General Meeting November 2011

WILDERN OPPORTUNITY GROUP COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday 16^th November 2011, United Reformed Church, Hedge End

AGENDA

1. Apologies

2. Agree minutes of last meeting and matters arising

3. Financial matters

• Treasurer’s report.
• Salaries for new Manager and SENCo.
• Funds for termly equipment inventory and cleaning.
• E-banking update.

4. Recruitment of New Manager & Senco

• Process so far.
• Short listing & interview panel.
• Administrator.

5. Play Leader Feedback

• Report.
• Wish list.
• Newsletter.

6. Playground feedback

7. Fundraising and donations

• Quiz Night Friday 25^th November Update.
• Children in Need Friday 18^th November ’11.
• Fords sponsored run 20^th November ’11 and factory tours.
• Xmas light switch on, Thursday 1^st December ’11 at 6pm.
• Xmas Party.
• E bay for Charities being set up by Georgina Callen.
• Any further suggestions.

8. Marketing

• Waiting list.

9. Any other business.

10.  Next meeting (adjusting time to earlier start time).

Committee Meeting Minutes for Wednesday 16^th November 2011

Attendees

Kate Clark (Chairman), Jim Mitchell (Treasurer),  Kelly Mitchell (Secretary), Kathy Evans (Play leader), Shirley Callen, Jo Parfitt, Kelly Cook, Lucy Smith, Kerry Passingham, Alison Scott, Nikki Burnett, Roz Bundy

Apologies

Stephen Hollis, Chris Exton, Lyn Berry

Agree minutes of last meeting

Jim Mitchell and Jo Parfitt signed off minutes of last meeting.

Financial Matters

1. Treasure’s Report 16^th November ‘11

The following transactions have been made since the last committee meeting in September.

Since the last committee meeting we have received a donation from Sainsbury’s Hedge End which was very much appreciated.

2. Salaries for new Settings Manager and SENCo - Kate looked into an average wage for similar manager positions in similar settings and came up with £ per hour as an average.  It was discussed and agreed by everyone on the committee that the salary for a manager with all the required qualifications and experience including a degree would be around £16,000.  A person with the required qualification and experience without the degree would receive around £15,000.

The committee was keen to recognise that the role of the new SENCo person would have to take on more than an average SENCo worker because of the Opportunity Group.  Therefore it was agreed that a competitive rate of £7.00 per hour would be suitable.

3. An agreement was reached that committee members should volunteer with a couple of staff members to help with the termly cleaning of equipment and inventory, to help keep costs down.

4. E-banking - E-banking form has finally been accepted, we have all passwords and are in the process of setting it up.

Recruitment of New Manager and SENCo

Kathy’s leaving date is 3^rd February 2012.  We would like to thank Kathy for all her hard work over the years and wish her all the best in the future.  The closing date for the applications for the Manager position is Friday 18th November, with the reviewing of the applicants beginning from the 24th November.  The aim is to get the job offer letter by the 6th December.  It was agreed that Lyn Berry, Kathy Evans, Shirley Callen, Kate Clark and Kelly Mitchell should be on the interviewing panel as it gives a balance of staff, parents, and Committee members.  The role of SENCo is to be advertised internally within a week. 

The idea of possibly getting a committee member or parent to take the role of an administrator in the future was discussed, to be reviewed in the New Year.  Proposed by Kate, seconded by Jo Parfitt.

Play leader feedback

Play leaders Report - 16/11/2011

We have had a few changes to our staff at the group. Julie has had to leave us due to family commitments and sadly her Dad died a week ago, a card was sent from group expressing our sympathies

Also Bev and Lydia have reduced their hours. Kellie a volunteer has left and has since had a healthy baby boy and Kira will leave in December to begin maternity and we wish her all the very best.

Now we have a new face on our term, Helen Hopper who started on Monday 31st October. Helen is great with the children, experienced and qualified to NVQ 3 in Early Years childcare

We have also been very lucky to have lots of new people getting involved with volunteering within the group as well. Our new volunteers are Clare who is now doing her level 2 in childcare, Anita who is doing her level 3 and Abigail who has expressed an interest in training. All three are volunteering in both groups.

As you all know my resignation has been accepted and my official leaving date will be the 3rd February 2012. I will miss the group, the staff and families, thank you to you all, I wish the group continued success and as I have made many friends I will always stay in touch.

Meanwhile we will be well supported by our development worker, Chris Bird and Lorraine Hounsham our Area Inclusion Officer.

Opportunity Group - Waiting list - a referral from a child whose parent’s would only be able access the group on a weekly basis - 3 times a month for 1 day. Lyn and I discussed this and as we have other parents on the waiting list who can attend regularly we felt they should have priority.

Still having problems with the EY essential package that is used to input, invoice, organise waiting list and registration, I am waiting for a call back from support service.

Our current occupancy levels are see attached

Lyn would like Kelly Mitchell on the interview panel.

Grant has been sent to EBC for £500 this would help fund a child from the southern parishes area for 2 sessions a week for a year.

Playground feedback

An agreement outline has been given back to Kate from Hedge End Village Preschool further to the meeting that Jim and Kate had attended with them.  Unfortunately it seems to differ with what was said by them in the meeting, so Jim and Kate will discuss the possibility of setting up another meeting with Justine.

Fundraising and Donations

1. Quiz night - Well done to Jo for organising the quiz night, everything made on the night will be profit to the Opportunity Group, 67 tickets sold so far waiting for more confirmation for tickets from the Rotarians.  151 strips of raffle tickets sold.  Budgens have donated wine and chocolates to the winning team.  A list of raffle prizes is on our website.  £486 has been raised so far.
2. Children in Need - The children can come in Fancy dress (nursery rhyme theme) on thursday 17th and Friday 18th November, £1 per child.
3. Fords sponsored run is 20th November, you can sponsor through our website.
4. Xmas light switch on - Unfortunately all the stalls were booked up early, so the Opportunity Group is unable to participate.
5. Xmas party - It was suggested that we sell hot chocolate, mince pies, biscuits etc at the Christmas party, Nikki Burnett and Alison Scott have offered to help sell.  Mike Burnett has offered his services again this year to be Father Christmas.  It was decided to use the Opportunity Group coffee money for the presents for the volunteers and Christmas cards, proposed by Kelly Mitchell, seconded by Nikki Burnett.  Kelly to get the wrapping paper, presents and cards.

Marketing

Kate to distribute leaflets, the website is looking good and running effectively.  Kerry Passingham and Alison Scott have agreed to do an informative email once a month, stating topics, outings, activities coming up within the preschool.

Any other business

Jo Parfitt to look into lottery fund.  Jim and Kelly are recording a song in time for Christmas and releasing on iTunes.  Any profits made to go to the Wildern Opportunity Group, everyone voted to use the Wildern Opportunity name and logo on the single.

Next committee meeting will be held on Wednesday 18th January 2012.