RLAPP meeting May 1st 2015
2-4pm
Agenda
Welcome by Mr Rhodes
Mr John Slater (Service Director
Education Standards and Inclusion
Children, Families and Cultural Services)
Councillor Liz Plant (Vice Chair of Childrens’ and Young Persons
committee and Labour councillor for part of West Bridgford)
The Speaker to invite questions from the floor
Short break
Meeting 1 follow up response from My May
Introducing the debate – 3 sections
1. School holidays
2. Travelling to school
3. School uniform
Vote on the motion: Is the physical well-being of children in
Rushcliffe Primary Schools being effectively met with respect to
the specific provision identified in today’s debate?
Close of meeting 3.45pm to 4pm
Minutes
The final meeting of the year once again had a full attendance from the 28
primary schools. The meeting opened with Mr Slater and Councillor Plant
covering the issues from the council’s point of view that encompassed both the
areas for debate today and some generic education issues. After 20 minutes
the children asked questions relating to the debate.
Both John Slater and Councillor Plant informed the children that financial
restrictions made it impossible to simply increase the number of buses for
transporting children to school. Recruitment of lollipop ladies/gentlemen was
problematic as very few individuals wanted to apply for this role, making it
hard to guarantee this service existed outside every Rushcliffe Primary School.
With regard holiday patterns this is a matter for individual schools and
governing bodies to decide. Children were also informed that the position of
Easter varies annually which also has an impact on the timing of the breaks.
The council indicated that a uniformed system across the country would
actually be helpful but the debate and decision making had actually been too
widespread to ensure a uniformed arrangement.
Uniforms are again a matter for individual schools to determine.
The answers to the questions and the opening talk gave the children a clear
understanding of the challenges that exist within areas of council control.
Financial constraints were referenced several times and a realistic picture was
painted by the two visitors.
When asked about the difference the Council had made in their respective
times Mr Slater referred to improvements in standards across Nottinghamshire
and the academic results achieved by pupils at all ages.
Councillor Plant referenced the introduction of 20 mph speed limits outside
every school.
Actions:
 Councillor Plant informed the pupil parliament that she would take back
concerns raised about travelling to school in West Bridgford back to the
relevant department for further discussion.
 RLAPP to send information and concerns to the relevant
Nottinghamshire Police/Highways department.
After a short break the pupil parliament convened for the second part of the
meeting. Anthony May’s letter from the previous meeting was shared by the
Speaker (Will Davies). The debate was then opened starting with school
holidays.
School Holidays
Several representatives welcomed the six week holiday period and did not
want this changed.
Other views recommended reducing the six week summer break by one or two
weeks and making the Christmas and Easter break slightly longer.
INSET days that took place in midweek was frowned upon by one school
representative.
Differing views were expressed about the amount of learning loss that existed
due to the extended summer break.
Many representatives supported the holiday pattern and did not want to see
any change.
Travelling to School
Dangers created by inconsiderate drivers, poor parking, ignoring yellow zig zag
lines.
Concerns that drivers were ignoring the speed limits.
Lack of pavements
Overgrown hedges
School buses without seat belts
Limited car parking when the weather is poor
Parents threatening others over issues around parking and on buses.
School uniform