Star Alliance Admin Meeting Minutes (Draft)
Tuesday October 3rd 2016, 1:30 pm
Monk Fryston C of E Primary School
Attendees / School / ApologiesSue Thompson / Athelstan
AnwenScarisbree / Appleton Roebuck
Gill Ward / Barkston Ash
Carrie Drewer / Long Marston
Nikki Hesp / Kellington
Jo McKeating / Kirk Fenton / Bev Hathaway
Katie McLachlan / Monk Fryston
Mandy Frith / Saxton
Sue Thompson / SherburnAthelston
Anne Temple / SherburnHungate / Julie Carter
Gemma Gore / South Milford
St Joseph Tadcaster / Angela Purchon
Ruth Griffin / Tadcaster East
Linda Marshall / Tadcaster Riverside
Jill Pounder / Sherburn High
Gail link / Carlton in SnaithCP
Liz Tuddenham / Star TSA
Mandy Bell / Saxton
Apologies
The meeting opened at 1.30pm with apologies offered by all schools not present.
Minutes of the Previous Meeting
The minutes of the meeting of 14th June 2016 were confirmed with no queries
James Watmore –Teachers2 parents
A presentation from teachers2 parents about a new data management product being introduced from Teacher2parents. Schoolpod was presented to the group. A discussion took place amongst members.
Finance
A discussion took place in regard to the closure of HSBC banks in the area. The issues being faced by schools were raised in relation to banking. ST will contact the Finance Team for support and confirmation about HSBC debit cards.ST can confirm that Education Finance is ok with Debit cards. Ensure that governors are aware and it is in the scheme of delegation.
After School Clubs
A discussion took place about the STAR Alliance holding provider record checks on the member’s area of the STAR website. This would enable a one stop approach to checks within the Alliance. ST has sent a template to Monk Fryston in relation to DBS and safeguarding requirements.
Procurement and purchasing
Photo copy procurement was discussed as some schools are having issues with Xerox. Poor service issues. The group advised those affected to provide feedback to the procurement service so that they would be able to consider them for future contracts.
TGS solutions have visited schools in the area to look at telephone system costs. South Milford School were able to reduce costs from £200 per month to £50 per month. Tadcaster East School have also used them. Schools within the Alliance were benefiting from the STAR rate of £1.64 for paper from education Express. ST is going to look at a further reduction if possible.
Hayes supply agency is looking to visit schools to discuss supply rates. Hayes agency is used by Barkston Ash and they have very favourable rates. There seems to be a variance of rates for Supply Desk across the Alliance. ST will speak with Neil Waddington to look into a STAR rate
Liz Tuddenham advised everyone that the HT meetings would be very strategic meetings and would not be used for visitors or reps.
First Aid for staff
A discussion took place about first aid information held for staff. There seemed to be a varied approach to this. Some schools do however ask staff to provide them with information in relation to medication. This is in case of an emergency situation. All information is held securely in employee personnel files .The responsibility for providing information is that of the employee and some schools felt that it was not their responsibility to ask. If a member of staff however does have an allergy then it is important that school first aiders are made aware. i.e. epilepsy, nut allergies, asthma.
There seems to have been an increase in sickness across schools this autumn term. Kirk Fenton were forced to close due to extreme sickness. It was acknowledged that sickness and diarrhoea exclusion is 48 hours and that it was important to adhere to this to reduce the spread of infection.
Mini Bus and coaches
Schools were struggling to find mini bus firms that could provide the service around school start and end times. Oz travel is the main provider and are often not available. Alternatives of Fenton Flyer, York Pullman Coaches, Tower were given.
Grants
Kellington School were looking for support in relation to grant applications as 3 applications to Ernest Trust, Foyles and Brothers were rejected. It was key to ensure that all grant applications do meet the grant criteria before application as there is a lot of hard work undertaken and grants would always be rejected on those grounds.
AOB
Cool Milk
Claiming free school milk since the introduction of the new system is causing problems for schools. ST has spoken to cool milk about the new government claiming system and they have said that they appreciate that recording absences is going to be a challenge and will not be expected from schools unless a long tem absence has occurred.
Time, date and location of next meeting
Kirk Fenton School, 1.30pm, Tuesday 24thJanuary