Brede Primary School, Broad Oak Minutes of the FGB held on 24th May, 2017 at 6.00pm Governors Present: Mr Tom Collins (Chair) (TC) Mrs Kate Giles (KG) Mrs Helen Mallion (HM) Mr Chris Wain – Clerk (CW)

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Mrs Nicole Cummins (NC) Rev Martin Harper (MH) Mrs Laura Jarvis (LJ)

Mrs Sarah Bulgin (SB) Ms Emma Newton (EN) Mr Richard Foster (RF)

Comment Apologies None. Declare Pecuniary Interests No declarations were made. Confidentiality The meeting was reminded about confidentiality. Minutes of Last Meeting (8th February, 2017) Minutes were approved as correct and signed by Chair. Matters arising (please see action notes) i. 4.1.i.a – Data Protection Policy review date change still to be completed. Head to ensure this is undertaken by term 6 meeting. ii. All matters were regarded as ‘completed’ or have actions underway. To discuss any safeguarding issues. Dep Head presented safeguarding report. Governors were advised that both Head and Dep Head have completed refresher training and appropriate certification is lodged in school files. Governors advised that one member of staff will require refresher training on her return from maternity leave. Governors asked if the Dep Heads attendance at the Rye EIP Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) meetings placed unnecessary burden upon her time. Dep Head confirmed that this is regarded as part of her role and that the meetings are useful as there is access to a representative of the SPOA (Single Point of Assessment) team and this is very useful for ensuring that the Safeguarding protocols are up to date. With regard to East Sussex Music Services and East Sussex County Council staff not needing to be recorded on the Single Central Record, Governors have asked that Dep Head write (on behalf of the Governing Body) to relevant individuals to ask them to let the School Secretary have sight of their DBS certificate. Governors asked about the latest position regarding the provision of references for governors. Where required, governors agreed to provide either hard copies

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of references which they know to have been prepared or to submit names of alternative referees to contact. To receive the Head Teacher’s report. Head presented report. Governors queried the 79% performances from KS1 in both reading and writing and expressed surprise that these were both at the same level. Head assured governors that this was a true measure, that the assessment figures are co incidental and that she was confident that both results will be at or above National Average at year end. Governors expressed their satisfaction that attendance is improving and especially relating to persistent lateness. Head confirmed that the school had received excellent support from ESBAS and updated the position since the report whereby the single referral that they had declined to accept had now been picked up by ESBAS. Governors wished to record their congratulations to both Miss Skidmore and Miss Newton with regard to their successful completion in training to be Local Authority moderators. Head circulated and asked governors to consider the Bursar’s report particularly relating to the proposed extension / conservatory whereby professional project managers have visited the school and prepared detailed costings. These amount to £49043 including a £4000 contingency. Head confirmed that this new space will become the school’s centre for the ‘Thrive’ initiative and therefore, a contribution to the overall cost from the Healthcare grant can be made. Governors expressed their satisfaction that in overall budget terms, the carry forward (of £74400) means that the school is in a financially robust position heading into the next academic year. Governors were reminded that some of this carry forward had been allocated to the new conservatory (item 6.5 above) in order to ensure the school falls within the 8% carry forward limit. To receive SEN report. Dep Head presented report. Dep Head provided governors with feedback from a recent Local Authority SEND briefing at which schools were apprised of the current significant overspend in in the provision of funding for Education Health Care Plans (EHCP). SEND leaders were reminded to use the SEN Matrix to determine if pupils really required such support and advised that very limited funds will only be made available for those most in need. Governors asked if the first step would be to provide support to pupils within the school before being considered for transfer to EHCP protocols. Head and Dep Head confirmed there was sufficient support in the school in the first instance and that the school recognised that the primary objective is to support independence for the child. Governors asked what was meant by a ‘front door panel’ meeting. Dep Head explained that this is a vehicle to allow share SEN experience, to assist with the assessment of pupils and to help schools consider alternative actions to support children. Front Door Panels can be called for by any school that believes it has exhausted all possible support structures. These panels apply all of the Local Authorities SENDCo resources and help develop an action plan for every pupil referred. Governors asked if the costs of support from outside agencies were met by Local Authority or if they have to be taken from the school budget. Governors were

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advised that this depended on whether or not the service deployed was a ‘traded service’, it is taken from the school budget. Governors asked about the apparent low percentages of SEND pupils reaching Age related Standards in term 4. Dep Head confirmed that although just 2 of 10 pupils were at ARS for reading, 0 for writing and 1 of 10 for maths, these figures should be considered in the context of the fact that the school can demonstrate progress for each of the pupils, regardless of these measures. Pupil Premium Expenditure Statement: i. Dep Head presented comprehensive report. ii. Governors asked if there had been a discernible positive impact of the Lexia programme. Dep Head encouraged by the level of useage both in the school and at home. Literacy lead has been asked to produce a report for the term 6 meeting. Clerk to ensure this is an agenda item. iii. Governors asked about the uptake of extracurricular activities by Pupil Premium children. Dep Head confirmed that as had been expected, the uptake has risen. SEN Link governor visit report: i. This item has been deferred until the term 6 meeting. Clerk to ensure this is an agenda item. To receive PE / Sports grant reports. Dep Head presented report. Governors expressed satisfaction with the numbers of staff attending PE training courses. Governors further expressed pleasure at the numbers of children taking part and in particular, the fact that 100% of children have taken part in intra – school competitions. To receive School Development Plan update. Governors agreed that this item should be deferred until the term 6 meeting. Clerk to ensure it is an agenda item. To discuss and adopt the following school policies: i. Staff Discipline Conduct and Grievance: a. Head to ensure date is changed on page 1. b. Governors suggested the title be amended to omit ‘grievance’ as this would be dealt with under an alternative Local Authority protocol if any such issue arose. Head to ensure title is changed accordingly. c. Subject to the above alterations, governors approved and adopted the policy. ii. EYFS Policy: a. Governors advised that this needs to be updated to reflect the latest policy framework and that other minor changes are to be made. Head to ensure the work is carried out. b. Subject to the above, governors approved and adopted this policy. iii. School Behaviour Policy: a. The policy review date requires amendment. b. A minor text amendment to clarify a “panel of governors” to be made. c. Subject to the above, governors approved and adopted this policy. iv. Social Media Policy:

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a. Governors agreed that reference should be made within the body of the policy to reflect the expectation of parental responsibility. Head / Dep Head to draft an appropriate paragraph and present to governors at the term 6 meeting. b. Reference to be made regarding the clarification of how devices capable of capturing images of children are to remain at school at all times. This will require camera (and other device) memory cards with pupil images to either be fully downloaded to a school site computer or the memory card itself to remain at school and replaced if any device is required to go off premises. c. Clerk to ensure this is an agenda item. Approval deferred until the term 6 meeting. v. Governor Visits Policy: a. Policy reviewed and found to be robust and fit for purpose. Governors agreed to adopt. vi. Resolution of Disputes Policy: a. Policy reviewed and found to be robust and fit for purpose. Governors agreed to adopt. vii. Health and Safety Policy: a. Policy reviewed and found to be robust and fit for purpose. Governors agreed to adopt. To discuss governing body matters. (Mrs Laura Jarvis left the meeting) Succession planning. i. Electing a new Chair: a. Chair reiterated his intention to stand down in July. b. Clerk advised governors that the role of Chair will automatically fall to the Vice Chair until such time as a new Chair is nominated / elected. c. Governors felt that the next Chair is likely to come from a new governor appointment and discussed various avenues that might be used to attract new governors. These included: i. Advertising vacancies in the parish magazine. ii. Advertising vacancies in the local village news. iii. Utilising the school bulletin. iv. Advertising in the Fairlight local publication. v. Approaching a possible candidate (from Peasmarsh) d. Clerk advised governors that the school is already registered with ‘Inspiring the Future’ and ‘SGOSS’. Audit of Governing Body Skills and Performance: i. Chair presented the results of the latest skills audit. Governors agreed that additional finance capabilities will be useful. SEF Governance update: i. Governors agreed that this item should be deferred until the term 6 agenda. Clerk to ensure it is covered. Health and Safety governor visit update: i. Governors agreed that this item should be deferred until the term 6 agenda. Clerk to ensure it is covered. Chair advised governors of a joint governor visit he had made with HM. This had focussed on how the Health grant had been invested. Governors had discussed the new equipment that has been procured with representatives of the school

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council and Pupil Voice. Feedback is very positive. Chair confirmed that he is still to prepare and circulate a visit report but this TC would be by term 6 meeting. Chair and HM both agreed that the ‘accompanied’ format of the visit had worked well. Chair wished to bring governors up to date with the latest positions regarding working with other schools (Academisation and / or Federation). i. Head and Chair attended a recent ‘market place’ event that had been arranged by the Local Authority. ii. They had held discussions (at an introductory level) with a group called STEP Academy Trust. This group may be of some interest in the future as their values did seem to align with the school. iii. Initial discussions also held with TKAT (The Kemnall Academies Trust). This group currently has two schools in East Sussex and may be worthy of further consideration. Head advised governors that as a result of poor attendance and limited benefit, she intends to advise the Local Authority that Brede Primary will be leaving the Rye EIP and joining the Hastings EIP Alliance. Future meeting dates. The next meeting is Wednesday 12th July, 2017. The venue is the school and the meeting to commence at 6.00pm. A.O.B. Governors reviewed and approved as correct the minutes from the Extraordinary General Meeting (to approve school budgets) which was held on 25th April, 2017. The Chair signed the minutes. The Chair advised governors of the latest developments relating to the issue covered in detail under item 4.1 of the confidential minutes discussed at the meeting held on 25th April, 2017. Vice Chair advised governors of the latest position relating to the issue covered in detail under item 4.2 of the confidential minutes discussed at the meeting held on 25th April, 2017. Chair reminded governors that to access on line training, they should now register with the National Governors Association as they have now taken over the services previously available as GEL (Governors E Learning). Meeting closed