Governors’ Annual Report to Parents for the School Year September 2010 – July 2011

The Governors of Denby Dale Nursery School are pleased to present their Annual Report to Parents, in accordance with the Articles of Governance for Nursery Schools. The report provides an overview of how the Governing Body has actively been involved in the development and progress made in the school within the last year. 

Introducing the Governors

The function of the Governors is to support the work of the school. This means we are involved with all aspects of the Nursery School.

Mrs Lisa Taylor Chair Appointed February 2008
Mr Keith Rothwell Clerk to the Governors
 

Contact details for both the above:
 
c/o of Denby Dale Nursery School
Wakefield Road
Denby Dale
HD8 8RX
Tel: 01484 222915
e-mail: office.denbydale@edukirklees.net
     
Governors’ Names Designation Appointed
Gill Clarke Acting Headteacher November 2005
Cheryl Davies Local Authority Appointed May 2004
Kathryn Haigh Local Authority Appointed March 2010
Cath Heptinstall Staff Governor November 2005
Elizabeth Senior Staff Governor February 2010
Liz Moore Parent Governor December 2005
Simon Gray Parent Governor June 2010
Clair Wright Community Governor March 2010
Garry Coleman Community Governor May 2010
Hannah O’Brien Community Governor September 2010

 

The Governors meet termly with the Headteacher to discuss work carried out in Nursery and items brought to our attention by the Local Authority. We have two sub-committees which also meet termly. These are the Finance and Premises Committee and the Learning and Care Committee. The Chair holds weekly meetings with the Headteacher. Governors also hold additional meetings as required.

We have set up a new marketing committee of governors this year which have been looking at ways to promote the nursery. This group has taken responsibility for organising new signage around the school, for holding an open morning for prospective parents and for advertising nursery more widely. We would welcome further suggestions of ways that you feel we could improve our profile within the community.

Federation

The school is currently consulting on the proposed federation with Gilthwaites First School. Should this go ahead, then Jackie Wood, the Head at Gilthwaites will become the head of both schools and Gill Clarke will resume her deputy’s role. Both schools’ governing bodies would be disbanded and a new joint governing body established. The schools would still be separately financed and have their own inspection processes. The consultation period runs until the 15th July 2011. The Federation Report can be found on the nursery web-site: www.denbydalenursery.org.uk 

Development Plan

Each year the nursery sets targets in a School Development Plan. These were the main areas for development during 2010 -2011.

  • Physical Development – Particularly focussing on Fine Motor Skills inside and out, and, providing information for parents and carers about how we implement Physical Development within the Early Years Foundation Stage.
  • Daycare Development – Particularly focussing on developing practice with babies and out of school club children.
  • Community Cohesion – Including developing community links and visits and visitors.

Teaching and learning are being monitored for Physical Development and for all daycare age groups. Children are making good age-appropriate progress in Physical Development, and staff have been actively introducing new physical resources such as large blackboards for mark-making outside, and switches and plastic tweezers to encourage fine motor control inside. We have held a Physical Development week in the Discoverers and prepared an information leaflet for parents and carers. As part of our work on Community Cohesion we have been strengthening and developing links within the Community. We have also developed our web-site so that we can keep parents and carers up to date on school developments and events.

Information about ongoing developments and monitoring has been fed back to the Governing Body by the Acting Headteacher each term. Governors are also fed back information from the Local Authority’s School Contact Officer, who monitors progress in school each term.

Staff Training

The focus of this year’s staff training days has been on development plan priorities and also on whole staff training in Makaton sign language which was identified as an area to develop in our 2009 Ofsted, plus whole staff training in Paediatric First Aid. Amy Spink gained her Early Years’ Professional Status before going on maternity leave. Liz Senior has just completed her Foundation Stage Degree, and will be studying for her Qualified Teacher Status over the next two years. Gill Clarke has attended several safeguarding courses as she is the designated person in the setting. Other members of staff have attended a range of Local Authority, Early Excellence and Yorkshire Purchasing courses.

Staff Professional Development

All members of the staff team have a professional review on an annual basis. Through this process whole school and individual targets are set. Teaching staff are set targets in yearly Performance Management meetings and reviews.

Admissions

There are 110 children from birth to 4 currently on the nursery roll. Admissions are in line with the nursery’s agreed policy. Parents can register children for nursery from birth. Children transfer to a number of local schools. Summer leavers have been visiting their new first schools which include, Gilthwaites, Cumberworth, Scissett, Birdsedge, Denby, Kayes, Kirkroyds, Cawthorne and Shelley. Reception staff from local schools have been to visit children in nursery.

Out of School Club

We currently have 13 children from Gilthwaites First School who access our Out of School Club. Numbers fell in February as Gilthwaites have extended their premises to allow for larger groups of children.

Financial Statement

The Finance and Premises Committee meets termly to monitor income and expenditure. We manage two delegated budgets allocated by the LA for Education and Daycare. The main budgetary expenditure is on staffing costs, maintenance and running costs of the building and on learning resources. The daycare is run on a not for profit basis and is currently subsidised by the local authority.

We have attached the School Fund budget statement for the period Jan ’11 to April ’11 in the Appendix.

Fund-raising

The governors are very grateful for the work of the Friends of Denby Dale, whose fund-raising is helping us pay for further planned outdoor developments. This year the Friends have organised a fashion show, summer fayre, sponsored bike ride, coffee morning and raffles. We have bought two trainer bikes with some of the money raised from the Bike Ride and are currently getting quotes for further grounds development e.g. to provide areas of shade, balance beams and a stage.

The governors would also like to thank the Aagrah for donating some money raised from quiz nights during the past year. 

Security

The Governing Body continues to implement a Child Protection Policy which follows both national and Kirklees own rigorous guidelines. The Head and several governors have received training in ‘Safer Recruiting’. All governors, supply staff and students (except Shelley College students) undergo CRB checks. Parents volunteering to help on Forest School visits to Cliffe House have all had CRB checks.

Special Educational Needs

In line with our Special Educational Needs Policy, staff identify children with specific needs and discuss them with parents as soon as possible. Where appropriate, support and guidance is sought from outside agencies (e.g. speech therapist, educational psychologist, health visitor). Individual education plans with targets are drawn up and shared with parents. Targets are reviewed regularly with parents.

We are having whole staff INSET on Makaton sign language (as discussed earlier in this report). Gill Clarke continues in her role as the SENCO.

Disability Discrimination Act

The school is working in line with recommendations made in the DDA. Where special arrangements are required for children with disabilities, the school seeks advice from local authority representatives and outside agencies and makes adjustments wherever financially possible. The school’s Accessibility Action Plan will be reviewed in the autumn term.

Should you wish to discuss any of these issues further please contact:

Lisa Taylor

Appendix

Denby Dale Nursery School – School Fund Account  
Balance Sheet – Spring Term 2011      
             
DATE: 1st January 2011 – 30th April 2011    
             
Income   £   Outgoings £
Brought Forward 7,105.22   Food   397.72
Parents Voluntary Conts 350.41   Miscellaneous 908.52
Coffee Morning 79.35        
Easter Raffle 674.00        
Fun Mats Refund 2.95   Easter Raffle 54.00
Phoenix Commission 10.00   Total Outgoings 1,360.24
Bank Interest 0.12        
        Plus School Fund  
        Balance as at 30/04/11 6,861.81
             
Total   8,222.05   Total   8,222.05
             
             
As at 30th April 2011        
Cash in Hand 55.90   School Fund Bal 6,861.81
Current Account 6,454.36        
Deposit Account 351.55        
             
Total   6,861.81   Total   6,861.81
             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monies raised during the Summer Term 2011 include:-

        
             
Bike Ride £825.50        
Summer Fayre £543.30