Minutes of meeting 11th January 2006 at CA’s House
Present : Charlie Arnold, Julie Turner, Nancy Towers, Caroline Rix, Sarah Francis, Sandra Kirkman, James Peck, Alina Greetham, Jackie Burke, Chris Napper, Heather Cox, Sarah Pell
Apologies: Rebecca Grace
1. Minutes of
last meeting: Agreed
Red child protection folder to be given to Rebecca Grace. Also needs updating.
Committee contact details – all members to provide Julie with address details and the best times to be contacted.
Parent Helper : Rota to be produced for new term – Sarah Pell.
Ensure all parent helpers are provided with the guidelines of what they can/can’t do. Tracey has the guidelines form.
Caroline Rix has volunteered to become an emergency helper as the last resort
Constitution revision – Charity Commission has agreed that the changes can occur to allow committee members to work at Tiggers. We need to give members 6 weeks notice of change in writing and then hold an EGM. They want to investigate the monies paid to Chris Napper & Sarah Pell. CR to take forward.
2.
Staff Wages
Minimum wage was increased in September 2005 to £5.05 per hour and will increase to £5.35 in October 2006. Staff are currently paid £5.00 per hour. Need to cost out the full impact of increasing staff wages - James to take forward.
Wages to be addressed following staff appraisals but need to inform staff that we are looking at the wages.
3.
New roles
Staff
Staff seem to be gelling well. Mandy Skinner is doing really well with the coffee morning inductions. Jo Cottell seems happy. Tracy & Charlie are working together to improve planning and other staff members are getting involved.
Need to ensure that records are kept for Ofsted purposes.
Need to chase parents who haven’t completed the consent form for displaying photos – Nancy to include in Newsletter
Would like to display more art work/children’s creation – looking at Velcro boards that can easily be put away after each session.
Need to speak to Debbie Crook (Quality Mentor from Sure Start) to get recommendations on topics.
Committee
Sarah Pell unsure of her role. Role is to make sure any equipment is reasonable and to identify any gaps. Ensure purchases are monitored and done responsibly and to feedback to the committee.
4.
Garden Project
Parish Council have given the go ahead to the garden project. We need to know what the Parish Council have agreed to and what they want taken out of the design.
The funders have said that if the design is diluted too much then there is the possibility funding will not be available. The design needs to obviously be designed for children.
Need to push ahead with the costing stage and also investigate any grant timescales. Charlie & Caroline to take forward.
5.
Health & Safety
Proper assessment to be undertaken. Charlie to ask Wendy Malkinson for all paperwork relating to checks which includes the dates undertaken. Heather & Sandra will then produce checklist of when the next ones are due.
Possibility of getting Fire Brigade in to do safety checks and to provide up-to-date certificate. Maybe combine this with an educational session for the children with the fire engine.
Need to check that the fire drills are kept up-to-date and that they are being done at different times and on different days.
Fire drill policy to be included in next newsletter to parents.
Heather & Sandra to do an unscheduled fire drill possibly at pick up/drop off time.
6.
Policies & Procedure
Kitemark recommends a policy covering outings. Ask Debbie Crook for a sample one – Charlie & Julie to take forward.
Need to check the policy on administering medication as Heather mentioned the rules had changed recently. Speak to Debbie Crook.
This raised concerns over how Tiggers is notified of changes. Heather to speak to her contact to find out more about the changes and how Tiggers should find out.
7.
Treasurers Report
In a better position that we thought we would be and we should utilize the money to provide additional equipment for the children. Shopping to do be done in spring term.
Some parents are paying their invoices late – Nancy to mention in Newsletter.
Need to tighten up the procedure, issue reminders more regularly and reconsider the way the invoices are given to parents.
All sessions currently full with a health waiting list.
Need to do thank you letter to Jo Armstrong for securing the contribution from Barclays Bank.
3800 Tesco vouchers collected. Staff have identified a collection of new equipment to be provided from the catalog (Huge soft dice, Velcro skill boards, tactile tiles, foam ring toss)
8.
Fundraising
Congratulations to Jackie & Sarah for a very successful fundraising event. Date already booked for 2006 for next Ladies Night In.
Sponsored walk to take place 12th June and then the cake stall at the school fair (24th June). Felt this was enough fundraising for the year. Village fete not be done this year as too much effort versus money raised.
Xmas party went very well – thanks to Nancy for organizing – lots of positive comments from parents on quality of gifts.
Thanks to Jo Cordeschi for arranging the parents night out.
9.
Tiggers Mobile Phone
Currently not working due to someone keying in wrong number for cancellation. Contract still in Rachel Bollands name so proving hard to get reconnected.
Staff have asked for a contract phone rather than pay as you go as top up card gets lost or run out of credits whilst on the phone. Committee deemed it not financially viable as currently only use £20 per annum on top up cards. To continue with pay as you go and look at deals for top ups. Possibility of purchasing additional top up cards to mitigate one being lost.
10. AOB:
Agreed minutes need to go onto the Balcombe website – Caroline to provide Julie with contact name.
Actions arising from
meeting:
|
All |
Address details & best contact time to Julie |
|
Sarah Pell |
Parent helper rota to be produced for new term |
|
Caroline |
· Update constitution · Garden project with Charlie · Provide JT with contact details for Balcombe website |
|
James |
· Cost implications of increase in staff wages · Tighten up procedure for dealing with late payers |
|
Charlie |
· Child Protection information to be updated and red folder to be given to Rebecca · Parent helper guidelines – get form from Tracy · Inform staff wages are being looked at · Spk to Debbie Crook re. Topics & policy for Outings · Garden project with Caroline · H&S paperwork from Parish Council · Letter to Jo Armstrong for Barclays contribution · Letter to Jo Cordeschi for arranging Parents night out |
|
Nancy |
Newsletter to include: · Consent form for displaying photos · Fire drill policy · Paying invoices late |
|
Heather/Sandra |
· Fire safety check from Fire Brigade · Check fire drills · Undertake unscheduled fire drill |
|
Julie |
Policy for outings with Charlie |
|
Heather |
Investigate changed to administering medication |
Date of next meeting:
Wednesday 15th March 8:00pm at Charlie’s House