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Parent Council of St Mary’s Primary School, Haddington
Minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Parent Council held on
Wednesday, 23rd September, 2009
Present Michael McHugh (Chair)
Ian Campbell
Paul Forrest
Frances Gibson
Allan Moore
Sharon Ritchie
Lillian Skeldon
Yvonne Smith
Helena Walker
Mark Wyllie (Vice-chair)
In Attendance Anne Bisset (Head Teacher)
Aleksandra Beska (Parent)
Karen Skene (Parent)
Liz Syme (Clerk)
1.
Welcome and Apologies
Michael McHugh welcomed everyone to the meeting. Apologies from Fr Friel and Cllr Sheena Richardson. Anne Bisset read a ‘Thought for the Day’.
2. Minutes of the 10 th Meeting held on Tuesday, June 23 rd , 2009
Agreed and signed.
3. Health Group Matters
Anne Bisset explained Health Promoting Schools Stage 2 accreditation, which has been achieved by the school.
4. School Building
(a) Update on what has been happening over the summer
Inspections were carried out on the single and double storey school buildings in
July. Subsequently, Parent Council members Michael McHugh, Ian Campbell and
Mark Wyllie, together with Tom O’Malley (Church rep) met with Don
Ledingham, Acting Executive Director of Education and Children’s Services and
Liz McLean, Manager Projects and Assets Manager. The initial findings of the inspection were that structurally the mainframe and how it is attached to the building is sound. They are still awaiting a final report from the building engineers which should be available in early October.
(b) Options Document
An Optioneering Group was formed involving Michael McHugh, Anne Bisset, Jill
Beuckardt and Tom O’Malley, which will be the key link between parents/carers and the local authorities. A meeting is to be held next week with Liz McLean and
Neil Irvine to take forward the optioneering process which could be from being a re-clad of slabs to a complete rebuild. Options for the school building should be

available by October and the appraisal process complete by December. The
Education Committee will look at all areas, but local councillors make the ultimate decision and do not have to agree with the Education Committee.
(c) Concerns over current appearance of the school

Children are finding it difficult playing in one small area of the playground.
Anne Bisset said she will enquire as to whether pupils can play safely in the front playground. No risks can be taken.

Could barriers or safety glass be put on windows to enable use of the double storey building? Anne Bisset said staff do not want another move until necessary works have been completed.

Do not want this to be an on-going situation. Why not do whole cladding, not just bits?

Path outside nursery was very badly flooded during recent heavy rain. Anne
Bisset will make enquiries on how to resolve.

Weeds need to be removed. Trees need cutting back. Anne Bisset will contact Landscape and Countryside regarding trees.

Some people passing the school have thought it was closed. It was suggested a sign be put in place to show the school is open.

Harris fencing is an eye sore and needs to be covered up, possibly with boarding. This could involve an art project with the children.
Other points raised by members:

We may need to become a campaigning group rather than an optioneering group as local councillors can overturn views.

Invite councillors to meeting.

Will authorities use minimum costs?

What voice do parents/carers have? Anne Bisset said Don Ledingham is very keen for parents/carers to have input in process.

Insulation needs to be a key issue when options put forward.
Michael McHugh said issues had been raised at the meeting with Don Ledingham in July. These included:
 How are staff and children going to cope with ‘Curriculum for Excellence’?
In the circumstances, staff are finding it difficult to be ready for this.

Extra heating costs for transportable unit have to be met. The Council have agreed to contribute to these.
ACTION :
Anne Bisset to enquire as to whether front playground is safe for pupils to use.
Anne Bisset to enquire about flooding on path outside nursery.
Anne Bisset to contact Landscape and Countryside regarding trees.
5. Head Teacher’s Report
(a) School Building Update
The transportable unit is being used for nursery and P1 and P2/3 classes. P1 have the smallest space. The school building is being occupied by P3/4 and
P5/6 in the former infant classrooms and P7 in the former dining area.
Lunches are being served in the hall. To make this easier, discussions are being held with Property Dept to see if a door and hatch can be placed in wall between P7 classroom and hall.

(b) Storage
Storage and organisation of daily resources is a main problem. Areas have been identified and one space can be used in the double storey building, but all these have to meet with fire regulations. Metal cabinets may be used.
(c) Traffic barrier and child safety
The school traffic barrier is now closed as adults are frequently leaving gates open at the transportable unit by the road. There are over 100 very young children using the building. Sharon Ritchie suggested that speed bumps be placed in the school car park. Michael McHugh pointed out that many roads in the area do have speed bumps and he will raise issue with Transportation.
ACTION :
Michael McHugh to contact Transportation re speed bumps in school car park.
(d) Severe weather warning
Anne Bisset has spoken to Head Teachers in other schools concerning the subject, and staff have made the following proposals during severe weather:
Parents/carers are encouraged to place dry clothing, particularly socks, in school bags for children.
Prior to 9am

Parents/carers are encouraged to bring children to school as close to 9am as possible as there is no guarantee there will be staff to supervise before this time. It would not be a problem if children are late when there is very severe weather.

P5 – P7 are to wait in the shelter.

P1 – P4 are allowed in the school hall via the front entrance unless flooding prevents this, and will be supervised by Anne Bisset or Emma
Robertson.

If staff are not available to supervise, all children will go to their classrooms prior to first bell.
Morning Interval

Davy Duncan will supervise P1 and P2/3 in the transportable unit.

Anne Bisset or Emma Robertson will supervise P3/4, P5/6 and P7 in the main building.

Children will remain in their classrooms. Children who may need closer supervision will accompany Anne or Emma.

If Anne, Emma or Davy is not available, staff will organise a cover rota for each building.
Lunchtime

Same procedure as morning interval.
Anne Bisset will send a letter to parents/carers clarifying this.
ACTION :
Anne Bisset to send letter to parents/carers re severe weather plan.

(e) Quality Improvement Officer Visit
All schools in East Lothian are visited by the Quality Improvement Officer approximately 3 times a year. St Mary’s first visit for this school year is on the morning of Thursday, October 29 th
. Anyone wanting to speak to the QIO,
Alison Wishart, please let Anne Bisset know as soon as possible.
ACTION :
Any members wanting to speak to QIO, Alison Wishart, to contact Anne
Bisset as soon as possible.
(f) Primary School Aims
The updated aims of the school were set out in the last newsletter, September
2009. School badge to be used instead of first picture.
(g) Staffing
Each school takes on board an NQT for one year. After this period they have to look for a new position elsewhere. The NQT does not work a full school week in the classroom.
Chris Smyth is the NQT for P5/6, working alongside Alison Stewart who has moved from teaching in the nursery. Emma Robertson has taken Mrs
Stewart’s position in the nursery 3 days a week. Mark Wyllie remarked on how impressed he was with Mr Smyth’s introductory letter to parents/carers at the beginning of term.
Alan Moore suggested that a letter be sent to all parents/carers at the start of each academic year explaining the curriculum. Anne Bisset to action.
John Leslie is the new P7 teacher, replacing Patrick Griffin. Mr Leslie was on the East Lothian Preferred List.
ACTION :
Anne Bisset to look into issuing letter to parents/carers re curriculum.
(h) School Dinners
At the last meeting, members had requested information on uptake of school lunches in East Lothian. Anne Bisset had obtained information for distribution to members. Liz Syme to action.
ACTION :
Liz Syme to distribute information on school lunches.
(i) Eco Committee
The Eco Committee consists of pupils and one adult. More adults are needed to help, and this can be anyone from the local community. The Committee is presently doing a school litter project. The children would like to make a short presentation to the Parent Council at the next meeting. This would be the first agenda item.

(j) School Computer Refresh
The school now has18 new Dell laptops and 9 PCs. The old laptops and PCs have been removed.
(k) Healthy Eating in Schools
Schools cannot give pupils sweets, cakes, juice (including fruit juice), etc, unless it is a special celebration, eg Christmas party. Parents/carers can provide any food they want for their children.
One difficulty issue arose with divided opinions. Should pupils be able to provide cakes/sweets to their classmates on their birthdays? A questionnaire was sent out to parents/carers. There were 30 responses – 29 agreed this should be allowed and 1 disagreed. Two parents pointed out that some pupils may not have a party and this way they could still celebrate with their friends.
The Parent Council agreed with the majority vote for children in school and nursery to be allowed to bring in sweets/cakes on their birthday.
7. Training Programme
(a) Any member wanting to participate in Head Teacher or senior staff appointments, it is compulsory for them to attend a Recruitment and Selection training course. The next course is on October 29 th.
Anyone wanting to do the training is to inform Michael McHugh. Michael will post information on website.
ACTION :
Any member wanting to attend Recruitment and Selection training to contact
Michael McHugh.
Michael McHugh to post information on website.
(b) The next ELAPCM is October 6 th
. At the last meeting Don Ledingham proposed that he does not Chair future meetings and parents take over and choose a Chair from attendees at the next meeting.
Mark Wyllie attended the ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ course, which he said was very interesting.
8. Updating Parent Council membership details
All members are to complete a contact detail form. Liz Syme to action.
ACTION :
Liz Syme to collect contact detail forms from members and send to Laura Muir,
Education and Children’s Services, John Muir House.
9. AOCB
(a) Mark Wyllie asked if the school tuck shop could be re-opened. Helena
Walker explained that due to the new regulations there were restrictions on what could be sold to children. The school had made the tuck shop fruit only, which sold reasonably well to start with but eventually very few children bought fruit.
There was a lot of wastage, so tuck shop is no longer viable.
(b) Mark also asked about the safety issue of the woods by the school. Anne
Bisset explained that fencing in the playground had built up ad-hoc over the years.

The Parent Council took on board the issue of fencing around the woods, which was agreed in principle by the Council to go ahead. The Property Dept is now looking at the bigger picture regarding the future of the school and has halted working on the fencing.
(c) Dates of Future Meetings
Tuesday, November 3 rd
2010
Thursday, January 14 th
Wednesday, March 17 th
Thursday, May 27 th
All meetings will commence at 7pm in the school.