Tiggers Playgroup Balcombe

Minutes of Committee Meeting

7th September 2006

Balcombe Social Club

 

1. Present

Charlie Arnold, Chris Napper, Sarah Manthorpe, Andrea Drury, Adele Burke, James Peck, Jackie Burke, Sarah Francis, George Sayers, Tracy Roberts, Heather Cox, Jo Cottell, Vanesa Oecken, Mandy Skinner

 

2. Apologies

Sarah Pell, Sandra Kirkman, Nancy Towers, Clare Clarke-Jones

 

3. Committee Situation

CA thanked everyone for coming.  CA explained that she would be leaving Balcombe & opened the discussion on finding a new Chair for Tiggers.

 

Role of Chair

AB said that if it were a shared role she would be enthusiastic, however AB said that she would be less comfortable doing staff appraisals.  Day-to-day emergencies would also be difficult with work commitments.

 

CN felt that she had already had a very involved role within Tiggers having been deputy Chair, however she would be happy to do staff appraisals & share the role with someone else.

 

CA made the point, praising the staff, saying that most procedures were set up & that staff take care of the day-to-day running of Tiggers.  CA felt that job sharing is a good idea, but emphasised that someone needs to be the decision maker.

 

The subject of Ofsted was raised by CA & that Tiggers could expect the next inspection at any time.  CA said that there was a need to produce a folder & collect more evidence before this happens.  It was agreed that Ofsted responsibility could be given to someone other than the Chair.

 

JB had given the matter of becoming Chair a great deal of thought, but felt that it was something she would not be comfortable doing.

 

CA said that she would be producing a new term newsletter within which the vacant Committee posts can be advertised.                                                Action: CA

 

It was agreed that the AGM will take place on Monday 9th October at the Parish Rooms which CA will book.  CA gave out a form for nominating new committee members.

                                                                                                Action: CA

 

AB and CN agreed to discuss the possibility of splitting the role of Chair.

 

Role of Secretary

CA asked GS whether she was happy to continue the role of Secretary and to be voted in at the AGM.  GS confirmed that she was.

 

Role of Treasurer

AD said that having agreed to take on the role of Treasurer initially, things were progressing faster than they had originally expected at that they would be moving away by Easter.  JP and AD therefore agreed that it was not worth doing a two month handover for such a short period of time.

 

CA reminded the Committee that we need to have a named Treasurer for Tiggers to run.

 

CN suggested that Jo Cottell could take over invoicing & bill paying, as an additional paid role.  AB asked who could do the payroll – cannot be a member of staff.  SM said that we would have to check the legal situation regarding the signing of cheques.

                                                            Action: Further discussion required.

 

Role of Deputy Chair

CA asked Vanessa Oecken whether she would be happy to take this role on as well as helping with the day-to-day emergencies.  VO confirmed that she was.

 

CA thanked Sarah Francis for kindly offering to take on the writing of both the Parish magazine entries and the newsletters for each month / term.

 

SENCO / Child Protection Role

CN said that she would be happy to continue with these roles even if she adopts a shared Chair role too.

 

Health & Safety Officer

CA asked AD whether she would be happy to take on this role until her departure.  AD agreed that she would.

 

Fundraising Committee Officers

CA asked JB and SF whether they would be happy to continue with their role.  JB and SF confirmed that they are.  If they need more people on their fundraising sub-committee then they will organise themselves.

 

Committee Shopper

Sandra Kirkman has kindly agreed to take on this role.

TR and JC agreed that they could both place the orders for items as well as making the selections, therefore assisting Sandra with day-to-day orders.

 

CA said that she would advertise the role of Chair & Treasurer on the same newsletter.  CN said that she and AB ought to be able to share the Chair role.

                                                                                                Action: CA

 

4. General Tiggers Issues

CA asked who would do the spring outing.  TR offered to organise with the staff.

                                                                                                Action: TR

 

Tiggers have been given a computer however a made-to-measure desk is required to store it effectively.  TR had a quote for £100 and the committee agreed that TR should go ahead and order this.                                                            Action: TR

 

The shed floor has not been mended however JP said that he would organise this.

                                                                                                Action: JP

 

CA thanked SM for kindly offering to work with Caroline Rix on the progression of the garden project.  CA said that the plans looked great and that they were currently in discussion with the Parish Rooms Committee to have the plans approved.

 

It was agreed that the staff should go ahead immediately & place an order for a new, smaller and more manageable sandpit and water tray. Action: TR & JC

 

CA confirmed that Cathy Sampson had kindly offered to organise the Children’s Christmas Party this year.  JB and GS offered to help CS with the buying of presents.

                                                                                                Action: CS

 

It was agreed by staff and Committee to perform a simple nativity play at the Children’s Christmas Party.  Staff agreed that they would organise this themselves.  Committee members also confirmed that parents would be responsible for any costumes and that parents would offer to help if help was required.

                                                                                                Action: All staff

 

GS said that she would organise a list for TR of emergency helpers, days available, and contact numbers.

                                                                                                Action: GS

 

CA suggested that a small section of the Tiggers notice board might be used for parents to sell toys on at a 10% charge of the sale price to Tiggers.  It was agreed that this would be a good way of fundraising.

 

CA asked whether anyone else knew of a good supplier for the new staff t-shirts and sweatshirts.  There has been a delay with this.  CA confirmed that she would get the original contact details from Sarah Pell.                          Action: CA

 

CA thanked the staff for their continued hard work last term, and confirmed that Barbara Milne would be joining the staff this term.

 

JB and SF offered to take on the catering for the AGM Action: JB & SF

 

CN suggested that we take photos of special Tiggers events and produce updates for the parents.  SF said that she would do this in the newsletters using her own camera for the events.

 

CA reminded the Committee to keep an eye on wages as the minimum wage legislation was due to change soon.

 

GS confirmed that she would give Tracy a new Parent Helper Rota for this half term.

                                                                                                Action: GS

 

CN asked whether any staff member would be interested in training as an assessor.  Interest was expressed by staff and they would like to know more.  CN confirmed that she would find out more details for staff.                          Action: CN

 

CA asked whether we could have some specific Tiggers inset days to enable staff to train.  It was agreed that the parents would not like this.  SM explained that many courses do not accept more than two members from each setting.

 

Finally, CA said that she had enjoyed being Chair for this year and everyone thanked Charlie for all her hard work.