NOTE OF PARENT COUNCIL STEERING GROUP HELD ON THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER 2019 AT 6.30 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LONDON ROAD, KILMARNOCK PRESENT Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Head of Education (Chair) Jackie Livingston, Kilmarnock Academy PC, Parent Rep to Cabinet Lorna Donnelly, Mauchline Parent Council Hendrika Psaila, Ochiltree Parent Council Laura Dalzell, Netherthird Parent Council Fiona Scott, Netherthird Parent Council Claire Donnelly, Greenmill Parent Council Fiona Paterson, Grange Academy Parent Council Denise McMillan, Onthank Parent Council Amanda Kennedy, Mount Carmel Parent Council Neil Farren, Mount Carmel Parent Council Pauline Patton, Gargieston Parent Council Kevin Handling, Kilmarnock Academy Parent Council John Semple, Lainshaw Parent Council David Mitchell, Stewarton Academy Parent Council Rhoda Howe, Stewarton Academy Parent Council Natalie McMaster, Nether Robertland Parent Council Hayley King, Nether Robertland Parent Council Linda Robertson, Cumnock Academy Parent Council Gail Wilkie, Stewarton Academy Parent Council Jim Campbell, St Joseph’s Academy Parent Council Maggie McKechnie, Service Support Administrator (Note) APOLOGIES John Bryson, Loudoun Academy PC Councillor Fiona Campbell, Education Spokesperson Kirsty Clelland, Annanhill PC Davie Court, Drongan PC Sharon Denham, St Andrew’s PC Laura McChristie, James Hamilton PC Eileen Neil, Auchinleck Academy PC Katrona Templeton, Shortlees PC WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION Linda warmly welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked everyone for attending. BUSINESS ITEMS ACTION Chair Election Linda thanked Jackie for her service in this regard. Linda briefly explained the role and stressed the importance it holds. Jackie & Linda meet every two weeks. There is always a pre-meeting before PCSG which lasts for approximately 1 hour. Chair acts as intermediary and may sometimes receive queries from PC Chairs. Preferred option would be that Chair or Vice-Chair would take up position. Jackie advised that the role is a three-year term according to constitution. Constitution could be altered if period of term is an issue. Constitution to be emailed to members with suggestion of amending term of office. LMcA/MMcK/ALL To be further discussed at meeting in January following agreement. Parental Engagement Framework Lesley Hillan-Fowler, Parental Engagement Officer updated group members. Catriona O’Neil & Lesley took to Cabinet on 6 November 2019 on behalf of Linda. A flier will be available for parents. Will be sent electronically to group members for comments before distribution. LH-F/ALL PEF very well received and endorsed by Cabinet. Online & social media questionnaires issued. Jackie inputted to this. Statements from parents & young people included. Next steps – launched at Head Teacher meeting in December. Link will be included in minute. When link sent – can you speak to Head Teacher and look at document/links/resources and come back to PCSG to ascertain feedback and identify any gaps. Equity important across education groups. LH-F/ALL National Parental Involvement engagement survey – Catrina will bring to next PCSG. C O’N Lesley advised that she manages 11 Home Link Workers (HLWs) under the auspices of the Scottish Attainment Challenge (SAC). Home Link Workers in other authorities sit within education but merging across Vibrant Communities in EAC has enable workers to work in partnership with education staff. In just over two years, just under 600 young people have received support. 170 families per week are being supported in sometimes very challenging circumstances. Home Link Workers are funded through SAC. Working in SIMD 1 & 2. Focus is on closing poverty related attainment gap and young people fully engaging in education. Equity is important. HLWs work together with Head Teachers to identify families that require support and support is formally agreed through TAC meetings. Of 600 young people, not one has said that they don’t want to be in school. Family dynamics are sometimes more important. Links with Financial Inclusion & benefits team. HLWs build relationships at core and make links with professionals who can support. Home Link workers can make connections with Health Visitors to encourage attendance of pre-5’s at nursery. Help is also available for parents looking to get back into employment; help with literacy, CVs etc. Me2U Programme very important in this. Volunteering can lead to employment. Linda encouraged PC Chairs to meet Home Link Workers. Some families find it easier to make relationship with HLW as they are not seen as threatening. Transitions also involved in remit of HLWs e.g. P7/S1 support to YPs who may be struggling with this. Lesley will share programme with group members. L H-F Lesley will send list to Maggie re HLWs allocated to schools & contact details. LH-F Hendrika enquired re transition to new Barony Campus. Linda advised that Peter Gilchrist will visit all primary schools transitioning to new campus. Lesley advised that HLW’s in education groups aware of this. RespectMe – Denise advised that there is a large team at Onthank and quite a number of parents have taken up training. They are looking at setting up workshops for other parents as this has been very successful. Stewarton & Kilmarnock Academies undertaking this. Lesley will ask Catrina to get in touch with Pauline at Gargieston & Hendrika, Ochiltree. LH-F/LMcA Lesley will feedback to Catrina re interest expressed. LH-F/LMcA Policy will be compulsory but training was voluntary. Linda will ask Catrina to update at January meeting. LMcA Strategic Update (Please refer to presentation) Robyn Davidson now appointed to HT of Fenwick PS. Secondary attainment reviews now completed. Head Teacher learning day to be arranged – 13 December 2019. Linda will bring Graham McGinn, Performance Manager to meeting in January. LMcA Results will be shared at January meeting. Primary reviews completed also. Some had follow-up meetings. SNSA/TJS scrutinised and results will be published in Parentzone in December. Linda can arrange groups to take through process of where to access results info. Head Teachers should be sharing these with PC Chairs. Linda thanked those who attended the recent Gala Concert. Outdoor Learning Awards scheduled for 21 November 2019. Duke of Edinburgh awards took place last night – 325 awards given out across all schools in East Ayrshire. CYPIC – Awards coming up on 21 November. Janie Allen, Strategic Education Manager: Early Intervention has been nominated for a personal award. Employee Excellence Awards will take place on Thursday 28 November 2019. Lochnorris PS interviews – 8 November 2019. Rights Respectig Schools – Gold Award given to Auchinleck Academy. Kilmarnock being assessed tomorrow. Communication Friendly Environment awarded at Onthank ECC. Loudoun Academy working towards this. Communication Champions in every ECC to promote verbal communication, signage. No Screen Day - Linda confirmed there is no ‘banning’ of screens. Day is to encourage children to limit use of laptops etc. STV filming in authority on 20 November. About encouraging parents to engage in this dialogue. Relationships Framework being finalised. Standards & Quality Report – group member to request sight of this via Head Teacher. Advised that these run a year behind. Transformation 2 – significant saving having to be made. Teaching staff and classroom assistants will not be affected. Service for young people in classrooms is very important. Re-design links with this. Actual amount is not public but Linda will share when able. Social Media Refresh - Twitter feeds are being streamlined. Linda wanted to check if everyone able to locate app. Maggie to check with Jemma re problems accessing at Netherthird. MMcK Jackie advised that one secondary school doesn’t use it at all. If linked into two schools, it is not possible to have multiple schools ticked at same time. Linda will check with IT in this regard. LMcA Suggestion was made re providing information e.g. emergency school closures. Noted that Seemis failed at one point when schools were closed because of snow. Seen as very good alert and useful that grandparents/childminders can access. Inspections – Linda advised that Education Scotland have employed another approx. 100 staff. Our least inspected school had lapsed by 11 years. Timesheet now getting more predictable. Restructure taking place within Education Scotland. Improvement & Scrutiny arms. Inspections now more regular. Twitter – feedback from St Joseph’s inspection was that inspectors were disappointed? Linda advised that this wasn’t conveyed to her but she will take forward. LMcA HGIOS4 has raised the bar for evaluations. Linda advised that a new advisor to authority to be appointed if members wish to meet her. PEF published nationally by Audit Scotland – Linda will send link. LMcA School Counselling Money – Linda has challenged the government regarding this. Linda as to advice on how money should be allocated. Under-10’s cannot access Counsellor. Who supervises Counsellors? Primary pupils also need support – concern. Waiting lists noted in other authorities in secondary schools. Linda will look at pulling together working group. Has written to other councils to ask how they have allocated monies. Linda awaiting feedback from government before she can advise group members further. Maggie to chase response from government. £378k per year allocated to EAC to go across 53 schools. MMcK Depute First Minister launched refreshed narrative on