FRIENDS OF DURRIS and CROSSROADS NURSERY Minutes of Meeting held via Google Meet on 2nd July 2020

Present: Lynne Giles, Sarah Stewart, Elaine Ingram, Dawn Rippiner, Catriona Woodburn, Bridget Rhodes, Claire Stutter, Aynsley Watson, Tara Ewart

Apologies: David Groundwater

Actions 1. After School Club

Due to a number of potential new pupil enquiries who are also asking about after school care this is a matter for the Friends of Durris and Crossroads Nursery to take forward. At present our school roll is 45 and encouraging new pupils assists with our school roll.

Survey issued to parents regarding need for after school care and initial results show a strong demand for both breakfast and after school care. Results after survey being out for 1 day show range between 6 – 12 children for after school care and between 5 – 6 for breakfast club.

DR has been liaising with Jenny Currie of Parent Council regarding the matter. Drumoak had an after school club which was provided by Great Western but this service has been stopped by Great Western and therefore Drumoak are looking at alternatives. They are eager to combine with Durris and Crathes to ensure there are sufficient numbers to make a club viable. They have looked at 4 options as follows:-

1) Flexible Child Care – private provider who may be interested and next step is a survey across the parents of Drumoak, Durris and Crathes. EI EI to liaise with Jenny to pull together surveys. 2) Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action Group. They have grants available to assist with initial set up costs should a parent led system be followed. 3) After School Club – This is run by a parent committee who employ a manager to manage the club which covers 4 schools. They use the community centre and bus the children to the club. Discussions as to whether they would provide a satellite version or could provide assistance as to format. 4) Woodlands Nursery are setting up after school club. However likely this will fill fast with children.

DR is to continue to liaise with Jenny regarding following up these options on behalf DR of the 3 schools.

TE advised that she had put together a proposal for consideration and would forward TE this to the committee.

Discussion moved to whether we could meantime provide something for Durris. As the Council are not allowing lets of their buildings the school cannot be used. Kirkton EI Hall remain closed at the moment but EI to contact committee to ascertain whether they would allow an after school club to use the facility. Discussion as to whether we All could combine sports clubs so as to provide after school care. All members to continue researching options to try to find a viable solution.

2. Out of School Activities

LG waiting for a response from Laurence Findlay on this. At the moment advice is conflicted. Active Schools suggest that after school activities can commence but to be led by head teachers.

It was decided that at the current time it was not appropriate to try to commence running club during the school day.

3. Green Space Behind the School

CW provided update on response from Council Planning department who have advised that due to COVID there is a lag on site inspections so they would likely not visit the site for 8 weeks. Raising the matter with the Press considered but it was felt that we needed to establish whether provision of the green space was an ancillary benefit for the school rather than the school being the primary benefactor and also SS liaison with the residents was needed. SS to review the matter further and see if further steps could be taken.

4. Gaynor Whyte DR After many years volunteering at the school and teaching recorder she has decided to stop. DR to organise a collection amongst the P5/6/7 parents as those are the ones who had benefitted from lessons.

5. Playground Improvements

LG advised they intend to make some playground improvements over the course of the year and will be submitting a bid to Tesco for funds. It is anticipated parent help will be needed for practical assistance in due course but due to COVID no parents LG can be on site. LG to ascertain whether parents can go on site in 1st week of October holidays thus leaving a week before children and staff return.

EI/SS offered parent committee assistance for some playground equipment EI/SS meantime and LG advised approx. £200 would be useful meantime. EI and SS to follow up with remainder of parent committee.

6. Date of Next Meeting

12th November 2020.