Do your bit for your school

At some point or other most people feel a need to make a difference in their community and want to support a good cause.  And the charity work that often tightly tugs at the heartstrings of many people is connected to their child’s school. It only seems natural that a parent will take an active interest in their child’s education and well being at school.   

Most schools really flourish and develop with pro-active help from parents.  If you pick at the seams of a prosperous school, it won’t be long before you discover that it is often backed with a good level of leadership, help and support from its parents. The results are promisingly positive.  With a fully supportive board of Governors and dynamic PTA, a school will be filled with the latest computer or play equipment, the teachers and staff will feel valued and warmly supported; weak areas identified in OFSTED reports are tackled in a positive manner; but the people who will ultimately benefit the most, are of course, the children. With increased parental interest, a school can build solid foundations, allowing the children to benefit from a positive experience of school life. There are a number of ways you can get involved in helping your child’s school on a voluntary basis. 

The level of involvement will be largely dependent on your circumstances and availability to donate time. If time is less of a problem to you and you feel that you have a passion to drive the school forward, a Governorship role may suit you best. Or, if you would like to offer a supportive role to the school and help raise funds for improved equipment and facilities, a position on the school’s PTA can be fun, creative and fulfilling. If your free time is particularly tight, there are still ways to help. 

You can be a parent helper at the school - escorting children on trips to the swimming pool or you can assist with guided reading, or you could run a stall at the summer fete, or if you have a special skill to sew, paint or cook for example, you can pass on this valued knowledge to eager-to learn children. The opportunities are plentiful, plus it’s always worth remembering, it will be your children that will ultimately benefit, so of course it’s worth the effort.

Ever thought about joining the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)?

PTA’s are hugely important to the social and financial welfare of a school, often filling in the gaps, where state funding dries up. But aside from the advantages to the school, there are many individual benefits to being a PTA volunteer.  The sense of belonging and the warm feelings attached to providing a positive contribution to a team boosts confidence. If you have been at home raising your children and haven’t had a great deal of social interaction with other adults for a while, volunteering on the PTA is a fantastic way to integrate again and get to know many of the other parents and teachers. Chances are, they will easily identify with you. Another great advantage to joining a PTA comes with being creative. 

Always open to fresh fund-raising ideas, the schemes, fetes and disco’s are usually superbly original and the children thoroughly love the entertainment value. As the children get older and leave school so do the parents, so the beauty of an ever-changing PTA, is that it is refreshed and revitalised regularly. Most PTA’s warmly welcome new volunteers, so you should never feel afraid to offer any help, in whatever capacity.  Any assistance will always be gratefully received.  So why not attend your school’s next PTA meeting, to see what’s involved? You and your children could have so much to gain from the experience. Take a look at the Parent Teacher Association website at www.ncpta.org.uk for more information. 

Ever Considered Becoming a School Governor?

Governors make up one of the largest group of volunteers in the country and it has been said that the work they do is worth an estimated, additional penny on income tax! Governing bodies are made up of representatives of the school teaching and non-teaching staff, local authority, community, religious leaders and parents. Parents are invited to join the body, usually for a period of 3 years, but should be aware that becoming a school governor will require time, commitment, responsibility and a passion to drive the school forward.   Working with the Head Teacher and the school’s leadership team, a school governor’s role is to contribute to team decisions, taking responsibility in the strategic areas of finance, the school premises, Curriculum and staffing.  Smaller sub-committees are set up who, according to individual interests and strengths, focus on specific areas of responsibility, delegated to them by the main governing body.

Meetings take place on a regular basis, often in the early evening. In essence, a school governor really can have his or her say on how the school is run and can make a significant contribution to the school community. But don’t let the importance of the role put you off. Some governors have very little experience of meetings yet seem to thrive in this role.  Most would say the job is rewarding and extremely worthwhile. There are no qualifications required to be a Governor.

To find out more take a look at www.governornet.co.uk.

 

Kirsty Woodgate