Minutes of meeting 7th September 2004 at CR’s House
Present : - Caroline Rix, Chris Napper, Julie Turner, James Peck, Sarah Pell, Jackie Burke, Sarah Francis, Alina Greetham, Jonty Rix
Minutes of last meeting: Agreed
Staff Update:
Julie Turner: CR & Tracy had a complaints meeting with Julie on the day before last day of term. CR also discussed the situation with Julie at the Tiggers picnic on the last day of term. JT has since handed in her resignation, which has been accepted.
Mandy Skinner: no prosecution received. Mandy has written a letter of apology to the committee. The committed discussed the letter that CR has written to Mandy, this is a 1st written warning letter. The letter was agreed.
Rebecca Grace: completed application form received, she is very keen on training and will be starting 4 sessions a week.
Miranda Murray: she will be doing 3 sessions a week until the end of September.
Julie Sayers: will be doing 1 session until the end of September.
Louisa Rydon: is interested and will complete all the necessary documentation so she is able to start when she feels ready
Advertising: 2 adverts have been done, one promoting the playgroup and one advertising for additional staff. These have been placed in the Doctors surgery and the local shop. Also being placed in Middy Voice, Jobs in Childcare. CR to look at getting the adverts placed in Maidenbower surgery. JT to look at advertising in ABC and Grapevine.
Staff Pay Rises: Increased wages for staff have been agreed, new rates are:
Untrained up from £18 to £20 per session
Trained up from £19 to £22.50 to differentiate the training undertaken
Deputy Supervisor £25
Supervisor £30 per session (equivalent to £7.50 per hour)
The Supervisor has also been given the Foundation Stage as planning and curriculum go hand-in-hand.
Parent Helper Rota: The staff feel that parents should be assigned fixed dates and they feel very strongly about having parental support everyday. The committee are unsure about the best way forward. One of OFSTED standards covers working closely with parents. SP to be in charge of the rota. It was decided that a Parent Helper task list with guidelines and do’s and don’ts be created to be given to parents when they arrive. This way they will know what they are doing. CR to produce.
Treasurers Report: Playgroup is quite solvent and is expected to remain so.
JP to investigate Liability insurance for the committee.
Toys & Equipment:
Shed floor: apparently part of it is rotten, need to investigate to see the extent of the damage
Climbing Frame: concerns over the safety of the equipment; walkway is very slippy, open screws which children could catch fingers on, wood coming away due to wasps. The committee would like to replace the climbing frame with multi-sensory play equipment.
Learning through Landscape was mentioned by CR, she will find out more about this.
CN to find out who we need to speak to in the estate about replacing the climbing frame as we believe the land belongs to the estate.
Suggested a joint fund-raising event be undertaken between Tiggers and Parent & Toddler to replace the equipment.
Climbing Frame Replacement Fund with collecting tins in local shops, totals sign to be put up showing how much we have and how far we have to go.
“Practical solutions for community groups” one day event taking place Saturday 16th October at Cuckfield, CR, JT & SP to attend.
Gate at side: it was suggested that a gate be implemented to stop children from
going round the back, as they can get very muddy when the weather is bad.
Cushions: staff have mentioned that they would like to have some cushions to put into the playhouse. JT & AG to cover some cushions. SP mentioned she has spare dustbins that could be used to store them in.
Wish list: staff wish list to be placed on the board along with the weekly plan.
Filing cabinet: remove this from the back cupboard
File holder on wheels: one to be bought to hold children’s records. A record of each child should be done each day, this will focus the staff on the child, staff need to be aware of what to look for.
CD
player/digital camera: Jonty to investigate
Autumn Term Fundraising:
Soup day: to be timed with the ‘Oliver’ play. CN/SF to find out when the play is.
Adults evening: was discussed, ideas such as Casino, quiz night, disco were discussed, could do a joint one with Parent & Toddlers.
Lucky number club: Jonty to investigate how this works, see if Parish mag will allow us to publish winning numbers. Everyone to think about ideas.
AGM:
8:00pm Tuesday 28th September. How to entice parents to turn up? Agreed that would advertise it as a Parents open evening where they can discuss their child’s progress, meet other parents, meet the staff and then have the AGM at the same time. CR to produce flyers advertising the evening and also personal invitations to each parent with an RSVP so we can plan the discussions.
AOB:
Children’s Xmas party: To be arranged for Friday 10th December in Victory Hall. JT to contact Pam Malins to see if hall available. CN to speak to George Wigginton about being Father Christmas.
Parents Xmas party: To be held on same day; Fri 10th Dec. JB to contact the club to see if they will be doing meals, if they won’t be, then consider outside caterers, would be nice to keep it in the village.
Carole Massimo: it was agreed that the committee would like to give Carole something for all the work she has contributed to Tiggers. Arrange flowers & champagne to be given to her at the AGM – Cr to do
AG to arrange a parent collection to fund them
Carole has mentioned she would like to go out for a meal with all the people she has worked with, it was agreed that the committee would pay for this.
Uniforms: it was mentioned that the staff do not like the colours of their uniforms, may consider changing to black with an orange logo.
Spare clothes box: it was mentioned that the clothes box could do with some winter clothes as only seems to be t-shirts & shorts.
Lunch club: SF queried how this will work and if staff will be available to help. Agreed that staff will leave a table out
where the children will sit down and have lunch. Nothing else will be left out.
Staff will be available until 12:45.
CR to speak to Tracy about staff helping walk children down to school
during their work hours.
Actions arising from
meeting:
Letter to be sent to Mandy Skinner CR
Investigate advertising in ABC/Grapevine JT
Parent Helper rota to be produced SP
Task list for parent helpers CR
Liability insurance JP
Learning thru Landscape to be investigated CR
Speak to estate about replacing climbing frame CN
Recover cushions JT, AG
Wish list & weekly plan to go on board CR to speak to Tracy
‘Oliver’ date to be found out CN, SF
Number club ideas All
AGM flyers & personal invitations CR
Father xmas CN
Xmas party JB,
JT
Organise parent collection for Carole AG
Organise flowers & champagne for Carole CR
Lunch club – walking children to school CR to speak to Tracy
Actions outstanding from
previous meeting:
Induction packs to be produced CR,JT
Stakeholder Pension to be investigated JP
SENCO to be allocated CR, CN (working on)