Parent Voice

Westpark Parent Voice Minutes  

02.09.25 

Present: Councillors Gordon Graham, Donna Clark and Ciarán McRae 

Aileen McNair HT, Alice Atkinson DHT, Olivia Airey PT, Gemma Green CT 

Parents: Nicole, Ashleigh, Tracey, Fiona 

1. Update from school:   

• Upcoming tall ships trip for 12 P6 learners following on from Tall Ships visit to Aberdeen this summer. 

• P1s started full days this week.  It has been a really positive start.  The transition period before the holidays ensured the children knew key adults from the beginning. 

• Breakfast Club: Bright Start funding has allowed for all breakfast club places to be funded.  This has supported childcare for working parents, and a soft start to help anxious young people transition back to school. 

• The Belonging Beehive, our new nurture space, is up and running, supporting learners with additional support needs on a timetabled basis.  Feedback from learners and staff is positive, and its use will be reviewed at regular intervals throughout the year. 

• Query from parent: The Snug: timetabled use by small groups, but can be accessed by individuals if supervised by an adult. 

• PVGs needed for PV members prior to next disco. 

• New nursery shelter built by parent volunteer over the holidays. 

2. Mrs McNair shared Letter from Pupil Council requesting parent help in power washing the front of the school and making our school look more welcoming. 

Could the Parent Voice group help? 

Suggested contacts: 

• Shell, BP, DoE, Girls Brigade, Boys Brigade 

• Fire Department, (Donna to share contact with Aileen) 

• Kings Church 

• Garden centres 

3. Suggestion to encourage new members: Host an informal coffee afternoon, aiming to target at least one parent representative for each class. 

4. Parents are concerned about cars parking on pavements outside the school at pick up and drop offs time. 

Action: 

• Share Pupil Council letter about Westpark Clean Up in weekly bulletin 

• Councillor McRae to float idea with oil companies: Mrs McNair to share PDF of letter 

• Councillor Clark to share contact details for fire officer. 

• Invite parents to informal coffee during last week of term: poll at Parents evening 

• Alice to add parking concern to bulletin, and suggest park and stride from Byron Square. 

• Alice to request community warden visits after school 

• Councillor McRae to speak to Kate Stephen about road safety initiative. 

• Aileen to contact ASG Heads to discuss shared approach to road safety. 

• Date for next meeting: Tuesday 7th October 

2024 18th November 

Present: Tracy, Alice, Kayleigh, Ashleigh, Sami, Kayleigh, Fiona, Vibesh

Confirmed stalls at Fair: 

Sami – wax melts 

Chocolate tombola - Fiona 

Bottle tombola – Leanne Ironside and Marsha 

Teddy tombola - Alice 

P4 Hot Chocolate 

P2/3 Bookmarks 

P6/7 x 3 Grow a Fiver – stage 

Mrs Zebedee – Raffle 

P5 football team 

Tote bags/snoods/beanies - helpers needed 

Mrs Troup – Bric a brac  

Nursery – craft 

Santa’s Grotto – Mike 

Tea, coffee  juice – helpers needed 

Tattoos – helpers needed 

Hot dogs – Kayleigh Robertson 

Set up: Fiona, Kayleigh Robertson 

Movie night December 11th: stall with hot drinks 

Parents to help supervise external and internal doors – children to be accompanied to toilet by parents 

Actions: 

• Write to Warburtons (Kayleigh) 

• Tracy to check tea and coffee stock 

• Bottles and Chocolate – Friday 29th – Kayleigh and Tracy 

• Alice to organise choice of movies 

• Chocolate tombola in gym hall 

• Sami to organise external stalls 

• Christmas Colouring In – last week of term (with prizes) 

• Sami to organise Parent Voice noticeboard – by office window 

2024 27th May 

Mr Watson, Mrs Atkinson, Fiona, Ashleigh, Tracy, Kayleigh, Natalie, Nicola 

Summer Fair: 

·        Adults needed – teddy tombola, chocolate and bottle tombola, P7, Mrs Troup, Nursery, hot dogs, raffle. 

·        Write to Warburtons for buns. 

·        Alice to printletters asking for raffle prizes. 

·        Setting up: Kayleigh, Tracy 

·        First years: gym hall – summer fair games 

·        Wordsearch/colouring sheet 

Races 

All P1-7 classes will take part in races during the week beginning 24th June. Query raised – why no sports day? 

Every year we encourage attendance at Active Schools Fun Run and Run Balmoral (subsidised coach and entry available to all).

Those attending these events report a really positive atmosphere and team spirit. School staff also support Westpark children at both junior and senior parkrun each week, as well as a range of other sports clubs and Active Schools events. 

Staff decided on short races across the period of a week to solve some of the problems raised as feedback and to promote inclusion of all learners. 

Feedback from previous Sports Days: 

Children told us: 

·        They feel crowded with adults standing too close, they don’t like visitors shouting, smoking/vaping. 

·        They don’t like waiting for their turn to race. 

·        They enjoy opportunities to take part in physical activities and cheer each other on. 

·        They like being cheered on. 

·        They like competing as a year group rather than a class. 

Parents told us: 

·        They don’t want to stand for too long especially if weather is too sunny or too rainy. 

·        They want to focus on races and don’t enjoy the potted sports. 

·        They find it frustrating if the event is cancelled due to weather, and also if it is not cancelled. They do not appreciate uncertainty and taking a half day off for an event which may be cancelled shortly beforehand causes frustration. 

·        They find it hard to focus on multiple children and want events on different days, but cannot take long periods off work so this needs to be manageable. 

Staff told us: 

·        They see children finding it upsetting to lose in front of family members and/or if no-one comes. It becomes difficult to follow the timetable and maintain class engagement

whilst providing appropriate comfort and support to those who need it. 

·        Classes feel crowdedby adults. 

·        They want events which bring the community together to celebrate successes, and find the ethos of the short races, school picnic, fun runs, class assemblies and open days do this more successfully than a long sports day. 

Families may join in games and play during the family picnic in June. 

P7 Newtonmore Residential – potentially Sept/Oct 2024 rather than May 2025. To be confirmed

prior to summer. Parents would be able to pay in installments. Most parents

who applied for bursary this year were successful, which meant school subsidies

were less. The P7s did really well this year, and the accommodation and activities suited the

group. 

Shorts and Shades Disco – 13th June – Alice to put in bulletin 

·        Ticket sales - £1 donation on the door – parents to specify if child haspermission to walk home alone. 

·        DJ Kayleigh. 

·        Tuff tray activities. 

Finance:  

·        Ask for Parent Voice receipt for start of year

donation (ear defenders and books). 

·        Query re use of crowdfunding money. This was donated to school fund

(not Parent Voice) and receipt provided to Vicki Banks at start of year. Children also

thanked her during assembly. Funds have allowed school to continue subsidising trips for all classes (coach travel,

Newtonmore residential), investment in new technology (ipads) and repairs (chromebooks) as well as updating and replacing other resources (classroom supplies, art supplies). 

Parent Voice Minutes 05.02.24

Fiona Lister, Gregor Watson, Alice Atkinson, Kayleigh Millsom, Tracy Spence, Ashleigh Taylor 

Fiona Lister has been minister at Mastrick Church for 11 months. 

She met with us to share details of how the church supports Westpark Families. 

Northfield Church will go on the market soon. 

Summerhill, Mastrick and Northfield are all under the banner of Aberdeen North. 

Vision is to be supportive to families in local area.  They would like to know what people are looking for – finding out where the gaps are. 

They have recruited a Church and Community Worker – Jay.  He has been mapping out existing community facilities. 

Fiona happy to help faciliate ASN parent support group – AA to look at dates (Friday pm) 

Church: Sunday Worship, Brownies, Rainbows, Guides. 

Nativity Scavenger Hunt – P2s and P3s visited church prior to Christmas. 

Potential for Easter Scavenger Hunt with older learners. 

Older children will be invited to enter competition to design new build (the halls) - what would they like to see in it? 

Fiona wants the church to be seen as a safe and nurturing space for all regardless of religion. 

There are inter-denominational links with Lovebridge, Baptist and Catholic churches. 

Pupil Voice will be working with volunteer parents to create travel plan promoting safe and active journeys to school. 

Suggestions:  

• Parent Voice meeting to have Teams link to encourage more people to join in. 

• Parents requested open day finish later to allow for longer in classes and to make pick up easier (2.50) 

• Christmas movie night was enjoyed by many families and there have been requests to do it again.  Vote for Easter Disco or Easter Movie night on Wednesday 27th March – share poll with parents in next bulletin. 

• Summer Shorts and Shades Disco 

Parent Voice Minutes

Parent Voice Minutes 04.12.23

Present: Alice Atkinson, Liz Tait and Stacy Murray (Dyslexia Outreach), Stevi Findlay, Ashleigh Taylor, Tracy Spence, Violeta Mlesnita

• Aim of dyslexia outreach

• Dyslexia is a neurodiversity

• Every dyslexic learner has a different profile of strengths and challenges

• Dyslexia can be described as a continuum of difficulties in learning to read, write and/or spell, which persist despite the provision of supports.

• There are nine areas of associated difficulty: visual and auditory processing, phonological awareness, oral language, reading fluency, short term and working memory, sequencing and directionality, number skills, organisation, motor skills (fine and gross)

• Strengths and Superpowers: Xtraordinary People childrens book https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6f8QVnDXfU

• Dyslexic thinking is a recognised skill on linked in (perseverance, determination, inititiative taking, leadership, collaboration etc)

• Identification is by school assessment (not diagnosis). The label is not necessary to access additional supports.

• Read&write Text help helps everyone understand and be understood – possible to go through with parent and learners together.

• Dyslexia Outreach website: https://sites.google.com/ab-ed.org/aberdeen-city-dos/home

• https://www.calibreaudio.org.uk/ - parents can register for free audio books

• Ashleigh has access to Parent Voice email – Aberdeen Parent Forum are looking for representatives to attend.

Three is a Type 1 Diabetes Group – share info with parents.

Education Reform survey to share with parents

Nicky Paterson (ACC) shared courses

• Christmas Fair –create list of items needed (stationery etc) to ensure all ready ahead of time, meet before future fairs for risk assessment (blocking stage stairs etc)

Barnardos stall £96.20 (donations), Teddy Tombola £75.53 (donations).  Others still to be counted.

• Christmas concert – more than 20 phone calls today with late requests for tickets.  This is very time consuming for staff and prevents them processing requests efficiently.

• Christmas movie night – booking open.  Voting in foyer until 15.12 with any coin or a letter (Charlie Brown, Home Alone, Muppet Christmas Carol, Snowman/Stick Man Double Bill)

• Meeting with inspectors – parents invited to meet in parent survey.

Parent Voice Minutes

06.11.23

Northfield Academy staff joined us to describe the new transition pilot and what it means for our P6s and P7s.

Ryan McKenzie, Suzie Macrae, Laura-Leigh Murray (Northfield Academy)

·        Finalised transition plans should be shared by the end of December.  This will inform parents and learners from P6-S2

·        New HT – Craig McDermott

·        S1 classes (crew) – no larger than 20.  21 out of 32 periods per week S1 are with crew teacher, the rest of the time they are with specialist subject teachers (hybrid approach).

·        Miss Murray and Mrs Macrae have taken on transition planning for all of ASG.

·        Some P6/P7 transition will occur each month – visits or activities across schools.

·        By the 2 day visit in June young people will know other learners and staff.

·        Some young people will receive enhanced transitions.

·        There will be drop in sessions for P6 and P7 parents.

·        Ryan described SLT, guidance team and Crew team

·        Northfield staff shared a video describing what Crew is.

·        Apology/Stand/Appreciation

·        Mindful Monday/Tuesday reading/Wednesday UNCRC

·        4 principles of transitions: networks, readiness, capital, ease

·        Term 1 and 2: Enterprise task/Digital Pupil Profile

·        Term 3: NFA Awards

·        Term 4: Dreamgiver/Maths Escape Room

·        Google Challenges for P7s – they will be set up in a Google Classroom.

·        Library visits will take place this term

·        AFCCT visits to primary schools in April

·        AFCCT applications in by May

·        Transition visit days 19 and 20 June

·        Shared video of S1 residential – recommend all new S1s attend.  Staff will collect info re accommodation arrangements.

·        Please email Miss Murray or Mrs Macrae with any questions: laurmurray@aberdeencity.gov.uk

sumacrae@aberdeencity.gov.uk

·        ACC are committed to continuing the pilot into year two.

·        Hallowe’en Disco – big thank you to everyone for making it so much fun.

·        Christmas Fair – Tracy collecting list of stall holders and creating plan.  Additional meeting one afternoon (Tuesday/Thursday this week 2.30pm).

Dress as you please Friday 24th November (for tombola donations)

Parent Voice Minutes

2nd October 2023

Parent Voice 2nd October 2023

Attended: Alice Atkinson, Nicola Menzies, Natalie Laing, Tracy Spence, Violeta Mlesnita, Heather Ross, Gregor Watson, Sami Hewitt

Apologies: Ashleigh Taylor

• Heather Ross Autism Outreach spoke with us about her role – office based in Ashgrove, under the umbrella of Orchard Brae.

-Elaine (HT of Orchard Brae) oversees AOR.  They work in partnership with Fit Like Hubs.  There are five teachers on the team (including two on secondment to respond to level of workload).  They cover every single school in Aberdeen City.  Teaching team cover P3-S6.  Early intervention team cover Nursery-P2.  Heather covers all Northfield primaries, Northfield Academy as well as Cults Academy, Oldmachar Academy and their cluster primaries.  Three PSAs also work with the service.  They have about 525 children open to P3-S6.  The early intervention team have 8 staff, including two senior EYPs, three EYPs and three PSAs. 

-A child doesn’t have to have a full diagnosis to be referred, they can have a working diagnosis.  There is about a year’s wait from first meeting with health to any form of assessment.  The service tries to support learners awaiting diagnosis.  HT or DHT would submit a request for assistance detailing needs of child.  The team have two weeks to acknowledge the RFA and will make contact to arrange an observation within 8-10 weeks.  They can meet with staff or parents to support with specific struggles.

-They visit each school at least once per term (depending on caseload) – can be for a week or two weeks, or just two or three days depending on need.

-It is a mixed role in schools – can attend Multi-Agency meetings or chat with parents.  The model is based on building capacity and confidence.  They go into classes, work with pupils on a variety of things such as transitions, helping to understand diagnosis, introducing visual timetables, looking at different types of communication, social skills, eye contact, friendships, self-regulation, conflict resolution.  It looks different for every child.  Children can be targeted or advisory (identified through observation). Targeted requires specific work to be undertaken.  If after a year on advisory they would look to discharge a case.

-Try to work alongside staff, passing on information and resources.  They model to staff to help them feel more comfortable.  This is a challenge with large caseload numbers.  The model has moved on over the last two years, but is still evolving.

-The improvement plan involves running training sessions and parental groups.  Sessions are on Eventbrite – some for staff, and some for parents.

-Parental groups were piloted last year.  AOR will facilitate for first few months, then parents will take ownership of the group and run it themselves.  They invite ChildSmile, Occipational Therapy, Speech and Language and other partners to help support families.

-Mythbusting/training sessions to help upper stage pupils understand autism.

- Westpark committed to raising awareness and understanding of autism through the curriculum and shared stories.

Possibility of Westpark ASN parent group run by Parent Voice? 

• Fundraising ideas – Parent Voice Vinted/Gumtree/Car boot

Pay for a Pal – when collecting money, school will offer families chance to make additional contribution “Pay for A Pal”.

Applications have been made for corporate funding for Panto bus and sports kits.

• Residential myths – P7 Newtonmore May 2024.

Since 2003 almost all residential trips have been over a weekend as it is cheaper.  In 2022 and 2023 it was during the week, and cost around £300 per person.  It is £180 for a weekend trip in 2024.

In 2022 School paid £2690 in trip subsidies, so we wanted to reduce the cost for families and school this year.

• 1.3 Leadership of Change  - Questions for parents

How well does the school develop a shared vision, values and aims relevant to the school and its community? 

Do you know the aims?  Do these have meaning to your child? 

Parents attending could identify names as they are used to identify the entrances for classes.  Children refer to the aims in kickboxing and other hobbies.

• Question from parent: How often do we share with other children what is means to have additional needs?

This is done in class and assembly, usually using books or films.  We would not identify individuals within our school community, and it can be challenging for younger learners to make connections and understand behaviours of other children in their classes.  The school aim of Belonging encourages children and adults to accept others and understand differences.

• SHANARRI parent survey feedback & next steps – 85 responses at parents evening.  These have been shared with teachers and will be addressed in classes.

5.9% children don’t feel safe at school

3.5% don’t know what they should do if they feel unsafe

6% they don’t know what to do if they are worried about themselves or someone else

90%+ feel safe at school

98% feel children are supported to do their best

We urge parents to contact school with specific concerns.

• Halloween Disco – sell tickets after school from 30th October - £1 and in Violeta’s classroom

Games – Tracy to organise

Playlist to be created and connected to Zumba speakers.

Alice to print tickets

Sami to create Pumpkin Patch – meeting with other parents to help organise.

• Funding request for headphones and books - £500 approved for resources to be shared with all classes.

• Find out about choir performances – is it possible for the choir to perform in public to raise funds?  Alice to look into this.

• Idea: Christmas movie pyjama picnic in main hall – Alice to look at dates, films  and licensing.

• Ask for donations to raffle in next week’s bulletin.

• Next meeting Monday November 6th 5.30pm.  Ryan McKenzie, Depute Head at  Northfield Academy will attend to talk about the transition process.

Parent Voice Minutes

4th September 2023

Present: Nicola Deans, Violeta Mlesnita, Gregor Watson, Alice Atkinson, Ashleigh Taylor, Kayleigh Laing, Bayar Dick, Sami Hewitt, Julia Roberts, Kapil Deb

·        Counsellors Karen Bowie and Carolyn Crews joined us to discuss their work in supporting learners at Westpark.

Karen works at Westpark every Wednesday and sees 5 children for individual weekly sessions.

It’s a play therapy model which uses therapeutic play.  The room is set up as a play therapy room: sand tray, dolls house and furniture, puppets, art material, sand, silly sand, slime, books, therapeutic stories, cars, squeezy balls.

It’s very non-directive.  They don’t ask direct questions.  Children can share worries or feelings of anger/anxiety.  Many children who missed chunks of school life due to covid.  No question is silly.

Children come into the same room at the same time on the same day.  The room is boundaried, and sessions will end if behaviour is unsafe.

They understand confidentiality from parents and teachers.  If they raise a safety concern Karen will report it.   Sessions are 45 minutes long.

Parents always have Karen’s number to contact her for questions or support.

Funding for Carolyn comes from local authority with a remit of P6 and P7 to support transition.

ACIS Youth is based in Aberdeen (part of Mental Health Aberdeen).  They won the contract to have counselling in schools in Aberdeen City.  She is currently on a 10 week block in other schools, and will return to Westpark November-February and then April – July.

Carolyn is a fully trained person centred counsellor.  Senior management identify children who would benefit.  Sessions are weekly, and are for 2 children per week.  It will continue for the next year.  Some children want to talk.  Most children want to do something.  Uses mood cards, kinetic sand, arts and crafts, tokens and other items to encourage children to talk.  Lots of children in P6 and P7 start to wonder who they are, have issues with confidence.  Children do not need to continue with sessions if they do not wish to – give them empowerment to choose how to use the space

Westpark pays for Karen using PEF money in recognition of the importance of early intervention to our children and parents.

·        Pavement parking – we are aware that parking on the pavement is unsafe and illegal, and have asked the City Warden team for their support.

·        Sports kit and funding.  We intend to order one Westpark Sports T-shirt for every child, and offer parents the chance to purchase additional shirts if they wish.  We are in the process of finalising funding to cover the costs involved, and children will be encouraged to wear the shirts when representing Westpark at sporting events, training and PE.

·        Trip funding and bus passes.  We have already had several classes arrange school trips free of charge.  It is really helpful when all children have a free bus pass as this allows us to promote independence by learning about how public transport works and keep the cost of trips low.  This allows us to go on more trips over the year!

·        School Improvement Plan – develop consultation with parents, particularly regarding learning, teaching and assessment.

·        RAAC concrete – further testing will take place, and guidance from Scottish Government followed.  Parents received a letter today.

·        Christmas Fair – some parents suggested having it at Northfield Community Centre.  More helpers would need to commit to helping run stalls.  To be discussed at next meeting.

·        Halloween Disco – emailed DJ.  AA to print tickets and posters.  Tickets on sale following October holidays – arrangements to be finalised at next meeting.

·        PTA email address to be updated

·        Sami will look at setting up informal fundraising meetings.

Parents evening - please complete this survey and take a look at the information about PEF spending, school improvement planning and online safety.

5th June 2023

Parent Voice  05.06.23

Fiona, Elaine, Kayleigh, Tracy, Charlotte, Susan, Nicola, Violeta, Ashleigh, Gregor, Alice

·   Consultation process – Bramblebrae Parent Council have been in touch to arrange a meeting.  We can submit a contribution from the Parent Voice – please send any comments to Mr Watson.

·   Entertainment license – applied for temporary license for Family Picnic and Leavers Assembly.  We will apply for a full year license next year, including 2 discos, 2 fairs, 2 parents evenings, 10 class assemblies, 1 open afternoon and a family picnic.  Inspection will be carried out this Friday.

·   P7 residential 2024 – looking to secure best value for money for parents and school.  Options include 3 nights at Cromdale or 2 nights at Newtonmore.

·   Cowie Cup Final was last week.  All finalists spoke about their commitment to the school aims.  Holly Cain was chosen as the winner.

·   House Captain applications are now open.

·   Staffing – Miss Ferguson will be taking over from Miss Marshall as full time Barnardo’s Northern Star worker.  Miss Pretious has successfully completed her probation year and will be staying with us.  Two new probationers will be joining us after summer – names to be confirmed.

·   Parents evening – Usborne book fair in foyer– New to You uniforms available fee of charge.

·   Family Picnic – raffle to be a summer bundle.  Ask for chocolate and bottle donations 23rd June – dress as you please.

·   Leavers assembly – parents to stay for cake and coffee after.

15th May 2023

Parent Voice Minutes

Monday 15th May 2023

Present:  Gregor Watson (HT), Alice Atkinson (DHT), Violeta, Elaine, Charlotte, Tracey, Natalie, Sami, Nicola, Susan

·   Consultation on school closures/merges closes in June.  It goes to committee in September.  Further information in email from City Parent Council.

·   Staffing – Westpark will have 9 classes next year.  Miss McAllan will be on maternity leave next year and Mrs Grant will return.  We have not been allowed to advertise for an SFL vacancy.  Mrs Macrae has returned full time.

·   Open afternoon tomorrow, theme “Proud to Belong at Westpark”.  Focus on belonging, anit-bullying and inclusion: https://www.npfs.org.uk/2021/09/22/lgbt-inclusive-education-information-for-parents-and-carers/

·   P7 Cromdale trip next week, P7 Cromdale 2024 booked.  Costs have gone up.  Explained some of the logistics and decisions based on cost.

·   Cost of the School Day – check on website: https://sites.google.com/ab-ed.org/westparkschool/our-families/cost-of-the-school-day

·   School Fair cancelled – stalls at Family Picnic (and afternoon afterwards) instead – arrangements to follow (tombola, bottle stall, P6/7, P6, nursery, Mrs Troup)

6th March 2023

Minutes of Parent Voice Meeting

06.03.23

1.         Welcome and Apologies

Attendance:  Alice Atkinson, Gregor Watson, Violeta Mlesnita, Jackie Welsh, Ashleigh Taylor, Kayleigh Laing, Nicola Menzies, Elaine Winton, Natalie Laing, Fiona Johnston, Ailie Jones, Tracy Spence

Apologies: Charlotte Imlach, Sami Buchan

1.     Toilets are being refurbished. This will last until the end of May.

2.     Panto Pound – tomorrow.

3.     School bank – if anyone hears of a school savings scheme for pupils we would be interested in pursuing this.

4.     Staffing – Mrs Macrae will be absent for a few weeks.

5.     Easter Disco – Thursday 30th March

Nursery-P3 5.15-6.00 Enter and exit by breakfast

club door, P4-7 6.00-7.00 enter by front door, exit by breakfast club

door.  Prizes for Easter egg and Easter bonnet (recycled materials). 

Children encouraged to take own water bottles as drinks and snacks will not be

provided (this to be communicated on tickets and directly to classes).Easter

craft/colouring.  £1 per ticket. Helpers needed 

Selling tickets:  Charlotte

Early disco: Nicola, Kayleigh, Natalie, Ashleigh, Sami (party games), Fiona, Louise Laing, Violeta

Late disco: Nicola, Kayleigh, Natalie, Ashleigh, Susan, Fiona, Louise Laing, Violeta

Kayleigh to organise prizes - bonnets (recycled materials) and eggs

6.     SFL Team – Mrs Welsh supports younger learners, including babies and toddlers (PEEP).  The PEEP group explores a different theme each week.  The most important part is that parents come together, share experiences and support each other.  Babies are encouraged to choose and explore their own items from the sensory treasure basket. ORIM framework – opportunities, recognition, interaction, monitoring. 

Mrs Welsh also supports P1s and P2s in playzone, writing simple words using different sensory materials, support negotiations between children, building teamwork and giving opportunity to explore interests and develop friendships.  Groupwork is on more focused learning activities – sound recognition, number skills.

Mrs Jones supports P3-P7 with numeracy and literacy, challenge maths and dyslexia testing.  Learners see Mrs Jones little and often – 20 minutes per day on targeted work.

Challenge maths groups are organizing a Northfield Maths Challenge.

P6 and P7 enter Scottish Maths Challenge and visit the University of Aberdeen.  Parents consent to dyslexia testing, which is carried out 1-1.

Dyslexia toolkits are being introduced to all classes.

Actions

·   Laminating volunteers to contact Mrs Jones if they would like to help laminating the toolkits.

·   Ask Class Teachers if they can support making recycled Easter bonnets in class

·   Alice to ask pupil volunteers to design Easter tickets

6th February 2023

Minutes of Parent Voice Meeting

In attendance:  Gregor Watson, Alice Atkinson, Natalie Laing, Elaine Winton, Kayleigh Laing, Charlotte Imlach, Susan Watt, Nicola Menzies, Sami Hewitt, Julia Roberts, Stacey Howell

Apologies: Violeta Mlesnita

-          Suggestion to alternate open day between start and end of week.  Last week’s open day (2nd February) was postponed due to strike action and new date shared with parents in the updated school calendar on 9th January .  Some parents felt that this was not enough notice.

-          Miss Seaman has requested help in purchasing netball kit.  Parent Voice suggested netball parents take ownership of this.

-          Callan’s dad and Freddi’s dad in process of setting up football training.

-          QA visit took place this morning – visited several classes.  QA visits continue at partner schools this week.

-          Problems with school website – please screenshot and send any issues to Mrs Atkinson

-          Easter Disco – 30th March -  Nursery-P3 5.15-6.00 Enter and exit by breakfast club door, P4-7 6.00-7.00 enter by front door, exit by breakfast club door.  Prizes for Easter egg and Easter bonnet (recycled materials).  Children encouraged to take own water bottles as drinks and snacks will not be provided (this to be communicated on tickets and directly to classes).Easter craft/colouring.  £1 per ticket. Helpers needed 

Selling tickets:  Charlotte

Early disco: Nicola, Kayleigh, Natalie, Ashleigh, Sami (party games), Fiona, Louise Laing, Violeta

Late disco: Nicola, Kayleigh, Natalie, Ashleigh, Susan, Fiona, Louise Laing, Violeta

Kayleigh to organise prizes - bonnets (recycled materials) and eggs

-          Lunches – A parent requested information about lunch breaks.  Lunch is 12.10-1.00, with each classes spending 25 minutes outside and 25 minutes in the dinner hall.  Children who are not finished eating within 25 minutes may stay in the hall until they are finished.  Packed lunch children may start eating immediately on sitting down, school lunch customers take turns by table to collect their lunch.  Children, especially older classes, usually finish early and line up at the gate to swap sittings.

-          New lunch system to start next week.

-          Concerns raised about inappropriate language use in playground before and after school – SLT will visit senior classes to address.

-          Concerns about dog fouling in and around school grounds.

-          Thank you to Parent Voice for sourcing new ear defenders – these have arrived and are being used in classes.

Actions:

·   Mrs Atkinson to email community wardens and police to request support re parking, and dog wardens to request support re fouling. (Actioned 07.02.23)

·   Ask a parent to come and film concerts in future to post on Google Classroom (if all children participating have photo permissions).

·   Parent volunteers wanted to help patrol parking by nursery.

·   Share travel plan details to Parent Voice (training available): https://www.sustrans.org.uk/media/2767/2767.pdf

·   March bulletin to request disco volunteers attend Parent Voice meeting

Minutes of Parent Voice Meeting 16.01.23 

1. Welcome and Apologies 

Attendance: Alice Atkinson, Violeta Mlesnita, Kayleigh Laing, Charlotte Imlach, Nicola Menzies, Elaine Winton, Natalie Laing, Fiona Johnston 

Apologies: Gregor Watson 

1. P7 fundraising – school fund covered £2690 last year and currently £6000 this year (some contributions expected over the coming months to reduce this). School will also fundraise for a P7 fun day. Additional fundraising for prom is therefore not possible during school time, although P7s may make announcements in assembly regarding out of school fundraising. 

2. Christmas Card Commission - £220 

3. Pantomime – idea to ask parents for monthly contributions to spread cost of £10 ticket and bus travel over the year. 

4. Arts Centre – potential partnership and Arts Centre School for upper stages. 

5. QA visit 06.02.23 (visit from QIOs, Quarryhill and Kingsford HTs) 

6. Staffing – Mrs Jones has returned to SFL, Mrs Howell is starting as a PSA 

7. World Book Day – bulletin to request families donate unused books for a book fair (donation only) 8. Next meeting 06.02.23 Actions

 • Mrs Zebedee to send invoices for the novels. 

• £2000 Parent Voice funds to transfer to school to cover Panto 

• The Panto Pound – families will be asked to contribute £1 at the start of each month to save up for the Panto. Dates added to the online school calendar and reminders in future bulletins. 

• Mrs Atkinson to request book donations for book fair. 

• Parent Voice to order ear defenders. 

Christmas Fair 2022 - a huge thank you to all who helped make the event a success

Minutes of PV Meeting November  2022

Minutes of PV Meeting Oct 2022

Minutes of Parent Voice Meeting 05.09.22