Report on ELAPC meeting 21.10.08
East Lothian Council
Department of Education & Children’s Services
East Lothian Association of Parent Council Members Meeting held on Tuesday 21st October 2008, John Muir House, Haddington
Present: Don Ledingham (Acting Director of Education), Val McIntyre (Principal Officer), Susan Begg (Athelstaneford Primary), Elaine Mostyn (Athelstaneford Primary), Allan Dawson (Humbie Primary), Kevin Robertson (Knox Academy), Fiona McKenzie (Knox Academy), Lynne Turnbull (Law Primary), Ros McIntosh (Longniddry Primary), Lorna Nisbet (Macmerry Primary), Aine Witts (Musselburgh Burgh), Frances Johnston (Musselburgh Burgh), Stewart Buchan (Musselburgh Grammar), Claire Pedder (Ormiston Primary), George Henry (Pinkie St Peter’s), Marion Gilroy (Preston Lodge High), Margaret Stewart (Preston Lodge High), Helen Forlow (Sanderson’s Wynd), Sheila Russell (Sanderson’s Wynd), Michael McHugh (St Mary’s Primary), Pauline Jones (Windygoul Primary), Clare McGillivray (Windygoul Primary), Kathleen Gunn (Yester Primary), Fiona Vernon (Yester Primary), Judith Dunn (Elphinstone Primary), Marilyn Ross (Elphinstone Primary), Ian Smith (Kings Meadow Primary), Ruth Briggs (North Berwick High)
Apologies: Debbie Strachan (Haddington Infants), Julie Roberts (Loretto RC Primary), Angie Townsend (Loretto RC Primary), Gwen Watt (Saltoun Primary), Kay Henderson (East Linton Primary), Rosemary Gray (Pinkie St Peter’s), Shona Collins (Dirleton Primary), Angus Tulloch (Longniddry Primary), Philip Immirzi (North Berwick High), Christiane Maher (North Berwick High).
ACTION
1. Welcome
• Don Ledingham welcomed the Parent Council members and introductions were carried out.
2. Protocols for Supporting Parent Councils
• Don Ledingham suggested a group exercise take place to generate key principles, which could be formalised and establish a set of Protocols for Parent Councils.
• Val McIntyre reminded PC s that a set of ‘strategic guidelines’ were previously distributed to all Parent Councils for GUIDANCE.
• Collated results from exercise and ‘Strategic Guidelines’ to be sent out for PCs to discuss themselves.
3. A Curriculum for Excellence
• Don Ledingham listed Strategic Steering group members and discussed the purpose of Curriculum for Excellence
• Ruth Briggs detailed her involvement, expressed her support and agreed to her email being given out to other PCs for advice on Curriculum for excellence ruth.briggs at care4free.net
• Concerns were raised over lack of definition of policies. Document ‘A Curriculum for Excellence – what will it mean for my child’ was tabled, Don Ledingham explaining each of the ten points it contained.
• Don Ledingham suggested a ‘Roadshow’ in each cluster to meet and share ideas with PCs
• A discussion followed on purpose of Roadshow - Don Ledingham defined his idea and requested feedback
• Much variation in understanding amongst PCs evident. Val McIntyre requested Curriculum for Excellence be placed on agendas as an item for all PCs to discuss
4. Promoting Parental Involvement in the Education Process
• The document ‘Promoting Parental Involvement’ was tabled.
• Don Ledingham read quote on p5 of log and explained that a ‘Spontaneous model’ of parental involvement was sought – parents happy to seek advice in an open environment.
A copy of this document is attached.
5. Class Sizes P1/P3
• Concerns were raised from PCs regarding class sizes and cuts to teaching staff levels and budgets.
• Don Ledingham explained that staffing levels and budgets reflected fluctuating school rolls. Don Ledingham informed PC members that extra help had been sought from Government due to East Lothian’s growing numbers.
• Don Ledingham, in response to further concerns, confirmed that limits on class size were ‘guidelines’ only and not statutory therefore not feasible for some schools.
• PC s request Don Ledingham takes their concerns forward at his meeting with Scottish Government
• The suggestion was made that PCs make class sizes an agenda item at their own PC meetings
6.
Education and Children’s Services Budget
• Parents were informed about ‘You pay, now have your say’ due out next week to which responses are requested by 19th Dec.
• See http://edubuzz.org/blogs/haveyoursay/fil…
• Don Ledingham read extracts from budget relevant to Education Department.
• PCs expressed concern at budget level and their impact upon schools Don Ledingham confirmed that the department would operate with funding as allocated within the budget agreed by the Administration
• Ruth Briggs urged ELAPC to compile a response to this Consultation.
7. Request for a Parental Representative to join the Customer Service Excellence Project Board
• Don Ledingham explained role of Project Board to review the way East Lothian Council engages with public and requested that a PC representative join the board.
• There was no interest from those present at ELAPC meeting therefore Don Ledingham urged PCs to discuss this and contact Val McIntyre if interested.
AOB
• Ruth Briggs asked for update on proposals for a national body for Parent Councils. Val McIntyre offered to invite a National Parental Involvement Officer to attend the next ELAPC meeting.
Swap shop
• Don Ledingham asked each PC attendee to put forward ideas for improving Parent Councils based upon their own experiences.
Results to be collated and sent out to PCs with the Minute
• Date of Next Full Meeting to be held on
24th March, Conference Rooms 1 & 2, John Muir House, Haddington, 7pm – 9pm
Don Ledingham, Val McIntyre and Alix Hartley left the meeting.
• Following completion of the agenda items parent representatives had a private further discussion about the expected East Lothian budget consultation (item 6). It was agreed that:
The ELAPC parent representatives should prepare and submit a response to the consultation;
A subgroup of three representatives would lead preparation of the response;
An extraordinary meeting of the ELAPC would be convened in early December for PC members only with no departmental officers present, to agree and finalise the response and its submission and publication.
. V.M
AH