LIVERPOOL GOVERNANCE FORUM

Minutes of Committee Meeting held at 10:00 on Tuesday 3 March 2020 at
Gateacre School, Hedgefield Rd, Liverpool L25 2RW.  

Guest Speakers: Jonathan Nichols, CEO Rainbow Educational Multi Academy Trust, addressed the meeting on the topic of Parental Engagement.  Please see Appendix 1

1.0 STANDARD ITEMS:

1.1	Welcome and Apologies

Present: Kathy Desmond (Chair), Dave Cadwallader, Cliff Barton, Cynthia Carmichael, Marlene Taylor, Howard Harris, Joe Hartley, Andy Chadwick, Maureen McDaid, Pauline Warrington

Apologies: David Blythe (Hon Secretary), Frank McFarlane (Vice-Chair), Mary Donohue, Michael Morris, David Owens, Avril O’Brian, Barbara Murray
                           
       Visitors: Jonathan Nichols, CEO Rainbow Educational Multi Academy Trust 

       KD welcomed Governors to the meeting and in particular Andy Chadwick and Joe Hartley. LGF was   
       particularly pleased to welcome back our clerk, Paula  Anderson.
             
1.2 Declaration of Pecuniary Interest
 No change. 

        1.3 Minutes of the January Meeting       
The minutes of the meeting held on 21 January 2020 had already been agreed by email and posted on the LGF website. 

1.4	 Matter Arising
There were 2 items arising and all had been actioned as follows: 

Topic	
 Speakers for future events (Both Committee meetings & May Conference)

Update: DFB has issued a version 5 schedule of events and details are also on the website. Speaker now only required for the last meeting in July and we need to finalise the topics for our May conference at Gateacre School on 16th May. 

Details of SEND event at LACE on 24th February 

Update: Details of the event were sent out to committee members on the 24th January. This item should now be closed 

2.0 LGF Matters and Events

     2.1 Finance
           The bank balance at the 1st February 2020 remains healthy at £3,386:62. 
     
      2.2 Feedback from Events 
             None

      2.3 Future Events
 A new schedule of events has been circulated to committee members

     2.4 Website
The website is up-to-date and there have been 95 ‘hits’ since our last meeting in January bringing the total for the year to date to 2042

     2.5 Twitter Account
           No update was available
 
       2.6 Others  
None

3.0 Feedback from Representatives
			
3.1 Liverpool Schools Forum
The next meeting is scheduled for 4th March and feedback will be provided at the next meeting    
The item to be discussed at the Liverpool Schools Forum is SEN Inclusion Fund for Preschool 
Children.

3.2 LLP Executive Board
A meeting was held on Tuesday 11th February 2020. 
It was reported that, due to funding issues, Alice Demba, Cultural Lead will only be funded for one day per week by LLP.  Other organisations are to be approached regarding additional funding for an extra day per week.

It was noted that, in general, school attendance figures are improving although some schools are not performing as well as others.  A pilot scheme, which started in Gateacre and involves local GP’s has been rolled out to include all secondary schools.  It was noted that there could be a data protection concern regarding the sharing of patient’s information. 
Committee members shared attendance initiatives that have been put in place in their individual schools.

Maths Party and Dragon’s Den moved to this term.

3.3 LLP All Learners 
 A meeting was held on Wednesday 22nd January 2020. All items discussed are covered by 3.2 – see above.

3.4 LLP LWNM
HH and DFB attended the meeting held on 29th January and a summary report was issued to committee members on 30th January. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 10 June 2020.

3.5 LLP Maths Group
A meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 11th February 2020. Unfortunately PW was unable to attend the meeting.

3.6 Liverpool Safeguarding Partnership Forum
              Feedback was not available.

3.7 SEND Joint Commissioning Board (JCB)
 A document detailing feedback from the meeting held at Lace on 24.2.20 where increased participation aimed at improving services for children, young people and adults with SEND was discussed is available on the LGF website.

3.8 School Admissions Forum
       No feedback was available.

     3.9 Other
 None

4.0 Other Items for Mention
           
      4.1 NGA 
CC stated that she is still not getting the NGS magazine despite contacting the organisation several times.  

         4.2 Other
               None

There being no further business, the Chair thanked everyone for their attendance and contribution and closed the meeting at 11:14 am. 

Next meeting: 
The next committee meeting will be at 10am on Tuesday 28 April 2020 at Hope School, Hartsbourne Ave, Liverpool L25 2RY

Appendix 1

Jonathan Nichols, CEO Rainbow Educational Multi Academy Trust which includes 6 primary schools, addressed the meeting on the topic of Parental Engagement.  

He explained that the meaning of engagement is to have an arrangement to do something. This means that there is an arrangement with parents and carers to educate and prepare pupils for future life, whether that is the next key stage or their next school or their future life.

He spoke about how it takes a change in the culture of the school to become a partnership with parents/carers and how communication is not necessarily the same as engagement.

The schools in the trust have an open door approach and invite parent/carers into school to observe live lessons etc. and encourage them to participate with staff and pupils.  In addition to the usual school events, parents evenings etc.  The schools hold weekend events such as Messy Maths, English and Science to provide a fun way for pupils to learn but more importantly for the parent/carers to see how the pupils learn and how they can be involved in that learning.  The events are run by staff and pupils.  Staff happily volunteer to come in on Saturday mornings to assist. The schools use social events such as Bingo as a way to encourage parent/carers and extended family members to come into the school as this also provides a captive audience so information can be shared with those who may not normally come into school.  

Mr Nichols conceded that this change in culture took several years and it was essential that staff were on board and enthusiastic. 

It was noted that many parent/carers may not have had a good experience at school or may not feel able to support their child.  The parent/carers often do not have an understanding of what their child is learning about or how they are learning. They must come to understand that they are essential to the development of the child.  Mr Nichols referred to the saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ highlighting that the school cannot raise the child alone, it needs to be in partnership with the parent/carers.  School needs to be perceived as part of the community and not an authority.

Mr Nichols recommended a recent Ofsted publication called Flight or Fight which refers to some pupils who have never been taught in an outstanding or even good school.

Governors were encouraged to share the good practices of their own schools.  Concern was expressed that there may be some reluctance from staff to give up their own free time and also that some parents/carers did not value education.

KD thanked Mr Nichols for addressing the meeting.