PTA
Parent talk - May 2023
This powerpoint has four short videos from Mr Chamberlin which detail what was shared at our recent talk on the funding crisis in education, the actions the school is taking, and how each of you can make a difference.
HOW TO HELP WITH FUNDRAISING & COMMUNITY EVENTS
PTA event planning
We are all in the PTA - as parents and as staff members, we are all part of this community and the events and experiences we put on.
Ask: Our current focus is our summer festival. Once on the other side, we will share a form for you to express an interest in being more involved in the leadership of our PTA.
HELP AT A PTA EVENT
If you don't have capacity to lead events, but could lend a hand, you will make such a difference to the success of the event.
Ask: Our next big event is SJB Fest '23 on Saturday 17th June - 2pm-6pm. If you could lend a hand for an hour or so, please let us know here and we'll be in touch.
lead a smaller pta activity
There are many smaller activites that are a lovely addition to our bigger events. Christmas cards and the Easter raffle are two examples.
Ask: Again, after the summer festival, if you would be up for owning and coordinating a smaller activity later in the year, we will reach out to you and one of the PTA leaders will be in touch to discuss it with you.
i'VE GOT A FUNDRAISING IDEA
Everything we do has come from an original thought (whether brand new or borrowed from another school!). If you have an idea or hear of anything interesting, please share!
Ask: Let us know here and one of the team will be in touch within 2 weeks.
Impact of helping with fundraising & community events: We will be able to hold brilliant and varied events, asking less of those involved by sharing the load, raising money and having a great time as a community.
HOW TO help FINANCIALLY
Some of these initiatives involve ways to give financially (£) and others cost you nothing but could make a big difference (FREE)
MAINTENANCE FUND (£)
The fund helps us to access larger projects through the diocese, and supports the maintanence of our school buildings - which we are responsible for as a church school.
Ask: The requested annual voluntary contribution to the school's maintenance fund is £50 per child. In response to a suggestion from some parents, we will set up the option to pay a monthly direct debit of £20 should you be in a position to do this. This will be from September.
BUY ITEMS ON OUR AMAZON WISHLIST (£)
Many schools, including HWINS, have Amazon Wish Lists to support us to provide the resources we need to make our school run. From scissors to standing desks, we would be so grateful for any support you could provide.
Ask: If you would like to, you can find our Amazon wish list here - thank you so much.
PAY FOR ANOTHER CHILD (£)
When you pay for a trip or event on ParentPay, there will soon be a button which says 'Pay for another child'. Clicking this will mean you will, well, pay for another child! By doing so, you help those who are struggling financially, and prevents the school from either covering the shortfall or cancelling the event.
Ask: Consider clicking the 'Pay for another child' every once in a while if you feel able.
Corporate match funding (£ or FREE)
Many companies operate a match funding scheme whereby they ‘match’ charity fundraising undertaken by their employees. This includes financial donations and time spent volunteering.
Ask: We will be in touch in the next few weeks with a bit more detail but in the meantime, speak to your human resources department to find out whether they offer match funding.
SHOP ONLINE USING EASYFUNDRAISING (FREE)
Either by app or with a browser extension (takes 30 seconds to set up) the school gets a donation on purchases you make at over 7000 online stores, so from your weekly food shop to your package holiday, you can help donate at no cost to you.
Ask: Install the free easyfundraising browser extension here or the app here.
GIFT AID MY GIVING (FREE)
Donations you make to the maintenance fund or to any PTA initiative can all be gift aided. This means for every £1 you give, we get £1.25.
Ask: We will be in touch next half term with details of how to check whether you have signed up to gift aid.
DONATE PRE-LOVED (FREE)
Children grow up so fast! If you have good quality uniform they no longer need, or hardly worn footwear, books, or possible wet play games, we would be so grateful for your donations.
Ask: Please get in touch with the school office who will likely say 'yes please!', and pop them in to Reception. We will share them with the most appropriate classes accordingly. Thank you!
Impact of helping with these financial activities: How long do you have?! Ultimately, the more creative financial support you can give, the less of the limited school funds will need to go on basic things like pritt sticks and fixing gutters, and the more we can focus on high quality teaching, learning and nurture support for our children.
HOW TO support by volunteering time & skills
ACCOMPANY TRIPS
We always so appreciate your help in joining us on trips. This means more staff can stay in school and support others in their learning.
Ask: Please consider saying yes for your child's next trip
ARRANGE AN EXPERT VISIT
Visitors can bring learning to life! Do you have skills in a certain field or know someone who does? Could you inspire the next pilot or personal trainer or art curator?!
Ask: We will get in touch to seek expertise for certain areas of learning of focus weeks in our newsletters in the months ahead. Please consider saying yes!
SEEK GRANTS
There are lots of grants out there which enable schools to do things but at no or a reduced cost. Recently we have received £500 for nature resources, £6000 to support with early reading, and £1500 for gym equipment from charities.
Ask: Do you have experience in seeking grants? Would you be interested in helping us find them? Let us know here.
roll up your sleeves!
Do you have an artistic flair and want to help make our children's work come to life? Do you have capacity to don some wellies and help Mrs P plant the wild flower meadow, or pop in for a couple of hours and do some strimming or painting?
Ask: Let us know here if you would be up for helping out every once in a while. Thank you so much!
Impact of helping by volunteering your time and skills: You all have so much to offer to our community. By sharing a little of your time or expertise, you will enhance our curriculum offer and inspire the creativity and aspiration of our young minds. Volunteering with other more practical activities will make our learning environment a more beautiful place for our children to enjoy.
A ONE OFF CALL TO ALL PARENTS
Please write to your MP
School funding is in crisis. Insufficient funding over a decade has left schools which should be state funded, relying on private income to try to make ends meet. The significant ongoing inflation, insufficiently funded staff pay rises, and ongoing low pupil numbers in London's schools, means we - along with many schools - are fighting to survive.
The Government have thus far been unwilling to engage with calls by school leaders to review the levels of funding for schools. They announced increased funding in the Autumn budget but it has not come close to covering the shortfall in our budgets.
We ask all parents to please write to your local MP and the education secretary to press them to take the school funding crisis seriously, and to engage with education leaders in seeking solutions to see our schools survive the years ahead.
Click here for an editable template letter - This website provides a template letter and sends it directly to your local MP. For many of us, this is Munira Wilson. She is the school's spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats and has been an amazing support of our school Headteachers, including having a number of conversations with me in person about it.
Alternatively, you can find out your local MP details here and email them directly. If you do this, please copy in the education secretary - Gillian Keegan (gillian.keegan.mp@parliament.uk).
Thank you for your crucial support,
Mr Chamberlin