Activities - Minutes

Primary Cluster Meeting - 20/03/06

Schools attending:

• Arlies Primary School
• Wildbank Primary
• Stalyhill Infants
• St. Raphael's Catholic Primary
• St. Peter's Catholic Primary
• Gorse Hall Primary
• Buckton Vale Primary
• St. Paul's C of E Primary
• Ridgehill Primary
• West Hill Science College

Apologies:

• Marjorie Carty, Gail Collins and Barbara Clark

Guest:

• Emma Holroyde Logotron/Widget.

Outcomes:

• Matters arising - minutes given out of last meeting
• Kath demonstrated the use of puppets to calm children
• Number zone - feed back from the schools on how useful the software has been. Many indicated that they have not been able to use it as their remit was with literacy. Kath suggested they pass the software to colleagues who are involved in number.
• Feed back on the assessment pack that was given out at the last meeting. Those that gave standardised scores are useful. Other tests - early years check list were thought valuable for evidence. Next meeting to bring packs and input requested from Kath - where you go once you have done the tests and interpretation. Why, how and outcomes of the tests.
• Kath disappointed at the attendance at Cluster meeting 16/3/06. This was an after school meeting for Stalybridge and Mossley schools. Only 3 people attended. All agreed that these afternoon cluster were more beneficial so Kath suggested that reps from companies attended the afternoon meetings to demonstrate their software as this was a facility everyone thought useful. Mentioned the usage of our website to see which school is piloting a programme.
• Booklets produced by the secondary cluster given out. To look at and assess for the next meeting.
• Recording strategies requested by Marjorie from Millbrook - Kath gave out handouts from her NVQ presentation for Level 3 which contained information on recording strategies. To discuss way forward at the next meeting.
• Input from Michelle about calming techniques for difficult pupils - a piece of paper to be shredded and placed in a fish tank when stressed an empty tank otherwise fish will be stressed. Michelle offered to write a brief description of this technique for the website. Primary SSA'a talked about tick charts to reinforce good behaviour. Asked to write brief description to go on website.
• Emma from Logotron and Widget demonstrated some of their software. Two schools, Millbrook and Stalyhill Infants will trial Talking Pictures, Sight and Sound and Revelation Natural Art.
• Michelle brought in information from nasta - National Association for School Teaching Assistants.

Any issues arising:

• Look at assessment pack in detail
• How to interpret results
• Feed back re: handbook
• Talk time - any issues
• Record keeping if time.

Next meeting

Date: 15/05/06
Venue: Gorse Hall
Time: 1.15pm