  The development of the outside area is going to be looked into and perhaps parents/carers will be encouraged to send wellies in. It was agreed children really benefit from some fresh air.  Annette.
• The recent toys and equipment purchased have been well received and played with by the children.

7) Parents and the Community

• Family questionnaire is currently in circulation.
• Welcome letter has been updated as part of the Action Plan
• Text message service to be developed for another convenient method of communication between staff and parents/carers.  Bee
• Parent’s evening is scheduled for 3^rd March, with texts and emails going out for reminders.
• Consultation on school admissions arrangements.  It has been confirmed that the single entry for schools is going to be brought in for September 2011.  Further details about this can be found on the Education Department’s website www.devon.gov.uk/admissionarrangements.  There is space to post your views on this website.  Details are in Newsletter.
• Meal in the Wyndham is set for Thursday 4^th Mar at 7.30.  There is information and menu on the door at Pre-School and parents/staff have also been emailed menu. Bee to collate all orders and hand to the pub a couple of days beforehand.

8)  Partnership Organisations

• School There was a meeting between Bee and Mrs Hailey.  The main area for development is improvement on PSED (Personal Social and Emotional Development) in foundation years.  For example the children getting themselves dressed and doing things for themselves.  Training and liaising between Pre-School and Mrs Ainsworth needs to take place to meet PSED recommendations.  School is also keen to liaise with the Pre-School on any joint training that can be done to cut costs. Mrs Hailey spoke of the mandatory provision of breakfast and after school clubs that the school now has and how these could be operated from the new preschool building due to lack of space in the school.
• Rugrats It was proposed to have some guidelines on the sharing of the cupboard for those who put equipment away (as space is limited). Sue
• Children’s Centre Hoping to arrange a ‘Sing It / Say It’ visit for children on a Friday afternoon to the centre soon.

9) Management of Pre-School

• New Build project The preliminary plans for the new building are now available and proposals for its requirements are now being collated.

10) Date and time of next committee meeting

Wednesday 24^th March at 7.30 - Angela’s house in Cullompton

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